Brendan and Lauren
Things To Do
Window Rock
A short drive from Gallup, the capital of Navajo Nation is home to a beautiful rock formation and park.
Hot Air Balloon Rides
New Mexico is basically the hot air balloon capital of the world. Several companies offer rides, many at sunrise. There is one located in Gallup and many more in ABQ.
El Morro National Monument
Right in Ramah! A reliable waterhole hidden at the base of a sandstone bluff made El Morro (the headland) a popular campsite for hundreds of years. Here, Ancestral Puebloans, Spanish and American travelers carved over 2,000 signatures, dates, messages, and petroglyphs.
Monument Valley
3 hours from Gallup, one of the most majestic – and most photographed – points on earth. This great valley boasts sandstone masterpieces that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet, framed by scenic clouds casting shadows that graciously roam the desert floor. The angle of the sun accents these graceful formations, providing scenery that is simply spellbinding. The landscape overwhelms, not just by its beauty but also by its size.
Canyon de Chelly
A vast park in northeastern Arizona, on Navajo tribal lands, inhabited by several Native American peoples for millennia. Its prominent features include Spider Rock spire, about 800-feet tall, and towering sandstone cliffs surrounding a verdant canyon.
Chaco Canyon and National Historical Park
"The Center of an Ancient World: Today the massive buildings of the Ancestral Puebloan people still testify to the organizational and engineering abilities not seen anywhere else in the American Southwest. For a deeper contact with the canyon that was central to thousands of people between 850 and 1250 A.D., come and explore Chaco through guided tours, hiking & biking trails, evening campfire talks, and night sky programs."
Santa Fe
There's a ton of art, culture, food, and beauty in Santa Fe, NM. It is about an hour north of Albuquerque, and there is a train that connects the two cities. The school where Brendan got his MFA (Institute of American Indian Arts) has a lovely museum downtown that is worth exploring. Check out the local Native jewelry designers sitting in the plaza during the day. Don't forget to eat at Tia Sophia's!
Old Town Albuquerque
"Old Town’s narrow streets and century-old adobe houses are home to New Mexican eateries serving enchiladas and sopaipilla pastries, and tiny artisan shops selling jewelry, rugs and pottery. Old Town Plaza is a charming spot overlooked by 18th-century San Felipe de Neri Church. Nearby, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science has dinosaur skeletons, while the Albuquerque Museum displays Southwestern art."
Sandia Peak Tramway
The Sandia Peak Tramway is an aerial tramway located adjacent to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is the longest aerial tram in the Americas. "Rising from the hustle and bustle of Albuquerque, you ascend one of America’s most stunning urban peaks. Reaching the 10,378-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains, an 11,000 square mile panoramic view awaits you."
U.S. Route 66
The downtown district of Gallup takes you back in time. Check out the many art galleries and shops with jewelry and other handcrafts.