Moving cross country this fall, what is the most important thing/place we should visit on our way through NM? (Albuquerque: chapel, house)

[SubieGuy]

Hi all, my wife and I will be moving from Tucson, AZ to Milwaukee, WI this fall and would like to see the country on our way.

What should we see on our way through NM?

Thank you all!

[NMHacker]

What is your route?

Chaco Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns are the two that jump to me first.

[SubieGuy]

Originally Posted by NMHacker

What is your route?

Chaco Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns are the two that jump to me first.

It looks like our route brings us in on I-10, north on I-25 then east on I-40.

[Zoidberg]

What is your budget for time to sightsee?

Either the Grand Canyon or Carlsbad Caverns are what I'd pick (neither on your route but when will you ever be this close to them again?)

[SubieGuy]

We plan to use about 2 hours per day for sight seeing.

[elkotronics]

Oh, no doubt, if you can head over and see the Grand Canyon, don't miss that chance. I'm starting a job in Shiprock, NM, in a couple of weeks and first chance on time off I get I'm driving the couple of hundred miles west to see the Grand Canyon again. I last saw it in 2007 and I can't wait to see it again.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by SubieGuy

Tucson, AZ to Milwaukee, WI this fall and would like to see the country on our way.

What should we see on our way through NM?

Originally Posted by SubieGuy

We plan to use about 2 hours per day for sight seeing.

Does not leave a lot of time. Probably stop at:

Silver City - Maybe
Elephant Butte
Old Town Albuquerque
Santa Rosa - Eat, rest walk around
Tucumcari - Eat, rest walk around

Tucson, AZ to Milwaukee, WI - NM Stops Marked - Google Maps



Rich

[GregW]

Spend a full day in Albuquerque and lunch in Old Town, see the cultural Museum and have supper at the top of the Tram. The next day take the Turquoise Trail to Santa Fe and the High Road to Taos.

Then reconsider moving to Milwaukee for any reason.

[finernfrogfur]

Originally Posted by SubieGuy

Hi all, my wife and I will be moving from Tucson, AZ to Milwaukee, WI this fall and would like to see the country on our way.

What should we see on our way through NM?

Thank you all!

You mentioned "fall", but what month? I think you've got some other threads for what to see in other states. Hope you don't mind me doing an all-in-one . If it fits into your plans/timing...

On your way out of Dodge (ok, Tucson ) if you haven't already been... Take I-10 East to Benson Exit# 302 go South on US-90 about 7 miles (no more than 9) and it's on the right (west side), Kartchner Cavern http://azstateparks.com/parks/kaca/

Another local attraction to see before you go, again if you haven't already been, is Tombstone http://www.tombstoneweb.com/ I suggest the stagecoach ride and of course reinactment of the shoot out at the OK Corral, the town itself is just a fun place to be

Ok, now that you've taken a day to "breathe" after packing and loading the truck here are some things to see and do...

Albuquerque, NM:
Hot air balloon festival:http://www.balloonfiesta.com/event-info/event-scheduleZoo, Botanic Garden, Aquarium, Tingley Beach: http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/

Santa Fe, NM:
A variety of things to do in Santa Fe http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Things_to_Do/ check out the State Capitol http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/ and within walking distance (or you can drive, but parking is crazy) is the Loretto Chapel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretto_Chapel and the ambiance of "old town shopping" http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Shopping/Specialty_Shops/index.html

Colorado Springs, CO:
The Air Force Chapel http://www.usafa.af.mil/information/visitors/ is most interesting and worth the visit then hop over to Garden Of The Gods http://www.gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm?flash=1

Denver, CO:
The Molly Brown house http://www.mollybrown.org/ which is near the State Capitol and US Mint http://denver.about.com/od/realestate/u/neighborhoods.htm and if you click on the "things to do" tab lists a bunch of other things to do, the US Mint info http://www.usmint.gov/mint_tours/

[joqua]

Originally Posted by SubieGuy

We plan to use about 2 hours per day for sight seeing.

That implies you'll be in NM for some number of days when in fact you can easily cross the state in one day. But coming from Tucson also implies a two-day trip with an overnight stop in either Las Cruces or Albuq.

As with most interstate highways, they don't follow the most scenic routes. And IH-10, 25 and 40 are cases in point. Lots of desert and high plains driving. The two hours per day can easily be exhausted just making a quick drive around the two cities - Las Cruces and/or Albuq.