New Mexico to Arizona
RAJ
tenacious local 7,782 Posts
This winter has been punishing and I plan on getting lost for a few days.
I'm flying in to Albuquerque and renting a convertible and plan to drive as much of Route 66 as possible to Flagstaff.
Besides all the trip advisor / Yelp ad-naseum, anyone have experience exploring this area?
I'm flying in to Albuquerque and renting a convertible and plan to drive as much of Route 66 as possible to Flagstaff.
Besides all the trip advisor / Yelp ad-naseum, anyone have experience exploring this area?
Comments
This is a great ride......too bad you're going to miss the easter half of Route 66.
I'm always amazed at how many foreign tourists I run into when I'm on Route 66...they appreciate it more than most Americans.
I know the eastern half very well and could make some recommendations but am not that familiar with the western half......I'll be taking a similar trip this summer from the Texas panhandle to Cali.
Yeah, I contemplated Amarillo to ABQ, BUT I really want to see the painted desert / petrified forest and spend a night up in Santa Fe. The route 66 guide showed some interesting ghost towns on the Eastern half, like Cuervo. Maybe another time.
We're flying into Vegas and doing the drive to LA, then to Phoenix and then heading north to spend some time before going back to Vegas.
Some of the stuff I have on the list to do up there is.
Staying at The View Hotel in Monument Valley. Really looking forward to sunrises, sunsets and the stars while staying there.
Antelope Canyon - One of the few things I really wanted to check out when I lived in AZ, but never got the chance.
Havasu Falls - REALLY hoping to do this. But not sure we can fit in the hike it would require. It's supposedly something like 18 miles (round-trip) and I'm hoping we can fit it in. But damn it seems amazing. Has any strutter done it?
And of course Grand Canyon - My girl has never done it, so I promised to take her.
Anything else?
From there, it's a 3 hour drive west to Gallup. I'd recommend taking a short detour and checking out El Malpais national park just before Grants (from the 40, drive south on 177 and check out the lava flows). There's a park visitor center about ten miles down the road. Very cool landscape in this area - great for photos.
The valley about 20 miles before you hit Gallup is incredibly beautiful. Take a random exit and drive toward the red cliffs. Sorry, I can't recommend a good hike, but you will find something.
You can also detour up to Chaco Canyon which is highly recommended.
Gallup: hit up Richardson's Trading Co for a walk back in time and a $30,000 navajo carpet from the 1920s. El Rancho Hotel is super fun - the true 66 experience. Nice place with great folks. You will want to stay there.
Winslow: get a nice New Mexican meal at La Posada hotel. Believe the hype.
have a great trip, hommie
my absolute favorite is the southern az desert. we spent 10 days horseback riding just outside of tombstone, one of the best times i ever had. made an unforgettable day trip up the dragoon mountains (hiked up the canyons on horseback). so many totally forgotten and amazing corners down there. the town of bisbee on the mexican border is also worth a visit. my favorite drive was from ajo to organ pipe nat. park and then to nogales taking all tiny back and dirt roads always staying as close to the border as possible.
sorry for the weird typing, i almost severed my left pinky this morning while cutting up bones for the dogs and can only use one hand...
RAJ, being a fellow into photography, you really shouldn't miss the Andrew Smith gallery: http://www.andrewsmithgallery.com/
Also, eat at this place: The Shed - http://www.sfshed.com/home.html
http://www.loscuatesrestaurants.com/loscuates/Los_Cuates.html
On the list
I think being such a big fan of the show heavily influenced taking this leg of Route 66.
Of course, I will be getting my photography on. So psyched.
:lalala:
Red or green?
^^^^^^^^^^^ This question is inherently flawed.
Hey. Take it Easy!
Edited to acknowledge new information.