Hey Guys!

This Santa Fe to Silver City road trip takes you through some of the most unique landscapes in New Mexico, including lakes, hot springs towns, national forest drives, and historic mining areas.

This guide follows the exact route I took and includes the best stops along the way, from Elephant Butte State Park to Silver City.

Contents

• Elephant Butte State Park
• Truth or Consequences
• Where to eat
• Gila National Forest
• Santa Rita Mine
• Silver City – Where to Stay

This post continues our time exploring the beautiful state of New Mexico!

The drive from Santa Fe to Silver City takes approximately 5 hrs.

Our drive took us back through Albuquerque where we spotted tons of hot air balloons in the sky!

The hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque lasts for an entire week — so no matter when you visit, chances are you’ll spot colorful balloons floating across the sky every single day you’re in town!

It’s such an amazing sight to witness!

As we were passing through Belen, NM, we passed hundreds of pecan trees ….this was part of the Four Daughters Pecan Orchard.

We also passed patches on the ground that looked just like snow!

The views on this drive were so beautiful!

Mountains that went on for miles!

After a for a couple of hours, we pulled over at a rest stop to stretch our legs.

We spotted this sign that showed the points of interest in the area.

We also spotted this huge Soaptree yucca tree!

After our quick stop, we continued our drive.

And I continued my photoshoot of the incredible scenery along the way!

Elephant Butte State Park (Lake Views & Swimming in New Mexico)

After about 3 hrs of driving, we arrived to our first stop of the day, Elephant Butte State Park.

I had seen pictures of this place during my research and had to add it to our itinerary but boy were the pictures misleading!

The pictures showed an amazing lake with cool rock formations but when we arrived, there was hardly any water in the lake at all!

The views weren’t bad but I was expecting to see a huge lake!

We actually drove to a boat ramp and there was literally no water at all to be found!!

It was the strangest thing ever!

The park looked well maintained and had picnic tables, RV hookups, etc but I couldn’t figure out what the draw would be for this place!

I later researched it when we got home and read that the lake is actually a man made reservoir on the Rio Grande that was built in the early 1900’s mainly for irrigation, flood control and water supply….not for recreation.

The reservoir depends on rain and snowmelt from Colorado …..the southwest has been in a long term drought and for this reason, the lake can dry up.

Even when there is water, a lot of it is released downstream to farms and communities …especially during irrigation season.

So, do your research if you ever plan on visiting this area or you could be sorely disappointed!

Tip: There is marina located here where you can rent boats, kayaks are more

However, the views were beautiful but I wouldn’t recommend stopping here unless the lake isn’t dried up!

Tip: We had the historic Elephant Butte Dam on the list but decided to skip it. I do wish we would have seen it.

Read reviews here

Truth or Consequences – (Small Historic Town full of Hot Springs)

After leaving here, we continued to our next stop which would be the small town of Truth or Consequences.

Truth or Consequences, known as Hot Springs until 1950, is a small resort town with a year-round population of slightly more than 6,000.

The little town got its big name in 1950 as part of a publicity scheme to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Truth or Consequences, Ralph Edwards’ hugely successful game show on NBC radio.

Once the new name was adopted, Edwards traveled to town annually, celebrity friends in tow, for nearly 50 years to celebrate “Truth or Consequences Fiesta.”

The town is very small with some quirky little shops!

We passed the historic El Cortez Theater.…the theater dates back to the early 1940’s but some sources say it was built around 1933.

I loved all the colorful murals on the sides of some of the buildings!

We passed the popular Giddy Up Cafe — sadly it is now permanently closed.

After checking out the small town, we made our way to the Riverbend Hot Springs.

This was the main reason we were here…..to soak in one of the many hot springs!

This town sits on a natural geothermal system with tons of hot mineral underground.

Historically, there were around 40 bathhouses before WWII,….there are now around 10 main hot spring businesses operating in the small town.

Even Ted Turner has a hotel and bathhouse located here called, the Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa.

The historic hotel was built in 1929 and sits directly on natural geothermal mineral springs with private soaking baths.  It was purchased by Ted Turner in 2013.

I chose Riverbend because it sits right along the Rio Grande….so, instead of feeling like a typical spa, it feels very open and scenic.

You can also book a private tub with views of the Rio Grande and the nearby mountain range and that’s just what I did!

When you arrive, you will check in with the front desk.

If you reserved a bath robe or any extras when you made your reservations, you will be given those at the time you check in.

Tip: You will be asked to leave your car keys with the front desk attendant

After getting checked in, you are taken to an outdoor sitting area where you will wait until your soaking tub is ready.

There were information plaques that talked about the history of the hot springs.

In the seating area, there was a mural along the wall with a phone stand set up perfectly so you could snap your own photo in front of it — such a fun little touch!

Tip: There are showers where you can shower & change before getting into the hot springs….this is encouraged.

After waiting a few minutes, we were taken to our private soaking tub…..just look at this view!!

I decided to book two different soaking tubs to see if there was a difference in the views.

The first tub we soaked in was the Tewa. 

You book in 50 min increments ….so, you can book one tub for more than one session or you can book multiple tubs if you want to try them all out!

The tubs do range in temperature….I think it’s anywhere from 95 degrees to 108! Their website tells you what the temperature of the tub is before you book.

The pools are constructed of concrete, tile and/or stone. Each features an overhead cold shower, misters (in the Summer months), riverside curtains, and 2 chaise loungers.

Booking a private tub means you get a small, secluded soaking pool all to yourself.

The water is pumped directly from the natural geothermal springs beneath the town and stays somewhere between 95-108 degrees….so, it’s warm enough to relax into but keep in mind, you can get dehydrated so make sure to have plenty of water with you!

Each private tub area is designed for privacy — ours had floor to ceiling walls with a curtain to block you from the water. because the water is public and you may just see people floating down the river.

These tubs are also a quiet zone….so, you shouldn’t be hearing anyone talking next to you…and if  you do, you. can press a button and it notifies the front desk that the person beside you is being too loud….I personally loved that idea!!

Of course we had to take 798 pictures of us in and around the hot springs! 😉

It was so much fun! It was actually a highlight of our trip and I would highly recommend it!

Read reviews here

Tip: Riverbend also has RV spaces, hotel rooms, public soaking areas, a gift shop and more

If you get hot during your soak, there’s a bucket of cold water above your head and a mister you can turn on….it definitely comes in handy!!

It was so peaceful and relaxing!

After our time was up, we gathered our things and headed to the next soaking tub….which was literally next to the Tewa….it was called the Apache.

Tip: There is a timer in the room that is counting down your time so it was really nice not having to keep up with it ourselves

This pool was a bit deeper and a bit hotter than the Tewa…

The views were obviously the same since the rooms were right next to each other.

I actually preferred the Tewa but both were nice.

Each room had a phone stand you could use to take pictures so we definitely took advantage of that! 😉

After our time was up, we headed to the front desk to turn in our robes and collect our keys.

Where to eat

We then headed to find something to eat.

We found a place in town called Johnny B’s.

Johnny B’s is one of those classic small-town diners that feels like a staple more than a tourist stop.

It’s a family owned American/Mexican style diner on the main highway through town that serves breakfast all day as well as lunch and dinner.

It’s not fancy at all — more like a roadside comfort food spot where locals and travelers. mix.

Inside, it has that very small town diner feel ….no frills.

We both ordered a burger and it was really good!

After our burger, we decided to get a small cup of ice cream from their cute little ice cream parlor.

So good!

Read reviews here

After our late lunch, we continued our drive to Silver City….which was a little over 2 hrs away.

The views along the way were gorgeous!

Mountains that went on for miles!

The landscapes in New Mexico are so diverse!

As usual, I took way too many pictures!

Driving through Hillsboro

The scenic drive to historic Hillsboro leads you along the Geronimo Trail, into the foothills of the Black Range mountains.

Hillsboro was founded in April,1877, when two prospectors discovered a series of gold deposits on the east side of the Black Range Mountains along Percha Creek. A tent city quickly filled with over 300 miners, store owners, adventuresome women and children.

