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Old 01-15-2017, 01:18 PM   #1
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Heading to Santa Fe, Carlsbad and beyond

The wife, dog and I are leaving Larkspur, CO and heading south towards Santa Fe, Carlsbad, then over to AZ to see friends. We have never spent any time in Santa Fe, Carlsbad, ... NM and are looking for any must see, dine at, CG's, hidden gems we should stop and enjoy. Your recommendations are appreciated. This is my first trip out since being diagnosed with cancer (multiple myeloma) and completing my chemo and stem cell transplant last Sept. We leave Tues unless weather delays us. Thanks

Life is good,
Allan & Vicki
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Old 01-16-2017, 03:49 PM   #2
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Welcome back and wishes for good health and happy travels. Can't help on your request but following along for my future visit to that area.
Dave in WV
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Old 01-16-2017, 04:32 PM   #3
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In Santa Fe Tomasito's is our favorite casual New Mexican restaurant. For gourmet, try La Casa Sena. So many to choose from! Museums on the hill are great; buy a pass and see them all. In Carlsbad be sure to stay for the evening bat exodus.
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Old 01-16-2017, 04:58 PM   #4
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Carlsbad Caverns is an amazing place! Congrats on beating MM. A close relative has stayed ahead of it for many many years. Have a great trip!

Peter
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Old 01-16-2017, 05:12 PM   #5
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I don't like the campgrounds in SF city. Nothing wrong with them just don't like camping in the city. There are a couple of campgrounds about 10m east of SF on I25.

There is, or was, a campground at White's City close to the caverns. That is the only good thing I can say about it. Otherwise, it has seen better days. There is a NP campsite within the park, but have never stayed there. The other choice would be a campsite in Carlsbad which would probably have a lot of year rounders.
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Old 01-16-2017, 05:54 PM   #6
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Santa Fe Skies RV park is close to to town but on the edge. Margaritas at Maria's are the best in town...food is good too!
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Old 01-16-2017, 07:47 PM   #7
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Thanks for your feedback my friends. I will try some of your recommendations. My wife said she also heard about the bat exodus in the twilight and heard it was amazing. Not yet sure where we are staying in Carlsbad just yet, however hoping I can find something close to the park if not in the park. Flying by the seat of our pants like we normally do, always adds to the excitement of our journeys. My wife isn't always a fan of it but has learned to live with it/me 😀. I will beat MM or at least put up a hell of a fight.

Be well, fish on!
Allan


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Old 01-17-2017, 02:35 AM   #8
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Happy Trails!



Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigcgar View Post
. . .
We leave Tues unless weather delays us. Thanks
. . .
PS -- There is a side tour at Carlsbad which gets you into a smaller chamber, where they turn off all the lights, and ask everyone to be silent. They warn the group ahead of time, as I guess some people freak out under those conditions, but we found it to be a very positive experience. Fifteen or so extra minutes as I recall. Well worth it.
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Old 01-17-2017, 05:33 AM   #9
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En Route:
Don't forget Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. We stayed at Oasis RV and was perfect for a stop over.

Santa Fe:
We had a wonderful time at Santa Fe Skies. The woman at the front desk is one of the most kind and friendly people I've met. Ask for a spot on the end of a row furthest from office for great views of sunrise/sunset.

If you like the mountains, Big Tesque park is a must see and has great snow hiking right now.

Downtown the Plaza and Cathedral are worth a visit once if you haven't seen. Eat at a cliche but good place like The Shed or La Fonda off the plaza. Plan to put your name in with the hostess early. When we went over the holidays the wait was 2hrs at 2:30pm in the afternoon (slowest point of the day).

On a summer visit we had a wonderful Trout Fishing trip on the Pecos River. If you're going anytime soon it will (likely) be too cold for that.

AZ:
We didn't stop at Meteor Crater or Petrified Forest, but wished we had time to. Both within 10min of the interstate.

My father in law just finished stem cell treatment for myeloma with Dr. Barlogi in New York. He's in remission and enjoying life in FL. Congrats on your recovery!
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Old 01-17-2017, 05:38 AM   #10
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BTW we go to Carlsbad Caverns in March and plan to stay at Whites City RV due to proximity to the park. Looks so-so and gets mediocre reviews but will cut an hour of commute time off of your day. I figure as long as the hookups work we will be inside the airstream most of the time.

We also plan to check out Guadalupe Peak national park while there, which I believe is the same distance from Whites City as Carlsbad Caverns.

Feedback on staying at Whites City appreciated! I read RV Reviews and think I got the gist.
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Old 01-17-2017, 05:56 AM   #11
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I've got a few more N M high lights to add to your list to consider.
Roswell is a hoot. The Valley of fire, VLA. You will see it on the signs.
Pie City And the Pieoneer restaurant.

I stayed at a little park at the intersection of the road that goes up to the caverns, nothing to write home about, but very convient to the caverns.
Continuing S W from the caverns took me into some beautiful mountains, that are like an entryway into the really mountainous deserts of the Southwest.

