We drove from Kansas City and did not have any trouble finding places to stay, as I recall. I did refer to my Garmin. I will check with my son and post anything he would recommend. In the meantime, I will include here some of my notes from the trip. I hope I don't bore anyone.moderne wrote: Thanks, wondered if there was something I missed. I have been in the Valles Caldera, which I think would be termed a supervolcano, and bathed in the fantstic Jemez Hot Springs on its flank. I have been all over New Mexico, but never to Taos or the Capulin area. I would like to do a road trip there sometime as the area interests me especially following the route of the old Santa Fe Trail. It seems like driving from KC to Taos or even Raton in one day would be too much. Are there any towns with lodging in northeast New Mexico? Looks quite vacant between Liberal and Raton.
My son had sent the following note a few days earlier as a malleable itinerary (Albuquerque and then Santa Fe turned out to be last):
[-------------
Here's a rough list. I haven't pinned down times yet, as it's hard to tell where we'll be day to day. Maybe we could do Albuquerque before we head back (just one option).
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Possible places to visit; rough route goes in counter-clockwise circle in northern NM; (Towns are in para's)
- - -
(Boise City/Guymon OK, Liberal KS; places to stay first night)
Black Mesa area, Ok (drive-thru)
Capulin Volcano NM
(Taos)
Rio Grande Gorge
(Santa Fe)
(Los Alamos)
Bandelier NM
Valles Caldera
Chaco Canyon
Zuni-Banderas lava flow
(Albuquerque)
Petroglyphs
Sandia Peak
Turquois Trail
More as we find out about them along the way.
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Here's what we really did:
Sat 9/19/09
Got up early in the morning, drove to Guymon, Oklahoma, and stayed at a Best Western.
Sun 9/20/09
Drove to New Mexico. Went to Capulin Volcano National Monument, walked up to and around the crater and then went down to the bottom, seeing bunches of lava boulders. Drove to Taos and stayed at Days Inn.
Mon 9/21/09
Spent some time in Taos. Drove on Highway 64 and saw a lot of nice things. First stop was at the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. Went on, through Bandelier National Monument. Drove to Los Alamos and found a place to stay mid-afternoon. (I think it was the Best Western Hilltop House Hotel, but possibly not. I remember giant windows in the dining room.) It turned very cold in the evening.
Tue 9/22/09
(The unexpected cold altered my son's plans for the day.) Breakfast was in a giant room on the third floor with windows all over. Sunlight flooded the room. There was all kinds of food. We left Los Alamos and drove to Bandalier Monument, Tsankawi section. We paid $12 and got the change in gold dollar coins. We spent most of the day there. (The pictures I have posted so far are up to this point.) Then we drove to the visitor center area, walked the loop and saw a bunch of cave dwellings. Later in the day, we drove toward Santa Fe, stopping at Cities of Gold hotel and casino. (For the hotel part, not the casino, although I'm sure it was fine.)
Wed 9/23/09
We left Cities of Gold and drove on Highway 4 most of the day, driving through the Jemez Mountains. Drove into the Valles Caldera and saw a soda dam. (I have no idea now what that means.) Drove to Albuquerque and visited the Petroglyph Monument. Stayed at Microtel. (Microtel is my favorite place to stay. It is always very nice and it is affordable.)
9/24/09
Went to El Malpais National Monument and walked on a few trails. Came back to the same Microtel and washed clothes, as they had a nice laundry room. Stayed there again.
Fri 9/25/09
Visited a friend who lives in Albuquerque. Stayed a third night at the Microtel.
Sat 9/26/09
Drove to Santa Fe. Interesting place. Saw lots of artwork. Very nice. Lots of fossils, gemstones, and rocks. Began long drive home. Stopped at a Microtel in Raton, NM.
Sun 9/27/09
Left Raton and drove home to Kansas City.