Today, there are only about 150 people that live here.

A few minutes later, we spotted a historic marker so we pulled over to check it out.

It was the location of the Percha Creek bridge.

The bridge was built in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The views surrounding the bridge were beautiful!

After this quick stop, we continued our drive.

Views along the way

We started seeing lots of unique rock formations.

Just look at these views!

Gila National Forest (Scenic Drives, Hiking, & Wilderness in New Mexico)

We spotted a sign that said we were entering Gila National Forest.

Gila National Forest covers roughly 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, high desert, canyons, and forested plateaus in southwestern New Mexico. It was established in the early 1900’s and is one of the largest national forests in the Southwest.

One of the forest’s most important distinctions is that it contains the Gila Wilderness, designated in 1924 as the first officially protected wilderness area on earth!

The Gila Wilderness remains roadless, meaning there are no paved or maintained roads inside the boundaries — only trails, rivers, and backcountry routes.

The forest is defined by dramatic elevation changes, ranging from about 4,000 ft to over 10,000 ft.

On this drive you will see a variety of trees including the Ponderosa pine, juniper and many more!

Tip: The forest is also known for natural hot springs scattered throughout the remote canyons.

This place was absolutely beautiful and felt so remote! We rarely saw another vehicle on this drive!

We pulled over several times to take pictures!

Tip: This place is also known for the Gila Cliff Dwellings which are cliff homes that were built around 1280-1300 CE by the Mogollon people but sadly it was closed due to the government shutdown!! The shutdown really affected our trip!! 🙁

Gila National Forest offered something increasingly rare; a landscape where nature still dominates, and human presence feels secondary…..and I loved that!

As we continued our drive, we came upon a recent crash site which reminded us just how dangerous this place could be if you weren’t paying attention to the road!

Portions of the road had limited visibility and were very curvy so I could see how an accident could easily happen if you aren’t paying close attention.

Continuing our drive

The views were so dramatic!!

I wished we had had more time to explore this area.

We saw a sign that led up the mountain to an overlook so decided to check it out.

There were signs at the top that talked about the area…

The views were beautiful!

There was also a sign that talked about the Silver Fire of 2013.

The fire was caused by a lighting strike and burned over 138,000 acres!

After reading some of the signs and checking out the views, we headed back to the main road to continue our drive.

Not even 1 minute later, as we rounded a curve, I happened to glance to my right and spotted a bear!

I couldn’t believe it! I yelled for my husband to stop and back up lol! He didn’t think I’d actually seen a bear — but I quickly proved him wrong!

It was a beautiful black bear!

It is the only species of bear in the Gila National Forest. Their numbers are unknown and sightings are rare because this area is so vast so it definitely made for an unforgettable moment!

Click here to see a list of animals that are found in the forest

After taking 239 pics of the bear, we continued our drive.

And as usual, I continued my non stop photo shoot of the scenery! 😉

We were entering a place called San Lorenzo Canyon Area.

This area is one of the most visually striking drives in and around the Gila National Forest.

As we drove through the San Lorenzo area, the landscape shifted dramatically.

The road wound between towering rock formations and canyon walls, closing in around us as we followed each curve!

It felt like entering a different world — one shaped by time, erosion, and the rugged beauty of Gila.

These walls and rock formations were shaped by volcanic activity, and erosion from water and wind that carved out the narrow canyons.

The views were simply spectacular!!

Around each curve, a different view unloaded!

It was like a different scene kept unfolding before our eyes — towering rock walls, narrow passages, and glimpses of the rugged terrain beyond!

We spotted a pullover so decided to stop and take a few pictures of the scenery.

After snapping a few pictures, we continued our drive.

A few minutes later, we spotted a rattlesnake in the middle of the road and just had to stop to take a picture!

New Mexico is home to 10 distinct rattlesnake species, including the common western diamondback, prairie rattlesnake, and the endangered New Mexico ridge nose rattlesnake.

I don’t recommend you ever get close to a rattlesnake unless you know for sure that it’s dead!

Santa Rita Mine Viewpoint (Historic Mining Area Near Silver City)

About 15 mins later, we arrived to the area of Santa Rita and noticed the mountains looked like they had been mined.

Tip: About 30 mins from here is the Faywood Hot Springs

As we continued our drive, we realized this was a massive copper mining operation!

We spotted a pullover and decided to check it out.

The pullover included some information plaques that talked about the mine.

This is called the Chino Mine also known as the Santa Rita Mine.

The mine is a massive open pit copper mine and is one of the oldest open pit copper mines in North America.

The open pit operations began around 1910.

The size is hard to grasp unless you see it for yourself!

The main pit is roughly 2.8 miles long and over 1300 ft deep!

It’s considered one of the largest open pit mines in the world!

From the overlook, it looked like a massive terraced crater….the colors of the mine were amazing!

One of the most fascinating parts of its story is that the original town of Santa Rita once sat where the pit is today.

As the mine expanded, the town was moved multiple times….eventually, it was completely abandoned in 1967.

The huge mining equipment looked tiny against the scale of the pit.

There’s a famous rock formation called the “Kneeling Nun” that overlooks the mine.

The “Kneeling Nun” is about 1-2 miles from the mine pit…it often appears off to the side or above the mine. It’s a thin vertical spire that resembles a person kneeling in prayer.

We didn’t see it from the overlook.

Silver City (Historic, Southwest Town & Travel Base) – Where to Stay

After leaving here, we continued our drive to Silver City.…we were now only 30 mins from Silver City.

Finally, at around 7 pm, we arrived to our AirBnb.

We rented a one bed, one bath apartment that had been restored.

It was so cute and quaint!

We absolutely loved it!

It had so much character!

We were so excited to see that our host had left us a bag of chips and salsa because we were starving!

Atter sitting outside for a while, we called it a night.

If you only have 1 day to spend driving from Santa Fe to Silver City, here’s the best order to follow:

1. Elephant Butte State Park
2. Truth or Consequences
3. Gila National Forest
4. Santa Rita Mine
5. Silver City

This route gives you a mix of scenic landscapes, unique towns, and historic sites in one day.

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 6!

Read Day 1 here – Exploring New Mexico – Day 1 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025

Day 2  here – Exploring New Mexico – Day 2 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025

Day 3 here – Exploring New Mexico – Day 3 – Albuquerque to Sante Fe – Oct. 2025

Day 4 here – Exploring New Mexico – Day 4 – Santa Fe – Oct 2025

And click here to see links to all of my blog posts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

This post continues our journey through New Mexico.

Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here & Day 3 here and Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

Today, we had planned on visiting Bandelier National Monument however, due to the government shutdown, we had to move to plan B!

Tip: Bandelier National Monument is approx. 1 hr from Santa Fe….another great option  would be Taos, it’s 1.5 hrs from Santa Fe. A few other places that may be of  interest and are only 30 mins from Santa Fe are Tsankawi Prehistoric Site, Anderson Overlook, White Rock Overlook and Oppenheimer House.

This morning, before we found out that Bandelier was closed, we headed that way.

The scenery on the way there was breathtaking!

We saw so many unique rock formations!

Arriving to Bandelier

Yep, only to find out it was closed! 🙁

So, we headed to our next choice which was the Jemez Springs area.

Jemez Springs was another hours drive from Bandelier.

Our route took us along the Jemez Trail National Scenic Byway.

The views along this drive were gorgeous!

We stopped for a quick picture at a small overlook.

Continuing our drive

The Jemez Springs Scenic Byway winds through volcanic mountains, red rock canyons, ancient indigenous sites, and alpine forests, creating a drive that blends geology, history and outdoor adventure.

The byway was designated a National Scenic Byway in 1998 and showcases some of the most diverse landscapes in the American Southwest.

The byway is about 132-163 miles depending on the route you take and takes about 3 hours to drive without stopping.

Read reviews here & Click here to read about the stops you can do along this drive

Tip: The highlights along this drive are Valles Caldera National Preserve, a huge volcanic crater and Cabezon Peak, a dramatic volcanic plug rising from the desert plains.  There’s also the Gilman Tunnels which are rock tunnels that were blasted in the 1920’s for a logging railroad.

