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Old 08-07-2013, 12:31 PM   #1
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Best places to see in arizona & new mexico

We're planning an extended stay in Arizona & New Mexico on our next RV trip out west.
We want to take in all the best sights that those 2 states have to offer.
We have visited the Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, Painted Desert & Petrified Forest, and the Carlsbad Caverns. We would love to see them all again too.

We plan to make a list and could use some help.

I know there are a lot of RVers on IRV2 that have traveled and visited the southwest, so what are your "must see" favorites and the best places to camp nearby?
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Old 08-07-2013, 01:46 PM   #2
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here is my 2 cents.

New Mexico - White Sands Missile Range and White Sands National Park. There is some sort of NASA facility nearby but we didn't stop in.

Arizona - Apache Junction; take the 120 mile desert road tour.
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Old 08-07-2013, 02:16 PM   #3
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Can't comment on Arizona but I grew up in New Mexico. Here's places I think are pretty cool.

Albuquerque - Old Town, National Museum of Nuclear Science at Kirtland AFB.
Santa Fe - Downtown Square
Grants - Ice Cave and the Bandera Volcano
Chaco Canyon between Albuquerque and Farmington.
White Sands
Valley of Fires between Carrizozo and San Antonio NM.

And to eat, anything with green chilis.
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Old 08-07-2013, 02:17 PM   #4
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here is my 2 cents.

New Mexico - White Sands Missile Range and White Sands National Park. There is some sort of NASA facility nearby but we didn't stop in.

Arizona - Apache Junction; take the 120 mile desert road tour.
The NASA facility is probably the Space Museum in Alamogordo which also houses the Astronaut Hall of Fame. An amusing stop in New Mexico is the Alien Museum in Roswell.
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Old 08-07-2013, 02:43 PM   #5
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The drive on Hwy 95 from Lake Havasu City to Parker is very scenic. Excellent hiking at Sara's Crack LHC, Buckskin Mountain State Park is one of the nicest parks in the area. Lots of trail riding in mountains and desert if you like jeeping. Nellie's Desert Bar is a fun drive and good eats outside of Parker, only open on weekends. South of Parker you'll find Quartzsite, always an adventure from Jan thru Feb.
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Old 08-07-2013, 02:50 PM   #6
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It's hard to think of New Mexico and NOT mention the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta early in October. One of the MOST spectacular events held in NM every year about the same time.

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Old 08-07-2013, 03:18 PM   #7
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In northern Arizona- Flagstaff, Sedona, Jerome, Cottonwood

You can stay at an excellent state park (Dead Horse Ranch State Park) in Cottonwood and it's a short drive to each of those towns.

In southern Arizona you can spend more time than you have in Tucson and make day trips to places like Tombstone and Bisbee. Spend an evening taking in the sights of 4th Ave and downtown Tucson. Take a ride up Catalina Highway to Summerhaven on Mt Lemmon. Spend the day at the Sonoran Desert Museum. Visit Karchner Caverns and take the tour. There is a state park there as well. Our favorite place to camp is Catalina State Park in the foothills of the Santa Catalina mountains. Beautiful views and the cleanest bathrooms in the west.

AZ State Parks have reservations available online and 50 amp hookups with water are $ 27.
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Old 08-07-2013, 03:25 PM   #8
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The NASA facility is probably the Space Museum in Alamogordo which also houses the Astronaut Hall of Fame. An amusing stop in New Mexico is the Alien Museum in Roswell.
Yes, there is a space museum in Alamogordo but there is also the NASA White Sands Test Facility between White Sands Missle Range and Las Cruces. Unfortunately, it is not open to the general public.
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Old 08-07-2013, 03:39 PM   #9
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Kartchner Caverns in New Mexico is the most beautiful cavern I've ever seen. Yes, Carlsbad is wonderful, but IMHO, Kartchner beats Carlsbad hands down for sheer beauty.

Elephant Butte, near Truth or Consequences.

Three Rivers Petroglyph site, near Ruidoso.

Gila Cliff Dwellings and Gila River Canyon, also not far from Truth or Consequences.

Dripping Springs, near Las Cruces.

El Morro National Monument, Bandera Crater and Ice Caves, near Grants.
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Old 08-07-2013, 03:59 PM   #10
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Please see my travel blog. You will see last winter's stops.
http://davenola.blogspot.com/?m=1
Much good fun and grand sights.

Happy trails!
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Old 08-07-2013, 05:24 PM   #11
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Kartchner Caverns in New Mexico is the most beautiful cavern I've ever seen. Yes, Carlsbad is wonderful, but IMHO, Kartchner beats Carlsbad hands down for sheer beauty.
.
Kartchner Caverns is in Arizona near Benson off of I-10. A year or so ago they opened the Big Room which had previously been closed to the public.
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Old 08-07-2013, 05:30 PM   #12
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New Mexico
Taos
Eagle Nest
Royal Gorge
Espanola
Santa Fe
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Old 08-07-2013, 05:55 PM   #13
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We went to see Canyon de Chelly and arrived late in the afternoon. Knowing the overlooks are on the south rim looking north, we wanted to see them early in the morning with the sun on them.
We parked at the Holiday Inn at Chenli and went to their restaurant for dinner. After dinner we asked if we could stay in the parking lot overnight and they readily agreed that it would be fine. They had two spaces marked for large vehicles and we use one of those and had access to their free Wi-Fi too. The next morning we visited the Canyon and it is beautiful. They have used it in filming several western movies and one in particular comes to mind is McKennas Gold. A very good movie! The next time we go there we are going to do the Navajo Jeep tour of the canyon.
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Old 08-07-2013, 05:57 PM   #14
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Arizona
Sedona
Grand Canyon North and South
Petrified Forest
Painted Desert
Jerome
Cottonwood
Flagstaff

Utah
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon
Moab Arches National Park
Cedar Breaks

Makes me want to go back.

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