New Mexico Trip

We are planning on leaving Sept 4, headed to New Mexico, Santa Fe and Albuquerque specifically. Any info anyone would like to share on what not to miss, and what type of weather can we expect. Hoping for mild days and cool nights. Also, has anyone ever been to Loretta's Chapel in Santa Fe? We have it on our short list of things to see.

I hesitate to post this because I didn’t care for the commercialization of the chapel. I don’t want to turn you off based solely on my opinion. Here are some excerpts of what I wrote in my trip journal for our visit to the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe. FYI, I am a Catholic and I apologize if anything I wrote offends anyone. Remember this is just my opinion.

"The chapel was quite beautiful and the alter was made of wood but painted to look like marble. The illusion was very effective.
I was somewhat disappointed in the Miraculous Staircase because it was supported by an iron bracket attached from the staircase to one of the support columns in the church. There were no actual photos of the original staircase without the support and without the railings that were later installed.

This chapel was really commercialized. You had to pay five dollars per person to enter and then you were required use a different exit that led into the chapel’s gift store. To say I was disappointed in the chapel and its Miraculous Staircase would be an understatement. Apparently the chapel is run by nuns that belong to the order, Sisters of the Almighty Dollar.

The Loretto chapel was in downtown Santa Fe, so we walked the streets of downtown for a while window shopping. Santa Fe must be populated with nothing but artists because just about every store was an art gallery. It became obvious to me that I don’t have much taste for art because I hated everything I saw. Some of the shops sold what appeared to be the hand made Navajo rugs, but on closer inspection we noticed that they were all made in Venezuela. So far, I wasn’t too impressed with New Mexico. "

35 miles to the north of Santa Fe is the town of Chimayo where the Santuario de Chimayo is located. I felt this church was definitely worth visiting. We drove to Chimayo the day after we visited the Loretto Chapel. Here are excerpts from my journal of that day.

"Just before ten o’clock we left for our trip to El Santuario de Chimayo in the town of Chimayo, NM about 35 miles north or here. This church is sometimes referred to as the Lourdes of America because of the number of people who claimed to have been cured of the ailments from the sacred sand found in the sanctuary of the church.

After yesterday’s disappointment with the Miraculous Staircase, I considered not even going to this church. My curiosity won out though and we hit the road for the town of Chimayo. The church wasn’t hard to find, but finding a parking spot proved to be a bit more difficult. I can’t imagine what the parking must be like during the prime tourist season.

The town of Chimayo was very small but there were plenty of art galleries there. The entire Santa Fe area seems to be nothing but artists and their galleries and I still haven‘t seen any art that I liked.

The shrine far exceeded my expectations which had been lowered after our visit to the Loretto Chapel. The church is very old and most of it is still in its original state. The sanctuary was filled with religious pictures, rosaries, and many other items people had brought with them and left. There were also a number of crutches, leg braces, walkers, and casts that people had left in the sanctuary after having been cured.

In a small room just behind the sanctuary there was an area where you could take some of the sacred sand. I took two scoops of the sand to give to others who might need or want some. There was no commercialization of this shrine which really impressed me. The majority of the people who came into the sanctuary seemed to be the true believers of the Catholic faith.

We had arrived at the church around ten thirty and since they had an eleven o’clock mass we stayed for that too. There was a sign saying not to take pictures in the church, but I wish I had taken a picture of the ceiling which to me looked as if it could collapse at any minute. After mass we were greeted by the priest who was thrilled that we had come all the way from St. Louis to see his church.

The grounds around the church were fascinating too. Many crucifixes covered the landscape and there were two outside shrines where people wrote their prayer requests on rocks gathered from a nearby stream and placed them at the foot of one of the outdoor shines. "

Your post was very interesting and truthful. Thank you.

ezrider6298 wrote:We are planning on leaving Sept 4, headed to New Mexico, Santa Fe and Albuquerque specifically. Any info anyone would like to share on what not to miss, and what type of weather can we expect. Hoping for mild days and cool nights. Also, has anyone ever been to Loretta's Chapel in Santa Fe? We have it on our short list of things to see.

Which direction are you coming from?

From Conyers, Ga. Taking I-20 to B'ham, US 78 to Memphis, I-40 to Clines Corners, US 285 to Santa Fe. 1 nite near B'ham, 2 nites West Memphis, 1 nite Henryetta, OK., 2 nites Amarillo, 3 nites in Santa Fe, 2 nites in Albuquerque, then 4 nites on the road home. I have some xtra time built in if needed coming home.