We couldn’t believe all of the beautiful fall colors in the trees!

I’m not sure why, but I wasn’t expecting to see fall colors in New Mexico!

After driving alongside this incredible canyon, we found a place to pullover so we could take a few pictures.

The views were spectacular!

Continuing our drive

We loved seeing all of the coniferous trees!

As we were driving, we spotted several elk so we pulled over to take a few pictures!

Valles Caldera National Preserve (summer/fall) and around Jemez Springs/Bandeller (winter).

Large herds congregate in the Valle Grande during autumn rut, while winter migration brings them down to lower elevations, including areas near Jemez Springs, often visible at dawn or dusk.

Read here about the animals that can be found in this area…you would be surprised!

There was hardly anyone else on this drive and that made it much more enjoyable and peaceful!

We spotted a sign that said we were now entering the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Valles Caldera National Preserve is a volcanic crater that lies atop a dormant supervolcano.This caldera, or volcanic crater, is a circular depression that is 12 to 15 miles in diameter with walls that stretch from a few hundred to over 2,000 feet above its floor.

The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams…..this is my kind of place!

As we continued our drive, the fall colors became more abundant, painting the mountainsides in shades of gold, orange and red!

It was so beautiful!

True to form, I couldn’t resist taking a picture of every single tree along the way! 😉

Sadly, you could see the remnants of past fires that had destroyed many trees.

We then passed a huge meadow …this area offers a range of activities from camping, to hiking, fishing, horseback riding, exploring historic cabins and prehistoric sites, mountain biking, ranger-led activities, and more.

There were several pull offs along the expansive meadow where you could view elk….this area has the 2nd largest elk population in New Mexico.

You can see several elk in this picture if you zoom in!

Sadly, this area was closed off due to the government shutdown! 🙁

We were now entering the Jemez National Recreation Area.

The Jemez National Recreation Area is a 57,650 acre scenic, volcanic landscape featuring red rock canyons, mesas and hot springs.

The views through this area were so beautiful.

Lots of beautiful fall colors dotted the mountainsides.

Around every curve was another breathtaking view!

This area definitely had the most color we had seen so far!

After spotting a grove of aspen trees, we pulled over to take a quick photo.

We then continued our drive where we spotted a pullover for the San Diego Canyon Overlook so we made another quick stop to check it out.

The walk to the overlook was on a paved trail that was  maybe 2/10th’s of a mile one way.

The overlook provided views of the surrounding canyon and forested landscape but the views were mostly obscured by the trees.

Tip: There were bathrooms and picnic tables located here

After leaving the overlook, we continued our drive where we passed a sign for Fenton Lake.…we had thought about checking it out but decided to pass.

Continuing our drive

Our next stop would be Jemez Springs Soda Dam.

There’s a parking lot right next to the dam.

Soda Dam is a natural rock formation. It is a unique geological feature formed by mineral rich hot springs that have deposited layers of calcium carbonate over time.  The result is a beautiful and intricate rock structure that resembles a dam.

The dam is approximately 50 feet tall, 300 feet in length and 50 ft wide at the base. It estimated to be 7,000 yrs old.

There’s a small waterfall that flows from the base of the dam.

The feature reminded me of similar rock formations that we had seen in Yellowstone National Park.

Of course, we had to take our pictures in front of the cool looking rocks! 😉

We climbed up inside the rocks to check out all of the cool formations in the rocks.

Views downstream from the dam

Views looking towards the parking lot

Soda Dam is surrounded by 15 springs with a maximum temperature reaching as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit! That’s 16-18 degrees hotter than the average hot tub!

As you probably guessed it, there is no swimming allowed here.

However, we did spot a small area that appeared to be where people would soak in the hot springs.

And we spotted this face on the rock near the “soaking” spot.

After leaving here, we continued our drive.

We spotted the Battleship Rock Picnic Site so decided to stop and have lunch.

Nothing better than leftover pizza! 😉

After lunch, we walked over to check out Battleship Rock.

Battleship Rock is a 200 ft volcanic tuff formation located in the Jemez Mountains.  It resembles the front of a battleship…

Tip: It’s known as the trailhead for the 4-mile roundtrip hike to McCauley Hot Springs.

After checking out the rock, we headed to the Jemez Falls trailhead.

The trailhead can be found at the Jemez Falls Campground about 15 mins from the Battleship Rock Picnic area.

Tip: There are lots of hiking trails in this area

The hike to the waterfall is only 0.8 miles roundtrip and the trail is flat so most anyone can hike it.

Arriving to the waterfall

With a drop of 70 ft, Jemez Falls is the highest waterfall in the Jemez Mountains.

The falls spill over a dark volcanic rock, framed by warm tones of yellow, rust and fading green.

The colors of fall were just beginning to make their appearance.

The falls were beautiful and so peaceful….we were the only ones there so that made it much more enjoyable!

After taking our pictures, we headed back to our car.

Our next stop would be the Jemez Historic Site which is 20 mins from the Jemez Falls Campground.

Unfortunately, it was closed due to the government shutdown!!  🙁

So, I had to take pictures from the gate.

The site includes the stone remnants of a 700 yr old village and the San Jose de los Jemez church dating to 1621! The village was built in the narrow San Diego Canyon by the ancestors of the present day people of Jemez Pueblo.

Read reviews here

Tip: Purchase tickets here …they are $7 for adults and free for children 16 and under

Directly across from the ruins was a beautiful church called, Mary Mother of Priests Church.

The church was built in 1962 on the site of an old hotel.

We then headed to our next stop, Spence Hot Springs.

On our way, we drove through the very small town of Jemez Springs.

There were a few restaurants, bakery, hot springs, & gas station.

After a few minutes of driving, we arrived to the parking lot for the hot springs.

The hike to the springs is about 1/2 mile …maybe a bit less. It’s one of the easiest hot springs hikes you will find in this area.

The trail was a bit rocky and can be muddy & slippery after a rain.

The trail took us down into a canyon where we had to cross a small, wooden bridge.

Arriving to the hot springs

The hot springs are tucked into the cliffs above a little canyon with gorgeous views!

There were a few people soaking in the springs but it wasn’t overly crowded.

We took off our shoes and climbed into the springs.

The water is only about 95 degrees but there is a small cave you can go into where the water was a bit warmer.

The springs are not very big so there’s really only room for a handful of people at a time, which means you might end up waiting your turn or sharing the space a little closer than you planned.

Tip: Go early in the morning or later in the evening to catch it at a quieter moment

A few more shots of the springs

After spending about an hour here, we headed back to our car.

It was late afternoon, so we decided to head back to Santa Fe.

The views along the way were gorgeous!

We passed the huge canyon again and decided to pullover to take a few pictures.

After making our way back to Santa Fe, we found parking and headed back to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi since it was closed the last time we had tried to visit.

The cathedral was built in the late 1800’s in a Romanesque Revival style, with big arches, stone blocks, and twin towers that were actually never completed.

It sits on a site that’s been used for worship since Santa Fe was founded in 1610, which means there’s been some kind of church here for over 400 years!

Even cooler, part of the original 1700’s adobe church is still tucked inside, like a hidden layer of history built right into the walls.

These beautiful doors look old but they were actually installed in the early 2000’s.

The huge bronze panels covered in tiny scenes and symbols feel like a story you can’t quite finish in one glance.

The inside is not flashy or over the top. It’s more like….quietly impressive.

It’s one of those places that feels grand and grounded at the same time.

The stained glass windows, some of them brought over from France, were gorgeous!

After checking out the church, we decided to walk around downtown Santa Fe.

I loved all of the architecture! The adobe buildings were so cool!

The markets and shops were so colorful!

I loved these painted pillars!

We passed the Loretto Chapel on our walk.

The outside of this church is beautiful…..very European, Gothic and totally unexpected in the middle of the Southwest.

It was built in the late 1800’s by the Sisters of Loretto for thier school, and it looks like it belongs somewhere in Paris instead of New Mexico.

