Thanks. That sounds manageable. Sort of assume it’s going to be okay but verify in the days before …
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). It looks like we’ll drive through this, not sure if it’s worth a significant stop.
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.
Noted your response.
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.
I’ll let you know what it’s like 
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.
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.
Thirded.
Fourth-ed.
Tripler
“That guy” that works up on “the Hill.”
Here is a link 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.
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.
Ghost Ranch sounds good, as do the other Sante Fe suggestions. My wife is a Georgia O’Keeffe fan, so she’d like that.
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.
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.
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 
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.
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.
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.
I started a thread here 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.
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.
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 littlesculpture garden near Santa Fe, 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.
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.
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.