In late September, we'll be in Albuqueque for four days, then driving up to the Valley of the Gods in Utah (overnight at a bed-and-breakfast there near the Moki Dugway), then driving through Monument Valley en route to the Grand Canyon (overnight there), then down to Phoenix for four days visiting relatives. Any suggestions on things to be sure to see in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area? My wife is going to a convention, so I'll have most of the time on my own. They already have an event planned at the Sandia Peak Tramway (I believe it involves riding the tramway, seeing the view, and having dinner at a nearby restaurant), and someone told me to check out Petroglyph National Monument. But otherwise, I don't know much about that area, never been out there and don't know what's there. I have a AAA book but haven't really looked at it much yet.
Any suggestions? I need to limit myself to places easily done out-and-back in a day so as to be back for dinner in the evenings (so Carlsbad Caverns is, unfortunately, not happening).
We got back from this trip last Saturday night. I had today off and used some time to cull through a bunch of pictures since we took over 2000 of them. Great trip all around. New Mexico was nice, southeast Utah's scenery was spectacular, and words and photos don't do the Grand Canyon justice.
We started out with the four days in Albuquerque. Ms1995hoo was attending a convention on Friday and Saturday. Thursday we walked around town, then met her group to go out to the Sandia Peak Tramway (takes you up to 10,378 feet above sea level). I haven't yet uploaded those pictures. Friday I drove up to Santa Fe for the day and Saturday I toured a few other sights in Albuquerque. Sunday we drove up US-550 and US-64 to Four Corners Monument, then continued on to southeastern Utah and we spent the night at the Valley of the Gods Bed & Breakfast, some 14 miles northeast of Mexican Hat in the middle of nowhere. Great place, an old ranch house that runs on solar and wind power. The owners said prior to it becoming a B&B it often housed actors and film crews making movies in the area and they claim John Wayne slept in the room we had. I have no idea whether that's true. Fabulous dark sky there to view the lunar eclipse and the Milky Way (see photos below). The next day we drove up to the top of the Moki Dugway behind the B&B (see video below), took pictures, then drove back down and on through Monument Valley (see picture below) to the Grand Canyon. Didn't get to walk down into the canyon due to physical limitations we both have. Then the next day we drove to Phoenix and spent three days there visiting relatives.
I've only uploaded a few pictures and videos so far.
View of the cliffs behind the B&B. The Moki Dugway runs up those cliffs.
View from the top of the cliffs. The B&B is the only building around for miles and miles; you can see it in this picture a little left of center. (The pickup is on the Moki Dugway, which is part of Utah State Route 261. The paved road at the bottom right is part of Route 261 as well.) This view is to the south.
Lunar eclipse and night sky photos from the B&B using a tripod and a remote-activated cable release (the final picture was a 25-minute exposure):
What, you ask, is the Moki Dugway? It's an unpaved roads with 10% grades and switchbacks. Plus no guardrails.
