There are some nice hikes in the Jemez area, which is not too far from Santa Fe. In October, the leaves may be changing so it could be very pretty. There are several things along the road into Jemez. One stop along the way has a natural soda dam that is fun to climb on. Further in, there is a hike that is only about 1 mile to a nice waterfall. At the same trail head you can hike to some natural hot springs. If you are interested, I can find out the "official names" for you to look into it further.

Oh, yeah - I remember driving through Jemez Springs years ago (on a trip with my dad). It was in the fall - it may have actually been the time he and I went to Bandelier to camp and hike - and we stopped at the cutest little roadside café and each had a veggie burger and fries. It's a lovely area, and I'll definitely put that as a potential destination. Thanks for the reminder!

Oh, and is it Giggling Springs you're referring to?

Jen, do you ever use Google Earth to look at places where you want to stay? Try it, and zoom down to bird's eye view to check out the surroundings.

Yes, Oakley, all the time. Earlier today I virtually walked from the condo all the way to the plaza. There's a sidewalk or trail the entire 1.7 miles.

Love doing that. It was especially helpful for our last trip to England, and I liked being able to see the outside of our cottage and know exactly where it was ahead of arrival.

And, done deal on the condo. I've just booked - we decided on 8 nights, which will allow us to go a bit further with our exploring. I'm so excited at the idea of being back in Santa Fe. My last visit was not ideal ... I actually went there to spend the weekend with two other ladies I knew as longtime online friends but we'd never met in person. It was a little awkward and I longed to be there with someone I felt closer to.

DH is quite excited, having never been to New Mexico before but being eager to experience its unique flavor. Poor guy hasn't had a vacation since 2013 so I guess it's time. ;-)

DH and I loved the International Folk Art Museum and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. With your love of Native American art, the latter is a must see.

http://www.historicplazahotelsantafe.com/museum-hill-santa-fe.aspx

http://www.internationalfolkart.org/

http://miaclab.org/

Jen, I can spend hours on GE. Especially England and Switzerland. I'm not sure how hot Santa Fe gets but I bet October is a good month to visit.

The museums look absolutely wonderful, and I'm sure we will check out as many of them as possible. I'd also love to return to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. I've only been there once, but can still remember clearly the sense of awe I felt standing there in front of her actual work. She was an amazing woman. Thank you for the helpful links!

Oakley - I too can spend (and have spent!) hours on GE. It's incredible that such technology exists, isn't it? As to temperature, Santa Fe averages in the high 60s for a high and mid to high 30s for a low in October. It is a lovely time to be in the area, particularly if the trees are putting on their Autumn show.

Jen, am not able to spend much time here now, but will be back to add more later. October is the absolute best time to visit NM, in my opinion. Gorgeous mild Autumn weather then. I'll be happy to give you restaurant, museum, local events and shop recommendations

Perfect, Lynn! Thanks - I'll look forward to reading your recommendations!

We are going to be driving. We thought about flying, but considering time spent getting to/from airports, waiting in airports, picking up rental car, driving from ABQ to SF, etc., we figured we'd shave only about 4 hours off a 9-drive drive, and it's just not worth it. Too, it will be nice to have our own vehicle, not have to worry about packing for air travel, etc. Still trying to decide if we want to drive my car (Kia Optima) or DH's (Toyota FJ 4x4). I'd rather put the miles on the Kia, but I'd rather have the Toyota to tool around in, I think.

Not surprisingly, it's taking no time at all to find things to do and now the hard part will be deciding between them. We'll have a full 7 days in the area, which sounded like a lot initially, but now I'm realizing how quickly it'll go by. I definitely want to do a full day of hiking in Bandelier and want to take another day to visit Taos (including the pueblo tour). Other strong contenders are Jemez (hot springs!) one day and Petroglyph National Monument for more hiking on another. I expect we'll want to spend a full 2 days in Santa Fe, so that really only leaves 1 day with activities TBD, and I know the options are seemingly endless. I'm probably going to have to look into how we can combine a couple of things, also trying to be mindful of not packing our schedule too full.

