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If you had 8 days (Fr thru following Sun) to spend in New Mexico, what would your itinerary look like (if you didn't mind driving and wanted to see as much as you could)?
Background info: Planning a trip to NM w/ my GF in late February or early March (only available times). We're both in our later 30's and pretty active (enjoy hiking/skiing, etc). We have no travel or schedule restrictions while in NM.
I was thinking of flying in to ALB on a F and then drive to Santa Fe, spend the weekend there. Drive to Taos and ski during the first part of the week and visit a hot spring while there. Then head south and spend time at White Sands, stay in Las Cruces? Later head East and travel thru the Lincoln forest, ultimately looping back North, going thru Roswell and spend the last Saturday afternoon/night in ALB. Depart Sunday AM.
It's a real general plan and am wondering if it makes logistic sense (or logical, hehe), as well as what any of you may add in , things worth seeing that I'm not aware of.
If you happen to modify your itinerary to loop you through south central NM:
Soaking in the hot springs while watching the Rio Grande roll by in Truth or Consequences' Riverbend Hot Springs .... nice. There are other hot springs in town, at fancier digs, but it's hard to beat soaking alongside the river.
Your itinerary looks a little I-25-heavy. Unless you like seeing the same scenery forwards and backwards, recommend you change your way from Taos back to White Sands to go east to Mora/Las Vegas/Roswell and then go west through the Lincoln National Forest to see the other sights, then N on I-25 to Albuquerque, never traversing the same stretch of I-25 twice.
Also, traveling through Roswell (New Mexico's Detroit) without going to Carlsbad is a real waste.
In late February I would take my business further south. But I jest! Really though, that's about the bleakest part of the year in New Mexico. Still and all I want to leave you with a s solid; beware the climate at elevation. Don't let yourself be caught outdoors dressed for warm sunny weather. Many, many blizzards have befallen New Mexico in March, April or even May and many souls have succumbed to the cold.
Late February is usually spring-like in southern New Mexico.
New Mexico is such a big state, it depends on if you're trying to drive and see as much as you can from inside a car -- but I agree with the other poster -- make a loop so you can cover more territory.
Be sure to take the drive through Jemez Springs, past Bandolier National Monument--in fact stopping there. I would recommend doing it on the way from the airport in ABQ to Santa Fe or coming back from Taos. Jaw droppingly beautiful scenery--a remnant of ancient volcanic activity.
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