I snitched this off of Facebook 'cause it's great info for us travelers.
It's an email to Penna from Bob & Cindy about
their New Mexico travels....
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Hi Bob & Penna
I don't know if you are still at SPR or if you have hit the road. Bob, you had asked me to tell you about our experiences in New Mexico and give you any recommendations of sights to see.
It took us 21/2 days to get from Edinburg to Elephant Butte New Mexico. We went thru El Paso and made a brief stop at a store that had signs for miles along the highway. The store, El Paso Saddle and Blanket is right of the highway and does have parking for RV's. Basically it sell Mexican blankets made in India. They had every thing from blankets to saddles to furniture. They really want you to sign up to be a retailer of their products at flea markets and on line. Not a great stop, but interesting.
Our camp in south New Mexico was Monticello RV Park in Elephant Butte. I would not recommend this place. Elephant Butte is a state park. There used to be a large man made lake there. It has shrunk down 60% due to 15 years of drought. At one time the camp ground had been right on the banks of the lake. Now it is a dusty, hot RV camp.
We were near the town of Truth or Consequences. This is an interesting town known for it's mineral baths. We took one at the Big Bend Spa. We went very early in the morning while it was still cool outside. They served coffee and for a reasonable price we were allowed to soak in the mineral springs which look like hot tubs, but are supposed to have healing power. That day we took a tube ride down the Rio Grand River. We had purchased a package which included the mineral baths and the tube ride. It was fun. We poked around the Geronimo Museum in Truth or Consequences. There we learned how the town got it's name.
One day we went to Three Rivers Petroglyph National Monument. It was an easy hike and we saw the best Petroglyphs. We went to 2 other petroglyph sights that were not as good. That day we drove to Ruidoso. It is at the base of the Apache Ski area. I think this is an ideal place to stay for a few days because of cooler temperatures. There is a nearby casino. We had a great meal at Rosie O'Mally's Irish Pub in Ruidoso and then wondered the streets. This only took a half day.
We did make anther trip to the Glia National Monument. This has some of the earliest examples of the Indian Cave dwellings. The ride in the park to get there was very picturesque and worth the ride. The forrest rangers in charge gave us a good history of the place.
Sky City is further south and west and definitely worth a visit. For me a must was a visit to White Sands National Monument. The sand was cool despite the intense sun. We spent a week in South New Mexico and it was more then enough.
The ride to Santa Fe knocked my socks off. There was beauty over every hill and around every curve. Santa Fe we went to the Lotto Church, a church with a spiral stair case that has no support. We also visited the Palace of Governors and the New Mexico museum right next to it. We drove down to Albuquerque a few times. We took the Sandia Tram. It is a must see. We went to the Pueblo Cultural Center. On weekends they have Native Americans there who show some of the Ritual dances as well as talk about Native Americans. That day we also went to the New Mexico Museum of Natural Science and History. It is the best natural museum I have ever visited. We could have spent 2 days there.
We also went north from Santa Fe to Taos. We did some hiking there. The Taos Pueble was another interesting Native American stop. Santa Fe was great because the temperatures stayed in the low 80's with low humidity. As we went up to Taos the temps. dropped into the low t mid 70s during the day. One of our trips up toward Tao was to Los Alamos. I think that is a definite stop.
Bandolier National Monument was north west of Santa Fe and a great stop.
Our RV park was on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe. It took us only 10 min to get to the old city. Used the park, Los Suenos de Santa Fe RV park as our central point. We got up early every day and most days drove up to hundred miles to get to the places Cindy picked out. She did a great job researching and planning each days trip.
We are now in Las Vegas where the temps as we drove in registered 116 on our car thermometer. Even at nite it is only cooling down to 90 F. We are having some trouble getting the temp down in our motor home. We are here for a week before we head north to Utah and then Wyoming.
I hope this helps you with your plans. You must visit New Mexico. I think it is the most beautiful state I have seen so far.
Be well and we will talk soon.
Bob
I thought I sent this 2 wks ago. I found it in my draft box. We have left Las Vegas and we are now in an RV Park outside Bryce National Park.
Talk to you soon.
I don't know if you are still at SPR or if you have hit the road. Bob, you had asked me to tell you about our experiences in New Mexico and give you any recommendations of sights to see.
