Big fans of Longmire too and while we are not talking famous bridges the locations for filming are nearby in Las Vegas NM and Madrid NM.
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Big fans of Longmire too and while we are not talking famous bridges the locations for filming are nearby in Las Vegas NM and Madrid NM.
Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge -- did you get a cabin or are you staying in "the motel"? A couple of tips on this:
* For either, but especially the motel rooms, your car is often a ways from your room/cabin. There are porters, if you need them, so be sure to set aside some tip $.
* The motel rooms are small. Just sayin'. Not air conditioned, either, but I believe they all have the ability to open the windows and turn on a ceiling fan. This made for wonderful sleeping!
* The view from the Lodge itself is gorgeous.
* The food places are VERY pricey. The buffet, which we took part in (pre-COVID), was expensive and the food lukewarm (even being on steam tables). The dining room needs reservations several days in advance, so call ahead. Less expensive alternatives: counter service in the Lodge, a deli, and the bar has good breakfast rolls. Sandwiches at the campground store (if it's open) are "meh".
* There is one scenic drive, so be sure not to miss it.
* We took a 3/4 mile hike down into the Canyon from Bright Angel Trailhead, just to say we'd hiked a little inside the Canyon. Good views all the way!
*It's a 45-minute drive between Jacob Lake and the Canyon.
* Be prepared for a bit of altitude "sickness". Hubby suffered from some. It went away when we went downhill to our next stop.
Donna
Hi Donna
Thank you. We have a cabin - a Pioneer Cabin 2 bedroomed. Good tip (thank you) re booking the restaurant. Noted re the scenic drive etc, and especially the altitude sickness. We don't want that - hopefully we will avoid at Pikes Peak too.
I understand and respect that, and certainly appreciate them myself. The flip side is I think that's part of why I dislike the stop so much - it literally is a bridge to nowhere that was built purely to be a tourist trap.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattyn1
Hello Mattyn1, you've gotten a lot of great suggestions already. I'd like to suggest a few things about your route north from Albuquerque, NM.
When you leave ABQ, first take I-40 East five miles to NM Hwy. 14 at Cedar Crest and go north. This road is know as the
Turquoise Trail , and will take you north to Santa Fe through Madrid, which was one of the locations for Longmire. NM Hwy. 14 joins I-25 near Santa Fe, where you would continue on to Las Vegas, NM.
From Las Vegas, NM, you could take a very nice drive through the mountains northward. One way would be NM Hwy 518 to Mora, then over the mountains to Taos, as UKCraig suggested. Lots to see around here, and this could be a good place to stay overnight. Then onward into Colorado - there are several routes you could take.
Another route north from Las Vegas, NM would be NM 518 - NM 434 - US 64 to Eagle Nest/Cimarron/Raton, then up into Colorado on I-25. This is a very scenic drive, but it should be noted that NM 434 is slow-going. Last time I was up there it was quite narrow in places and a few tight turns. The highway department supposedly has been widening and improving this road, but I haven't been up there recently. But it's really beautiful all through there.
PS - It's been a long time since I've posted here. Hi to everyone!
Howard, wonderful to hear from you. And thanks for the helpful post!Quote:
Originally Posted by howard
Mark
Edit to add (and I profusely apologise) - thank you all for the advice - taking it on board most genuinely.
Quickly realising this Amarillo (1 night) - Albuquerque (2 nights) - Santa Fe/Las Vegas/Canon City (1 night) is seemingly overstretching me. I might have to let Santa Fe drop off sadly.
So I might:
30 Jul 24: Amarillo - travel R66 through Tucumcari for coffee and into Alberquerque, check in and ditch bags (hopefully early check in).
Do the some of the sights of Alberquerque that afternoon (Breaking Bad locations) and dine in Pollos Hermanos! Overnight Alberquerque.
31 Jul 24: Next day continue Breaking Bad sights - head to Madrid and do Mine Shaft Tavern for late lunch, , then onto Las Vegas for the night.
Next day, stroll the Las Vegas Plaza, then to Eagle Nest and then up I25 to Canon City.
Breaking Bad and Longmire locations will take precedent over Santa Fe. But thinking more, Santa Fe is not the lowest priority based on advice here!!
So..... thinking about what our friend said earlier about Royal Gorge -
30 Jul 24: Amarillo - travel R66 through Tucumcari for coffee and into Alberquerque, check in and ditch bags (hopefully early check in).
Do the some of the sights of Alberquerque that afternoon (Breaking Bad locations) and dine in Pollos Hermanos! Overnight Alberquerque.
31 Jul 24: Next day continue Breaking Bad sights - head to Madrid and do Mine Shaft Tavern for late lunch, , then onto Santa Fe for the night.
1 Aug 24 - Leisurely breakfast in Santa Fe, head to Las Vegas for that night.
2 Aug 24 - head off early and head for Mora/Taos or via Eagle Nest, if time works for us pop into Royal Gorge, if not, (although I did want to do Skyline Drive in Canon City - but it is only a tiddler) head to Colorado Springs and get checked in ready for Pikes Peak on 3 Aug 24.
I think that's more workable. Less long stints in the car, with decent stops and breaks.
Wow - what a brain storm that was!! What I should have added is Amarillo (we are meeting some friends) and Pikes Peak (absolute necessity and drives the other fixed nights in Monument Valley (accommodation paid for there) are really fixed days.
Thoughts?
Quote:
to Tusayan is to enable a helicopter ride into the canyon which will give us that first sight and impression from the air.
This is a fantastic experience and the Mrs can keep her eyes open for the views! ;-) One thing to note, no Helicopters actually go into the National park area of the canyon, but they do fly over it. The 45 minute Spirit tour was memorable!Quote:
mrs is feeling - she is petrified of heights!!).
Wow! I know with kids it's not an option, but this is another good reason we travel out of season! I think our last flights direct into LA from Heathrow were under £350pp!Quote:
UKCraig. Wow those are good prices. What dates are you flying and with which airline? We have struggled over the past couple of years to find anything lower than +/- £1,000 pp
OR like Howard suggested, after Las Vegas (don't stay here) head for Mora then Taos and overnight there instead - that puts me closer to Canon to see Royal Gorge, do Skyline Dr and head for Colorado Springs overnight.
That you Howard - took me a while to unpick the nuances of your advice but I think that is what I will plan for - unless someone shouts NOOOO!!!
- - - Updated - - -
Pretty sure cheap long haul is a thing of the past!Quote:
Originally Posted by Southwest Dave
We have talked about the GC this evening and we are leaning toward the plane ride (easier for them) and the hummer sunset trip which gives me a little driving break!Quote:
Originally Posted by Southwest Dave