I won’t go too deep into it here since I shared more in my last post, but it’s absolutely one of those can’t miss stops if you’re in Santa Fe.

Right beside the church, there was an outdoor market set up with all kinds of Southwest goods –jewelry, art, handmade pieces….the kind of place you “just browse” and somehow end up staying a while. 😉

After walking around for a while, we decided to go find something to eat.

We passed this statue along the way.

We ended up at the Ranch House restaurant.

The restaurant had a very casual vibe….nothing fancy, just comfortable in the best way.

The place is known for their barbecue but it’s not your typical one-note BBQ joint.

They mix Texas style smoked meats with New Mexican flavors. So, you will see brisket and ribs right next to enchiladas and burritos on the menu. 

My hubby ordered the brisket and pulled pork combo and I ordered the steak and shrimp combo.

The food was really good!

Read reviews here

After dinner, we headed back to our Airbnb and spent some time relaxing outside by the fire pit before calling it a night!

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 5!

Read Day 1 Exploring New Mexico – Day 1 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025

Day 2 here Exploring New Mexico – Day 2 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025

Day 3 here Exploring New Mexico – Day 3 – Albuquerque to Sante Fe – Oct. 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

This post continues our time in New Mexico!

Here is a link to Day 1: Exploring New Mexico – Day 1 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025

Here is a link to Day 2: Exploring New Mexico – Day 2 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025

To see links to all of my blog posts since 2018, click here

Today, we would be checking out of our hotel in Albuquerque and heading to our next destination, Santa Fe.

The drive to Santa Fe from Albuquerque takes approximately 1 hr if you take the shortest route.

However, we opted for the scenic route via the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway.

This route will usually take around 1.5 hrs without stops……it may take a little longer than driving the interstate, but I highly recommend it as it’s not only more scenic but there are several sites to see along the way.

As we were getting packed up to leave our hotel, we noticed lots of hot air balloons flying right outside our window!

Seeing the balloons right from our hotel window was the ONLY positive thing I can say about this place!! 🥴

After checking out, we headed to our car where we spotted several more balloons!

We continued to see many more as we were driving!

I was snapping pictures left and right!

It was so cool being able to see so many ….and for free! 😉

After a few minutes of driving, we spotted a Starbucks and decided to make a quick stop for coffee and a muffin.

We then continued our drive to Santa Fe.

Our route began with a short stretch on the interstate before taking exit 175, where we left I-40 and started our drive along the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway.

Tip: Near this exit you can see Travertine Falls, Carlito Springs Loop & Carlito Springs Open Space

Also located off of this exit is the Cibola National Forest and the Sandia Peak Gondola…..the longest gondola ride in America, takes you to Sandia Crest, rising nearly 10,500 ft above sea level! There’s also a cafe at the top.

The drive along the scenic byway had incredible views!

After a short drive, we arrived to our first stop of the day, a quirky little museum called Tinkertown.

It’s located 30 mins from Albuquerque.

Tip: The museum is located 25 mins drive from the top of Sandia Crest…. you can drive to the top of the mountain instead of taking the gondola.

To be honest, museums aren’t usually our thing, so I was a little reluctant to include this stop. Believe it or not, I hadn’t done any research beforehand; it was just a place recommended along the drive.

We pulled in and there were no other cars in the parking lot…..that’s never a good sign!

After getting parked, we headed to the entrance.

The walls were lined with old bottles.

After seeing some of the quirky displays outside the museum, my hesitation only grew. I found myself thinking this might end up being a waste of our time.

Once we got to the entrance, we paid our $6 admission fee and headed inside.

From the moment we stepped inside, it was clear — this place was the epitome of quirky!

After doing some research, here’s what I discovered.

This place was created over 40 years ago by artist Ross Ward and the museum is filled with hand carved miniature worlds along with other oddities.

We were amazed by this man’s creativeness, talent and imagination!

The walls are literally made from 50,000 glass bottles embedded in concrete, and every nook and cranny revealed something unexpected!

At the admission entrance, we had been encouraged to grab a few dollars’ worth of quarters to enjoy some of the coin operated displays.

We were glad we did because they were so cool!

This place was unlike any “museum” I had ever visited! It was so interesting and the story behind the owner was equally as interesting!

Ross Ward was a wildly imaginative and self taught artist whose lifelong obsession with carving, painting, and storytelling has become one of New Mexico’s most popular roadside attractions.

He started creating miniature scenes as a boy….his first subjects were circus figures and Old West Towns carved in wood.

For years he carved figures and scenes that he displayed at state fairs and traveling carnivals and worked as a sign and show painter for carnival attractions across the country.

He eventually settled in New Mexico in the late 1960’s and began concentrating on wood carving full time.

What started as a personal hobby in the 60’s evolved into a sprawling folk-art environment where hundreds of wood carved miniature figures depicting animated Western towns, circuses and old time scenes.

It took Ross Ward over 40 years to carve, collect, and lovingly construct what is now Tinkertown Museum.

The museum opened to the public in 1983 and continued expanding as Ross added new creations over the years.

Sadly, in 1998, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and eventually could no longer work…however, he continued expressing his creativity by turning his jeep into an art piece. He covered it in pennies and bottle caps before passing away in 2002 at the age of 62.

Some photos from the inside

The grounds also have lots of buildings and unique displays from his circus years.

One of the most unexpected and fascinating exhibits was a 35 ft wooden sailboat called Theodore R.

The sailboat was built in England in 1936 and later bought by Fritz Damler, Ross Ward’s brother in law.

In 1981, Fritz quit his job, traded in his house, and set off on an epic journey, sailing the boat around the world over the next ten years!

During that 10 years, he covered around 80,000 miles, navigating oceans, crossing the Panama Canal, rounding the Cape of Good Hope, and even exploring the Mediterranean before returning to the US in 1991!

The museum also has a gift shop where you can find quirky gifts, books, souvenirs and more!

After going through this museum, I can say that we definitely made a great decision by coming here and I highly recommend it!

Read reviews here

After leaving here, we continued our drive along the Turquoise Scenic Byway.

The views were incredible!

Our next stop would be Madrid...

Madrid is a tiny village perched in a narrow canyon of the Ortiz Mountains…a place that feels part Old West, part artsy bohemia.

It began as a coal mining town in the late 1800’s and became a town complete with wooden miner’s cabins and rail connections. When coal demand dried up after WWII, most of the residents left and the town faded, even being listed for sale in the 1950’s.

In the 70’s, artists and craftsman began moving into the abandoned buildings, revitalizing the town with galleries, studios, and unique shops.

After arriving to Madrid, our first stop was to find something to eat……we came up on a restaurant called, Mine Shaft Tavern and decided to try it out.

The Mine Shaft Tavern is one of the oldest continuously operated taverns in the area and is famous for its green Chile cheeseburgers and live music.

The inside of the restaurant was very neat!

Much of the interior has been preserved since its 1947 rebuild and it shows — from the long, 40 ft lodge pole pine bar that once served tired coal miners to the warm wood beams overhead that give the space a rustic, cozy feel.

After being seated, we took a few minutes to look over the menu.

We both decided on the bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and fresh mozzarella cheese on a ciabatta bun with a side of fries.

It was delicious!

Read reviews here

After lunch, we decided to take a stroll through the quirky little town.

Madrid is now a lively, walkable town of about a few hundred residents with more than 40 galleries and shops that are housed in colorful historic buildings that reflect both its mining past and its artistic present.

Click here for things to see/do in Madrid

We passed the Refinery ….it’s a cool little brunch spot.

We spotted the Madrid Old Coal Town Museum..

The museum is a little history stop that brings the town’s gritty coal mining past to life. It’s housed in original mining company buildings along Main Street.

The museum preserves artifacts, tools and machinery from the days when Madrid was a thriving coal camp.

One of the coolest features of the museum, is an old 1901 steam locomotive.

Read reviews here

We spotted a sign that told about all the things that Madrid was once famous for….such as Toyland and their Christmas light display.

