Coronado




 I am used to hiking being where one wakes up early, drives for a long time to a remote wilderness area, and explores some great scenery. It’s great and I love every aspect of it, but I was surprised to discover two things about hiking here. The first is that in general the drive isn’t nearly as far as you would think. The other is that it is not just hiking, but a lot of these trails and areas have so much history incorporated into them. One of my first discoveries of this was north of Albuquerque in the small town of Bernalillo when I first visited the Coronado Historical Site. 

Now while this is more of a walk than a hike it is still totally worth checking out, and the amount you learn while walking is so interesting. The site dates back to 1540 where Coronado was searching for gold, and instead discovered what is now known as the Pueblo Indians. Through visiting all of them he didn’t discover gold, but instead was able to survive this expedition through their help, and right in the backyard of Albuquerque the ruins of this site are still around today for people to see. 

Now while walking around not only are the dwellings still around, but also are the kivas (ceremonial chambers). The walk takes you around a visitors’ center, the various dwellings, and kivas with plaques all around to read about how historic the area is. The best part of the whole tour is a room outside the visitor center where murals have been recovered for guests to see. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed in this room, but it is the highlight of the experience and makes the whole visit worth it. 

Now on top of all the history here the surrounding scenery is equally as impressive. As you wind your way around the guided path of the pueblos and kivas you are greeted with breathtaking views of not only the Sandia, but also the Rio Grande. Follow the trail and you will find yourself at the base of the river. While this can be a bit of a destination being north of the city this is a worthwhile experience, that is also very affordable. While I have only done it once, I will make a repeat visit for sure, and this will be something I highly recommend. There is nothing better than blending history with the outdoors, and this state offers so much I can’t wait to soak more in. 

To see photos of my writing follow me on Instagram @the_nm_tx or tag me using #thenmtx

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tap N Taco

Image
  When I first made the decision to move down here there were several things I was excited about. But near the top of the list was food, and to be more specific the great Mexican food. So how lucky was I to discover a place in Rio Rancho that not only serves great tacos, but also quesadillas, and has a great bar on the inside serving specialty cocktails, and craft beer? The answer is very lucky, and with a great variety to choose from at very affordable prices one of the great taco places I’ve tried is Tap N Taco. Located on Highway 528 in an old fast-food restaurant this place is worth seeking out. There is ample seating on the inside, as well as a beautiful outdoor patio with picnic tables for those beautiful New Mexico days. All the food is prepared right in front of you as you order, and the prices are all the same. $2.00 tacos, $6.00 quesadillas, and $7.00 baked potatoes/French fries. There are also five different proteins to choose from including al pastor, barbacoa, carne ...
Read more

Steel Bender Brewyard

Image
  New Mexico is a state that like many others loves their craft beer, and the variety of places to go continues to grow. Not only do a lot of these breweries produce a variety of high-quality beers, but also high-quality foods. One of the first places I discovered in Albuquerque was actually in Los Ranchos where if you blink you will drive right by it. But keep an eye out because it is totally worth the visit for a bite or pint. Of course, the I am talking about Steel Bender Brewyard, a brewery that embodies a strong sense of the community around them. When you first drive up you find yourself in disbelief of how large this building is. With the massive branded silo that lets you know you found the right place. The inside is just as big with its large bar, and ample seating, but the place to sit is on its patio. With small tables for intimate groups, or large picnic tables for big groups the patio is far enough back that the traffic isn’t a bother, and guests can relax with a pin...
Read more

New Food Trucks

Image
  The past few weeks have been a great time to be a food lover in and around Albuquerque. We have been lucky enough to have 2 great new food trucks open, and both are unique with what they are offering. Even more lucky for me is that I have been able to try both and was very impressed by both. Love at First Slice: If there is one food I have been missing since I moved down here it is a good pizza. While I have had some good ones, there is always room for another good one. Thankfully Love at First Slice makes a great pizza, that is also wood fired. While the menu is extensive, and in addition to pizza they also offer wood-fired sandwiches, I opted for pizza. I went simple, but also ordered one of my favorites and ordered the Margherita. It was a delicious pizza that had so many great flavors going on. The crust was slightly charred, the cheese melted perfectly, and the tomatoes and basil added a great bite of freshness. I was very happy with my order and can’t wait to explore mor...
Read more