Its a bridge. People were selling things in the parking lot that looked nice. The view was cool…read more There was construction in the area that made it a pain to get in but once in it was a nice view.

I hate that we couldn't access the sidewalk to be on the bridge. The area next to it does have…read moreparking but it is limited. They have a nice trail you can walk on and different areas to take cool photos. The best part is that it is free. They also have vendors selling goods in the parking lot.

Every time I come back to visit Española, I make sure to stop at Chimayo Trading Post and they…read morenever disappoint. Their red chile is hands down the best I've ever had. Perfectly rich, flavorful, and consistently amazing with every visit. A true New Mexico treasure! Good selection, and great value. Very welcoming, I appreciate you all..

Very interesting trading post with many quality items. The owners are personable folks. I'm just…read moresorry I have not stopped before. Trust me, it's worth a stop!

Ethyl is such a site to see! Located within the Santa Fe Community College, Ethyl stands out both…read moreas a landmark and an environmental awareness statement. Ethyl is composed of recycled plastics found within our oceans. She's a beautiful large whale that how's a huge place in my heart. I highly recommend seeing her if you're in Santa Fe, NM!

Interesting and free local attraction (a little further away from downtown Santa Fe) that drives…read moretoday's needs for environmental awareness. Ethyl isn't super huge and as well known in Santa Fe yet, but it's hopefully making Santa Fe (and the US heading in the right direction with the use of recycling! Check this free local quirky attraction out if you have some time in Santa Fe!

Very cool and worth the short drive from Santa Fe. Never been on a reservation ever today was my…read morefirst time. Wow! The people are very kind, very gracious and friendly. We purchased Blue Corn Cookies from Snowbasket Treats. Soooo good and yes, I'm following her on IG now. I was DYING to take pics of the community. Their housing. Their church. They respectfully had signs asking for no video or photos specific to certain parts of their community. Some areas you can providing you ask first though I didn't feel right about asking...let's respect their ask. So fun. Huge thanks to my husband for the fun experience.

This is a learning experience. The Pueblo indian community lives here…read more At 22.00 each you get to walk around the adobe homes with locked doors and shop at a fee that are trying to make income. Many areas are forbidden. There is a free/donation tour. In the end we bought from a man and his wife and ther were both born in the pueblo over 60 years ago. very calm and serene. A sign says no cameras so i took no pics. Met two nice dogs. Friendly.

This is a very well taken care of trail that is very easy for people to see quite up close. You…read morecould possibly have a stroller or wheelchair here and still see a lot. There are seats all throughout the routes. The first third of the trail isn't as shaded but the entire last portion is quite shaded. There's also a bathroom available about 2/3rds of the way to alcove house. The history is amazing. Glad we are preserving this place and sharing it with the public.

One of my favorite national parks that I have ever been to and hiked! STUNNING. I love that you can…read morehike up the ladders on one of the hikes here. That hike definitely is not for the faint of heart and pushed my limits at the top (you are high and it seems scary) but it is one of my most memorable hikes all around for the scenery and unique experience. A must visit! For those who don't to do the ladder hike, you can still walk to the bottom of it and look up and get a good view. So there is something for all levels here. The scenery is gorgeous. It does get windy here sometimes (we had a lot of wind blasting us as we were climbing the ladders) so be careful and be prepared for that. The nature all around is beautiful. Additionally, there are some tables so you could bring a picnic. Staff in the visitor center is very friendly and has lots of great recommendations of what to do here or nearby. A must do! This was the highlight of my trip to this area and I can't recommend it enough :)

A short detour from the High Road to Taos. The Pueblo is set in a valley and surrounded by…read moremountains, quite serene. Our visit was to view the Buffalo Herd, the Pueblo is a member of the intertribal buffalo council. We saw about 8 grazing in the field. Would be even lovelier in the snow. New Mexico is full of history and spirituality and any opportunity to see the buff pleases us.

We visited the Picuris Pueblo while in Taos for an night. This is a bit of a drive outside of…read moreTaos, but it was gorgeous. You think of New Mexico as being a desert, and this drive shows you that New Mexico is not just sand and sage. There is not much to see at this Pueblo. We got there after the museum closed. There are a few buildings left, and the church. We didn't get out of the car, we just drove through since it is so small. It is said that this Pueblo is well over a thousand years old. It moved me to be around a structure that is that old. It's a bit overwhelming at first. If you are in Taos and looking for something outside of the art galleries and the Plaza, take the drive to see this Pueblo.

Tiny little stop and short little walking trail out to the rock monument. Fun stop for 10 minutes…read morelittle kids will enjoy briefly! Cool little piece of nature to stop and wonder at on your way to Santa Fe or Los Alamos or ABQ!