Madrid’s Christmas lights were so popular that airlines rerouted their flights over the town so their passengers could see them. Walt Disney visited Toyland in 1936 inspiring him to create his own amusement park in 1955.

The town continues the tradition by putting on a day long celebration that features live performances, workshops and activities, holiday shopping, dazzling light displays and an annual Christmas parade.

Continuing our walk

We spotted so many quirky & creative shops!

We passed the Java Junction …..a coffee shop that also serves locally baked goods. The first floor of the cafe offers lodging as well.

We came up on Connie’s Photo Park.

Connie’s Photo park features hand painted wooden cutouts with face holes —letting you pose as everything from a cowboy or space alien to a 1960’s rocker or Old West character.

The park has no admission fee but there is a donation box nearby.

We thought it was so cool and a perfect way to capture the quirky, creative energy of Madrid!

We definitely couldn’t pass up having our pictures taken in front of some of the cut outs! 😉

Read reviews here

We then passed the Old Boarding House Mercantile.

Many of the buildings in Madrid date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The mercantile began its life as a boarding house and company store, providing a place where miners lived, shaped and gathered during Madrid’s heyday.

Today, the store embraces that history while offering a curated selection of goods —from snacks and basic groceries to local gifts, souvenirs, and unique finds that reflect Madrid’s creative spirit.

You may even recognize the mercantile from the movie, Wild Hogs….Madrid’s old timey storefronts have made the town a favorite backdrop for movies.

Speaking of the movie Wild Hogs, you may also recognize this building ….Maggie’s Diner.

It was built just for the movie.

It’s not really a diner…..it’s a souvenir shop…..They have a ton of t-shirts to pick from along with other merchandise.

The inside still looks like it did when it was built for the movie..

The last place we headed before heading to our next stop was a chocolate store we had seen earlier.

We love chocolate so we always try out local chocolate stores whenever we can! 😉

The name of the place is called, Shugarman’s Little Chocolate shop.

The chocolate shop is known for its handmade chocolates, truffles, barks and confections.

They are crafted with organic, fair trade ingredients …..and ya’ll know I love that!

They had all kinds of unique flavors like dark chocolate with green chili and cashews or hibiscus ginger white chocolate.

The staff was very friendly and helped us choose something delicious by allowing us to sample some of the chocolates.

We ended up purchasing about 1.5 lbs of chocolate and didn’t notice the sign on the wall that said the cost was $15.50 per 1/4 lb!! Yikes!!!

It was really good, high quality chocolate but I would never spend that much on chocolate again!!

Read reviews here

After buying our expensive chocolate, we continued our drive.

We stopped along the way to take pictures of the incredible views!

We passed these cool looking art installations along the way..

We came to signs that pointed to Cerrillos Hills State Park so decided to check it out.

On the way, we passed the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. 

This is one of the most prominent historic buildings in Los Cerrillos.

The original parish church was built around 1884 during the height of the mining boom. As the town grew, so did the need for a larger building so in 1922, the current church was completed.

Click here for things to see/do in Los Cerrillos

We spotted this huge tree near the church!

This place looked like a ghost town! We didn’t see anyone around!

I later read that the town only has a population of about 100 people.

The buildings looked old and run down…..many of them date back to the late 1800’s.

Tip: The town/are was used as a backdrop for the movie Young Guns.

As we were heading to the Cerrillos Hills State Park, we passed an old cemetery so decided to check it out.

It was all grown up with grass so we snapped a few pictures and continued our drive.

Cerrillos Hills State Park is not your typical park with lakes or campgrounds. It’s a historic, natural landscape of rolling juniper hills, historic mine sites and interpretive trails where you can see old mine shafts and prospect pits once worked by Native Americans, Spanish colonists and 19th century miners.

The park is approx. 1100 acres and features about 5 miles of trails ….the trails wander through landscapes and are dotted with signs that explain the mining history and offer views of the surrounding mountains.

The road into the park was a mix of dirt and gravel and very dusty!

I had a couple of hiking trails on the list but decided against them because it felt so remote and desolate.

So, we headed back towards town where we spotted a sign that pointed to the Casa Grande Trading Post and Mining Museum so we decided to go check it out.

In front of the store, vintage mining equipment was displayed like an open air museum.

Located next to the store was a small petting zoo.

After checking out the petting zoo, we headed inside the store.

The trading post is much more than a souvenir shop — it’s a sprawling 28 room adobe building built by Todd & Patricia Brown in 1975 using 65,000 handmade adobe bricks!

What started as their home grew into a roadside destination filled with history, art and Southwestern flair that perfectly fits the character of this old mining town.

The place was packed full of unique rocks, handmade sterling silver jewelry and rare Cerrillos turquoise from the Brown family’s own Little Chalchihuit mine claim, minerals, vintage bottles, and curios you won’t find anywhere else.

My husband was in rock heaven lol….he loves rocks but shhhhh don’t tell him I told you that! 😉

You can also access the museum from the store….however, it costs $4 to enter.

The museum featured tons of mining equipment, such as tools, relics, old photos and much more…..we passed on the museum.

I had never seen so many different types of rocks!

Turquoise has been mined for centuries in this area…..archaeological evidence shows people began extracting turquoise as early as the 10th century (around 900 AD).

Jewelry companies, including Tiffany & Co., took an interest in Cerrillos turquoise enough to market it in New York ….this helped elevate the stone’s profile nationally.

The Casa Grande Trading Post & Mining Museum has been featured in many publications and on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow.

We both picked out a piece of locally made jewelry to purchase and then headed to our next stop.

Read reviews here

After leaving here, we continued our drive to Santa Fe.

We arrived to Santa Fe about 30 mins later.

The trees were changing colors….it was so pretty!

Driving around the town

Santa Fe known as “The City Different,” is the nation’s oldest state capital. It’s celebrated for its rich blend of Native American, Spanish, and Anglo cultures, distinctive adobe architecture, and world-renowned art scene.

After finally finding a parking spot, we began our walk through town.

We had a couple of churches on our list to see so that’s where we headed.

The first one we came to was called, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

The church was built between 1869 and 1886.

Unlike the traditional adobe buildings around downtown, the cathedral was designed in a striking Romanesque Revival style.

French architects and Italian stone masons were brought in to build it’s sandstone walls, rounded arches, Corinthian columns and rose windows.

Two towers rise from the facade but were originally intended to be topped with taller steeples that were never built due to budget constraints.

Above the entrance, a stained glass dove window — a replica of the one in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, was added in 2005.Read reviews for the church, here

Since the church was closed when we arrived, we walked a short distance to the next church on our list called, Loretto Chapel.

This church was built in 1873 through 1878 using sandstone quarried locally around Santa Fe.

It’s a Gothic Revival style church that was inspired in part by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris.…the stained glass windows were imported from France.

Since the church is opened 364 days a year and operates as a private museum, we decided to go inside and check it out.

Tip: There is a $5 admission fee to visit the museum

After paying the entrance fee, the first thing we spotted was a model of the famous staircase.

The chapel is well known for its “miraculous staircase“.

It is said that when the chapel was completed in 1878, builders realized it lacked any practical way to reach the choir loft — a platform about 20 ft above the floor.

According to the story that has by been passed down by the sisters, they had prayed for 9 days for a solution and on the 9th day, a mysterious carpenter appeared at the chapel with only a few simple tools and built a staircase to reach the loft.

The reason why it’s so special is that there is no central support or newel post…its stability comes from its shape and the way segments were joined.

It makes two full 360 degree turns as it rises to the loft. The staircase is held together primarily by wooden pegs with no nails or glue.

When it was first built, the staircase had no railing as you can see in this picture….the railing wasn’t added until 1887.

The chapel is very small on the inside and not as elaborate as most Catholic Churches we have visited.

Still beautiful nonetheless

Read reviews here

After leaving here, we headed to another nearby church called, San Miguel Church.

San Miguel Church is a small but incredibly historic Spanish colonial church that many consider to be the oldest church building in the continental US still standing and in use.

The original sanctuary was built around 1610.

It was partly destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 but was rebuilt in 1710 on the same site.

