visiting Santa Fe in Sept 2010 (Las Vegas, Los Alamos: to rent, hotel, live)

[elizamary]

New Mexico seems like such a beautiful place and we plan to visit Sept 2010.

Right now i'm looking for input as far as must see places to visit.

We are seniors and love history, sightseeing and places of interest.

Any input would be appreciated.

Also......what tourist traps to avoid.

I've been doing some research on the net and found several interest

Atzec ruins,
hot springs
White sands
Bill the kid territory
Navajo and apache nations
Old west and monogollon indians
Gila mountain
smokey the bear graves
Four cornors
Just a few to mention.

We are seniors and don't do rock climbing but a short hike would be nice.
Hows the white water rafting?

[Santa Fe]

History -- you are coming to the right place.

Is there any particular era of history? And how long will you will be here? You already have a lot on your plate.

[lalahartma]

White water rafting:
Santa Fe, New Mexico, white water
New Mexico Rafting Trips, Santa Fe Rafting with Kokopelli Rafting Adventures

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by Santa Fe

History -- you are coming to the right place.

Is there any particular era of history? And how long will you will be here? You already have a lot on your plate.

We were planning to rent a car for probably 8 or 9 days and we are interested in the old west and maybe spanish american history along with Native american culture.

Originally Posted by lalahartma

White water rafting:
Santa Fe, New Mexico, white water
New Mexico Rafting Trips, Santa Fe Rafting with Kokopelli Rafting Adventures

Thanks and I will check this out.

[Santa Fe]

Hispanic -- Palace of the Governors, Santa Fe. 1610 approximately. It is as if one of the buildings at Jamestown was still around and continuously occupied.

Native American
Pueblos -- Taos and or Acoma -- the pueblos date back to about 1300 although perhaps not in the exact same locations.
Even older Native American -- Chaco Canyon and or Bandelier

Old west -- I am assuming that you mean after the arrival of the Anglos. I defer to others who know more about Billy the Kid et al era although I like the restored railroad era Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas NM. Santa Fe as the terminus of the Santa Fe trail could make a claim for old west except that we play it down. Another possibility would be the Kit Carson museum in Taos. Skip the Governor Bent museum in Taos except maybe to look at from the outside. Carson and Bent both originally came here with the opening of the Santa Fe trail and represent an older west than Billy the Kid.

The New Mexico History museum in Santa Fe makes an effort to portray all the eras.

For more recent history in New Mexico, Los Alamos has a museum and at least one building -- Fuller Lodge -- survives and is open the public -- although it does predate the Manhattan Project. One cabin -- Oppenheimer's I think -- survives but is not open the public.

[SanfordR]

Skip the Governor Bent museum in Taos

Actually the guy who runs that shop/small museum is a font of SW historical knowledge, really interesting and compelling. The museum ( it's Gov. Bent's old house) is only a $ or two to get into. We liked it.

[meridavi]

The Gila forest is amazing; it has such rugged beauty and such a feel of great isolation. also, there are the cliff dwellings - but be aware that the drive to get to them is a lot longer than the map will lead you to believe! if you do get out there, take the opportunity to talk to the rangers - they're the nicest and most knowledgable I've ever met. they'll tell you all about the mexican wolves.

also, have you considered carlsbad caverns? i was there this past fall for the first time and had a very good time. the main walk down into the caves is pretty easy. there are also some relatively cheap guided tours into the less-travelled caves.

and don't forget about the restaurants! i've lived all over the US (including NYC), and Santa Fe beats all in the restaurant game. enjoy the chile and have a great time!

[Santa Fe]

Originally Posted by SanfordR

Actually the guy who runs that shop/small museum is a font of SW historical knowledge, really interesting and compelling. The museum ( it's Gov. Bent's old house) is only a $ or two to get into. We liked it.

He must have been away the day we went there -- all we found was a gum-chewing clerk who knew just about nothing -- our bad luck.

Bent's widow, who remarried, gets some attention at the new New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe. Bent and Carson married sisters so she was also Carson's sister-in-law.

Another historical site is the Pecos National Historical Park: "The Pecos National Historical Park protects the ruins of the once thriving Pecos Pueblo, a historic Catholic church and the site of the Civil War battle of Glorieta Pass."

It also has the ruins of an old stage-coach stop (on Santa Fe trail) and trading post which is being restored.
Pecos National Historic Park renovates 200-year-old trading post with a colorful past - The Santa Fe New Mexican

If you are interested in the Santa Fe Trail, here is a page on the Mountain Branch in New Mexico:
http://www.santafetrail.org/chapters...f-Interest.php

The best thing for the Santa Fe Trail is actually further north in Colorado -- they rebuilt Bent's Fort (authentically with adobe) from the ground up, filled it with the right furniture, equipment, trade goods, etc., and have costumed volunteer guides -- Native American and Mountain Men. Colorado, to my surprise, does a lot more with Santa Fe Trail history than does New Mexico.

They have activities at Bent's Fort at various times but the 2010 schedule is not up yet. Something I just discovered is a train ride from La Junta to ABQ that traces (roughly) the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe trail. This year it ended Sept 8.
http://www.santafetrailscenicandhist...rg/bentof.html

[elizamary]

Boy this is great..........thanks people.

Plane reservations are booked ahead......got a good deal.

Sept 20th to Sept 28th

Got a lot to look forward too.

Santa fe trail sounds interesting. Guess they don't do stage coaches anymore. LOL!!!

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by elizamary

Santa fe trail sounds interesting. Guess they don't do stage coaches anymore. LOL!!!

There is a stagecoach ride somewhere in Northern NM, can't remember the details. While I'm meditating it might come to me...


Rich