Congrats on heading out for some adventures, enjoy.

Cheers Richard
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Old 01-17-2017, 07:09 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirDFW View Post
We also plan to check out Guadalupe Peak national park while there, which I believe is the same distance from Whites City as Carlsbad Caverns.
There are 2 campgrounds I know of in the Guadelupes. The more accessible one, Pine Springs, is a blacktop parking lot. Great hiking in the beautiful Guadelupe Mountains though. There is another more remote campground to the west which is on my bucket list.
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Old 01-17-2017, 07:24 AM   #13
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2 must do's in Santa Fe, both an easy 1 block walk from the plaza

http://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase.html
https://pasquals.com/index.html
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Old 01-17-2017, 07:30 AM   #14
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Santa Fe

I wish you continued good health and excellent travels. I've been going to Santa Fe since 1993. Here are some places of interest. Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy!

Just a few:

The local paper on Thursdays has an event section called Pasa Tiempo you may want to pick that up.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/

Riding Horses

http://www.brokensaddle.com


Hiking areas

http://taospueblo.com nice drive to see an active Pueblo

http://www.blm.gov/publish/content/n...S/KKTR_NM.html hiking

https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm hiking

http://www.ojospa.com hiking and relaxing

Restaurant

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/inn...anta-fe/dining best breakfast

http://www.geronimorestaurant.com Elk tenderlion

http://www.ranchodechimayo.com/#welcome2 Home of the Chimayo cocktail the best guacamole

http://www.coyotecafe.com/cantina.html Roof top scene

http://www.lachozasf.com I went there in December and it was cool!

http://www.thefamousplazacafe.com always good

http://www.tiasophias.com where the locals eat

Live Music

http://www.elfarolsantafe.com/#spanishtapas call and ask

http://hotelsantafe.com Friday and Saturday night Ronald Royal flamenco guitar and native flute ….. laid back and relaxing
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Old 01-17-2017, 08:00 AM   #15
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Just at Carlsbad Caverns for a too quick of a stop. Drove on to Monahans Sandhill State Park (TX ). Bats at the Caverns are seasonal I believe, check first if u are counting on seeing them.
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Old 01-17-2017, 11:19 AM   #16
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The bats may not be full time residents in NM. They may head to Mexico for the winter. You could check with the park service. While you are talking to them, know that the elevators have been having some service issues in the past two years, so you can also ask how that is, to avoid going and having to walk all the way up and down.
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Old 01-17-2017, 11:27 AM   #17
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Make a reservation at least a week ahead at the Shed and enjoy an amazing meal. Also get a LottaBurger with green chili & cheese. Don't know any RV parks in SF and I personally would avoid trying to tow a trailer anywhere close to the plaza. The KOA at the Romeroville exit south of Las Vegas (NM) is okay and not far from the Santa Fe sights. There is also a great national park at Pecos (the small town north of SF) that no one goes to but it is a great stop and short hike. If you don't mind mountain driving on 2-lane roads (with some passing lanes) you may consider driving the Turquoise Trail from SF to Albuquerque and take it nice and easy and enjoy the scenery with a stop for lunch and tour the art shops in Madrid. NM 14 drops you onto I-40 and it's not far on to I-25. There is a great KOA on Central Ave. right off I-40 in Albuquerque. Hatch NM is a fun stop on the way to Carlsbad. If you like Hot air Balloons there is a fabulous museum at the launch site in Albuquerque and the Unser (car racing family) museum is in the valley but not far off the well beaten path. The Owl Bar & Cafe south of Socorro is legendary and you are close to Bosque del Apache which is also an awesome stop.
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Old 01-17-2017, 11:51 AM   #18
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Just went through on 1/14/17

We left Fort Collins CO on the 14th headed to SF, Albuquerque, Carlsbad and eventually Tucson. Love the Cowgirl Cafe in Santa Fe. Best camping of two places was Trailer Ranch. Stayed at the new Route 66 Casino RV Resort in Albuquerque. Nice wide sites and marble bathrooms/showers. Has shuttle to casino.Skipped Carlsbad when we found out elevator is broken again (second year in a row). Long trip down and up from bottom of caverns for someone with two new hips and two bad knees, so will skip for another year🙁
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Old 01-17-2017, 11:57 AM   #19
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The ideas for SF are excellent.
You must try one of these north east of SF.

Tesuque Village Market.
http://www.tesuquevillagemarket.com/
And Casa de Chamayo
http://www.casachimayosantafe.com/

Find the Nambe Trading Post. Beautiful historic Native American trading post. It is near Chamayo, or on the way. They no longer sell Nambe designer silver. Most of is now made in China.

Have a great trip.
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Old 01-17-2017, 12:33 PM   #20
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If you have time, get off I-25 at Walsenburg and take the scenic route through Taos. Lots to see and do around there!
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