The church is built of thick adobe walls in a simple Spanish mission style.

Read reviews here

The church was closed when we arrived so we couldn’t go inside but right beside the church was the oldest house & museum so we decided to check it out.

The De Vargas Street House, now known as the “oldest house” in Santa Fe is said to have been built sometime around 1610, when Santa Fe was established as the capital of New Mexico.

Local legend holds that parts of the house rest on the foundation of an ancient Native American pueblo going back as far as the 1200’s CE — long before Spanish settlement.

Archaeologists and historians have found sections of puddled adobe walls that were typical of pre Spanish Pueblo construction, suggesting a very long footprint of habitation at the site.

Tree ring dating on wooden ceiling beams in parts of the house indicate wood cut between 1740 and 1767.

The house’s interior is made up of thick adobe walls that gave the rooms a cave like feel.

The ceilings were supported by exposed wood beams ….some of the beams are original and date back to the mid 1700’s.

Inside the house there were historical displays, artifacts, and period style objects illustrating life in early Santa Fe.

The upper story isn’t original and was rebuilt in the 1920’s ….it wasn’t open to visitors.

There were old pictures that lined the wall showing what it looked like years ago.

After checking out the house, we walked around the gift shop for a few minutes looking for a t-shirt.

Not finding what we wanted here, we headed out to find another souvenir shop to purchase our usual souvenirs …..a t-shirt and coffee cup.

Read reviews for the old house, here

After making our purchase, we spotted a restaurant called, Upper Crust Pizza and decided to try it out.

We walked  inside and took a few minutes trying to decide what to order ….everything sounded so good!

After making our decision, we headed outside and grabbed a table on the deck.

Is it just me, or does food always taste better when you’re eating it al fresco? 😉

It’s one of our favorite things to do when we travel…..soaking up the sun and scenery while we enjoy a good meal.

After waiting about 20 minutes, our pizza was ready ….we couldn’t believe the size of this thing!

Not only was it huge, it was loaded with delicious toppings!

It was so good!

Read reviews here

After enjoying dinner, we headed back to our car and set off to our Airbnb.

We had booked Airbnb’s for the remainder of our trip so no more Motel 6’s!! 😉

After a short drive, we arrived to our Airbnb called the La Casa Louisa.

The house was very clean and nice!

It had a nice modern kitchen, a large living room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a really nice outdoors space.

After getting settled in, we enjoyed some of the delicious chocolate that we had purchased from Shugarman’s Little Chocolate Shop.

Later, we headed outside and spent some time by the outdoor fire pit.

It was such a beautiful night!

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 4.

Read Days 1 & 2 below:

Exploring New Mexico – Day 1 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025

Exploring New Mexico – Day 2 – Albuquerque – Oct 2025

Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

This post continues our time in Albuquerque…Our travel dates were Oct. 4 – 11.

Read Day 1 here & Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

We were up bright and early to arrive at the hot air balloon festival before the mass ascension kicked off at 7 am.

Mass ascension is when all 500+ balloons launch from the Balloon Fiesta Park. It usually takes about 2 hours for all the balloons to launch.

We had heard that if you didn’t leave early enough, you could get stuck in traffic for up to two hours!

Click here to read about the festival’s park & ride if you’re not interested in driving yourself

A photo of the schedule of events.….we attended the festival on Oct. 5th.

After getting dressed, we headed out around 5:30 am.

Our hotel was located 10 mins from the Balloon Fiesta Park….we were pleasantly surprised when it only took us 25 mins to get to the park.

There were police everywhere directing traffic….they definitely had it down to a science!

Tip: The cost to park is $20 & it’s cash only

We had made it early enough to see part of the drone show.

After being directed on where to park, we headed to the entrance gate.

It was cold and the walk to the front gate took approx. 10 mins from the parking lot.

Tip: Take a picture of where you park because the parking lots are huge!

Finally arriving to the entrance….

The crowds were insane!

Tip: Be sure to purchase your tickets online so you don’t end up standing in long lines to purchase them.

At 6 am, the Dawn Patrol show kicked off….the is one of the signature early morning events at the festival. It’s where a small group of specially selected balloon pilots inflate and launch their balloons while it’s still dark, creating a magical glow against the pre-dawn sky.

The dawn patrol originally started in 1978 when balloonists developed lighting systems to fly in the dark.

Dawn Patrol serves a practical purpose as well;  those early balloons give pilots on the ground a sense of the wind speeds and directions at different altitudes before hundreds more balloons lift off for the mass ascension.

On mass ascension mornings, the dawn patrol show — often choreographed with music – begins with inflation around 5;45 am and launches shortly after sunrise….so get there early if you want to see it!

It was so beautiful!

Tip: There is no guarantee that the balloons will be inflated …..it’s all dependent upon the weather….and the day before we arrived, none of the balloons were able to ascend due to the weather.

At 6:30 am, the Krispy Kreme Morning Glow started.

The morning glow is a pre mass ascension glow event ….It’s a group of balloons that are inflated and tethered to the ground and then lit up like giant lanterns.

Pilots fire their burners so the colorful balloons light up against the early morning sky.

I wanted to get as close to the balloons as possible so we pushed our way through the crowds to get to the balloons so we could watch them being inflated.

Balloon Fiesta park consists of  360 acres….the grassy area, where the balloons are launched, is 80 acres.

We couldn’t believe how many people were there!

Tip: There are very few places to sit so you will either have to stand or you can bring blankets and/or chairs. You can also bring in food….no glass or alcohol is allowed. No smoking or pets unless it’s a service animal. Click here for frequently asked questions about the festival

Attending the balloon festival for the first time was unlike anything we had ever experienced. Instead of watching from a distance, we found ourselves walking right among the balloons as they were laid out across the field!

It was so cool!

The balloons towered overhead as they inflated, their colors growing brighter with every blast of fire!

Everywhere we turned, another balloon was taking shape…..some classic and elegant, others playful and whimsical  — all preparing to rise at once.

When the launches began, it felt almost surreal. Balloons lifted off one by one, drifting gracefully upward until the sky slowly filled with color.

Looking up and then back across the field, we were surrounded — balloons overhead, balloons beside us, balloons still inflating behind us. There was no single “best” place to stand as the magic was everywhere!

Walking among the balloons and watching them ascend from just a few feet away is an experience that’s both peaceful and awe inspiring ….and one we will never forget!

The balloons dotted the sky like a handful of skittles tossed into the air!

We couldn’t stop taking pictures of all the unique balloons!

Of course, we couldn’t resist taking our photos with all the balloons in the background.

Walking around the field taking pictures of the balloons.

After walking around for about 3 hrs, we decided to grab something for breakfast.

There were tons of food vendors set up at the festival!

We decided on a muffin and coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts.

After enjoying our breakfast, we walked over to check out the remote control balloons.

They were really cool to watch.

We then decided to leave and head to our next stop of the day.

A few more pictures of the hot air balloons

The festival is divided into two sessions….a morning session which is typically from 4:30 am to 11 am and the evening session, which is usually from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Each session has their own different experiences ….however, check the schedule because evening sessions happen on select days over the event’s 9 day run.

If you purchase a ticket for the morning session and leave the park, you will have to pay again if you come back for the later session. If you purchase the morning session and don’t leave the park, you can see both morning and afternoon sessions.

As we were leaving the park, we spotted these two signs and couldn’t pass up getting a photo in front of them!

We also spotted the festival’s official merchandise tent so we couldn’t leave without purchasing a t-shirt!

After our purchase, we headed to our car.

A map of the park

Another sign we spotted on the way out

The entrance gate was now a lot less crowded as we were leaving!

Our next stop would be El Malpais National Monument.

El Malpais is famous for its lava flows, cinder cones and sandstone bluffs.

The drive would take 1 hr 15 mins.

As we were driving, we realized that we were driving alongside an old lava flow!

The lava flows in this region were created by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago.

These lava flows stretch across a broad area creating a vast terrain of black basalt rock.

Arriving to El Malpais…

Our first stop would be the Sandstone Bluffs.

