Kids turning into internet zombies on the road trip? Or you Nice break from I 25, only 8 miles west…read moreof the highway? This historic landmark has nice toilets as well as a short 45 minute interpretative tour, and a longer 1.5 hour tour. Rangers also have a few special events planned throughout the day. Stretch your legs and mind!

The monument itself was very worth visiting…read more The park attendant, however, is extremely rude, obnoxious, to almost the point of being concerned for our safety at times He should not be around people!!! He refused to give his name. So we took a picture as we left the park, of him going to his car. If you go here be aware of this park employee - paid with your taxpayer dollars.

We visited Pecos National Historical Park today and absolutely loved it! The scenery is beautiful,…read morepeaceful, and full of history. The trail was relatively short and very doable for us. It wasn't too difficult, and there are places along the way where you can sit, rest, and just take in the incredible views. We never felt rushed and were able to enjoy the walk at our own pace. The ruins and the surrounding landscape are absolutely beautiful, and it was fascinating to see and learn about the history of the people who lived here. This ended up being one of those unexpected stops that we were really glad we made. Definitely a thumbs up from us! If you're visiting the Santa Fe area and want something scenic, historical, and not overly strenuous, Pecos National Historical Park is absolutely worth the trip.

Sweet stop if you need a little stretch of the legs…read more This historical park is well maintained and pretty awesome. I loved the interactive parts along the route. It can get hot and sunny so bring a hat and sunscreen on the trail.

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.

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.

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!

We loved this plaza. Very beautiful, local shops and artists. Many original pieces, as well as…read morevintage pieces, and some antiques. Easy parking. Worth a visit.

Taos plaza, as of mid September 2025 had some sections under construction. So, while all the shops…read morewere open and accessible, the area in the center was only partially open. It was still fun to visit the shops but it's definitely not a full day excursion. We had visited the plaza after a morning hike, enjoying the shops and galleries. Options range from typical touristy (but unique) shirts and souvenirs to galleries and crystal shops. There's paid parking which you can pay by credit card at one of the machines near the square-pretty reasonable at $1.50 per hour. Outside the plaza, within a few blocks there are other shops and galleries to check out, making this area a great jumping off point for exploring the main hub of Taos.

What prompted me to investigate the ruins of this historic church in the middle of nowhere? I could…read moreregale you, Dear Reader, with a tale of the supernatural and/or metaphysical ("I felt inexplicably drawn here, as though the spirits of the 18th-century settlers had beckoned me all the way from San Antonio"), but the truth is much more mundane. I was on a road trip and needed to tinkle. The New Mexico Department of Transportation is stingy with rest areas, so this seemingly abandoned adobe structure seemed the perfect place to evacuate my bladder. Now, before you cry "blasphemy!", let me assure you that I did not desecrate this holy place with my sulfurous, asparagus-scented urea. No, I did my business several feet from the entrance. That's when I noticed the eerie beauty of the structure before me. My knowledge of New Mexican history is lacking, so I consulted Wikipedia and found the following article, which I have quoted verbatim. "Santa Rosa de Lima was an early 18th-century Spanish settlement in the Rio Chama valley, near the present-day town of Abiquiu in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. All that remains of this settlements are the ruins of its church. The church, on the plaza, was built around 1744, and was in use until the 1930s. Repeated raids by Utes and Comanches caused the settlement to be abandoned in 1747. In 1750, the Spanish founded a new settlement at the present site of Abiquiú, about a mile from Santa Rosa de Lima. Today the site of Santa Rosa de Lima is a ghost town, with substantial adobe ruins of the church, and mounds where the settlers' adobe houses stood. The site is private property, belonging to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Santa Rosa de Lima de Abiquiu was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978." As I poked around the ruins, I felt a sense of presence, the inexplicable kind of energy so common in places with long, storied histories. Just like sound is recorded onto vinyl, emotions and events often weave themselves into the very fabric of a structure, its bricks, its wood, or (in this case) its adobe/mudbrick. I touched the walls, closed my eyes, and visualized the religious rites that occurred here, the bloodshed, the suffering. Santa Rosa de Lima's palpable vibe is made all the more eerie by the cluster of crucifixes, sage bundles, and bottles of holy water placed at its northernmost wall. Is the Archdiocese of Santa Fe trying to keep some unspeakable evil force at bay? The lighting in my photos adds a vaguely sinister/ethereal patina reminiscent of the visual motif of Juan López Moctezuma "Alucarda," a delightfully sleazy supernatural Mexican horror film from the late 70's. I seldom post reviews of landmarks, but I wanted to document this strange little place. I imagine most travelers stumble upon Santa Rosa de Lima the same way I did. Did you over-imbibe on Hawaiian Punch? Do you suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia? If so, then pull to the side of the road and make a golden offering to symbolize the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Explore the grounds and bask in the odd energy of Santa Rosa de Lima.

This was a rare and very cool find. This abandoned town is off the beaten path a little bit in the…read moremiddle of nowhere.

Before heading back to Southern Colorado, I asked my fiancé if he was interested in visiting the…read moreKit Carson Home & Museum. It was a beautiful day on March 20, 2024, in downtown Taos, NM. Unbeknownst to me, he had been there as a young boy. Now that he's old - lol - he didn't remember the museum bring set up the way it was. We arrived at approximately 3:20PM which was forty minutes from closing time. Dave, the lone museum staff member, explained that he would stay as long as we needed, but not accept any new visitors after a certain time. Tickets to the non-profit museum were $10 per adult. Cash or card was accepted. Dave made our visit a 5-star experience. He loves history. He has read several of the books if not all of them from the gift shop. He recommended "Blood & Thunder" by Hampton Sides which was an historical account of Kit Carson's life, "yet reads like a novel." We first watched a 20-minute documentary in the theater across the courtyard highlighting Carson's key adventures. The women's restroom was nearby and reasonably clean. Then we trekked back over to the museum. If you're over 5'6" watch your head because the doorways are low. There were minimal artifacts scattered throughout, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Parking was a bit of a hassle as there was no lot - only metered street parking a ways down. And in the last words of Kit Carson, "Goodbye, friends, adios amigos."

If you are in Taos, you must see this museum and learn all you can about Christopher "Kit" Carson…read more A highlight of our visit was definitely Dave, who greeted us and gave us instructions on how to best enjoy our visit. He is so passionate about the history of Kit Carson and his influence on the area and the expansion of the West. The tour starts with a short history channel video and then continues with a walk through the house. Painstaking renovations have been taking place and are still underway on the property. You will see many artifacts, photos, and wall signage explaining the history of what you are looking at along the way. Make this a stop on your visit to Taos!