We stopped here because my sister thought I would get a kick out of it and I DID! The parking lot…read moreis an easy pull in off the highway, there is a well maintained path to better see the camel, and all in all the stop takes 10 minutes. Worth it!! From some angles it does look like a J. Fair warning. I love that this is a thing though and stopping here is worth the smile.

Jemez historic site (formerly Jemez State monument) include the ruins of 17th century Spanish…read moremission and the remains of an early Native American Pueblo- Giusewa (Towa's word for hot springs) cca 700 years old. The site is National Historical Landmark. It is somewhat secluded in Jemez river valley at the community of Jemez Pueblo or Walatowa. Parking is on the site, gravel and dirt covered lot in front of museum, that is also an entrance for the site. The whole loop trail is quiet short (1,400 steps), but with museum included, we spent an hour walking around. Large kiwa on the beginning of the trail is incredible. It's fully restored and can be entered by ladder. Inside can't be photographed, and honestly I don't think any photograph would do it justice. The energy of this place is amazing. I was happy that I got to spend few moments alone in there, as on the day we visited not many people were there, and most of them were intimidated and didn't even attempt to enter the kiwa. After kiwa there are pueblo walls, some more ruins and the main building at the site-the mission church. In the 17th century, the Spanish missionaries established a Catholic mission at the village (pretty common event for the time), but it wasn't long lived, due to no interest from locals. Giusewa moved to different location soon, and the ruins were decaying til the beginning of the 20 century when they were rediscovered and acquired by state. I liked the place was not overrun by tourists, it's quite condensed and it's beautifully taken care of.

Actual Name: Jemez Historic Site…read more 700 years ago the precursors of today's Jemez Pueblo (known as the Walatowa), began constructing their homesteads in the narrow San Diego Canyon, which is now beautiful downtown Jemez Springs. They named their village, "Giusewa," translated as " Many hot springs." They were right about that. Three centuries later the Franciscans missionaries arrived with their Spanish culture intent on christianizing the heathens, whose spirituality they saw as demonic. Of course, they had it backwards, as it was the invading barbarians who were cruel in their conversion practices who disregarded the simple beauty of the indigenous culture, and ultimately destroyed the locals through outright hostilities and European diseases. In 1621, the brown robes began building a church to be the foundation of their mission. Defacto slave labor was used and the structure was said to be quite unusual for a remote house of worship, with octagonal bell tower and large colorful frescos on the thick walls. It was abandoned by 1640 during the successful rebellion of this pueblo and many others against the Spanish and the Franciscans, who were seen as little more than soldiers without armor by the populis. Today, the ruins of the church and the older adobe village remain to remind visitors that religious persecution is no way to win the hearts and minds of the people. Interestingly, the Catholic Church has established a religious retreat for priests in need of rehabilitation nearby. One wonders if the irony is recognized by the recovering abusers, that it was their predecessors who really needed the enlightenment to see the profound error of their ways, and that if the church had truly loved the people they encountered, all the death and destruction that came afterwards might have been avoided. But, then again, their ancestors didn't learn much from the Crusades.

Santa Fe Plaza is a must-see and is in a bustling area with beautiful buildings, shops, and…read moreentertainment. The history and architecture is amazing. Note: Street Parking is a bit challenging and the area can get quite busy, but it's a fun spot.

I love that Santa Fe's Historical District restrictions allow the Plaza to retain its old world…read morecharm and wide accessibility for the community. The rest of metro Santa Fe might be their version of suburbia, but the heart that anchors Santa Fe is right here. Yes, the shopping on the adjacent streets is a bit high end, but the classy charm of the plaza and the Tribal merchants across the street at the Inn of the Governors grounds the experience. Besides the interesting mix of people at the Plaza, I note 2 interesting experiences: 1. The Classic Car show on Friday night that circled the entire Plaza on the outside, accented by "Low Riders" occasionally circling. Our friend Laurie even found the model of car that her family drove around during her childhood. 2. The Santa Fe Plaza Obelisk, historically known as the Soldiers' Monument, was toppled by protestors in 2020 and its pieces are slated for a museum. What will become of the Monument proper is in community committee hands, which will probably go round and round without much meaningful progress short term.

Interesting attraction - this is reportedly one of the oldest residential dwellings in the country…read more- although it is no longer in use as a residence and is instead attached to the Gift shop. The residence portion is free to check out and only takes a minute to walk through as it's small. I was actually shocked that they didn't ask for a few bucks - even just a dollar - to walk through it - but they don't so I imagine the shop must be doing ok on its own. So this is a cute attraction to check out - young kids will probably be impressed trying to imagine how people could have once lived this way - adults will be equally impressed. Worth the quick look. And it's next door to San Miguel Church which is definitely worth the visit. Enjoy!

Yes, it's the oldest house in New Mexico. Not much to it, but it is what it is. The house is very…read moresmall maybe one room and a coffin. It has a great story.