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01-15-2017, 01:18 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2015 25' FB International
2011 23' International
Larkspur
, Colorado
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 182
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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
__________________
Allan & Vicki
Larkspur, CO
Be well, fish on!
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01-16-2017, 03:49 PM
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#2
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4 Rivet Member
2003 31' Classic
Terra Alta
, West Virginia
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 274
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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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01-16-2017, 04:32 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 578
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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.
__________________
Leigh & Bettie
Houston TX
2017 Interstate GT
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01-16-2017, 04:58 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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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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01-16-2017, 05:12 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,742
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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.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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01-16-2017, 05:54 PM
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#6
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Lost in America
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,151
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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!
__________________
This is the strangest life I've ever known - J. Morrison
2015 Airstream International Serenity 27FB
2017 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel
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01-16-2017, 07:47 PM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member
2015 25' FB International
2011 23' International
Larkspur
, Colorado
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 182
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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
Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
__________________
Allan & Vicki
Larkspur, CO
Be well, fish on!
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01-17-2017, 02:35 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Happy Trails!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigcgar
. . .
We leave Tues unless weather delays us. Thanks
. . .
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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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01-17-2017, 05:33 AM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
2016 27' International
Dallas
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 39
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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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01-17-2017, 05:38 AM
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#10
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2 Rivet Member
2016 27' International
Dallas
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 39
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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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01-17-2017, 05:56 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Ebro
, Fla Panhandle
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,212
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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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01-17-2017, 07:09 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,742
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirDFW
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.
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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.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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01-17-2017, 07:24 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2015 30' Classic
2023 25' International
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
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01-17-2017, 08:00 AM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
2022 30' Classic
Granville
, Ohio
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 160
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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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01-17-2017, 11:19 AM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 32
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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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01-17-2017, 11:27 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Taos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 566
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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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01-17-2017, 11:51 AM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
2004 25' Safari
Fort Collins
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 45
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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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01-17-2017, 11:57 AM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
Pearland
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 29
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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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01-17-2017, 12:33 PM
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#20
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1 Rivet Member
2009 23' Flying Cloud
Colorado Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 9
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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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