Albuquerque/Santa Fe Ryders - a question.

[BLUE MULE]

My wife and I are Spydering out to the Balloon Fiesta in October. We will be there for four days and then are thinking of taking the long way home through Roswell. I've set aside one day in Albuquerque for ryding and was thinking of doing the Torquoise Trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe with a side trip up Mt Sandia. I'm just wondering from those of you who have done this or live in the area if this is a good ryde or is there something else in the area that may be better. Keep in mind, it needs to be in the general area of Albuquerque/Santa Fe. Also, I've heard there's not a whole lot in Roswell but we were only going to stop for a couple of hours. Just wanted to say we went there, get an "I Believe" bumper sticker, take a few pictures and head out. So, is Roswell worth it with this approach? Lastly, if you have any good restaurant recommendations for the Albuquerque area, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

Kyle

[docdoru]

Just returned from Albuquerque and I like The Artichoke Cafe (424 Central SE Albuquerque, NM 505-243-0200) and Tucanos Brazilian Grill (110 Central Ave SW Albuquerque, NM 505-246-9900). If you go alone, PM me (The Palms). ;)

[BLUE MULE]

Just returned from Albuquerque and I like The Artichoke Cafe (424 Central SE Albuquerque, NM 505-243-0200) and Tucanos Brazilian Grill (110 Central Ave SW Albuquerque, NM 505-246-9900). If you go alone, PM me (The Palms). ;)

Thanks Doc. Going with a family group. Will check out these eateries on Google.

[SpydherLuv]

I'll be out at the Balloon Fiesta as well, but won't be on the Spyder. We're going to drive the RV, hit a few places on the way like Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, and plan to be in ABQ around the 7th. What dates will you be there Blue Mule?

[BLUE MULE]

[QUOTE=SpydherLuv;372427]I'll be out at the Balloon Fiesta as well, but won't be on the Spyder. We're going to drive the RV, hit a few places on the way like Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, and plan to be in ABQ around the 7th. What dates will you be there Blue Mule?[/QUOTE

We arrive on the 6th and leave on the 10th. Have you been here for the Ballon Fiesta before? This will be our first time.

[SpydherLuv]

Yep, we've been there a few times. My partner has some friends who moved there a few years ago and we try to go every year. We didn't get a chance to go last year and found that we really missed it, so now it's on our standing vacation list.
Make sure you check out www.balloonfiesta.com (http://www.balloonfiesta.com) and take a look at the schedule. I would highly recommend seeing the Special Shapes and the evening glows - they are spectacular! Everything happens in the wee hours of the morning and in the evenings (as far as the balloons are concerned); which should leave you with the rest of the day for ryding. Now you have me thinking about getting a trailer and taking my RT...;)

Here are a few pics I took in 2009.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=9431669230103%3 A638826446&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-shareCopyLink-_-Sharer-_-Top

I (http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=9431669230103%3 A638826446&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-shareCopyLink-_-Sharer-_-Top)f you want to do a quick meet and greet I can PM you my email and phone info.

[SpyderRyder]

Just got back from Albuquerque and took the trip to Santa Fe and on our way back took the Turqoise Trail. We were in a car, but I think you would enjoy the trip on the Spyder. Next time we go out there, we will definitely do it on the Spyder. :thumbup:

[BLUE MULE]

Yep, we've been there a few times. My partner has some friends who moved there a few years ago and we try to go every year. We didn't get a chance to go last year and found that we really missed it, so now it's on our standing vacation list.
Make sure you check out www.balloonfiesta.com (http://www.balloonfiesta.com) and take a look at the schedule. I would highly recommend seeing the Special Shapes and the evening glows - they are spectacular! Everything happens in the wee hours of the morning and in the evenings (as far as the balloons are concerned); which should leave you with the rest of the day for ryding. Now you have me thinking about getting a trailer and taking my RT...;)

Here are a few pics I took in 2009.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=9431669230103%3 A638826446&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-shareCopyLink-_-Sharer-_-Top

I (http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=9431669230103%3 A638826446&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-shareCopyLink-_-Sharer-_-Top)f you want to do a quick meet and greet I can PM you my email and phone info.

Thanks! Great pics! I think it's going to be a lot of fun. We've been on www.balloonfiesta.com (http://www.balloonfiesta.com) and have even printed out the PDF schedule. Lots of good info on it. Here's the ride I'm wanting to do, http://www.turquoisetrail.org/, well the website that shows the what's along that stretch of highway. Don't know if you've done it, but check it out if you haven't. Note the side trip up to Mt. Sandia -11,000 ft. This sounds to good to pass up. Let me know if you decide to bring the RT - thinking about doing the trail on the 8th (Saturday) but not etched in stone yet.

Regards

Kyle

[Lifeisadaydream]

My two favorite local restaurant's in Albuquerque are "Los Cuates" for Mexican food and "Ragin' Shrimp" for unique n spicy. http://loscuatesrestaurants.com/loscuates/locations.html and http://www.raginshrimp.com/
Also, SR-4 is suposed to be one of the best motorcycle roads in the state. It runs from Los Alamos to San Ysidro on US-550, northwest of Albuquerque.

[ronrico]

If you make it to Roswell check out the Alien Museum. It is interesting.

[thehawk]

... at Los Alamos are worth the trip ... as are the restaurants at The Village of Ranches de Taos, a wonderful artist's community.

thehawk

[ulflyer]

I believe its on the "Turq. Trail" . Small town with a bunch of shops of all types. Old mining town, where the big scene was filmed in the movie Wild Hogs where they confronted the bad guys. Good place to stretch and check out a couple shops or have a snak at one of the small resturants.

Between Madrid (pronounced Mad-rid) and Santa Fe is a tiny community called Cerrillos, dirt streets, really only one street with a shop or two , but its like stepping back in time. Just off the road, so at least ride thru slowly and take a look.

Downtown Santa Fe is a trip in itself if you're interested in Indian jewelery/artwork in the town plaza.

Roswell is way too touristy manufactured alien stuff to interest me, but thats just a personal view. Grab yourself a good tour book on NM before you go if you have time. So many things worth seeing from Anasazi ruins and cliff dwellings, old towns where Billy the Kid ran (Lincoln county). Maybe "Old Town" in Alb for a shopping spree?

My daughter lives in Santa Fe and I've visited a bit over the years and had the time to see a lot of the state.