New Mexico--Thank you! & trip report summary

[nicolewi]

Thanks to all who commented on my random New Mexico posts over the past few weeks! It was really helpful. We had a GREAT trip. It was a hard trip to plan from afar but we ended up with a fun mix of activities for everyone. Our weather was mostly perfect too, which was wonderful. Warmer than we had expected. We did a lot, but we would have loved to fit in even more. Most people here were surprised and curious when they heard we were going to NM...it's not a common destination, but we loved the "Land of Enchantment." 

Here is a summary trip report for those interested. If anyone wants to take a similar trip, I'd be happy to share info.

1. Flew in, got settled at VRBO, walked around Old Town a little (pretty deserted on a drizzly weeknight around 6), saw Felipe de Neri church, dinner at Church Street Cafe

2. Golden Crown Bakery, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and lunch at the restaurant there. Bought stuff from vendors at the museum. Rattlesnake Museum, Sandia Tram up in light/sunset/down in dark, late dinner County Line BBQ

3. NM Museum of Natural History, Lunch at 66 Diner, Petroglyphs National Monument Visitor Center and then Piedras Marcadas trail, Sawmill Market for snack-y dinner

4. Drove down to Alamogordo. Stopped on way at Valley of Fires/Malpais Trail (very worthwhile), checked into hotel and got sleds and wax there (the wax is key!), had quick snack, to WSNP around 4:30. So fun! Stayed through sunset until close (8:15). Kids in pool, DH got pizza and we ate at hotel.

5. Checked out and went to McGinn's Pistachioland. For some reason my 9 year old had been super excited about this the entire trip and she was thrilled! Did the little tram ride, shopping and samples, had ice cream, took pics with giant pistachio. Drove to Santa Fe--beautiful scenery! Checked into our hotel; walked to Plaza and got Hagen Daaz. Dinner at Mucho Gusto. Changed clothes and walked to Easter Vigil at Basilica of St. Francis--risky move to save time Easter morning. This was...3 hours long (I'd hoped for 2). But, it was really, really beautiful and impressive. Honestly it was one of the most amazing church services I've ever attended. We somehow unknowingly sat in between choir people in the back and these super cute kids in the row behind us blew my mind when they all started singing! They were so good. They later moved up to the choir loft. My youngest barely made it through without a total breakdown but it may have been worth it at the end when we went outside and they rang the big old-fashioned bells in the church tower just off the plaza. 

6. Went to Nambe Pueblo. Couldn't find dances inititally; ended up at the falls. Beautiful & fun hikes around the falls. Then found the dances and got to see some traditional dancing. Late start/there much longer than anticipated so we ended up with a weirdly timed late lunch and had to detour to Los Alamos for fast food...not the greatest, but it worked out. To Bandelier. LOVED Bandelier. Had no clue how amazing and impressive it is there! Stayed until close. La Lecheria on way back for ice cream...we never really had dinner b/c of the late lunch and very late stay at Bandelier---most restaurants were closed by then. Kids went in hot tub at hotel. 

7. All sad about last full day! Rancho de las Golondrinas living history museum not open for season but open for private tours--we did a Josefina tour and DD brought her Josefina doll! (Side note: if you have any interest at all, the Josefina books are some of my very favorite American Girl books, and they are so well done! We saw many things throughout our trip that were straight out of the Josefina books. Rancho de las Golondrinas is one of the sites author Valerie Tripp visited in her research, and some of the illustrations are directly from the Rancho). Lunch at Ranch House BBQ. Straight to Meow Wolf a little late for reservation (this is fine). We were there FOREVER! Like four hours! back to hotel to regroup; late dinner at The Pantry. Hot tub. 

8. Another great hotel breakfast. Met a 99 year old WWII veteran who was at Iwo Jima! Checked out. DH & DS went to New Mexico Museum of History at Palace of the Governors while the girls and I shopped the Native American vendors outside, Susan's Christmas Shop, and a few other stores for some last minute souvenirs. Enjoyed the scenery again on our way back to the airport.
 

[arehopsveggies]

We drove past white sands around 4 that day and I was wondering if I was passing you on the road!

[nicolewi]

Lol!!!! arehopsveggies, we really may have passed each other!!!