Taos, NM

Not sure if you've been to Taos but it is pretty scuzzy. There is the nice area then unbelievable poverty, guess that is all of New Mexico. And New Mexico will be hot, maybe not BR hot but still hot.

Taos Ranchos Plaza Grill is amazing, I am tempted all the time to make the 5 hr drive from Denver just to eat there. There is rafting south of Taos but not sure if it will be running in August. Not sure what if anything is at the ski hill in the summer.

Santa Fe you should go to Meow Wolf and Tent Rocks is a cool hike that kids can do. Plenty of places to eat there that I will let others cover.

The Taos Ski Valley won’t be hot since it’s at high elevation. There’s nice hiking there too. The actual city of Taos will be hot though.

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Honestly, between Taos and Salida, I would pick Salida.

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Awesome, thanks for the info. I'm starting to think maybe 2 nights in Santa Fe and 2-3 nights in Salida.

pagosa springs also a good recommendation.

Thanks for the info. Both Durango and Pagosa Springs have piqued my interest. I'm leaning towards Pagosa b/c it's a little bit closer and the drive goes through Santa Fe where I'd like to stop for a night or two. I'm assuming Santa Fe would be a better stop than Alburquerque which I have heard is scuzzy. Driving to Durango would pass through Alburquerque. The hiking in Durango looks awesome but most of what I'd want to do would probably be too difficult for the kids (summitting the 14k'ers). I want to do the Silverton Train ride with them so we could possibly head to Durango from there for a day trip. Do you think a 5 year old could handle the Hogsback Ridge Trail hike? Also any suggestions for things to do w/ kids in Santa Fe?

I would definitely stop in Santa Fe over ABQ. I would aim for staying either downtown near the Plaza or in the Railyard. Honestly, with kids of that age, the Railyard might be a better location. Lots of AirBNBs in Santa Fe, but for a single night, the fees aren't always worth it. If you're not picky the Sage Inn is a decent remodeled motorcourt style in a really good location. There are also really, really upscale hotels in downtown if you're more into that (La Fonda, Inn of the Five Graces, etc..).

Things to do: Meow Wolf, which is a no brainer. Walk around the Railyard and the Plaza. Eat some New Mexican food (it's hot, if you've never had it before). Lots of hiking. Lots of museums. Someone suggested Tent Rocks, which is awesome. Unfortunately, I believe it's still closed due to COVID (it's on NA lands, and they've been very strict with COVID).

Nambe Falls is a fun nearby hike that lets the kids get wet. That age probably won't be able to go all the way up the falls, as the climbing is pretty difficult at spots. But short hikes let you see the falls from both above and below. Only open Thursday-Monday.

In either Durango or Pagosa Springs, you have rivers running through town. You can rent floaties, SUPs or kayaks and float through the town, which the kids will enjoy. I'm not sure on the Hogsback Ridge Trail, as I haven't ever done it.

When you go from SF to Pagosa Springs, you will pass through Abiqui, which is where Georgia O'Keefe lived. There is a nice visitor center with people who are very helpful on things to do in the area. I wouldn't do the O'Keefe home tour with kids that young. You can, though, go swim at Lake Abiqui (there are some short cliffs you can jump off). There's also a doable hike at Phantom Ranch and a natural Amphitheater called Echo Amphitheater on the drive that's awesome.

if you go to BV/Salida for a couple nights you will wonder why you didn’t just go there in the first place. There is hiking, biking, hot springs, rafting, ghost towns, mountain passes, creeks, rivers, good food & drink and the area is clean, safe, very pretty and 100% kid friendly

Been to that part of NM pretty often and keep going back. Rafting the Rio Grande could be an option depending on how steady the monsoon rains have been, though with younger kids you wouldn't be looking for wild rapids anyway.