The Sandstone Bluffs in El Malpais are a striking geologic and scenic feature on the eastern edge of the monument where ancient sedimentary rocks form high cliffs and overlooks the volcanic terrain below.

The bluffs are layers of sandstone that formed long before the volcanic eruptions that created much of El Malpais. These rocks were laid down during the Late Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs walked the area.

The bluffs sit high above the lava flows and provide one of the few panoramic overlooks in the monument, showing dark basalt lava fields below and distant peaks like Mount Taylor on the horizon.

These lava flows are from 2500-3000 years ago and the overlook gives sweeping views of the flow that appeared to go on for miles!

There are no formal trails here but you can walk along the cliff tops and around the sandstone exposures. However, be very cautious of steep drop offs!

These rock depressions, called Tinaja, hold water and support wildlife and insects in the area.

Tip: There are restrooms and picnic tables located at the bluffs

The rock formations here were really cool!

There were cacti everywhere!

Of course, we couldn’t leave without taking a few photos in this stunning area! 😉

A few more shots of the area

After leaving here, we headed to our next stop but pulled over when we spotted these old ruins.

There were no signs explaining what the structure used to be but after doing some research, it’s most likely an old homestead.

Settlers and ranchers moved into the area after the U.S. acquired the territory in the 19th century.

Small stone or adobe houses were built, often near water sources or flat land for grazing livestock.

Many of these structures were abandoned as families moved on, leaving behind stone foundations, partial walls and collapsed roofs.

After leaving here, we continued our drive.

The area is incredible!

We passed the sign pointing to the Acoma Zuni Trailhead. The trail is 7.5 miles one way and traverses over old lava flows.

The road wound through towering sandstone formations!

Our next stop would be the La Ventana Arch.

The trail to the arch is only 1/4 mile one way on a gravel trail.

There are signs along the trail that tell you about the area.

We saw lots of flowers and cacti along the short trail.

Arriving to the arch…you have to look closely to make it out!

La Ventana arch is one of New Mexico’s largest natural arches!

Wind and water eroded away the softer parts of the sandstone cliff, leaving behind a spectacular arch tucked away in a small canyon.

I wanted to walk further to get a better shot of the arch but there was a small wooden fence preventing us from going any further. 🙁

After leaving here, we continued our drive.

As we were driving, we started seeing the rugged, black rock that was created by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago..

So, we pulled over to get a closer look.

The stark black lava fields were formed when molten basalt lava welled up from deep beneath the earth’s crust.

Some of these flows are ancient while others, like the McCarty’s Flow, are only about 3,900 years old.

It was so cool to see it up close!

Click here to read all about the lava flows in this area and the cinder cones

After taking several pictures, we continued our drive.

We passed so many incredible rock formations!

After driving for a while, we decided to turn around and head back to Albuquerque.

We had spent approx. 2 hrs in this area but there’s several things we didn’t get to see due to running out of time….like the lava tubes, cinder cones, hikes such as the El Calderon trail and more.

We passed the entrance to the visitor’s center and decided to pullover to take a photo in front of the park’s sign.

After our quick photo, we continued our drive.

Passing more lava on the way

It was right next to the road!

After seeing a sign for Old Rte 66, we decided to take a short detour and drive the old route.

The detour was only like 3 miles long and then put us back on the interstate.

After arriving back in Albuquerque, we headed back to Old Town to walk around.

View a map of Old Town here

On Sundays in Old Town Plaza, vendors set up along the sidewalk and sell their handmade jewelry, crafts and other local goods. This is part of what’s called the Old Town Portal Market—a longstanding artisan market along the east side of the plaza.

There was a lot more activity going on today than there was yesterday.

We saw lots of low riders, motorcycles, and antique cars cruising around the small square.

We also discovered that on Sundays, they have Salsa dancers that perform in the gazebo.

These are local dancers and visitors alike that gather to dance to Latin music.

Every 2nd and 4th Sunday, the Tango Club of Albuquerque hosts a traditional Argentine tango dance event.

We hung out at the gazebo for a while watching the dancers glide across the stage with such effortless grace.

After leaving here, we noticed that the doors were open to the San Felipe de Neri Church so we decided to take a peek inside.

Inside was very simple, with thick adobe walls, wooden beams overhead, and a beautiful old altar.

Part of the church was set up like a museum and displayed historic items from the church..

After exiting the church, we saw a stand set up selling fry bread so we just had to try it!

Fry bread is basically dough that is made from flour, salt, water and baking powder and fried until puffy and golden.

It is deeply rooted in history, originating as a staple for Navajo and other tribes during forced relocation, and is frequently served at powwows or as “Navajo tacos” topped with beans, meat, and cheese. 

We first had these when we visited South Dakota in 2024, but they were topped with beans, meat and cheese…..these were fried and served with honey and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

They were just ok…they would have been better had they been served hot and we couldn’t find any honey to put on them.

After eating our fry bread, we continued our walk, checking out shops along the way, browsing colorful pottery, handmade jewelry and local art.

The shops were full of colorful merchandise! So many cool and unique items.

After browsing the stores, we headed to the nearby Sawmill Market to have dinner.

The walk from Old Town Plaza to the market took approx. 15 mins.

We passed the statue of Don Francisco Cuervo Y Valdes who was the founder of Albuquerque in 1706.

Arriving to the market

The Sawmill Market is a mix of food stalls, local art and unique shops.

The market was buzzing with energy as we walked through…this is a popular place in Albuquerque and you could tell by the crowds.

We wandered through the market trying to decide what to eat.

See a list of the restaurants here & read reviews for the market here

We settled on burgers from a place called Dr. Field Goods.

I wasn’t impressed….the burger was way too salty and I ended up not eating half of it.

Read reviews here

After we ate, we checked out the desserts from some of the vendors, and wow, did they look amazing! — but, we decided to skip dessert and head back to our car.

On the way back to our car, we passed the Black Bird Coffee House and decided to stop in and order a coffee.

The place was really cool on the inside.

I ended up ordering a vanilla latte and I can’t remember what the hubby ordered but the coffee was really good!

Read reviews here

After getting our coffee, we headed to our car.

My hubby was ready to head back to the hotel but I really wanted to go back to the hot air balloon festival because that’s what we had planned our trip around….in the end, I won and we headed back to the Balloon Fiesta Park. 😉

Not to mention, I was in no hurry to get back to that hotel..…yuck!

On the way to the park, I spotted the moon and it looked huge!

I later discovered that it was a super moon!

I was trying to snap pictures as we were driving!

We arrived back to the park around 6:45 pm and had to pay another $20 to park.

Tip: Don’t forget, they only accept cash to park.

After getting parked, we made the decision to just stand along the fence and watch from a distance instead of paying to go back inside the park.

We actually had better views alongside the fence!

We arrived just as the Balloon Glow was going on ….

The balloon glow is one of the signature events at the festival….it’s where dozens of hot air balloons are inflated on the ground, then their burners are lit in sync.

The balloons glowed like huge, colorful lanterns against the dark sky!

After the balloon glow, the next scheduled event was the skydivers!

The guys jumped from the plane and ignited fireworks mid-air, putting on an unforgettable display!!

It was incredible to watch!!

Next, was the drone light show….it too, was very cool!

The drone light show is a high tech spectacle where hundreds of LED equipped drones fly in synchronized patterns, lighting up the sky with shapes, colors and even iconic New Mexico symbols.

The drones are programmed to move together like a giant floating light painting — creating an amazing visual show!

The next and final event was the fireworks, and what a spectacular show it was!

Bright colors filled the sky!

These were some of the most unique fireworks we had ever seen!

Definitely a perfect ending to the festival —  bright, beautiful, and unforgettable!

I am so glad we decided to go back and watch the night time events….I highly recommend both the day and night time sessions!!

After the fireworks, we headed back to our hotel and called it a night!

Read reviews for the hot air balloon festival, here

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 3!

Read Day 1 here 

Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

We finally made it a place that has been on our bucket list for a while now….New Mexico!

The main reason we’ve been eager to visit New Mexico is to experience their annual hot air balloon festival.….so, we planned our trip around that event.