ETA: In looking at other mineral springs options, Ojo Caliente looks very nice too. Anyone have thoughts on that place?

That location is good, especially if you don't mind walking a bit. You can walk into the Plaza area, but are right off of St. Francis/285 which will make it convenient to head to places North. And October is ideal. The days will be beautiful and it will be chilly at night. Don't rule out the possibility of a dusting of snow!

I'm glad you're going to do Taos. Make sure as you get closer to your trip and start planning your days that you call the Pueblo to make sure they're open for visitors on the day you plan to go. For that day trip to Taos, take the "High Road" on the way up and the "Low Road" on the way back. While it may seem a bit kitsch, I enjoy eating at Doc Martin's at the old Taos Inn. I feel like I've stepped back in time and Dillinger might be eating at the next table. DH swears by the elk burger and their blue corn chicken enchiladas with red chile are great. IF you've got time and daylight while you're in Taos, consider driving out to the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. And on the way to the gorge, you'll pass the Earthship community. They give tours, if that's your thing.

For the Los Alamos/Bandalier trip, consider also the Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos. You won't have young people with you on your trip (I always recommend it for young people), but it's well done.

Ojo Caliente is a good idea. And if you're an O'Keeffe fan, you could consider combining that outing with a stop in Abiquiu and see her village house. Contact the museum to arrange a tour. (The Ghost Ranch house is a retreat center now and you can do trail rides, etc. - probably need to book ahead).

Another hike you might enjoy is Tent Rocks, which is sort of between ABQ and Santa Fe, to the west.

If you don't do Ojo Caliente but want a spa day, consider Ten Thousand Waves.

Thanks so much, jakabedy! I appreciate your input greatly. Also nice to have confirmation that we've chosen a good location ... I thought so, but it helps to be told how convenient it will make coming and going. We don't mind walking at all - in fact, we greatly enjoy it. (Side note, I just found these cool hikers on sale and ordered them. I couldn't pass up the color!)

The Bradbury Science Museum looks fascinating, but I don't envision us having time for anything other than Bandelier on that day. It's really the one thing I'm looking forward to most - just getting out there and hiking for miles.

I adore O'Keeffe, so will probably plan to combine Ojo Caliente and Abiquiu as suggested. I've also been to Ten Thousand Waves once and it's a gorgeous place, but would like to try something different. I seem to recall reading somewhere that Ojo Caliente has an excellent filtration system - something that not all of the mineral springs have.

I read briefly about Tent Rocks yesterday and am going to add that to our list.

I'm really afraid there's just entirely too much to do in this area, but that just means that if DH enjoys it we'll be returning again next year, possibly in the spring. I really want to get back to Chaco, but to me that is not a day trip, and there isn't enough time to consider it so it'll have to wait.

IdaClaire - Excellent boots! Don't you just love a bit of turquoise in a shoe? I am so excited about your trip that I am seriously talking to DH about going - we were last in New Mexico about 8 years ago. We stayed for a week in Los Alamos (in October), because 1) DH is an informal "authority" about the Manhattan Project and he wanted to walk in Robert Oppenheimer's footsteps and 2) I knew what would happen to my credit card if we stayed in Santa Fe. As it happened, I seriously damaged the card in a wonderful gallery in Chimayo.

Anyway, if you take the high road to Taos you will pass through the little town of Truchas; it rambles down on either side of the highway. It's the place where Robert Redford filmed The Milagro Beanfield War, which is the delightful story of how a group of individual crop farmers face down a group of BigTime developers. There is actually nothing to do in Truchas except to say "Here we are", enjoy the view, and snap some pictures, but I enjoyed seeing it and thinking about the movie. Which, if you haven't seen it, you might enjoy watching. Truchas and the movie are very New Mexico without a hint of tourism.

Also, when you go to Bandelier I suggest you go by way of Los Alamos, simply because the town is in a spectacular setting. You come up through a narrow-ish canyon and the town extends above, on 4 or 5 fingers, like peninsulas jutting into the canyon, and the road comes up the pinkie finger. There is a central park and lagoon and small main street which we found charming.