Taos is a neat town, heavy on adobe and art galleries, and might be a day trip or quick tour and lunch spot. I second Taos Pizza Out Back for pizza. The ski area may be of more interest with kids, and I've always wanted to do the Williams Lake hike (but haven't yet). Williams Lake: 4.2 miles out and back trail

The Valle Vidal in Carson Nat'l Forest is beautiful, but might not keep kids interest very long. Accessible by a dirt road, flat tires are common (though it gets a lot of traffic in the summer). I drove from the western entrance to Shuree Ponds (old forest service camp) and ran over an ATV key in the road about 5 miles from the entrance on the way back. I had a plug kit and was on my way pretty quickly. Valle Vidal

A drive around the Enchanted Circle from Taos to Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire and back to Taos is a nice trip. The Comanche Creek Brewery in Eagle Nest has an awesome view. I was there early July and they had a food truck run by an AL girl who had gumbo and fried okra.

Red River has a lot to do and at 9,000+ feet is always cool or mild. Bobcat Pass has horseback riding, ATVs and "Cowboy Evenings" 3 nights a week. Plenty for kids to do (roping, horseshoes, games, etc) plus a steak dinner, dutch oven biscuits, etc. with a concert by Syd Masters, who puts on a great show. It's gotten pricier since we last went with our then-teenage kids in 2019 but the steak was tasty and all had a great time, even if it was a little hokey at times. Family friendly and no alcohol. Bobcat Pass / Cowboy Evening

If you're coming via Hwy 64, the drive through Cimarron Canyon is nice, even after the fires (the Palisades are worth stopping for pics). Cimarron itself is on Hwy 64 and has a few places worth stopping at. Blu Dragonfly has great burgers and craft beer (now brewed in Raton). The St. James Hotel has Lambert's saloon and restaurant with bullet holes in the ceiling from the 1870's wild west days. Also said to be haunted. Hiker's Coffee is a great coffee shop with ice cream and snacks. Kathleen's Burrito Banquet food trailer for burritos, and the owner (Kathleen) is a sweetheart who always open carries (closed Tuesdays).

Philmont Scout Ranch is just down Hwy 21 from Cimarron. 140k+ acres and houses the national Boy Scouts of America museum and a Kit Carson museum just down the road, where members of the public can try blacksmithing and tomahawk throwing. Also has chickens and goats and homesteader homes and an old chapel. My son worked there two summers. Kit Carson museum at Rayado

Cold Beer NM (Colfax Tavern) has tons of draft beer, live music music most weekends, cornhole, and is family friendly. If you're there the first weekend of August it will be a zoo, as that's the annual Honkytonk Hodgepodge, with 30 bands on 2 stages over 2 days. Mostly bands from CO and TX and quite an experience - I was there last year. Many attendees camp for 2-3 days in the scrub areas around the bar. As they say, it's where nothing much happens but you better be there when it does. Honkytonk Hodgepodge VII
Enjoy!

Angel Fire is 22 miles from Taos. It is supposedly the best mountains biking in the U.S. and top 3 in the world. I was there last week and it looked like a lot of fun. Temps were 70s during the day and upper 40s early morning.

So I scratched Taos as a final destination and now we're heading to Pagosa Springs. Here's tentative itinerary. I wish I had two more days but we'll make the most of it.

Day 1 (leaving after work ~4pm from BR)-Drive to Tyler, Tx
Day 2 Drive to Amarillo. See Route 66 stuff, eat at Big Texan, Palo Duro Canyon
Day 3 Drive to Santa Fe - Eat at Shed or La Choza, Meow Wolf, historic area, Star Gazing/Astronomy tour (still trying to figure this out; would appreciate any suggestions)
Day 4 Bandelier (booked a guide for this) and maybe Puye Cliffs. Wish Tent Rocks was open but looks to still be closed for Covid. Drive to Pagosa (Staying at The Springs Resort)
Day 5 Hangout in Pagosa, hot springs, Tubing, Treasure Falls, Rocky Mt Wildlife, Chimney Rock, Riff Raff Brewery
Day 6 Raft & Ride one way on the Silverton Durango Train and then a rafting excursion.
Day 7 Start heading back with 2 stops: Amarillo (this one is still tentative) and Dallas.