Like many moms living in New Mexico, I have a love for all things travel. Now that school has started back up, that doesn’t mean I have to curb my wanderlust. I just have to be more creative with my family’s travel destinations.
Here are some ideas for those weekend warriors among us for a fun, history-filled, family-friendly road trip to Northern New Mexico. Use this guide to mix and match activities in Española, Ojo Caliente, and Dixon, New Mexico.
Española
A short hour and a half drive from Albuquerque, you can find yourself in the quaint city of Española. Just driving through, you will notice that Española is steeped in New Mexico culture and history. For a view of what life used to be like in the Española Valley, you must stop at the Bond House Museum. This historic home turned museum is on both the State and National Register of Historic Places. Plan ahead: the Bond House Museum has limited hours and is open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. This makes it a perfect stop on a weekend away. You can find details about the museum here.
If you happen to start this road trip on a Friday after school and work like we did, I would highly recommend stopping in Española to get dinner at one of the many amazing local restaurants. Whether you are craving Italian, BBQ, Burgers, or some traditional New Mexican Cuisine, there is something for everyone!
Ojo Caliente
Another 30 minutes north of Española, you will find yourself in the “blink and miss it” community of Ojo Caliente. Most people know of Ojo Caliente because of the mineral hot springs and accompanying resort. When my husband and I were first married and still childless, Ojo Caliente was one of our favorite places to go in New Mexico for some R&R. The Ojo Caliente resort and hot springs are a great place to relax.
Note that no children under 13 are permitted to soak in the hot springs. However, kids are allowed on the property, in the resort hotel rooms, and in the restaurant.
As a stay-at-home parent myself, I know how important self-care and a moment for myself can be. My hot tip here is to take another adult with you. Either your partner, your sister, a grandparent, or another mom friend can tag along. You can each take a half day to yourself to soak and relax in the hot springs. While you are relaxing, your traveling companion has some one-on-one time with the kids. Then you all can meet back up for lunch, and the other adult gets a turn to soak and relax. The last time my husband and I visited, we used this technique and spent time with our kiddo doing puzzles, playing board games, and going on nature walks to pass the time, giving the other person some much-needed “me time”. You can learn more about the resort from its official website here.
Ojo Caliente might be known for the hot springs, but that is not the only thing to do there. The high desert is beautiful year-round, and there are many hiking trails nearby. A really unique activity in this community is the hike to the Posi-ouinge archeological site and historical landmark. The Posi-ouinge historical landmark was a prehistoric village dating back to the 13th century. The pueblo itself may have had well over 2,000 rooms in its heyday. This makes it one of the largest pueblos in the American Southwest. To access this trail, you will need to go behind the hot springs resort to catch the trailhead.
Dixon
In keeping with the theme of learning more about the history of Northern New Mexico and getting out into the great outdoors, another great stop on your road trip is the community of Dixon, New Mexico. Dixon is tucked along the banks of the Embudo Creek, which is a tributary to the Rio Grande River.
Just off of State Route 68, you can find the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. This recreation area is owned and operated by the Bureau of Land Management. For as little as $3 for a day-use permit, you and your family can spend an afternoon having a scenic picnic and soaking your feet in the creek. This recreation area is also a great location for both tent and RV camping. I have tent camped in this area in the past, and let me tell you, I think the sound of the creek running is even better than the sound machine I use every night at home! You can learn more about the rules and the fees for use of this BLM recreation area here.
Between Dixon and Española, you can also find the Los Luceros Historic Site, open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Step back in time and see what life was like in a historic Northern New Mexico Hacienda. This historical site sits on 148 acres along the Rio Grande River. It boasts not only cultural and architectural wonders, but also nature trails and other outdoor attractions. The Los Luceros Historic Site is a New Mexico Historic Site and an Audubon Important Bird Area. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and on the State Registry of Cultural Properties. You can learn more about what to expect when visiting here.
