Miles Driven: 404
States: New Mexico · Arizona· Utah · Colorado
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rock National Monument
Kasha-Katuwe. Bless you.
We learned our lesson yesterday at Palo Duro Canyon. We were not going to chance 130°F temperatures again.
Rising early, we drove an hour north from our hotel in Albuquerque where we stayed the night before. We ventured out on our 2-mile hike to the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks by 7 am to beat the heat.
Kasha-Katuwe means “white cliffs” in the Pueblo language. These magnificent tent rocks were established as a National Monument in 2001 near the historic pueblo of the Cochiti people.
Two different geologic processes formed the rock layers. The volcanic activity resulted in “igneous” rock formation and wind and water erosion and deposition that resulted in “sedimentary” rock formation.
Nearly 7 million years ago, explosive volcanic eruptions occurred in the southern part of the Jemez Mountains. White and silvery-grey pumice and ash ejected from numerous vents fell from the sky to form an igneous rock called “tuff”. Other eruptions threw out larger fragments of igneous rock called “rhyolite,”. This ranges in color from light grey to red.
Between eruptions, water, and wind carried the volcanic materials southward, while picking up sand, gravel, and soil along the way. The resulting sedimentary rock layers can be seen in shades of darker grey, tan, and orange.
We made it to the top! I’m so incredibly proud of my aunt for conquering her fears
This hike is not for those suffering claustrophobia or fear of heights…unless you’re willing to quickly get over them! 😉
Santa Fe
Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, is the oldest state capital city in the United States. It was founded in 1610 by Spanish colonists. The Spanish Pueblo Revival look is ubiquitous around Santa Fe as is their rooted Roman Catholic history and multicultural art. San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe is said to be the oldest standing church structure in the United States, constructed in 1610.
El Santuario de Guadalupe is the oldest shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe in the United States.
Santa Fe is a designated UNESCO Creative City in design, crafts, and folk art. One of the best-known New Mexico-based artists was Georgia O’Keeffe. We took a visit to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. It’s dedicated to the artistic legacy of Georgia O’Keeffe, her life, American Modernism, and public engagement.
“I have things in my head that are not like what anyone has taught me- shapes and ideas so near to me- so natural to my way of being and thinking…I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught” –Georgia O’Keeffe, 1974
Blue Flower. I just realized that the sign next to this piece specifically says no photography…oops!
Yelping My Way Across the United States: Tia Sophia’s
Wandering around Santa Fe, hunger began to set in. I used my loyal side-kick, Yelp, to find the most authentic local favorite Mexican restaurant. We ended up at Tia Sophia’s. It was early afternoon on a Sunday and it was packed. Thankfully, we only had to wait a few minutes. Once settled in our booth, we barely noticed how packed it was as the tall wooden booths cut out not only your visibility but a lot of the noise. Read the rest of my review on Tia Sophia’s here.
Huevos Rancheros; 2 eggs on a tortilla topped with (so much) green chile and cheese served with beans
Four Corners Monument
270 miles to the northwest marks the quadripoint where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. This is the only point in the United States shared by four states, leading the area to be called the Four Corners region marking the Four Corners Monument. The monument is maintained as a tourist attraction by the Navajo Nation.
The idea of this quadripoint is interesting, but the reality of the monument is simply a picture opportunity. I expected more history and information surrounding each state and the monument as a whole. That just wasn’t the case. There’s not much to see or do besides getting in line to take a picture, so I don’t recommend going out of your way for this monument. However, if you’re in the area, or it’s on your route, stop by and snap a picture! 📸
How many states have you visited in one day?
