OT - a potential trip to Arizona and New Mexico

Sveta

We are planning a vacation for October and consider to visit Arizona and New Mexico. Can anybody offer an advice what to see there and if the first part of October is a good time to visit? We usually like to have a mix of natural and cultural attractions on the trip - some interesting cities/towns to visit and some interesting parks with a potential camping.
We definitely want to see Grand Canyon on this trip but what else? So far we plan to fly to Phoenix AZ, rent a car there and drive around for 12-13 days.
Thanks for your help!

12 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from Nadya

marianna

Veteran

Definitely go to Sedona! It's beautiful and absolutely unlike anything I've ever seen. Take a Hummer or Jeep tour through the rocks! http://www.visitsedona.com/

12 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

Meteor crater off of I-40 is a fun side trip. I think it's about 45 miles east of Flagstaff if I remember correctly. Also Santa Fe, NM is an interesting town to visit.

12 years ago

DressLover

Veteran

Completely second Sedona and Sante Fe. Two of the most beautiful places in the US. Also, you have to go to Canyon Ranch Spa, even if you don't like spas. Amazing. Even if you don't stay on the property, stop by for a spa day.

http://www.canyonranch.com/tucson/

12 years ago

DressLover

Veteran

Oh, and how could I forget! You have to go to Nordstrom Rack's Last Chance in Phoenix. Warning: it gets ugly - really ugly. But it is one of those things you have to do just to say you have done it.

12 years ago

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

I grew up in Las Cruces, NM which is Southern New Mexico just 45 minutes West of El Paso. If you happen to drive through there it is worth stopping for maybe a night or for the day. You can go to Old Mesilla and see Billy the Kid's jail cell, and the food in Las Cruces is absolutely amazing! My favorite restaurants are La Posta in Old Mesilla or Si Senor. New Mexico is famous for its Green Chile - it comes on just about everything and is delicious so make sure to try it! I would recommend the Hotel Encanto if you stay there. You can also drive about 45 minutes from Las Cruces to White Sands MIssile Range and play in the mountains of white sand there - it is a pretty incredible site. Santa Fe is also a beautiful place!

12 years ago

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and I would say October is definitely a good time to visit - not too hot but won't be cold either.

12 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I'm in Tucson, and October is definitely a wonderful time to visit. I haven't done nearly enough exploring in the area, but when my friends here go on vacation within the state they go to Flagstaff or Sedona (or the Grand Canyon, but that's already on your list).

12 years ago

Laura B.

Active Member

I live in NM too and here are a few of my favorite places:

White Sands National Monument (It won't be as hot in October, try the sunset stroll if you can make it)
http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm

Carlsbad Caverns (you can hike down to the bottom or take an elevator and do a ~2 mile walk around the largest formations):
http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm

If you go up to Santa Fe, Taos is a bit further and there is the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge:
http://taos.org/businesses/view/152/8

This is technically in Colorado (just over the border), but it's the most amazing place! Mesa Verde:
http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

I'll mostly let some one else chime in on AZ attractions, but Old Tuscon is very nice and I've always wanted to see this old-timey/arty/mining town:
http://www.discoverbisbee.com

There have been a lot of fires here this year, but I hope you still get to see how beautiful our little desert is! Sorry for the long post, I just got a little excited to share xD

12 years ago

Laurie

Veteran

Sveta, this is our favorite place to vacation. My husband and I did a driving /camping trip from Phoenix to the NM border the year we started dating and have done many trips out there since.

Driving through the Navajo Nation is very interesting -- it really is another country.
Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Canyon du Shay) are all not to be missed as you drive toward NM.

October is the very best time to visit, in my opinon! Gorgeous.
My favorite spa (so far) in Scottsdale is Sanctuary on Camelback. ( The best massage therapist, maybe ever, is Gary! Tell him Laurie from Rockville sent you!)
Have a GREAT trip!!

12 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thank you so much for all this information! It looks that there is too many interesting places in both Arizona and New Mexico so I am leaning towards doing them on different trips so we can really soak everything in without driving non-stop.

12 years ago

Elly

Veteran

I too would reccomend hitting Canyon de Chelly, especially if you are inclined to take a jeep or horseback tour.

If you hit Las Cruces, I would definitely recommend heading to White Sands National Monument and also going to Old Mesilla (which if you are at all interested in US/Mexico history was once in the demilitarized zone between the two following the Mexican/American War). El Paso (in TX but just 30 or so miles from Las Cruces) can get a little sketchy since it is a border town, but if you stay on the NM side they have some decent western wear and other outlets for those sort of goods.

If you have time and like art or culture you can't beat Santa Fe. That is where the Georgia O'Keeffe museum is, and her home is on the way to Santa Fe from Alburquerque. There is also the Palacio del Gobernadors in Santa Fe where the local Pueblo people still sell their artwork and jewelry open air like they did in the 1600s. Their is also the orchestra/opera in Santa Fe. Taos is a huge art community with some more Billy the Kid history. You might also be interested in touring Taos or Acoma pueblo. Taos competes with another pueblo for being the longest continuously occupied communities in North America and are quite beautiful.

Carlsbad caverns is magnificent as well.

If you are interested in visiting the Navajo reservation I would recommend Canyon de Chelly. It is a great look at Navajo life prior to some of the disruptive affects of colonization. Window rock is also nice, it is the seat of government for the Navajo Nation. Navajo culture is incredibly rich, but the Navajoland is incredibly impoverished.

I really like the Rack in Phoenix, which also has the Hurd museum. Another great place is the Petrified Forest in AZ, or El Malpais in NM if you are looking for more natural wonders. If you head down south, make sure to see some saguaros.

Mesa Verde is a super place to go, although in October you might hit snow. If you need more info about this one just PM me-- I used to be an employee and am a local, so I am well-informed.

12 years ago

Nadya

Veteran

The balloon fiesta is the first part of October in Albuquerque New Mexico. I used to live there and this was one of my favorite things, though I pretty much second everyone else's recommendations, as well

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

12 years ago

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