It took us 21/2 days to get from Edinburg to Elephant Butte New Mexico. We went thru El Paso and made a brief stop at a store that had signs for miles along the highway. The store, El Paso Saddle and Blanket is right of the highway and does have parking for RV's. Basically it sell Mexican blankets made in India. They had every thing from blankets to saddles to furniture. They really want you to sign up to be a retailer of their products at flea markets and on line. Not a great stop, but interesting.
Our camp in south New Mexico was Monticello RV Park in Elephant Butte. I would not recommend this place. Elephant Butte is a state park. There used to be a large man made lake there. It has shrunk down 60% due to 15 years of drought. At one time the camp ground had been right on the banks of the lake. Now it is a dusty, hot RV camp.
We were near the town of Truth or Consequences. This is an interesting town known for it's mineral baths. We took one at the Big Bend Spa. We went very early in the morning while it was still cool outside. They served coffee and for a reasonable price we were allowed to soak in the mineral springs which look like hot tubs, but are supposed to have healing power. That day we took a tube ride down the Rio Grand River. We had purchased a package which included the mineral baths and the tube ride. It was fun. We poked around the Geronimo Museum in Truth or Consequences. There we learned how the town got it's name.
One day we went to Three Rivers Petroglyph National Monument. It was an easy hike and we saw the best Petroglyphs. We went to 2 other petroglyph sights that were not as good. That day we drove to Ruidoso. It is at the base of the Apache Ski area. I think this is an ideal place to stay for a few days because of cooler temperatures. There is a nearby casino. We had a great meal at Rosie O'Mally's Irish Pub in Ruidoso and then wondered the streets. This only took a half day.
We did make anther trip to the Glia National Monument. This has some of the earliest examples of the Indian Cave dwellings. The ride in the park to get there was very picturesque and worth the ride. The forrest rangers in charge gave us a good history of the place.
Sky City is further south and west and definitely worth a visit. For me a must was a visit to White Sands National Monument. The sand was cool despite the intense sun. We spent a week in South New Mexico and it was more then enough.
The ride to Santa Fe knocked my socks off. There was beauty over every hill and around every curve. Santa Fe we went to the Lotto Church, a church with a spiral stair case that has no support. We also visited the Palace of Governors and the New Mexico museum right next to it. We drove down to Albuquerque a few times. We took the Sandia Tram. It is a must see. We went to the Pueblo Cultural Center. On weekends they have Native Americans there who show some of the Ritual dances as well as talk about Native Americans. That day we also went to the New Mexico Museum of Natural Science and History. It is the best natural museum I have ever visited. We could have spent 2 days there.
We also went north from Santa Fe to Taos. We did some hiking there. The Taos Pueble was another interesting Native American stop. Santa Fe was great because the temperatures stayed in the low 80's with low humidity. As we went up to Taos the temps. dropped into the low t mid 70s during the day. One of our trips up toward Tao was to Los Alamos. I think that is a definite stop.
Bandolier National Monument was north west of Santa Fe and a great stop.
Our RV park was on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe. It took us only 10 min to get to the old city. Used the park, Los Suenos de Santa Fe RV park as our central point. We got up early every day and most days drove up to hundred miles to get to the places Cindy picked out. She did a great job researching and planning each days trip.
We are now in Las Vegas where the temps as we drove in registered 116 on our car thermometer. Even at nite it is only cooling down to 90 F. We are having some trouble getting the temp down in our motor home. We are here for a week before we head north to Utah and then Wyoming.
I hope this helps you with your plans. You must visit New Mexico. I think it is the most beautiful state I have seen so far.
Be well and we will talk soon.
Bob
I thought I sent this 2 wks ago. I found it in my draft box. We have left Las Vegas and we are now in an RV Park outside Bryce National Park.
Talk to you soon.
1 comment:
"We are now in Las Vegas where the temps as we drove in registered 116 on our car thermometer. Even at nite it is only cooling down to 90 F."
Mary and I were in Las Vegas once during the 1960s and visited the casinos until late at night. As we walked back to our lodgings I noticed one of those "time & temperature" displays on a tall building somewhere. It was flashing back and forth: 1:01 AM and 101 F ! The same digits for both time and temperature!
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