# Sightseeing advice in New Mexico / Sante Fe / on the way to Carlsbad Caverns **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 9, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701 "2020-02-09T23:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/21 "2020-02-10T22:21:49Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > If a snowstorm hits just about any road could become difficult and closed for a day. I wouldn’t worry about it, but if it happens you can use the website to find a new route if needed. Cloudcroft on 82 is at about 8700 ft but the road crews are good at clearing the roads fairly quickly. Chains would be overkill. Thanks. That sounds manageable. Sort of assume it’s going to be okay but verify in the days before … ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/22 "2020-02-10T22:44:03Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > I also don’t mind the driving, even if it isn’t the most exciting landscape all of the time. I particularly enjoyed the road trip I did some years ago through Arizona and Utah. Some of that was endless and devoid of landmarks too, but it’s just so atmospheric and different from what I’m used to here in the PNW and back on the southeast coast. I wish I remembered the road I took that had an ostensibly devoid and boring but nonetheless very atmospheric field of red-brown lava boulders that looked great in the sunset. i want to say it was 285 near Vaughn but I’ve driven there again after I saw the rocks and didn’t see them again: maybe it had to be in the right light. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/23 "2020-02-10T23:25:13Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I wish I remembered the road I took that had an ostensibly devoid and boring but nonetheless very atmospheric field of red-brown lava boulders that looked great in the sunset. i want to say it was 285 near Vaughn but I’ve driven there again after I saw the rocks and didn’t see them again: maybe it had to be in the right light. It wasn’t the Valley of Fires was it? ([Valley of Fires | Bureau of Land Management](https://www.blm.gov/visit/valley-of-fires)). It looks like we’ll drive through this, not sure if it’s worth a significant stop. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/24 "2020-02-11T00:21:27Z")
That looks like the right type of rock but I didn’t have to pay and it was on an arterial road. You did however give me an idea for my road trip, I might stop by there since I will be in that general area. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/25 "2020-02-11T00:31:59Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > That’s probably a little too exciting for my family. Noted your response. > [@Driver8](#): > > Well, me. I don’t like heights. How are you on an airplane? There’s something psychologically different about being attached to the ground, whether on top of a building or a ladder vs. being in an aircraft which is separated from the ground. It’s magical floating up there & many people say that they feel like they’re under something rather than up high. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/26 "2020-02-11T02:32:19Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > That looks like the right type of rock but I didn’t have to pay and it was on an arterial road. You did however give me an idea for my road trip, I might stop by there since I will be in that general area. I’ll let you know what it’s like 🙂 > [@Spiderman](#): > > How are you on an airplane? There’s something psychologically different about being attached to the ground, whether on top of a building or a ladder vs. being in an aircraft which is separated from the ground. It’s magical floating up there & many people say that they feel like they’re under something rather than up high. That’s true. I’m okay in an airplane (although I’d much prefer to be somewhere else). Actually I went on a balloon ride at the San Diego Zoo a few years back (tethered, but still fairly high). I was mildly uncomfortable but not enough to not enjoy the views. I think if I went on a proper balloon ride I’d enjoy parts of the experience but still be enormously relieved when it was over. I’m still leaning towards “pass”, especially since we’d need to take our kids. The youngest will still be four, which looks like it is too young for the companies that I looked at. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/27 "2020-02-11T14:33:52Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > - Los Alamos is a cool city. There’s kind of a small museum, but very informative about the Manhattan Project. It’s also in a very scenic area. Seconded. And I know this because **I am here**. I’d be happy to show you around, too, if you do swing through! [sub]This goes for all of the other cool Dopers, too.[/sub]. Albuquerque also has a nifty Nuclear Museum on the south end of Eubank on the corner of Southern. It’s good for a few hours of family, educational fun. > [@Bumbershoot](#): > > While in Santa Fe you could take a drive up Hwy. 84 through Espanola (watch for where it splits from 68) to Ghost Ranch, home and studio of Georgia O’Keeffe. Then continue just a few miles to Echo Amphitheater, a huge natural formation in the red rock cliffs. That whole area, including Abiquiu reservoir and the Chama river, is just beautiful. Thirded. > [@Bumbershoot](#): > > If you visit Los Alamos, take a very scenic drive on Hwy. 4 west through the Jemez mountains and Valles Caldera. If you make it to the town of Jemez Springs have lunch at Los Ojos tavern where they serve a very good green chile cheeseburger. Fourth-ed. Tripler “That guy” that works up on “the Hill.” ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/28 "2020-02-11T16:09:23Z")
[Here is a link](https://www.cloudcroftwebcam.com/) to some webcams (the drop-down menu lists three) in Cloudcroft, the little town in the mountains above Alamogordo on Hwy. 82. Burro Avenue is one block north of 82. They’ve been getting snow but it should end by tomorrow morning at the latest and the roads should be fine by the weekend. 82 slowly descends as it heads east towards Artesia so you’ll be out of the mountains and the snow well before you get to 285. A mini-Dopefest in Los Alamos or Santa Fe (with Tripler and whoever else shows up) is something I could probably attend, even if it’s just for lunch at one of the fine eating establishments in the area. I don’t know your schedule, Driver8, but if you think it’s doable that would be cool. Edit: The webcam seems to be having issues at the moment, maybe weather-related, but it normally works. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/29 "2020-02-11T23:39:57Z")
