Entrance runs no more than $3.75 per person, and the museum operates daily between April 1 and Oct. The labyrinthine space is a folk-art feast for the eyes. It features antique toys, mining relics, wood-carved figures and more – all arranged together in miniature scenes depicting the Old West. The hobbyist haven-turned-tourist attraction is the brainchild of the late artist Ross J. TinkertownĬap off your journey at the eccentric Tinkertown Museum, located on the crest road. A 13-mile detour up NM 536 will take you to Sandia Crest, where you can take in Albuquerque and beyond from 10,300 feet. Sandia CrestĬontinue south into the Cibola National Forest and the Sandia Mountains, with breathtaking vistas and a surfeit of offerings for outdoor enthusiasts. While you’re there, walk the dirt roads through town and check out the Casa Grande Trading Post, Mining Museum and Petting Zoo for a peek at rare Cerrillos turquoise – and a few llamas, too. Hungry before you hit Madrid? The Black Bird Saloon in Los Cerrillos offers haute pub fare and local brews. The historic Mine Shaft Tavern, a frequent host of rousing live music, and the Old Coal Town Museum are also worth a visit. Stop off in one of the many galleries along the main drag or grab lunch at The Hollar, where classic Southern comfort dishes get a welcome kick from local chiles. Today, Madrid is a thriving artists’ community where hundred-year-old mining shanties have been transformed into color-blocked artist lofts. But the town declined along with the coal market, and by the 1950s, it was all but abandoned. During its heyday, the booming city boasted a bigger population than Albuquerque and produced 250,00 tons of coal per year. Settled by squatters in the early 1800’s, Madrid had evolved into a company coal town by the end of the century. Just past the park, the revived ghost towns of Los Cerrillos and Madrid blend dusty Wild West charm with colorful hippie quirk. Don’t miss a peek into one of the handful of historic mines visible along the trails. Cerrillos Hills State Parkįollow Cerrillos Road south out of Santa Fe and into the rolling Cerrillos Hills, where the eponymous state park features five miles of piñon-dotted hiking terrain. This back-roads byway offers stunning high-desert panoramas, brisk outdoor excursions, tasty bites and brews, arts-rich shopping, and stop-offs in some of the quirkiest locales the state has to offer. Named for the semi-precious stone mined in the region as early as 900 AD, the Turquoise Trail follows 50 miles of blacktop along Highway 14, connecting Santa Fe and Albuquerque. We couldn’t pick just three! Turquoise Trail: The Old West, Revived And stay tuned for a second installment of day-trip recommendations. Here’s a look at a few of our favorite routes – complete with insights on the best eats along the way. Scenic byways showcase Northern New Mexico’s rugged beauty, protected areas offer outdoor thrills, and rich cultural experiences make day trips from The City Different worth the drive. Wander a few dozen miles from Santa Fe in any direction, and a captivating adventure awaits you.
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