New Mexico Day Trips: Abiquiú

Join us for a little road trip to the sweeping vistas of Ghost Ranch and the otherworldly rock formations around Abiquiú. Today's Humble Brands Tour Guide is Marisa, the smiling face of our customer happiness, a talented musician and dedicated cat lover. Here are Marisa's top must-see stops: One of my all-time favorite places to visit in the Land of Enchantment is the sweeping, dramatic landscape of Abiquiú, New Mexico. Only about an hour and a half from the town of Taos, upon entering Abiquiú, one is transported into a completely different world filled with stunning scenery and a rich history. Stop #1: Bode's General Store First, I like to stop at Bode’s General Store who state that they have been “of service to travelers, hunters, pilgrims, stray artists, and bandits since 1893”. Amongst many other cool tchotchkes, I like to grab a green chile cheeseburger and some snacks for the road. It’s said that Georgia O’Keefe used to get lunch here daily. After you eat their housemade, traditional New Mexican food, you’ll understand why! Stop #2: Plaza Blanca Onward to Plaza Blanca, where giant white hoodoos create an ethereal, otherworldly land that seems untouched by time. This is such a unique and beautiful place for a quick walk and a peaceful exploration. Make the easy hike up to the top of the mesa for beautiful views and a feeling like you’re in outer space. Stop #3: Ghost Ranch Now, it’s time for the main attraction, Ghost Ranch. You may recognize these desert scenes from Georgia O’Keefe’s famous paintings. This was her home for many years and a huge source of inspiration for her life and work. There are several day hikes where you can take in the incredible beauty of this magical place, or you can take a tour of Georgia’s house where she lived. How about a sunset tour on horseback? They’ve got it! They even have a dinosaur museum that highlights all of the amazing archaeological finds from throughout the ranch over its history. Kitchen Mesa is probably my favorite hike, as it has three diverse parts and you end up on top of the world, taking in a 360 degree view of the stunning landscape, painting with pastel pinks, purples, and greens, much like Georgia’s iconic paintings. Stop #4: Chama River I like to finish off with a picnic by the Chama river, where I fill up on all of my snacks from Bode’s and soak in the calm beauty of the river. A perfect, inexpensive, and always memorable day in Northern New Mexico. If you come to this part of the world, make sure you see this area at least once. It will stay with you. A trip to beautiful Abiquiú and the surrounding area is worthy of any bucket list. If you're visiting from outside the state, fly into Albuquerque. It's about a two-hour drive, with Santa Fe as your halfway point. No matter how you're traveling, be sure to bring your Humble.