When my wife and I, our friends and their three-year-old son landed in Albuquerque we headed to a local burger place. It was nearly empty and I got talking to the guy working there, mostly about the beers on tap. He asked what brought us to town and I said that we were from California and heading to Santa Fe, mostly to see the historical sights. When he learned that we’d never been, he said “Oh, you guys _have_ to go to Meow Wolf! Especially with a kid.” Apparently, author George R.R. Martin invested about three million dollars into the purchase and renovation of a huge, unused bowling alley so it could be turned into this artist’s space/collective … thing. Their main attraction is _The House of Eternal Return_, which I’ve most often heard described as “I don’t know how to describe it.” It’s sort of like if the T.A.R.D.I.S crashed into a Victorian house. It’s essentially an incredibly elaborate, interactive haunted house, but it’s not horror-themed. It’s more science fiction/retro kitsch/time travel stuff. The first part of it is designed to look like an actual lived-in house, complete with full bookshelves, desks scattered with papers and notebooks, drawers full of knickknacks, etc. There is apparently an entire narrative that one can piece together through reading the materials in the desks, browsing the bookshelves, clicking through the files on the desktop computer and finding other clues scattered throughout, but I have no idea how many tens of hours it would take to piece it all together. We were just content to explore and play with stuff. PBS News Hour did a segment on its potential impact on the Santa Fe economy. Anyway, we had a great time and I’d love to go back. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/30 "2020-02-12T03:01:20Z")
Ghost Ranch sounds good, as do the other Sante Fe suggestions. My wife is a Georgia O’Keeffe fan, so she’d like that. > [@Bumbershoot](#): > > [Here is a link](https://www.cloudcroftwebcam.com/) to some webcams (the drop-down menu lists three) in Cloudcroft, the little town in the mountains above Alamogordo on Hwy. 82. Burro Avenue is one block north of 82. They’ve been getting snow but it should end by tomorrow morning at the latest and the roads should be fine by the weekend. 82 slowly descends as it heads east towards Artesia so you’ll be out of the mountains and the snow well before you get to 285. Oh, the webcam worked for me. That already looks clear and completely manageable. Meow Wolf looks interesting. Some local friends recommended it too. It looks like something our kids (ages 5ish and 8) might appreciate too. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/31 "2020-02-12T03:06:21Z")
I kind of thought our friends’ 3-year-old was a little too young to really appreciate it. 5 and 8 (and anything above) sound just about right. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/32 "2020-02-12T04:25:50Z")
While I’m at it, what are the music venues that I should be paying attention to in Santa Fe? In particular the sort of small to medium venue an indie band might touch on their tour. I’m not opposed to sneaking out to a good music show once the kids are asleep 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/33 "2020-02-12T05:03:46Z")
Believe it or not, Meow Wolf has live music in the evenings. The Lensic Theater is another good place to see a variety of bands. I’ve seen Richard Thompson there, and Bela Fleck a time or two. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/34 "2020-02-12T17:07:16Z")
Thanks! As for the mini-Dopefest I could be down if it’s a later evening watering hole type activity in Santa Fe. Say past 8pm on one of Tue, Wed, Thu next week. I think we’ll be too engaged with family stuff during the days and the other evenings. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/35 "2020-02-12T18:13:10Z")
I could probably make it up there one of those evenings. Santa Fe has some craft breweries that are pretty good; I’m most familiar with Santa Fe Brewing and Blue Corn Brewery. Del Charro is a nice bar that’s near the Plaza. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/36 "2020-02-14T15:10:47Z")
I started a thread [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=890055) about getting together for a Dopefest next week. There aren’t many Dopers in northern New Mexico but who knows? We might get something going. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/37 "2020-02-14T18:28:10Z")
By the way, Driver8, if you make it up to Taos there’s a great place to have lunch (or breakfast anytime) called Michael’s Kitchen. It’s also a bakery with some incredible breads, pastries, cookies etc. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/38 "2020-02-14T18:55:44Z")
Most of the things I would recommend have already been mentioned, white sands, Meow wolf, the Folk art museum, Meow Wolf, Bandelier, Meow wolf, and of course Meow Wolf. There is also a nice little[sculpture garden near Santa Fe](https://www.shidoni.com/), that is fun to look around. With a kids in tow you may also want to consider the Santa Fe Childrens museum. My parents have taken my Niece up there several times and she has a blast. If you do go up to Los Alamos, the things to see are probably the science and historical museums, both are pretty small and each can be seen in under an hour. One last thing, if anyone asks you the state question (Red or Green?) the answer is green, or possibly Christmas if you want to explore all options. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/39 "2020-02-15T02:46:02Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > If you do go up to Los Alamos, the things to see are probably the science and historical museums, both are pretty small and each can be seen in under an hour. **The Bradbury Science Museum Fuller Lodge and the attached Los Alamos Historical Society Museum** Some others: Bandelier National Park (for a long-day trip) Tsankawi Prehistoric Sites Valles Caldera Unfortunately closed: “The Black Hole” (just recently torn down). Yep, and that’s just the _family friendly_ stuff! Tripler Nerds know how to party, yo. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701/40 "2020-02-15T18:14:08Z")
The New Mexico Rail Runner is an inexpensive and simple way to see some impressive scenery between Santa Fe and Belen without driving. It only costs $11 round trip from Santa Fe to Belen. Bring your own snacks and drinks; the only thing available on the train is water in a paper cup. If starting in Santa Fe, get on at the South Capitol station where there is plenty of free parking. If you leave early enough, you can get off in downtown Albuquerque for a few hours and still catch a train back to Santa Fe. Your Rail Runner ticket functions as a bus pass in Albuquerque. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sightseeing-advice-in-new-mexico-sante-fe-on-the-way-to-carlsbad-caverns/847701.md?page=3)