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Santa
Fe and Northern New Mexico abound in pastel colors, vivid desert landscape and
adobe architecture. Here the cultures of the Native American pueblos and
Hispanic colonial settlements dominate the Yankee ambiance like nowhere else in
the United States. Los
Caminos Antiguos ("The Ancient Roads") is the best route to follow through the
region of the upper Rio Grande - the northern outpost of sixteenth century
Spanish territorial expansion.
Explore the rich culture and traditions of some of Colorado's oldest communities
and the panoramic views of the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountain ranges,
the high, fertile San Luis Valley, the Great Sand Dunes National Park and the
Rio Grande region of Taos and Santa Fe of Northern New Mexico.
Santa Fe is one of America's oldest and most beautiful cities, built of fine
adobe houses and Baroque churches. Rich in museums and art galleries, this
is a region of artists, and art permeated by coyotes, Kachina Dolls, Kokopelli
and flute-players.
Our journey from Denver may take a multitude of
ways to reach this part of Colorado, but none is more satisfying than the La
Vita Pass over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and especially in the Fall when
Aspens are gold.
The Great Sand Dunes are one of nature's most painstaking creations. Hundreds of
feet high and more than a thousand miles from the nearest ocean beach, these
drifting dunes accumulated over the eons as winds swept sand against the west
face of the Sangre de Cristo Range. That slow, determined process reflects the
spirit of the San Luis Valley - an enormous, sun-baked flat between the Sangres,
and the San Juan foothills. Life here would not seem to have changed much since
the 1600s, when Spain cast its claim over this region. Los Caminos Antiguos take
you to Colorado's oldest surviving community (San Luis, 1851), its oldest church
(Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Conejos), and one of its first military posts (Fort
Garland).
Nearing the New Mexico border, one of
the nation's most exciting train rides adds to the story of the San Luis Valley's
heritage. The narrow gauge railroad across
the mountains, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, is a 64 mile, fully
operational steam railroad that operates 7 days a week from Memorial Day weekend
to mid-October.
Little has changed in the 126 years since the railroad first made its way
through the San Juan mountains. Known for its unparalleled scenery and authentic
experience, the ride aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic
Railroad makes for a grand entry into this ravishingly beautiful part of
Northern New Mexico. |