And since you're driving - I also suggest that if possible you drive up the Rio Grande Valley - am not sure of the Interstate number - turning from Las Cruces (iirc) north to Albuquerque. In October the cottonwood trees that line the river are turning golden and the scene is very beautiful for mile after mile.

Have a fantastic trip - we are expecting a full report and pictures!

The highway/interstate from Las Cruces to Albuquerque, and north from there is I-25. And, yes, everything is gorgeous here in October.

That photo of Tent Rocks is incredibly gorgeous. I read more about the national monument yesterday and definitely want to see it.

Sable, thank you so very much for the very helpful suggestions! I hope you and your DH will be planning a return yourselves very soon. You're bringing back some memories to me now, as I do recall how beautiful the drive is into Los Alamos. I also remember how gorgeous the golden cottonwoods are in the fall. (And the rustling of the leaves! Is there a better sound than rustling, whispering cottonwood leaves? I think not.)

We're going to have to rent The Milagro Beanfield War again. I know we've seen it before, but it's been a long time! I think I do remember going through Truchas at some point on a previous trip, but it's been so long since I've been out to New Mexico (and I do have "CRS Disease" - y'know, "Can't Remember Sh*t" - ) that I'm thinking much of it will feel new to me again after all this time.

This itinerary is still very much a work in progress, but here's what I have so far. Would definitely like to ensure that we make the best use of our time by combining a couple of different sights per day if possible - still being mindful of the "don't overwhelm him" mantra I keep repeating in my head re DH. ;-)

Day 1: Arrive late afternoon

Day 2: Spend the day in Santa Fe (buy groceries for condo!)

Day 3: Petroglyph National Monument

Day 4: Taos: Take the high road up and make stops along the way TBD; visit pueblo (call ahead to ascertain opening hours), drive out over Rio Grande Gorge Bridge; drive back down 285 thru Ojo Caliente - possible stop at mineral springs there

Day 5: Jemez Springs? Still undecided. Pretty drive, but if we do Ojo Caliente on Day 4, we won't do the mineral springs in Jemez. Could just take the drive and detour at some of the other pueblos going and returning, maybe plan to have lunch in Jemez. ETA: Would also be interested in a visit/trek to Jemez Falls and possibly exploring other trails in the area.

Day 6: Los Alamos / Bandelier. We'll spend most of the day hiking in the monument.

Day 7: Spend another day in Santa Fe - maybe. Might look into a half day trip in the morning, then spend the afternoon in SF and have dinner out there that evening

Day 8: Tent Rocks National Monument

Day 9: Head home

Any recommendations/suggestions on this tentative schedule?

In Santa Fe: lunch or dinner at Harry's Roadhouse. Drinks on the plaza in Santa Fe. Check out the great cookware shop right there on the Plaza. Lunch at The Shed, a landmark in Santa Fe with great food and atmosphere, (which is right off the Plaza) is a must. So is shopping on Canyon Road. And, if you really want to make your visit to Santa Fe special, there's no better restaurant in all of New Mexico then Geronimo which is on Canyon Road about halfway down. It's pricey, but the food and atmosphere are exquisite.

Thanks, Lynn! I've heard of The Shed but haven't heard of the other restaurants. I'll check them out.

Shopping on Canyon Road sounds dangerous. ;-) Actually, I bought a lovely, vintage Navajo rug in a shop there years ago and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg (just an arm). I've been telling myself that this is not a shopping expedition, but you know how that goes. When in Santa Fe ... ;-) I have heard (and read) that many of the shops around the plaza are becoming (or have already become) overrun with Middle Eastern influence and the merchandise may no longer be authentic Native American. Have also read that prices are very high on the square. I do look forward to seeing the artists/jewelers that set up at the Governors Palace, although I don't really "need" more of that sort of stuff. I can't rule out a purchase entirely though.

I appreciate the cookware shop recommendation and will check it out. Do you have any other favorite shops?

DH and I don't drink alcohol these days, but we do love a good coffee. I'm confident there are many places around town to grab a hot drink - and maybe something from a bakery to go along with it. All the more reason we'll need to hike, I'm sure.

How was your trip?