New Mexico

We headed to Taos fairly early in the morning because there was a lot on our list to see.  We stopped briefly in the mountains to stretch our legs and enjoy the view.  Our original plan was to stop at the Taos Pueblo first but grandma didn't really want to go again as she had seen it several times so we were going to drop her off at the Millicent Rogers Museum.  I said so many bad things about the Taos Pueblo on the way that Buddy didn't want to go anymore.  I found it boring as a kid because you just walk around the outside of homes.  There isn't much to it. 

We all went in the Millicent Rogers Museum which houses Native American textiles and jewelry.  It was okay.  I like the temporary exhibit of photography by elementary aged students best.  It made me want to get Bohdin a camera.  Those kids had done an incredible job. 



After the museum we stopped to eat at a restaurant that served New Mexican food.  I hadn't tasted such spicy salsa at a restaurant in a long time.  Most of the places out east have salsa that tastes like tomatoes.  The food was good and spicy.  After lunch grandma took the kids to the local toy store while Buddy and I strolled around town.  The toy store has an incredible outdoor play space and lots of demo toys.  It was hard to pull them away.






From the toy store we went to the Earthship Biotecture outside of Taos.  It is a large community of sustainable housing built with recycled materials.  The houses don't use any public utilities like electricity, sewer, or water.  They generate their own.  Most of the houses did have a propane tank though.  We weren't able to tour any of the houses.  The only place open to us was the visitor center which showed some of the techniques and design features of those types of homes.


















From there we drove to our hotel outside of Santa Fe.  On the trip we had been listening to Bomb:  The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon.  We continued the audio book as we headed to Santa Fe.  At one point we had to drive down through the canyon on a gravel road.  Just as we headed in the audio book described the canyons outside of Los Alamos.  It was a very fun coincidence. 

The next morning we headed into Santa Fe.  Because it was still early and many places were still closed we stopped at the Legislature Building first which houses an impressive art display. Afterward we walked around downtown seeing two chapels and a lot of art.  Bohdin often commented about the amount of art and jewelry for sale.  Lunch was New Mexico chile.

After lunch we dropped the girls and grandma at the hotel while Buddy, Bohdin, and I went to the Ray Bradbury museum in Los Alamos.  The best part of the museum was the puzzle room which had eight brain teasers.  It was a really popular area so we weren't able to try them all before the museum closed.  Bohdin said it was great and wanted to come back. 

Bohdin couldn't decide between the Ray Bradbury museum about the history of the atom bomb or the the Museum of Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque.  We indulged him and went to both.  In hindsight one would have been enough.  There was a lot of overlap between the two and they were about equally good.  Nyla and Cora weren't very interested in nuclear history so the next stop was meant to cater to them.  The Explora Science and Children's Museum in Albuquerque is fantastic.  There were more hands on activities than any museum I can think of off the top of my head.  It was designed as a series of small cubicles with a different theme in each.  Except for the fact it was hard to keep track of kids and weave through the maze it was really excellent. 

On our last day we went back to downtown Santa Fe and strolled around a bit more.  After lunch we went to the Museum of International Folk Art.  The museum is a unique collection of folk art set up in scenes.  A lot of countries were represented along with scenes of circuses, heaven, meals, and all sorts of other things.  I wouldn't coming back here again once the girls are older.  They had limited interest and patience. 






Overall we had a great trip to New Mexico.  Between the Blue Star program and reciprocal benefits for science museums we didn't have to pay any entrance fees.  There were a few things on our list that we didn't get to mostly because of Cora.  Traveling with a toddler requires flexibility and patience.  Maybe we'll go back again someday once Cora is a lot older.