The wife is wanting to go to Albuquerque then to either Vegas or Salt lake city and swim in the salt lake
We will have roughly 7-8 days to make the trip
We have looked and either place is about 2500 to 2600 miles
Our thinking is spending two nights in New mexico going then two nights in vegas or salt lake and then maybe one night coming back
We could spend 3 nights at one or the other if we needed and then spend a night or two somewhere else either going or coming back if there is an area we should cover.
I know we will spend Sat and Sun in Albuquerque and leave Monday morning ,at that point we are open to either place
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated as neither one of us has ever been in any of these states

 

Personally, I would skip Albuquerque and hit both of the others.

 

Thanks olderguy
We did consider that and two years ago that is what we most likely would have done just that made it a one day run.
That is not something we can do any longer
We already have rooms in the area that have to used by the end of the year so we thought just well use them now.
Anything strike you as a have to see it when going either place

 

Make sure you see Hoover Dam and take whatever tours you can if you go near there.

 

I agree on skipping Albequerque. Not a lot to see there when compared to Vegas. But New Mexico has some great scenery.

 

If you go east out of Albuquerque on I-40, through the pass to highway 14, then go north on 14 and around the back side of Sandia Peak, then take the road to the summit where the observation area is, the views are extraordinary. You can see a couple hundred miles on a clear day. All of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande river valley is laid out before you from up there. It is a pretty scenic drive up to it as well.

Then you can continue to follow scenic highway 14 northward to Santa Fe, which is known for its fantastic food. All of the restaurants I went to in Santa Fe were better than the ones I went to in Albuquerque.

You would probably enjoy the scenic loop from Santa Fe up to Pojoaque, then highway 503 up to highway 76, through Truchas, to hwy 75 to hwy 518, through the pass near Pot Creek and down to Taos, then back down hwy 68 along the Rio Grande to Santa Fe again. It is beautiful country and the elevation and topography changes are stunning.

 

well
we started on our trip to Utah and Vegas and made it to Albuquerque. That was as far as we got.
We spent two days there and then came back home. It was not a bad stay we found a room that was more in the old town area .The owners were really great and had an interesting story about the motel . Truly living an American dream. The rates were well within reason 55.00 a night with a heated pool .
About 730 P. M. or so we drove out I25 headed North and was amazzed at the scene. The sun was going down and cast a shadow on the mountain side which gave the appearance of snow in the valleys running down the side . It was a stunning site. We did not see the same look during the day it was only late in the evening. During the day they looked real,but late evening it looked like a huge painting draping down behind the town from the sky to the ground . It is really hard to describe just say if you are there take a late evening drive
The third day it had really turned off hot and the temp was rising.
We started toward Utah on the second day and before we got out of town,the wife made the decision to come back home. She thought we would make the trip when it gets cooler or maybe even wait and go next year before it gets so hot. Since she now has to do more of the driving I just agree with her.
We turned around and headed back home. At childress I took over driving we were nearly to Wichita Falls ,when she says take this next exit and head North. I did not ask just drove
The next thing I know we are in front of Kiowa casino outside of Devol,Okla.
Played there a while and then came on home
We did have an enjoyable trip