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A Seven-Day Itinerary for the Northern Half of New Mexico

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Plan to arrive at the Albuquerque International Sunport which is the transportation center of the state. After arrival, spend some time in Albuquerque, heading straight for the Old Town Plaza to look through some shops and unwind a bit from your travels. The atmosphere of the Plaza will set the mood for the rest of your trip. If you have energy and time, poke into the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History for some Spanish, Indian and Anglo settler history. You should also make time and save some energy for the New Mexico Museum of Natural Science and History. Have dinner at The Artichoke Café and get rested for the rest of your trip.

Start out Day 2 with a trip to either the Albuquerque Aquarium and Rio Grande Botanic Gardens or the Rio Grande Zoo. Return to Old Town Plaza for lunch before heading off to Petroglyph National Monument. Here you will see ancient Native American rock drawings from the years 1100 to 1600 that are inscribed on a mesa overlooking the Rio Grande valley. After your visit, travel out to Albuquerque’s Central Avenue so you can drive east a bit and get your kicks on Route 66. This section of Route 66 will take you right through downtown and into the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. Catch a tram ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway. If there is time (and energy!), hike along the crest of the mountain before riding back down. If you can, time it so that you can ride up in daylight and down in the dark to get a great view of the lights of downtown Albuquerque. Catch dinner at La Casa Sena for a singing wait staff that is sure to entertain.

On Day 3, head for Santa Fe via the Turquoise Trail where you’ll encounter unique rock formations that the state is famous for, real ghost towns, a mining museum and breathtaking vistas. When you arrive in Santa Fe, visit the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and then have a fun dining experience at The Coyote Café. If it interests you, check the Santa Fe Opera schedule to see if you could be lucky enough to catch a performance.

Spend Day 4 in some of New Mexico’s finest museums. On Museum Hill, you can take in the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Museum of Spanish Colonial Art and the Museum of International Folk Art. If time permits, do some shopping on Canyon Road and then treat yourself to dinner at Anasazi, one of the cities most highly acclaimed restaurants.

Day 5 should take you to Taos, but stop on your way to visit Bandelier National Monument to see wildlife, beautiful mountains, unusual ancient ruins and interesting Indian pueblos. When you arrive in Taos, have dinner on the Taos Plaza at Joseph’s Table.

Taos Pueblo is a great way to start Day 6 to see the country’s largest adobe structure. Be sure to take time to drive over The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge which is the second largest expansion bridge in the country. After lunch, do some shopping back at the Taos Plaza. Before dinner, have a drink at a favorite local spot, the Adobe Bar, in the historic Taos Inn.

Day 7 should take you back to Albuquerque, but travel there via the High Road to Taos to see more Indian Pueblos, tiny mountain villages, adobe churches, art galleries and memorable views.

Next Page: Exploring the Southern Half of the State

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