Special Insider/Residents' Secret Places? (Santa Fe, Alamogordo: campground, to live in, restaurants)
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I'm coming down from BC, Canada next week for a 2-week holiday. I used to live in ABQ, but it was many years ago -- although I visit every 2 years (do need my chile fix!)
I'm going to Santa Fe just for Spanish Market (never been, just have been to Indian Market). And in ABQ for a few days. But I've done many of the tourist things; and this time I'd like to go south, which I'm not terribly familiar with. I was wondering if folks could suggest their favorite places, shops, restaurants, activities that might not be the regular recommendations for tourists, but that they appreciate as residents, anywhere from SF to Deming.
I'm a gardener, photographer, writer, animal lover, and adore long drives. Not afraid of heat or wind. I love ruins, Mexican anything, and speak Spanish passably.
These places are not secret, but they are fun to visit:
1) The Gila Wilderness and the Gila Cliff Dwelling ruins. 2) Three Rivers Campground and the petroglyphs there. 3) The Very Large Array. 4) White Sands National Monument (get out of your car and hike until all you see is dunes and mountains). 5) The No Scum Allowed Saloon in White Oaks (only open on Friday-Sun from Noon till-???) 6) Inn of the Mountain Gods on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. 7) Ruidoso. 8) Owl Bar & Cafe, San Antonio, NM (For a green-chile cheeseburger). 9) The Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, NM. 10) The New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, NM.
One sort of secret is the hot springs in the Gila Wilderness. They are very nice, but you need to do some research. I'm not telling you where my spots are though, or else all kinds of folks will be there next time I go.
Since you mentioned Chiles, you might want to visit Hatch, NM where so many of them are grown. Can't attest what you'll find there other than a lot of fields, although possibly some tourist attractions.
If more interested in scenery, you might wish to depart I-25 just south of Truth or Consequences, NM on NM 152. This will take you through the small and somewhat quaint village of Hillsboro, NM. It will also result in an interesting but mountainous drive, and certainly not the most direct route into Deming, NM. Near Mimbres, NM you can turn south towards Deming. The route through Mimbres towards the Gila is interesting as well, if you don't mind spending the time.
You mentioned south, but if in Santa Fe, NM I just have to include Ojo Caliente, NM, which is a relatively short drive north of there on US 285. There is a commercial hot spring there baring the same name as the small town. It is fairly unique in having a variety of different pools, each sourced from different types of water (different mineral content). A lovely ambience there, both locals and people from around the globe. If you have the slightest interest in such things, you'll surely love it.
Since you are interested in art, you might want to see Abiquiu -- the spectacular scenery attracted and inspired Georgia O'Keefe. You can combine this with earlier suggestions, driving north from Santa Fe to Ojo Caliente, Abiquiu, and then Chama.
I assume that you know of the Georgia O'Keefe Museum right off the plaza.
Spectacular scenery and real close to Santa Fe -- then drive on SR 502 up to Los Alamos. Millions of years of volcanic activity layered down 1,500 feet of mesa -- each layer a different color and texture. Since then wind and water have cut canyons through these layers and exposed them to view. The road up to Los Alamos is literally scratched out of the side of a cliff and you look across and see the colored layers on the other side of the canyon.
When you get to the top you can
1. turn around and go back down -- the views are different going down.
2. go through Los Alamos and do the loop on route 4 back stopping to see the cliff dwellings at Bandelier.
3. go thru Los Alamos and take 503 into the Jemez seeing the Caldera.
Last edited by Devin Bent; 07-18-2008 at 09:33 AM..
I forgot to mention Carlsbad Caverns. That's a good place to visit too.
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