In Two Weeks

If you've got 2 weeks to spend exploring the region, consider yourself fortunate. You'll not only be able to hit the highlights in the north, you'll be able to spend time getting to know such places as Chaco National Cultural Park, White Sands National Monument, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This trip is fun any time of year. In winter, the north will be cold and the south will be cool. In the warmer months, the north will be warm and the south very hot.

Day 1: Albuquerque

If you have some energy left after traveling, head to Old Town, where you can wander through the plaza and peruse some shops. Be sure to tuck into some of the back alleyways and little nooks -- you'll uncover some of the city's most inventive shops in these areas. Next, head over to the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History to get a good sense of this land's story. Finish the day with one of New Mexico's premier treats -- an enchilada -- at Sadie's. Wash it down with one of their margaritas.

Day 2: Albuquerque

Start out at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, where you'll get a sense of the cultures you'll encounter up north, and then head to the Albuquerque Biological Park, both in the vicinity of Old Town Plaza. From here, go west of town to visit the Petroglyph National Monument. (If it's summer, you may want to go during the cooler early morning.) In the late afternoon, find your way to Central Avenue, just south of Old Town, and drive east on Route 66. This takes you right through downtown, to the Nob Hill district and the Sandia Mountains foothills, respectively. Finish your day with a ride up the Sandia Peak Tramway. After you reach the top, you may want to hike along the crest, though this isn't safe for young kids. Ideally, you should ride up during daylight and back down at night for a view of the city lights. You may even want to dine at High Finance Restaurant and Tavern on the top.

Day 3: The Turquoise Trail & Santa Fe

Today, strike out for the ghost towns and other sights along the Turquoise Trail to Santa Fe, stopping to peruse some of the galleries in Madrid. This will put you in Santa Fe in time to do some sightseeing. Head straight to the plaza, the Palace of the Governors, and St. Francis Cathedral. If you shop from the Native Americans selling under the portal, be sure to ask about the art you buy; the symbols on it may have interesting significance. Next, make your way over to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Finish your day with an enchilada at The Shed. In the evening, depending on the season, you may want to check out Santa Fe's excellent arts' scene; try the Santa Fe Opera or the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.

Day 4: Santa Fe Arts

In the morning, head up to Museum Hill, where you can take your pick from four unique museums: the Museum of International Folk Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art. You can have lunch at the Museum Hill Café. On your way back to the plaza, take a stroll and do some shopping on Canyon Road. At sunset during the warmer months, you can enjoy a cocktail at the bell tower of the historic La Fonda Hotel. Eat dinner at Coyote Café or Santacafé -- or if you lingered over your shopping, stop in at Geronimo or The Compound on Canyon Road.

Day 5: The High Road

Today, travel the High Road to Taos, stopping at the little galleries and art studios along the way. If you're a shopper, head to the High Road Marketplace to buy local art, and be sure to rub healing dust between your fingers at Santuario de Chimayo. On the way into Taos, visit the San Francisco de Asis church. If you like nightlife, head out to the Sagebrush Inn to dance to country-and-western music or to the Anaconda Bar to hear some jazz or other music.

Day 6: Taos

Spend the morning at Taos Pueblo. Next head over to the Millicent Rogers Museum and the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. During the afternoon, do some shopping around the Taos Plaza and then visit the Taos Art Museum. At cocktail hour, head to the Adobe Bar at the Historic Taos Inn.

Day 7: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

This morning, get up early and head west on a scenic drive to Chama, where you can spend the day riding the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Be sure to check departure times for the train and make reservations in advance. Spend the night in Chama.

Day 8: Chaco Culture National Historic Park

From Chama, drive across the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation on NM 537 to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Though it's a long dusty drive, Chaco's combination of stunning setting and expansive ruins makes the day worthwhile. In fact, Chaco is the Holy Grail for Southwest history buffs. Be sure to hike up the Pueblo Alto Trail to get a full view of the grand kivas and amazing network of dwellings. If you have camping equipment, spend the night at Chaco. If not, stay the night in Grants.

Day 9: Acoma Pueblo

Head east on Interstate 40 to Acoma Pueblo. Upon arrival, spend some time in the pueblo's new 40,000-square-foot museum to get a sense of the culture before taking the bus to the top of Sky City. Next, head south on NM 117, one of the state's prettiest drives, to El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments, where you can stretch your legs on a short or long hike. Continue south through Quemado, and then turn east and drive to Magdalena, where you can stop for a milkshake at Evetts Cafe. (This is a long drive, so you'll need a refresher.) Spend the night in Socorro, or continue south to San Antonio, where you can stay at the Casa Blanca B&B.

Day 10: Birds & Lava

If it's wintertime, wake up before dawn today and head out to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, where you can watch thousands of cranes and snow geese take flight. (Even if it's not winter -- when thousands of cranes and geese fill the sky -- you can still tour the refuge to see birds and wildlife.) From the refuge, head east on US 380 to the Valley of Fires Recreation Area, an amazing lava field, where you can stretch your legs before lunch. Your next stop is Carrizozo to feast on New Mexico's best green chile cheeseburger at the Outpost. Or, if you're not into burgers, continue on to Capitan to eat at the Greenhouse Café. Either way, you'll want to make your way east along the Lincoln Loop through Capitan to Lincoln, where you can visit the Lincoln State Monument and walk in the footsteps of Billy the Kid. Spend the night in Ruidoso.

Day 11: Ruidoso

If you like to hike, stop at the Lincoln National Forest Ranger Station for directions to the many trails in the area. Otherwise, you may want to shop a little. If it's winter, you can ski at Ski Apache. Or, if you have an interest in horses, head over to the Hubbard Museum of the American West and then take in some horse racing at Ruidoso Downs. Spend the night in Ruidoso, and if you feel like splurging, stay at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. Even if you don't stay there, you may want to drive to the inn for an evening stroll around the lake and a little dice throw in its casino.

Day 12: White Sands National Monument

This day takes you south out of Ruidoso through the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation on US 70 and NM 244. Just outside the reservation, you arrive in Cloudcroft, a darling mountain town with some good hiking and mountain biking. Next, head down a spectacularly scenic pass on US 82 into Alamogordo to visit the New Mexico Museum of Space History and one of the stars of this trip: White Sands National Monument. Spend the night in Alamogordo.

Day 13: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Spend the morning driving to Carlsbad and have lunch in the town itself. If you like zoos, you may want to visit the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park, but be sure to save energy for your afternoon. Head south to the most spectacular sight in New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where you want to walk down into the cave, rather than riding the elevator (trust me). Or, if you're a more serious spelunker, you may want to call ahead and schedule one of the guided tours. End your day by strolling along the water at the riverwalk, or if it's summertime, by relaxing at your hotel pool.

Day 14: Alien Sightings

Spend your last day on a long cruise north to Albuquerque. Take US 285 to Roswell, where you can feed your X-Files fantasies at the International UFO Museum and Research Center. History buffs may want to detour to Fort Sumner to see Billy the Kid's grave, but more importantly to see the tragedy presented at Fort Sumner State Monument. If you choose this option, stop for a bite afterward at Joe's in Santa Rosa. In Albuquerque, you can finish the trip with one last enchilada at Sadie's.