When exploring Old Town Albuquerque, be sure to make a stop at the Rattlesnake Museum and Gift Shop. While visiting, you’ll see rescued rattlesnakes of all kinds, and you’ll get to see some fun displays honoring those in popular culture that have dealt with rattlesnakes in some way. We had a great time, and I think you will, too! Old Town Albuquerque Whether you visit the Rattlesnake Museum and Gift Shop or not, Old Town Albuquerque is a beautiful place to experience New Mexican culture. You’ll find plenty of dining options. And it’s worth checking out the shopping in the area. You’ll feel like you’re in another era. I guess that’s why it’s called Old Town. It was also cool to see the wares of local artists and craftspeople. We parallel-parked in front of this historic church in Old Town. The San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church is over 300 years…
As we researched places to visit in Santa Fe, especially places for tasty treats, one place continued to pop up on my radar–Kakawa Chocolate House. When I discovered that you could taste rich chocolatey elixirs or devour a variety of truffles, I knew Kristin and I had to go and get our chocolate on. So, after an exciting morning at Santa Fe’s Meow Wolf attraction, it was lunchtime. And what could be better for lunch than all things chocolate? About Kakawa Chocolate House Okay, maybe we didn’t exactly have lunch there. But Kakawa Chocolate House was right along our route back to our hotel room at the Guadalupe Inn, an adorable little place (it only has 12 rooms!) that was near downtown and some pretty great places to eat. So, before we headed back to downtown and Santa Fe Plaza, we needed to satisfy our need for chocolate. There are…
If you spend enough time driving Route 66 and learning about the highlights along the way, you’ll inevitably stumble upon the El Rancho Hotel and its movie star history. When we found ourselves driving through the American Southwest, we couldn’t resist staying a night. Located right on Route 66 in Gallup, New Mexico, this historic hotel is not only a fun place to sleep, it’s also a fun Route 66 attraction that will have you looking in every nook and cranny for its surprises. History of El Rancho Hotel In the 1930s, a man named R.E. Griffith, known as Griff, came to Gallup. He liked the area enough that he decided to build a hotel, so he hired Joe Massaglia to build the hotel on Route 66. In 1936, the hotel was completed. Griff’s brother, movie director D.W. Griffith, used the hotel to house movie stars and production crews that…
When we began planning our visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico, we had no idea that a place like Meow Wolf even existed. How do you describe Meow Wolf? It’s an art installation. It’s interactive. It’s immersive. It’s imaginative. And, it’s air-conditioned! This indoor attraction allows you to try to solve a mystery or just explore. The more I read about Meow Wolf, the more I knew that my family would love it! And I was right. This place ranks high as one of the highlights of our most recent road trip. As I read more about Meow Wolf, I discovered that there are currently two more in other cities: Las Vegas and Denver. Two more are in the works in Texas. Each are completely different; the one in Santa Fe is known as the House of Eternal Return. We loved our experience at Meow Wolf so much that we…
If you’re taking a road trip in the Southwest, and you’re traveling along Route 66 or nearby, why not stay at a historic Route 66 roadside motel, like the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico? For this road trip, we opted for unique and nostalgic lodging, and we couldn’t have had more fun taking in the details and imagining what it used to be like to travel America’s iconic highway just a few decades ago. Blue Swallow Motel: The Property The lobby of the Blue Swallow is like a time capsule. You’ll see all kinds of details from yesteryear, and if you look closely, you’ll see items from other locations along Route 66. I was surprised to see a pop bottle from Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Illinois. The fireplace is fun to check out, too. So cozy! The property is intimate and adorable. When the neon comes on in…