Hi. Driving down to New Mexico in two weeks (or so)

[Panasonic]

around the final weekend before the election. I'm taking my 3 year old son with me for a quick vacation. We have only two destinations that we plan to make: Santa Fe and Albuquerque (Saturday all day) - so I'm wondering what's out there for my son to check out at this time of the year. This is a weekend trip, obviously (5 hour's drive)

Suggestions always helpful!

[Warpy]

1. Old town, both cities

The Museum of Natural History in Albuquerque is just outside Old Town and a 3 year old would love it. Santa Fe has a cluster of museums outside Old Town, the International Museum of Folk Art is a favorite of mine and I think a kid would like it, too. I always turn into a five year old when I go there.

[whathehell]

7. Warpy, my husband and I took our first trip to NM last week and I was REALLY taken with Santa Fe

I loved the confluence of cultures, the mountains, the artistic vibe and the all the old hippies who seem to reside

in and around the place.

I'm thinking of going again soon (didn't see enough in a few days) and wanted your take, or that of anyone

who lives there, what living/moving there is like -- probably couldn't do this til I retire in four years, but just wondering.

Thanks.

[Warpy]

8. The rest of the state calls Santa Fe "Adobe Disneyland"

It's chichi and really expensive.

There are other places in this state to go, really nice areas like Silver City and Ruidoso if you like outdoor stuff. If you want hippies, then Madrid is your place, it's the Land that Time Forgot.

I still live in the big city since my health sucks so much. I occasionally toy with the idea of moving up to Santa Fe since I can afford it now but inertia has taken over.

If you're thinking of retiring here, there's a lot more state to explore, in other words, than just Santa Fe.

[whathehell]

9. Then I may be Mickey Mouse!

because I liked it, the galleries, the atmosphere, and, I guess the "chichi" too.

I did stop in Madrid and bought a turquoise ring, but from what I could see,

it was very small, like only one street with restaurants and such, but I do take your point about seeing

other areas of the State as well.

Is Taos considered "Adobe Disneyland" too?....

As for living there, we probably would not do it permanently -- maybe winters, if we could afford

to rent a condo, or something. I know the winters aren't really "warm" there, but

but I'm sure they're warmer and sunnier than those in Chicago.

You said your health is bad...I'm sorry to hear it, mine isn't great, (bad arthritis) but I'm getting

a double knee replacement this year, since I'm all but lame. Beyond that, I have Crohns,

but it's mild.

What are your issues, if you don't mind my asking?...Anything a DUer could help with or at least

offer sincere sympathies for?....I do hope you at least have friends and family

around you for moral and any other kind of support you need.

[Warpy]

10. Roswell would be well worth looking into

While there are cold snaps during the winter, it often is quite livable. Even Las Cruces, the southernmost city, is temperate in winter. The altitude is far lower, for one thing. Trees there start to leaf out in February. The scenery is also stunning.

The artsy vibe is all over the state. After all, I moved out here to feed my fiber habit, finding wool a lot cheaper if I bought it right off the sheep's back and processed it and spun it myself. It's a visual artist's paradise, with painters, sculptors, weavers, jewelers and fine woodworkers all over the place.

While Santa Fe and Taos are the big gallery towns, is gallery shopping something you'd want to do every day?

And both places are cold and snowy in winter, not that big a break from Chicago.

[whathehell]

11. I never thought of Roswell in any other terms but. you know, "the alien", lol,

Is it relatively close to Santa Fe?

I wouldn't do the gallery thing every day, I just liked the atmosphere, and, for some reason, It seemed more "green"

than Albuquerque though it's possible I didn't see enough of Albuquerque, and I don't know if it's greener than the rest of the state.

Generally, too much "desert" could get to me...I'm originally from a city on the east coast that is known for lots

of trees and green.

Good to know that the artsy thing is all over the state -- I like that a LOT, although as a singer/theater and movie

nut, I'm more of a "performing arts" person myself, which is why I wouldn't want to leave Chicago permanently.

So you are a weaver, by craft?....I saw MANY beautiful wall hangings, jewelry items, and other works of art there.

If you have a website where you display your work, I'd certainly be interested in looking at it, as I'm still in the process

of decorating my house, so I could be interested in buying some items if you do.

[whathehell]

13. Is it something I said, Warpy?

[whathehell]

14. It's rare to be snubbed by someone whose work you've just expressed an interest in buying

but maybe you actually have nothing.

I'm not fond of the rude, so goodbye and good luck.

[Warpy]

15. For me, weaving is like sex

I will do it for love but not for money.

[whathehell]

16. That's nice

but the decent and courteous still respond to good intentions.

Goodbye.

[PasadenaTrudy]

17. I may move there, some day...

It is $$, but a lot less than here in SoCal! I'm going in the spring for the 4th time...5th time?

[whathehell]

18. Not much is as expensive as SoCal

or the Bay Area, for that matter, much as I love California.

The only thing about Santa Fe, for me, is, I'm not that fond of the desert.

