Along the Santa Fe Trail

What kid growing up in rural Texas didn’t want to be a cowboy and ride

Santa Fe Trail historical plaque

the Santa Fe Trail? Spending your days on your trusty horse, driving herds of cattle across the plains, fighting rustlers, and bedding down at night around a campfire with your comfortable bedroll and the stars as your ceiling; life couldn’t be better! When I was a bit older, I learned that sitting on a horse all day could get pretty uncomfortable, those herds of cattle kicked up billowing clouds of dust, and the desert perfume was probably manure. I decided I’d rather be a hairdresser.

Taking it to Taos

Overlooking the Rio Grande River

From Albuquerque you can run up the highway to Taos and go through some of the interesting desert countryside or you can take the Turquoise Trail up through Santa Fe. Since we’re more enamored of back roads than of freeways when we’re just out to explore, we chose the Trail. Along the Turquoise Trail are some interesting small towns that caught our attention and put us in mind of the old song, Old Hippie.