Compass American Guides: New Mexico, 5th Edition |  | Author: Fodor's
Publisher: Compass America Guides
Category: Book
List Price: $21.95
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Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 884,169
Media: Paperback
Edition: 5 Revised
Pages: 320
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 1400013933
Dewey Decimal Number: 917
EAN: 9781400013937
ASIN: 1400013933
Publication Date: September 7, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
New Mexico has a sense of uniqueness - and not merely for its distinctive landscape. It is, in many ways, an anomaly: it has its own cuisine, architecture, fashion and culture, all of these resulting from a long and intriguing history and a mix of cultures from Native Americans to Spanish to Anglos. Fodor's Compass American Guide to New Mexico captures this wonderful region through stunning colour photography, cultural essays and historical detail. This completely updated edition also features coverage of the latest local trends and top spots. Stay in adobe B&B's and haciendas, mountain lodges, Route 66 motels and riverside cabins. Dine in small town cafes, chic restaurants, steak houses, and chilli joints, and explore everywhere on driving and walking tours from Santa Fe's plaza and the High Road to Taos, to ancient pueblos and mining ghost towns. With useful maps and background information this guide has everything you need for a great visit to New Mexico.
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| Customer Reviews:
A comprehensive work about a state of great beauty October 30, 2004
C. B Collins Jr. (Atlanta, GA United States)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
The Compass American Guide series is excellent and I found the guide on New Mexico to be a great resource. New Mexico has a rich history of native peoples and Spanish exploration and colonization. The guide offers a brief but useful history of the area, including the chaotic period of struggle between Mexican and Anglos before statehood.
The book has a separate section on Albuquerque and the surrounding environs; a section on Santa Fe and Taos and then the rest of the book is divided into 5 large geographic areas. This was especially useful on our trip where we spent 3 days in Albuquerque, 3 in Santa Fe/Taos and then spent the rest of the time going to more remote sites to explore this beautiful state.
Albuquerque is a mixture of old and new and the guide helped us navigate in Old Town as well as find our way in the suburbs that move from downtown to the bottom of the Sandia Mountains. Old Town is a shopping delight, especially if you are shopping for Native American jewelry, weavings, masks, and pottery. I found the lay-out of the central square to be very pleasing and central park allowed a place to sit and watch.
We visited the Rio Grande Nature Center which offers shady walks along the river. We also visited the Petroglyph National Monument, which lays on the edge of town, and is a great hike with interesting rock drawings etched into the mountain.
There are two ways to reach the top of the Sandia Crest; either in a gondola lifting you high above the city, or you can drive around the mountain and take the twisty mountain road up through the evergreen forrest to the top. We selected to take our car and the drive around the base of the mountain and through the forrest was wonderful. The views from the top are spectacular, especially at sunset.
We drove the back roads between Albuquerque and Santa Fe which was very interesting. Santa Fe has a tremendous art market and there are 50 or more art galleries that represent nationally known artists. The downtown museum was informative regarding the history of New Mexico. There is a museum complex on the edge of the city however that should not be missed. First there is a museum of colonial Spanish history with beautiful furniture, carvings of saints, weapons, costumes, decorative arts, and paintings. The museum is elegant and serene in design. Second is a museum of folk art collections from around the world. This museum is a must see. There were collections of African American artists, Asian, South American, etc. The collection was extensive with thousands and thousands of items on display (I am not kidding - in one large display room with dolls from every country, there were over 10,000 items all on display). Third is a museum of the Native Americans of New Mexico. The museum was obviously designed and maintained by Native people, the displays were very respectful and educating. The restaurants in Santa Fe are superb.
We moved on to Taos where we visted the homes and studios of many of the artists who moved to New Mexico after World War I. The home of Oscar Blumenschien was built 250 years ago and the home contains many of his works. The Fechen museum was incredible containing many of his paintings and displaying the amazing home he built himself, carving doors throughout the home.
We took a side trip to Abiquiu to go to Ghost Ranch. The terrain gradually becomes more and more red as you drive from Santa Fe to Abiquiu. When we arrived at Ghost Ranch, a very polite lady told us that the vast area had been donated to the Presbyterians. When we asked to see Georgia O'Keefe's home,she told us that someone lived there and they did not give directions so as to preserve this person's privacy. She offered us maps to around 15 hiking trails. We hiked the Chimney Rock trial high above the Ghost Ranch valley. The view from atop the mountains was spectacular and worth the drive from Santa Fe.
We drove to the Jemez Muntains and Bandelier National Monument. This is another highlight of New Mexico. One trail in the park will allow you to see the cave dwellings of the early native people. The climb up the long wooden ladders into the shallow caves was great fun. We then decided to take a second hike after lunch and went down to the Rio Grande river, another enjoyable afternoon!
The Fodor guide was excellent, we did not have to buy other guides or books because so much of New Mexico was detailed in the guide. There are many maps, photographs, essays, and travel ideas.
"The rose red city,as half as old as time" February 9, 2009
Amaranth (Northern California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"The rose red city,as half as old as time" were a poet's words describing the ruins of Petra. Such poetry can also describe the ancient adobe ruins of Chaco, Bandelier, and Puye. New Mexico has some of the most ancient settlements in North American. The mission churches in Las Trampas and Santa Fe were at least a century old when George Washington was born.
Fodor's Compass Guide to New Mexico is impressive with its guides to Native American pottery, the various pueblos, and the interweaving of Native American, Anglo, and Spanish cultures. It has calendars for the various festivals and feast days. The guides of restaurants and hotels are also impressive, along with day trips.
The Compass Guides have accessible history, with period photographs. They're perfect for the armchair traveler. They're a perfect travel guide to the Land of Enchantment!
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