Christmas or Balloon Festival Time, New Mexico is Magical

One of the most exciting group tours I have ever led was to the annual Albuquerque Balloon Festival which takes place every October. 

It is one of the premier festivals in the world, more than 800 balloons and more than a million spectators. I have been to New Mexico many times and my route is usually Albuquerque, to Sante Fe, to Taos. 

I love the food, the culture, and the scenery. It has old Spanish churches, abode architecture, arts, crafts, red and green chilies, and 19 Indian pueblos where residents sell the most amazing and beautiful turquoise silver jewelry.

If you go during during the Balloon Festival, plan to arrive at the festival park by 5:30 a.m. It will be in the 40’s, so dress warmly. It goes up to 70 degrees in the day. You have breakfast in the park and see the dawn lift off.  It is a spectacular sight.

I always have a few days in Albuquerque, and stay at the Sheraton Hotel which is close to old town. A visit to the Acoma Pueblo, an hour from the town, on top of a mountain is well worth seeing. The old town is wonderful for shopping.

Drive the high road to Taos, Highway 14, also known as the Turquoise Trail. It's only 60 miles from Albuquerque to Sante Fe. Stop for lunch at the Mine Shaft Inn in Madrid, nestled in a narrow canyon in the Ortiz Mountains south of Sante Fe.   Madrid is famous for its Christmas Open House when all the artists put on wonderful displays.

This is a wonderful journey, with quaint villages, and it's gorgeous when they have had snow.

Sante Fe is one of my favorites towns. I usually stay at the Inn at Loretto.

This has a wonderful restaurant with lovely architecture and a great location.

The museums and art galleries in Santa Fe are outstanding, as well as the shopping. It’s a very easy walking town, and I love the Indian market in the square at the weekends. I have bought some lovely, reasonably priced turquoise silver jewelry from the local Indian tribes, as well as a few paintings.  

Visiting in December is wonderful. The town is magical, with breathtaking lights, thousands of candles on rooftops, walls, which are in brown paper bags filled with sand. Every home has a string of red chili handing out in front. There is great skiing in this state.

I always go for a breakfast to the Swiss Bakery, lunch at the La Fonda hotel, and a fun place for dinner is the La Casa Sena Cantina where the staff are all professional singers and put on a great show. They have an excellent cooking school if you want to take a class, and several good spas.     

The art galleries are world class and Canyon Road is fun to wander up and down.

There are several big events held each year like the Indian Market, the Spanish Market, the renowned Sante Fe Opera, and the 19 different pueblos hold many ceremonial dances which are worth seeing.

I usually drive up to Taos, which is another amazing place. Taos Pueblo is also worth visiting.Stay at the Sagebrush Inn, or the Taos Inn. There's lots of history in this town.

This is a state where you can spend a week or longer. There's excellent hiking, mountain biking, and lots of out-of the way lodges to explore. Wandering farther, Las Cruses, Truth or Consequences, or Inn of the Mountain Gods at Ruidoso are worth a visit. Out in the country, you'll find interesting weaving studios, and great selection of carpets to buy.

Maureen Jones

All Horizons Travel, Inc

650-941-5810

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