Colorado and New Mexico
June 2021 - Our trip to Colorado and New Mexico!
Pictures from our trip!
Our western jaunt this June was a trip over various parts of terrain through southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Our main destinations were Pagosa Springs, CO and Taos and Santa Fe, NM.
We drove through Lawrence, Kansas and our first historical site was Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site in LaJunta, CO. Bent’s Old Fort is an adobe fort, built to trade with Plains Indians and trappers and located on the Santa Fe Trail. A hot day but an interesting fort showing how the traders lived and worked. After visiting the fort, we headed to Pagosa Springs but made a stop at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. We did not attempt to walk on the dunes but did take pictures. From there we drove through the mountain pass to Pagosa Springs and our home for the next few days. We wandered in downtown Pagosa Springs but did not try the hot springs. We explored the area, driving to Durango one day to take a steam engine train into Cascade Canyon and went to Chimney Rock National Monument, which is a sacred place celebrating the life of Ancestral Puebloans over 1000 years ago.
Our next stop was Taos, NM for a few days. We wandered through a couple of art galleries and shops, visited the Martinez Hacienda, a late Spanish Colonial period “Great House” and did some wine tasting. Found several good restaurants for our meals. We also drove to Angel Fire, a ski resort, where there is also a Vietnam Memorial. It was about 10 degrees cooler in the mountains.
After Taos, came Santa Fe. On our way, we stopped and did a little wine tasting, and also stopped at Great River Gorge where we got out of the car and walked on the bridge to take a look at the gorge. Continued our drive and arrived in Santa Fe mid-afternoon. Our lodgings were within walking distance of several restaurants and the city plaza which was nice. We found a nice restaurant to celebrate my birthday.
On Saturday, we drove to Pecos National Historical Park where we walked to the old Spanish Colonial mission site and saw some of the pueblo living sites. Pueblos have been there since around 1300 AD. The mission was built in 1619. It was hot so we enjoyed the movie again that the park service had done and looked in the museum and gift shop as well. We drove to Glorieta Pass battlefield which is also part of the park - there was a trail there which we decided not to walk on because of the heat. The pass was used by Confederate forces trying to control western territory. Found a nice place for a late lunch on our way back to Santa Fe as well as a small art museum to visit.
Wandered around the Santa Fe Plaza on Sunday and went to the New Mexico History Museum which was quite interesting. Had lunch outdoors at one of the plaza restaurants. Wandered around some more and then walked to the State Capitol Building.
Started heading home on Monday. Drove straight east to Amarillo, TX where we spent the night. Stopped at the Cadillac Ranch (Cadillac cars halfway buried in the ground) and had a meal at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Had heard about this place when we lived in Oklahoma City. They have a 72oz steak challenge (which we did not try) but our food was good! Kitschy place but fun.
Drove to Tulsa from Amarillo. On the way we stopped at the Washita National Historic Site. We tried to see where the Tulsa massacre had taken place and where Black Wall Street was but there was a lot of construction and it was hard to drive around. On to St. Louis the next day. Stopped at the Missouri Civil War Museum to see the brick we had donated - but because of covid they hadn’t placed it yet. Someone did help us and told us they were behind and got the brick for us to see which was nice.
Finally home. We traveled over 3300 miles on this trip through a lot of very interesting country. Flatlands to mountains to gorges and rolling hills and even flatter lands. Brown countryside, green countryside. Such diversity!