Make sure you ride the lift up to the top of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, it is well worth it. Why 2 nights in West Memphis? visiting somebody? Others may disagree, but Memphis is not the safest place to be. Last time I stayed out there, we witnessed a "Shooting-in-Motion" aka Drive By. The officer is the one that called it a shooting-in-motion.

moo2613 wrote:Make sure you ride the lift up to the top of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, it is well worth it. Why 2 nights in West Memphis? visiting somebody? Others may disagree, but Memphis is not the safest place to be. Last time I stayed out there, we witnessed a "Shooting-in-Motion" aka Drive By. The officer is the one that called it a shooting-in-motion.

Not really Memphis, Tn., but West Memphis, Arkansas. I agree about Memphis. Been there, done that! But we have res in a really nice park, right on the Mississippi river. Don't plan on going anywhere outside that park once we get there. Just some "lazy time", watching the boats on the Mississippi. But thanks for the heads up!! One never knows about towns and areas never visited.

Great BBQ in Memphis and take a trip to Mud Island it was enjoyable. Stay a while and listen to Blues in a bar and then went back to the camper in West Memphis.

Chaco Canyon is about 160 miles north and west of Albuquerque. We went there this summer, very impressive ruins. About 20 miles of the trip, each way, is on a dirt road. The road inside the park is paved.

Google Maps

A little south, but Ruidoso area is nice, higher, cooler and in the pines. Near Lincoln County wars area, Billy the Kid and all the tales of the old west if you're interested. The Angel Fire area above Taos is also very pretty. Have a great trip.

Thanks for all the input!! We are packed out and ready to leave this Friday. First time ever that we have been packed and ready a couple days before a trip.

EZ, Since you're coming in from the east, try to drop down through Lubbock and catch Hwy 82 through the Lincoln National Forest...beautiful country!! Also, the White Sands museum is really interesting. There's a lot of history in that area.

If you're into art, I'd suggest checking out some of the local shops, especially in Santa Fe. Some of the local artists are known worldwide for their pottery pieces!

I second the suggestion on taking the tram up to the Sandia peak. The scenery is awesome!

TC

We are currently in West Memphis, Arkansas, Tom Sawyer Mississippi River Park. Beautiful park, even with some construction still going on. We have a site right on the river, and can wave to the workers on the barges pushing "stuff" up and down the river. Leaving here tomorrow for the Henryetta, Oklahoma area.

Does anyone have any experience or comments of Fuller State Park in Memphis Tn. We are leaving on the 15th and that is our first night stay . All you guys traveling, be careful and may all have good trips. We will be out on the road about 6 weeks and we are ready!

We have stayed at Tom Sawyer Mississippi River Park a few times in the past always enjoyed our stay. Watching the traffic on the River was always enjoyable. Jim

Last night we spent at Catfish Roundup RV park and restaurant at Seminole, Ok. Good overnighter park, and excellent restaurant. Easy off/on I-40. Currently at Oasis RV park in Amarillo, Tx. for two nights. This is a beautiful new park, large sites (183 of them) with a restaurant, clubhouse, free laundramat, excellent wi-fi. They must be running a special to get people in, as the internet says $33 a nite, sign on the street says $20 a nite, but they charged only $17 a nite. Sites are all paved with concrete pads and pull thru, paved streets. Also free cable!

Thanks for the review of Oasis RV park. We've seen it from the road (I-40) and thought it looked good, but the timing wasn't right for us to stop for the night.

Sitting here in Albuquerque, watching the sun come up. Albuquerque is nice, but we prefer Santa Fe. Headed home tomorrow!!!

On the way back home, trip has been great with only one problem--today, on I-40 about 30 miles from North Little Rock, Arkansas, I blew out the right rear tire on the 'Cat. I never got an indication of anything on my Hawkshead system until it blew out, no low press, hi temp, etc. No damage to the unit. This is the first time in my years of r'ving that I have had a flat of any sort. I have always heard that you would not know on a tandem axle when a tire blew, but from first hand experience, nope, not true. I heard it blow, and immediately could feel it. The folks at John Miller Tire in N. Little Rock treated me right on a new one though.