I guess I didn’t want summer to end.
Despite Austin’s crippling and debilitating heat in recent weeks, I’ve always savored the summer months as a chance to slow down, relax, and reconnect –– a rare time of year when trips to the pool and outings for snow cones are allowed to replace the frenetic pace of the school year for busy families.
With a new school year on the horizon for our six kids, who range in age from 7 to 14, I couldn’t help wanting to squeeze in just one more August adventure –– added bonus if the destination was somewhere cooler.
Due to the size of our eight-person family, I decided to rent a 25-foot Forest River Sunseeker through Rvshare.com, an online platform that makes it easy to rent a variety of RVs in your local area. We arranged to have our RV dropped off and picked up at our house, which greatly simplified the packing process for our five-day road trip to New Mexico.
An RV trip offers ample opportunities for family bonding. Kristin Finan photo
One of the things I love the most about RVing is that the act of traveling becomes part of the adventure, from the countless card games around the dining room table to laughs with neighbors at the KOA campground to the music played over the speakers –– for us it was Taylor Swift –– that becomes the soundtrack of the trip.
If you have the good fortune to road trip across New Mexico, here are five unique and entertaining suggestions of where to visit.
RVshare offers RV rentals of various types. Kristin Finan photo
Fly high at the Sandia Peak Tramway
It’s hard to believe a mere 15-minute ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway can transport you to such a breathtaking new place, but that’s exactly what happens when you visit this urban peak near Albuquerque. As you step off the tram onto the 10,378-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains, enjoy a stunning 11,000-square-mile panoramic view of the Rio Grande Valley as well as seasonal hiking, skiing, and dining opportunities. While in Albuquerque, grab dinner at El Pinto, one of my favorite Albuquerque restaurants. Run by twin brothers Jim and John Thomas––aka “the Salsa Twins”––the restaurant greets visitors with the crackle of hatch green chiles roasting out front, then ushers them onto the 25,000-square-foot outdoor patio, where tangy margaritas and innovative New Mexican cuisine await. Even better? Time your visit with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Oct. 7-15, when hundreds of balloons fill the sky in an event that can only be described as magical.
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Take a hike in Taos
Williams Lake Trail is a fun hike in Taos, New Mexico. Kristin Finan photo
Although I have frequently visited other parts of New Mexico, this most recent trip marked my introduction to Taos, a place I had long heard was mystical and captivating. One of our favorite discoveries in Taos was the ample hiking opportunities, which were highlighted during a 2.1-mile hike along the Williams Lake Trail inside Taos Ski Valley. In addition to offering the beautiful reward of a pristine alpine lake at the end, the trailhead is also located next to the Bavarian, an Alpine-themed inn serving up German eats and beers. Hot cocoas and giant pretzels at the Bavarian offered the perfect reward after a chilly, satisfying hike. Other Taos highlights include rafting the Rio Grande, visiting its plethora of national landmarks, taking in its many museums, and enjoying the incredible local cuisine.
Go underground at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed, consider some advice from a cave: “Breathe deep, search inward, seek beneath the surface, and hang tight.” This wisdom, offered on a T-shirt in the gift shop at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, sets the tone for a visit to this famous underground park comprised of 100 caves. Don’t miss the spectacular Big Room, the largest limestone chamber in the Western Hemisphere, which spans almost 4,000 feet and is dotted with formations reminiscent of everything from freshly-popped popcorn to a magical fairy village to a giant lion’s tail. Added bonus: The cave’s 56-degree temperatures are a refreshing contrast to our 100-plus-degree streak in Austin. Want to check another national park off of your list? Guadalupe Mountains National Park is only 30 minutes away, just across the Texas border.
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Slip and slide at White Sands National Park
Named a national monument in 1933, White Sands gained its national park status in 2019 and is famous for its rolling dunes and the endless white sand that’s nothing short of otherworldly.
Biking, hiking, and driving tours are offered here, but the must-do activity for most visitors is sledding down the soft white gypsum dunes –– think all the fun of snow sledding, without the snow. Purchase plastic snow saucers from Amazon before your trip, then spend the day zipping down the dunes. Trust me when I say the kids will talk about it for years.
If You Go
Renting an RV:
RVshare.com makes it easy to rent RVs, campers, trailers, and much more in your local area so that you can create an itinerary that fits your specific needs. We loved our 25-foot 2018 Forest River Sunseeker, which was small enough to easily park in public places and during pitstops but also big enough to sleep a large family.
Stay:
Due to our RV, we opted to stay at KOA campgrounds throughout our stay, except for in Taos, where we Airbnb’d the most stunning and beautifully appointed home that offered some of the most incredible, mountain-lined sunrise and sunset views I’ve ever seen.
Insider tip:
In addition to the basics, here are some other items you might want to take on your RV road trip: swimsuit and goggles; backpack for hiking and day excursions; bottled water; towels and toiletries for the bathroom; bedding; kitchen utensils, pots and pans; groceries; coffee maker; board games and cards; sporting goods such as football, soccer ball and Frisbee; First Aid kit stocked with essentials including Dramamine; DVDs, chargers and a hotspot; sunscreen; bug spray; small tool box; umbrella and rain jackets; and, if you’re virtual schooling, school supplies like white boards, crayons, paper, tablets, laptops and chargers. Research the national parks you’re visiting, too, and bring along relevant items such as sleds, hiking boots or binoculars.
