From Carlsbad, we took the less direct but more scenic route to Albuquerque through Lincoln National Forest. After passing through snowy towns that had me wondering if we had been transported to Colorado, we passed through a tunnel and were greeted with this view of the valley and desert beyond.
White Sands wasn’t on the docket for this trip, but we did enjoy passing through its shadowy neighbor, the Valley of Fires Recreation Area. Here, huge chunks of black, volcanic rock have been deposited for miles along the valley. It is an awesome, alien sight.
Just a day after we got settled in to our new home at High Desert RV Park, we were invited to have dinner with friends. The last time we had seen Kristy and Mark, Josh and I weren’t even married yet. Now years have passed, and Kristy and Mark are parents to the adorable Aden. We had a great time catching up and getting to know their son.
Just a few days later, Josh’s parents took off in their beloved Camaro from Amarillo to spend the weekend with us. Plans to explore the Turquoise Trail were dashed by untimely RV repairs, but we made the most of our time by exploring local attractions.
First, we headed to Petroglyph National Monument, taking the afternoon to explore this beautiful place.
Unlike Texas’ Seminole Canyon, the art here is carved into the rock, rather than painted on.
The rock itself was formed from volcanoes 130,000 years ago.
After hiking, we had an appetite, so we returned to the RV to cook up steaks for dinner.
The next day, we ventured into the heart of Albuquerque: Old Town.
We had lunch at the highly rated Quesadilla Grille set in one of the charming courtyards.
It was far too soon when we said goodbye to Josh’s parents, and we hope they’re able to join us for more adventures soon.
What are your favorite memories of visiting Albuquerque or New Mexico?
Related posts:
- Week 2 in Albuquerque: Southwestern Art, Tent Rocks and Vintage Style
- Going Underground in Carlsbad, New Mexico
- Adventures on the Border: Del Rio, Texas
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