A spiritual and WONDERFUL experience watching Tribal members do the Turtle Dance. And what an…read morehonor to be escorted by one of the Kachina Clown Men. Thank You for letting me be there.

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.

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.

My friend Bob had never been to New Mexico before and wanted to see an "iconic" pueblo. Taos…read morePueblo immediately came to mind and a place that Gayle and I had not been for over 18 years. It was a bit of a drive up (via the High Road), but well worth the time and effort. These multi-story homes are more than a thousand years old. None of the homes in the Taos Pueblo are vacant - five or six families live on the Pueblo full time, while the others live in town (with running water and electricity) but stay in their ancestral home many weeks throughout the year for important celebrations. We about the history of the Taos (or Tewa) people from our guide, Riley. That started at the Saint Geronimo Chapel and onward to the old church grounds, that hold the crumbling ruins of the original San Geronimo Chapel. Built in 1619 by Spanish priests using forced Native labor, it was destroyed during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt and again in 1847 by the U.S. Army (with women and children inside). In between were information on Pueblo ovens, family ties, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. There were also various shop sprinkled throughout, with a few pleasant surprises, like one run by an established Santa Fe painter, and some nicely done local jewelry and other art. There was a lot to see here and I appreciated the leisurely pace, while being respectful of restricted areas and honoring any cultural-related requests by our hosts.

've always wanted to visit Taos Pueblo, even though it's quite out of the way. From Santa Fe, it's…read moreabout a 70-mile drive through winding mountain roads and small towns, which made the trip feel longer than it actually was. When I arrived, a staff member stopped me at a stop sign before I reached the exact location on the map. He explained where to park--either in the main lot or the one just ahead--and pointed out that the admission office is directly across the street, which was helpful. Adult admission is $25. I had seen complaints about the price beforehand, but honestly, I didn't feel that way at all. This isn't a state park or a monument--people are still living here--so the experience feels very real and meaningful. I picked up a brochure at the admission office. The highlights for me were the church (no photography allowed inside) and the cemetery, as well as the famous North House and South House. The air was crisp, and there was the smell of burning wood everywhere, which added to the atmosphere. I also stopped by a small shop selling handcrafted jewelry and decorations. I bought a hummingbird for $20 and was glad I had cash, since the seller told me I'd need to step outside to use Venmo (not sure why--my reception was fine). If you're interested in Pueblo history, this is absolutely a must-visit. It may not appeal to everyone, but for those who appreciate culture and history, it's a very special place. This lady was selling bread across from the office where they charge admission. It's $5 each absolutely delicious and no additive! Horno style bread," or Pueblo oven bread, is a traditional, dense white bread with a crunchy crust, historically baked in a beehive-shaped, outdoor adobe oven called a horno in the American Southwest. The term "horno" comes from the Spanish word for "oven

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.

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 :)

Well the reason why it's not 5 star cause u can't go in. Which I get it. It's all og furniture and…read morefridge and door knobs. It's amazing how they have left it alone. U can stick your face in the windows but they don't want u record. Go see if u r a history buff

*** natural beauty of northern New Mexico ***…read more Carson National Forest is 1.5 million acres of some of the most beautiful wilderness in the United States. Evergreen and aspen trees provide barriers and camouflage for the mountainous wildlife including but certainly not limited to the deer, elk, bear, coyote, antelope, and at least one moose - a famous one referred to as Marty who frequented nearby city life in recent years, though, I have yet to see his majesty. Perhaps the most recognizable landmark within Carson is Wheeler Peak, the State of New Mexico's highest point at 13,161 feet. It lies northeast of Taos. There is so much to do in these mountains - the usual highland activities, of course. The past two years I spent some time in the Tusas Mountains. It was absolutely gorgeous and quite quiescent. Many areas I hiked or four-wheeled through were designated as prescribed fire projects... something that has been a hot topic of debate since the recent Greater Los Angeles wildfires (January 2025). WORKS CITED https://www.fs.usda.gov/carson https://www.krqe.com/digital-now/the-new-mexico-adventures-of-marty-the-moose/

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!

Beautiful heritage center and home base of the Rio Grande del Norte National Heritage Area, which…read moreactually comprises a large swath of Northern New Mexico, including areas settled by the the Jicarilla Apache, 8 Tewa and Tiwa Pueblos, and communities established by Spanish colonists who settled in the area beginning in 1598. The renovation, which is ongoing, of the Onate Monument Visitors Center is already superb and will be much more so as they address the challenging history of the namesake of the site they rehabilitated. The heritage area is a great place to explore, and the staff, who will help guide your trip, are stellar.

From the owner: Our Heritage Center is a fully equipped conference & meeting space. We have a large outdoor stage…read morefor musical performances, poetry readings, and cantantes. Indoors, our Art Gallery showcases artists from the Tri-County area that is our Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. Computer work-stations available. We are a visitor's center, and all are welcome!