Coming up to Santa Rosa from the west, this historical marker points out the earliest European…read moreexploration of the area. The marker is easy to read and there is a spot to pull over. It has the same text on both sides, reading "Santa Rosa. Population 2,469 - Elevation 4,620. The Spanish explorer Antonio de Espejo passed through this area in 1583, as did Gaspar Castano de Sosa in 1590. Santa Rosa, the Guadalupe County seat, was laid out on the ranch of Celso Baca y Baca, a politician and rancher in the late 1800s. It was named for his wife, Dona Rosa." The marker was erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. [Review 21098 overall - 144 in New Mexico - 61 of 2024.]

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!

While planning our day trip to Santa Fe from Albuquerque, we discovered Ethyl the Whale, a…read morelife-sized blue whale sculpture made entirely from single-use plastics to raise awareness about reducing plastic waste and encouraging recycling. She's located at the end of the track at Santa Fe Community College. We parked across the street and walked over for some great photo ops. It's an impressive and meaningful sight, definitely worth a quick stop on your way to or from Santa Fe!

Super fun stop if you are into classic cars or just want to take a break and see some truly…read morebeautifully rebuilt classics. We enjoyed walking the aisles and seeing the classics at their best. There were so many (like the Buiks) that I had never heard of, but loved! Tons of Chevys of all kinds in here. We are a Ford family so I wished there were a few more of those, but I got a few in and it was fun! $5 entry, lots of parking. Nice stop to stretch your legs and see some history.

7-17-25 $5, worth it…read more I don't know why, but I didn't ask the ladies name that was working there today, shame on me, she was pleasant and should be acknowledged. Here's to you, thank you. This was a bonus stop that you can only do when you are doing a road trip. I just never know where you're gonna be. I love the history of Route 66 back in the day my family had a Hugh connection with that road. We've been on most of it, but not all of it and it's always fun to hit another part. I'm not sure why I had to buy another hat, but I did. The museum was fabulous. Not just the cars, but all the paraphernalia, and the old signs were great.. I WOULD RECOMMEND

Must stop if you are into the history of Billy the Kid. The chamber of commerce office is attached…read moreand has a wonderful museum as well as travel info and a nice girl inside to answer questions! Turns out Billy the Kids headstone has an interesting history, hence the reason it's in lock down, literally! Come stop by on your way to Fort Sumner.

Cemetery was very old had lots of charm very beautiful tombstones…read more Well taken care of for being an older cemetery We went to see the Tombstone of Billy the kid He wasn't in this part we had to drive farther down the road to a smaller cemetery I believe they are part of each other it was confusing but a gentleman that worked there told us where to go to find him There was a small museum with information very clean and bathrooms also clean the young lady was very friendly

A must see in Portales! If you're interested in archaeology, this is one of the most important…read morearchaeological sites in North America. Admission was only $1 for students and $3 for adults. The trail behind the small center leads down to the quarry area and to an enclosed exhibit. The enclosed exhibit covers an excavated area showing all levels and exposed fossils/ bones. Signs tell you which layers and time period you are looking at. The trail leads around the quarry with interpretive signs along the way. Inside the center there are a few interpretive posters and fossils that give you a little information before the trail. The information could be better and more straight forward so I would suggest reading about the site history ahead of time or going to the museum in town first for better background information. There is also a gift shop inside the center. Pro tip: It was very hot the day we went (95 degrees) and we were out mid-day. I suggest getting here as early as possible, wearing lots of sunscreen, and long sleeves. They do worn you about rattle snakes so closed toed shoes are best. A porta-potty was located on the trail.

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.

Founded in 1609 by the Spanish, this plaza is the main heart of Santa Fe with a lot of shops and…read morerestaurants accessible from here. This was where El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the royal road of the interior, ended, having begun in Mexico City. This is where the Santa Fe Trail ended its 900-mile-long journey from Independence, Missouri. There are markers in the plaza commemorating both. The best part of the plaza is the Native American street vendors that sell arts and crafts on the street. Many of them have their ID card and we loved meeting Paul and buying some of the hand painted see pots him and his wife made with hummingbirds on them. We asked him what the bird meant and he said "the beauty of life" and it made it a must buy. We saw other vendors selling jewlery, turquoise, paintings, and sandstone art but this was the tail end of our trip and we had no space anymore. This is an idea/tip but we asked around for fry bread or other Native American foods and nobody knew anywhere close by that served it. A nice Native American food truck or small stand would make a killing in this area!

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!

Make a visit to one of the oldest homes in the U.S. in Santa Fe, dating back to 1200 CE. Located…read morearound all the tourist spots in Santa Fe, there's something special about visiting the Oldest House Indian Shop. Admission is free, as part of the building is a gift shop and the other side is the actual house that you can walk through. What I especially like about the oldest house is seeing the structure and how the building was built. You can actually see the straws that were used in forming the walls with the clay. Where else in the U.S. can you see that? Very unique, so make sure to look up close at the walls. The rooms are small, with furnishings inside the rooms, making it so that you can picture what life was like back in its time. It doesn't take long at all to get through and there's very little information about the history, so I would suggest reading up on your own about it. It's worth a visit if you have time and are in Santa Fe.

Placed just minutes from many attractions, it is a must spot to check. Just behind the oldest…read morechurch, nestled on De Vargas Street, this house, now an Indian Shop is a free to check, and you might even walk out with some cute memorabilia.

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.