New Mexico State Road 14, better known as the Turquoise Trail, may only be about 50 miles long, but it’s got enough history, art, shops and sights to make it the perfect day trip.
Designated a National Scenic Byway in 2000, the Turquoise Trail is named for the precious stone first mined here centuries ago. You can learn lots more about that along the way as you stop in Cerrillos, one of the oldest historically documented mining towns in the country.
Midway through the Turquoise Trail, you’ll come to Madrid (pronounced MAD-rid), a coal mining mecca-turned-ghost-town-turned-artist-community, which is worth a day trip itself.
Keep going, and you'll get to enjoy some unique views – both natural and man-made.
As you drive south from Santa Fe to Albuquerque, take time to visit these 10 stops that make the Turquoise Trail such a rich road trip.
Casa Grande Trading Post, Petting Zoo and Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum
17 Waldo Street, Cerrillos
Casa Grande Trading Post is filled with history — and turquoise — Photo courtesy of Lois Alter Mark
You can cover a lot of ground at this three-in-one stop owned and operated by Todd and Pat Brown. Start inside the 28-room hacienda, where you can explore the fascinating history of local turquoise mining through centuries-old artifacts and equipment.
You’ll want to buy a piece of jewelry handcrafted from turquoise mined from the Browns' own Little Chalchihuitl Turquoise Mine. FYI, the green color comes from the iron in the stone where the turquoise is mined.
Then buy a bag of feed and head outside to the Petting Zoo. The goats, chickens and, of course, Coco the llama will greet you at the fence and happily accept your offerings while you snap a photo.
Cerrillos Hills State Park
County Road 59, Cerrillos
Cerrillos Hills State Park — Photo courtesy of New Mexico State Parks
Showcasing a natural and cultural history centered on mining activity dating back 1,000 years, Cerrillos Hills State Park offers five miles of multi-use trails along with spectacular vistas of surrounding mountain ranges.
As you pass by historic mine sites, imagine mine owner Charles Lewis Tiffany (yes, that Tiffany) helping to turn turquoise – a stone not previously valued – into a fashion statement in the late 19th century. Then think of that iconic Tiffany blue, and you’ll gain a whole new appreciation for your surroundings.
Cerrillos Station
15B 1st Street, Cerrillos
The old Whatnot Shop is now Cerrillos Station — Photo courtesy of Cerrillos Station
This multi-use space was the Whatnot Shop from the 1950's until 2016 when it was transformed into Cerrillos Station.
The 130-year-old building now houses an art gallery, all-natural grocery, mercantile boutique, yoga/dance studio, hair salon and spa. It hosts art openings, literary readings and cultural events along with a weekly farmer’s market, and has received a USDA commendation for its green practices. In many wonderful ways, it’s still a Whatnot Shop!
Turquoise Trail Sculpture Garden
3453 NM-14, Cerrillos
Origami in the Garden at The Turquoise Trail Sculpture Garden — Photo courtesy of BoxStudio
The home of artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, the Turquoise Trail Sculpture Garden is also the permanent studio space for Origami in the Garden, a traveling, monumental sculpture exhibition developed for public gardens and outdoor museums.
Open seasonally and by appointment, TTSG features more than a dozen outdoor displays as well as a paper exhibit inside the gift shop. Walk around the property and, as you admire the delicate nature of paper translated into museum quality metal, feel your own sense of wonderment unfold.
Mine Shaft Tavern
2846 NM-14, Madrid
The award-winning Mad Chile Burger at the Mine Shaft Tavern — Photo courtesy of Mine Shaft Properties
Plan your drive around lunch at the Mine Shaft Tavern so you can indulge in the delicious Mad Chile Burger.
This historic site is pretty much the town’s gathering place, and it’s beloved for its authentic New Mexico Roadhouse Cuisine, live music and full bar featuring fresh-squeezed margaritas and a dozen beers on tap. Its irreverent philosophy can be summed up by its famous sign: "Welcome to Madrid. Madrid has no town drunk. We all take turns."
Who was voted the best?: Best Green Chile Cheeseburger in New Mexico (10Best Readers' Choice Awards 2016)
Indigo Gallery
2860 D. NM-14, Madrid
"Running with the Dancing Moons" by Jill Shwaiko — Photo courtesy of Indigo Gallery
Make room in your backseat because you’re going to want to take home a piece of art from Indigo Gallery.
Filled with contemporary paintings and sculptures, the gallery is home to gorgeous totems by Lori Daniels, magical desert scenes by Jane Cassidy, and whimsical yet somehow deeply spiritual works by owner Jill Shwaiko, which I dream of purchasing to line the walls of my own house.
Cowgirl Red
2865 NM-14, Madrid
Vintage boots at Cowgirl Red — Photo courtesy of Melinda Bonwell
You can buy one-of-a-kind pieces of stunning turquoise jewelry by Doug Magnus here, but this vintage Western shop is best known for its collection of vintage cowboy boots.
Browsing the shelves of Cowgirl Red is like taking in an art exhibit. You’ll find all kinds of colors, patterns, leathers, stitching and inlays. You’ll find boots from the '40s, '50s and '60s and a pair that was "only worn to church on Sunday." And, if you’re really lucky, you’ll find your size.
Connie’s Photo Park
2881 NM-14, Madrid
Photo ops abound at Connie's Photo Park — Photo courtesy of Connie Mayhew
It’s impossible to resist those stand-up cut-outs where you stick your face in the holes and take pictures, and Connie Mayhew has created an entire park of delightful photo ops right in the middle of town. Best of all, it’s free (although you might want to leave a donation so she can keep creating more).
You can be a cowboy or a hippie, a biker or a prisoner, a ballerina or a baseball player. You can even take a wedding picture. This is not a place for selfies, but don’t worry. If you’re by yourself, there’s always someone around to take a photo for you.
Tinkertown Museum
121 Sandia Crest Road, Sandia Park
One of Ross Ward's intricately hand-carved dioramas at the Tinkertown Museum — Photo courtesy of Lois Alter Mark
An ode to imagination, tinkering and finding awe and wonder in simple things, Tinkertown Museum is a joy.
For 40 years, late artist Ross Ward collected quirky Americana – things like bullet pencils, wedding cake couples and license plates – and created truly amazing wood carvings that he assembled into animated dioramas which come to life in the most clever, creative ways.
All of it is on display here – in cases and on the floors, ceilings and walls – along with so much more, like the pants of circus giant Louie Moilanen, a real 35-foot sailboat that spent 10 years traveling around the world, and a mechanical fortune teller.
It’s all so random and yet it feels like it makes sense. The 22-room museum is surrounded by winding walls made up of 50,000 glass bottles which just add to the eccentricity. Your preconceived notions will be shattered, you’ll leave with a smile on your face and you just may decide to not get rid of your own weird collections after all.
Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway
30 Tramway Road NE, Albuquerque
The views from Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway are breathtaking — Photo courtesy of Jay Blackwood
One of the most popular attractions in Central New Mexico, the Tram has carried more than 11 million passengers the 10,378 feet up to the top of Sandia Peak for over half a century.
The views are unparalleled as you ascend, and once you reach the summit, you can take in the breathtaking panorama from the observation deck or head off on one of the hiking trails in the Cibola National Forest. Either way, you’ll understand why New Mexico is often called the Land of Enchantment.