When there, I'm thinking that, for the most part, it's too dry

dry and barren, TOO sunny, not enough trees, and, of course,

no water or VERY little. I grew up on the East Coast where there

was plenty of all that, so I guess I'm a bit put off by the lack.

[PasadenaTrudy]

19. Yeah..

SoCal is desert, so I suppose I'm used to that aspect. The Bay area is crazy expensive.

[SheilaT]

20. I cannot quite understand where the notion that Santa Fe is so terribly expensive

has come from.

I keep on wanting to say, "Yep, you're right, it's so expensive that no one lives there any more and wild javelina roam freely though the Plaza."

I moved here from Johnson County, Kansas, which is considered by all the rest of Kansas and nearby Missouri to be too expensive for anyone to live in. Yep. It's likewise totally depopulated. I'm going to pass on posting the sarcasm thingy.

I think what people look at here is that the high end of housing is very high end. If you want to live near the Plaza, THAT'S expensive. But so is Mission Hills or Hallbrook back in Kansas. Let me put it this way: the small place I bought here three years ago cost around half of the local median price for a home, and it's more than adequate for my needs. Other things, like gas, groceries, movie tickets, eating out, and so on, are all the same as I was used to paying back in Kansas. Which really, despite the claims of non Johnson Country residents, is still a relatively low cost of living part of the country.

We also have the second-highest local minimum wage in the country.

Again, you name almost any big city in this country -- Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, NYC, and any number of others, and it's far more expensive than it is here.

What I really don't get are the people who live in Albuquerque, because rents are cheaper there, and then commute up to Santa Fe to work. Even if the cost of gas doesn't matter, time spent commuting should. Oh, well, I've never been one willing to commute any distance for a job.

[PasadenaTrudy]

21. If

I ever move there, I will just rent. I have zero interest in ownership. I wouldn't want to live near the plaza either. I love the Eastside and Museum Hill areas though and I bet they aren't cheap.

[SheilaT]

22. Rents here are comparable, in my experience,

to rents in a moderate cost city.

And yes, the Museum Hill area is going to be very pricy.

I live in the unpopular south side of the city, and I have a million dollar view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from my back yard. One of the best things about this city is that it's small, so no matter where you live it takes about ten minutes to get anywhere else.

[PasadenaTrudy]

23. True dat n/t

[orbitgirl]

2. I live in Albuquerque

and there is lots to do for your son. A museum named explora, its science in a fun way for young kids. Don't forget to eat a green chili cheeseburger.

[seabeyond]

3. natural history and science museum. zoo. aquarium with botanic gardens

http://www.itsatrip.org/!images/cache.ashx?path=&width=318&height=318&method=resize

Diverse and fascinating, the museums of Albuquerque cover a range of subjects, educating visitors of all ages. Including the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History and the National Hispanic Cultural Center, many of these attractions reflect the city's interesting past and cultural diversity.

Other popular themes at museums in Albuquerque include natural history, herpetology (zoology of reptiles) and science. Families will enjoy spending time at the Explora Science Center, which stands on Mountain Road, right next to Tigeux Park, and comes with a host of indoor activities and scientific puzzles. Close by and also to be found on Mountain Road is the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, which is again particularly appealing to the younger generation and known for its 'Dawn of the Dinosaurs' Triassic Hall.




Albuquerque Aquarium at Albuquerque Biological Park



Rio Grande Zoo at Albuquerque Biological Park



Botanic Gardens

[SheilaT]

4. To be honest, Albuquerque is probably a lot more kid-friendly

than Santa Fe. The Folk Art Museum's displays are all designed for adults to look at. A three-year old unless he's really tall, or is happy in a back-pack, won't have much to see.

The Santa Fe things that might most interest an adult, such as browsing through the art galleries, aren't a real good idea to try to do with a three year old.

Give him a decade and he'll be great here, however.

What we do have are a reasonable number of parks to take him to, but ABQ will also have them. What you might want to consider is taking the Railrunner between ABQ and SF, if you think your son would be good there.

[Panasonic]

5. Interesting idea

on the Railrunner, but how will we get around Albuquerque without a car?

We're driving south from Denver.

We know Santa Fe is artsy fartsy type of place (Been there), the only reason we're staying in Santa Fe is because of my wife's craving for Upper Crust Pizza in Old Town, plus the price of the motels aren't too bad.

[SheilaT]

6. You could check out the bus service in ABQ online.

I've only made use of it once, taking the train in from Santa Fe, so I can't tell you much about it.

In ABQ you'd want the car. If you took the train from there to Santa Fe, you can walk to the Plaza area from the train station, although again with a three-year old that's not necessarily the best plan of action.

Since you're driving in anyway, just drive in each city to whatever places you want to visit. Do have a lot of fun while here!

[Quixote1818]

12. Your son would probably enjoy taking the longest tram in the world

http://www.sandiapeak.com/

If he likes nature he might like the Nature Center: http://www.rgnc.org/

The Natural History Museum and Old Town in Abq: http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/ The museum has great shows on the IMAX screen.