Travel the picturesque and historic
Turquoise Trail, while on your way to
Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast for your New Mexico vacation.
Casa Escondida B&B is a
Santa Fe area bed & breakfast that is located in historic
Chimayo, NM (just 35 minutes north of Santa Fe, on the High Road). Many of our guests arrive in New Mexico via
The Albuquerque International Sunport. Upon arrival,
Casa Escondida B&B highly recommends that you detour from the more commonly traveled, I-25 and instead, travel New Mexico via the
Turquoise Trail
(aka Hwy 14). The Turquoise Trail is a designated scenic byway, which
connects Albuquerque to Santa Fe. It is 62 miles of beautiful
landscapes, fascinating stops and wild west adventure! This is also a
fabulous
motorcycle ride for you motorcycle enthusiasts. The town of
Tijeras is the gateway to the Turquoise Trail. Here you can stop at the
Sandia Ranger Station and visit the
Tijeras pueblo Archaeological site. Next you will arrive at the town of
Cedar Crest. This is home to the
Museum of Archaeology and Material Culture.
As you travel along Hwy 14, you will be awestruck by the stunning views
of the Sandia Mountains. You will actually drive through 5 different
life zones as you travel this route. If you have time, drive Hwy 536 to
the Sandia Crest. This is the highest point of the Turquoise Trail. The
summit of Sandia Mountain is 10,678 feet! The view from the observation
deck is spectacular. It offers an 11,000 square mile panoramic view! If
you prefer not to drive to the summit, you can take the
Sandia Peak Tramway.
The Tramway is 2.7 miles long, from the base to the summit (the longest
jig-back tram in the world). After visiting the peak, travel back to Hwy
14 and continue north to the town of
Golden. Founded in 1839, the main reason for a stop in Golden is the
Henderson Store (family-owned since 1918). Here you will find quality Native American arts and crafts, at competitive prices. The next stop is
Madrid.
This town dates back to the mid-1800’s. It was originally a bustling
coal mining town. Then it became a ghost town. Since then the old
company stores and houses of Madrid have been converted into galleries,
rustic shops, coffee houses, a few restaurants and more. It is a great
stop. The next town along the trail is
Cerrillos.
This town was famous for its turquoise mines. During its boom-time,
Cerrillos hosted 21 saloons and 4 hotels. It is now a quaint reminder of
the old west. In Cerrillos, you will find several shops and galleries
as well as, the
Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum and a Petting Zoo. Other
art galleries
abound all along the trail. As you continue north, you will soon arrive
in historic Santa Fe! Remember, if you are not able to travel the
Turquoise Trail on your way to
Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast,
then be sure to put it on your agenda for your return trip. The
experience is well worth the small amount of extra travel time that is
required.
Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast has wonderful
rooms available year-round (4 rooms are
pet-friendly). We look forward to having you as our guest! Enjoy the drive!
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