Take a beautiful 45 miles drive to BandelierNational Monument.You can hike the main loop and see the cliff dwellings, or go on a longer hike to explore this beautiful Native American monument. The Ancestral Pueblo people lived here from approximately 1150 CE to 1550 CE. They built homes carved from the volcanic tuff and planted crops in mesa top fields. Corn, beans, and squash were central to their diet, supplemented by native plants and meat from deer, rabbit, and squirrel. Domesticated turkeys were used for both their feathers and meat while dogs assisted in hunting and provided companionship.
By 1550, the Ancestral Pueblo people had moved from this area to pueblos along the Rio Grande.After over 400 years the land here could no longer support the people and a severe drought added to what were already becoming difficult times. Oral traditions tell us where the people went and who their descendents are. The people of Cochiti Pueblo, located just south and east along the Rio Grande, are the most direct descendents of the Ancestral Pueblo people who built homes in FrijolesCanyon.Likewise, San Ildefonso is most closely linked to Tsankawi.
VALLES CALDERA
www.vallescaldera.gov Follow this with an 18 mile drive north to Valle Caldera/Valle Grande, a dormant volcano base that collapsed to create a beautiful sanctuary for wild life. Don't forget to look for the elks on your drive back at dusk.
JEMEZ MOUNTAIN
If you still have some time left in the day, go another 10 miles northwest to JemezFalls.A 1/4 of a mile hike in the camping area will bring you to the serene JemezFalls.
BRADBURY SCIENCE MUSEUM - LOS ALAMOS
A good place to stop to get a refresher on the Manhattan Project.A very interesting museum.Don’t miss the short movie about the history of Los Alamos. Entrance is free.
Don't forget to look for the elks on your drive back at dusk.
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DAY TRIPS FROM SANTA FE
There are several beautiful day trips from Santa Fe.Here are the most popular ones:
