π 9 Days in New Mexico (Part 2)
Day 7: Taos β Chaco β Farmington π Chaco Culture National Historical Park The national park that deliberately keeps roads rough to discourage casual visitors. 3.5-hour drive from Taos. The last stretch is unpaved β bumpy but worth it! ππ¨ Staff shared that the rugged road helps preserve the site by attracting only determined visitors. It started raining as we left ββ¦ we got nervous about flooding and getting stuck (no RV!), but luckily the rain eased and we made it out β with wild horses running alongside! π AndβοΈIt was absolutely worth it! Ancient Pueblo great houses with mysterious astronomical significance. National Park Pass accepted. Few visitors β felt like we had the place to ourselves! Staff were genuinely happy to see us. π We planned to visit Bisti Badlands for sunset hiking, but bad weather forced us to skip. Drove 1.5 hours to Farmington for the night. Day 8: Mesa Verde β Ship Rock π Mesa Verde National Park Incredible Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. The drive offers breathtaking views and beautiful light rays through the clouds. π Many ruins to explore β highly recommend the Long House Tour (book in advance online). π Ship Rock A stunning 482-meter rock formation rising from the flat plain. Free entry. Perfect at sunset. πͺ Navigate to the coordinates in Fig 5 for the best viewpoint. Further access requires a 4x4 or hiking. π Returned to Farmington for the night. Day 9: Farmington β ABQ Drove 3 hours back to Albuquerque for a Breaking Bad pilgrimage! Lunch at Twisters (the real-life Los Pollos Hermanos) β fun for photos, but the food was just okay. ππΈ Explored Old Town β full of souvenir shops, cafes, and galleries. Donβt miss The Breaking Bad Store and great coffee at Blackbird Coffee. βποΈ Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta π Happens every October β the worldβs largest hot air balloon festival! Buy tickets early. Morning sessions show liftoffs; evening sessions feature glowing balloons firing in the night. Flew back to NY that night. π Final thought: New Mexico is a highly underrated road trip gem! #NewMexico #USRoadTrip #USATravel #Colorado #WorldHeritage #BalloonFiesta #BreakingBad #HiddenGems