Click here for the 17 most beautiful places to visit in New Mexico

We flew out on Oct. 4th and landed in Albuquerque around 2 pm that afternoon.

Shots from the plane

After landing and picking up our rental car, we headed to our first stop of the day, the Petroglyph National Monument.

The Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago.

The drive there from the airport would take 20 minutes.

After arriving we discovered that the visitor’s center was closed due to the government shut down! 🙁

Thinking the petroglyphs were located here, we parked the car and walked to the visitor center.

We spent a few minutes walking around and reading some of the informational signs outside of the visitor center.

We kept looking for a trail to the petroglyphs but later realized, they were located about a 5 min drive in the Boca Negra Canyon.

Tip: There are two other canyons where you can see petroglyphs …Rinconada, and Piedras Marcadas Canyons. Riinconada is 4 mins from the visitor center & Piedras is 15 mins. If you only have time for one, make it Piedras as you will see over 400 petroglyphs at this canyon. There is also the Volcanoes Day use area where you can see 5 cinder cone volcanoes but no petroglyphs.

Stopping for a quick photo at the park’s sign.

After arriving to Boca Negra Canyon, we were told the canyon was closed…I politely asked if we could go in and hike a short trail to see some petroglyphs.

Thankfully, the employee was nice enough to let us in.

This had nothing to do with the government shut down…the canyon closed at 4:30 pm with the last entry being at 4 and we arrived a couple of minutes after 4.

This unit of Petroglyph National Monument is owned, staffed, and managed by the City of Albuquerque.

After getting parked at the trailhead, we began our walk along the trail.

This canyon provides quick and easy access to three self-guided trails, (Mesa Point, Macaw, and Cliff Base) where you can view approximately 100 petroglyphs.

Although each trail is very short, they vary in difficulty as follows: Mesa Point – strenuous, Macaw – moderate, Cliff Base – moderate. It takes approx. 1 hr to walk all three trails.

We walked along the Macaw trail and saw several petroglyphs.

The majority of these petroglyphs were made by the ancestors of modern Pueblo people.

The ancestral Puebloans made petroglyphs by carefully removing the desert varnish with hand held stone tools which exposed the lighter color of the basalt’s interior.

After centuries of exposure, older images oxidize and this darkening confirms their authenticity and great age.

Archeologists refer to these images as being made in the Rio Grande style. This style developed rather suddenly around A.D. 1300, coinciding with a dramatic increase in the local population and the construction of many pueblo villages along the Rio Grande.

The views were beautiful, dotted with bright yellow flowers growing among the rocky landscape.

Walking along the trail

There were several signs along the trail that told about the petroglyphs, vegetation & landscape.

Discovering some of the petroglyphs felt like an Easter egg hunt, hidden. among the rocks!

We saw lots of unique plants and flowers.

A view of the canyon

After much walking, we found ourselves on the Cliff Base Trail.

Archeologists believe these petroglyphs were created between 1000 BC – AD 1700 based on radiocarbon and tree ring dating.

Petroglyphs along the trail

At 4:20, the ranger, using a megaphone, announced that we had 10 mins before the gates closed.

So, we started our walk back towards our car.

Tip: There are bathrooms located here

Read reviews here

After leaving here, we headed to our next stop, Old Town Albuquerque.

The drive from the canyon took approx. 15 mins.

After finding parking, we had to scan a QR code and pay for parking…it costs approx. $12. We parked at 5 pm and it ended at 11:59 pm.

We then began our walk around Old Town.

Old Town is the historic heart of the city and feels like stepping back in time.

Founded in 1706, this charming area is centered around a traditional Spanish plaza, where adobe buildings, shaded portals, and brick pathways tell the story of New Mexico’s deep cultural roots.

At the center of Old Town is San Felipe de Neri Church, a striking adobe church that has stood for centuries and remains an active place of worship.

The first church was built in 1718 but collapsed in 1792 after a very rainy summer.

The church that stands here today was built in 1793. The church, in the shape of a cross, was constructed of adobe; the walls are 5 feet thick. Except for its tin ceiling, brick floor, and south entrance, today’s church is the same structure as in 1793.

Surrounding the plaza, you’ll find a mix of local shops, galleries, and museums, many showcasing Native American jewelry, pottery, art and much more.

One of the best parts of Old Town is simply wandering the streets.

There is a lot of activity going on in this area….we saw lots of antique cars cruising around the town square.

The scent of Chile drifts through the air, and every corner seems to offer a photo worthy moment.

After walking around for a while, we decided to find something to eat.

My hubby asked a local what restaurant he would recommend and he told us the Church Street Cafe.…..so, that’s where we headed.

It was about a 5 min walk from the old town square.

Once we arrived, we were seated right away.

The restaurant was really cool on the inside!

Trying to decide what to order.….so many choices!

The restaurant offered authentic Mexican food.

We started out with chips and salsa…..the salsa was too hot for me!

Click here to read about what foods you must try when visiting New Mexico

I decided on the chicken enchiladas & I can’t remember what my hubby ordered…I think it was the soft tacos.

Each meal came with beans and rice and sopapillas with honey.

The food was really good but too spicy for my liking. 😉

Read reviews here

After dinner, we continued our walk around Old Town.

We spotted this car parked near the gazebo...

Located directly in the center of Old Town Plaza, the gazebo is one of the focal points of Old Town.

There is usually something always going on at the gazebo on the weekends.

Continuing our walk around Old Town

This place is definitely crowded on weekends!

Click here for a complete guide of Old Town

Chilies were hanging everywhere!

We headed inside a souvenir shop to find our usual souvenirs…..a T-shirt and coffee cup.

My hubby found a hat he wanted to purchase 😉

After making our purchase, we continued our walk and spotted this beautiful alley where the walls were covered in vines and red chilies.

It was so beautiful!

As we continued our walk, we spotted the patio market and decided to check it out.

The patio market is shops that are located in a tranquil garden setting.

After checking out some of the shops, we headed back out to continue our walk in Old Town.

We absolutely loved the colorful adobe architecture!

After spending a couple of hours here, we decided to head to our hotel.

Read reviews for Old Town Plaza here

As we were walking back to our car, we spotted this old San Felipe School that was founded in 1881.

Our hotel was located approx. 10 mins from Old Town.

Ok, this is where I made the biggest mistake in planning our trip!!

Since we were here for the hot air balloon festival, I had tried to find a hotel that was close to the Balloon Fiesta Park, where they hold the festival.

I had initially booked a hotel called, Hotel Zazz located on Route 66 but realized  later it was a 20 min drive from the Balloon Fiesta park.…I also researched the location of the hotel, and learned that it wasn’t in a safe area so I canceled.

I found a Motel 6 that was only a 10 min drive from the park so I booked that instead.

Click here , here & here for closest hotels to the park

I had also read how horrible the traffic would be to the festival and that it was best to stay somewhere close to the park.

Ok, so anyways, I booked a room at the Motel 6 North (on Pan American Freeway) and as soon as we walked in the door, I wanted to walk out!

I never book stays at Motel 6 but it was considered a 4 star hotel and had mostly good reviews on Booking.com.

I won’t go into details but after checking in, we headed to our room.

After getting to our room, I had to use the light on my phone to find a light switch that actually worked!

We found one light in the entire room that worked….and another one that flickered!

The entire place reeked of cigarette smoke even though it was a non smoking property!

The bathroom was so gross that I didn’t want to set foot on the floor….all I can say is, if I hadn’t been feeling bad, I would have been running out of this place!

Note to self….never book a Motel 6 again!!

Read reviews here

After inspecting the bed for any signs of bugs, we called it a night! 😉

Tip: Just an FYI – New Mexico is a high elevation state …Much of the state sits well above sea level, which can affect how you feel — especially if you’re coming from lower elevations. So, please be mindful of that. I had a terrible headache the first day due to the elevation.

Read here & here on how to prepare for higher elevations

Click here, here & here for the best things to do in Albuquerque

Stay tuned for Day 2!

Click here to find links to all of my blog posts