๐ 9 Days in New Mexico (Part 1)
About New Mexico ๐ Home to the classic TV series Breaking Bad ๐ Santa Fe โ the nationโs second-largest art market after NYC ๐จ ๐ Stunning landscapes: caves, deserts, ancient ruins, and UFO lore ๐ธ ๐ A blend of Native American, Mexican, and Spanish cultures ๐ Hosts the worldโs largest hot air balloon festival ๐ Route (See Map 2) Albuquerque (ABQ) โ White Sands NP โ Carlsbad Caverns NP โ Santa Fe โ Taos Pueblo โ Chaco Culture NHP โ Mesa Verde NP โ Ship Rock โ ABQ Day 1: Arrive in ABQ โ๏ธ Landed at ABQ Airport at 11 PM. Took a shuttle to the rental car company and stayed near the airport. ๐ Day 2: ABQ โ White Sands NP โ El Paso ๐ Had breakfast and stocked up at Walmart. Drove 4 hours to White Sands. Stopped in Carrizozo for lunch at Four Winds Restaurant โ authentic Mexican food! ๐ฎ ๐ White Sands National Park Arrived 2 hours before sunset โ perfect light and cooler temperatures. ๐ธ Vast white gypsum dunes with one main road โ accessible for all vehicles. Rented sleds for sand sliding and joined the free sunset tour. The ranger shared insights about plants, wildlife, and geology while we watched the magical sunset. ๐ ๐ Drove 1.5 hours to El Paso for dinner and stayed overnight. A peaceful border town with plenty of food and lodging options. ๐๏ธ Day 3: El Paso โ Carlsbad Caverns NP โ Santa Fe ๐ Carlsbad Caverns National Park Open 8:30 AMโ2:30 PM. Drove 2 hours from El Paso โ leave early! Explored the largest limestone cave in North America. Took an elevator 75 floors down to the Big Room and walked the loop trail among breathtaking formations. โฐ๏ธ๐ฆ ๐ Drove 5 hours to Santa Fe. Had lunch in Carlsbad โ affordable Mexican restaurants everywhere. Passed through Roswell, famous for the UFO incident โ even the streetlights are alien-themed! ๐ฝ ๐ Stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb estate in Santa Fe โ our 9-person group had a whole villa with individual bedrooms! ๐ก #NewMexico #USRoadTrip #TravelUSA #StudyAbroad #BreakingBad #MexicanFood #HiddenGems #NationalParks