Turquoise Trail
Must See Tour of the Turquoise Trail
| Departure: | The Museum of Archaeology and Material Culture, New Mexico |
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| Destination: | Shona Sol Sculpture Garden, New Mexico |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Travel the Turquoise Trail for an up-close view of New Mexico's diverse landscapes and Southwestern cultures. On your way, stop at the following places, which best showcase the heart of the Turquoise Trail.
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Start: The Museum of Archaeology and Material Culture
Begin your journey at this fascinating museum, which explores archaeology and a 12,000-year timeline.
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Stop 1: Tinkertown Museum
Directions from previous place: Leaving the Museum of Archaeology and Material Culture, go southeast on Calvary Road toward Snowline Road, then take a slight left onto Snowline Road. Drive 0.1 miles, then turn left onto NM-14 N. Drive 1.8 miles, then turn left onto NM-536 W. Drive 0.5 miles until you reach Tinkertown Museum, located at 121 Sandia Crest Road.
Distance from Previous Site: 2.5 miles / 4.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 6 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour This quirky museum is a must-see stop along your way. Created by one man, the museum features walls made of bottles, hand-carved dioramas, fortune-telling machines, and more.
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Stop 2: Sandia Peak Tramway
Directions from previous place: Leaving Tinkertown Museum, go east for 0.5 miles on NM-536 E toward Crest Road. Stay straight to go onto NM-14 and go 5.7 miles. Merge onto I-40 W toward Albuquerque and go 6.7 miles. Take the Central Ave Exit (Exit 167) toward Tramway Blvd and go 0.5 miles. Keep right at the fork to go on Central Ave NE/NM-333 W and go 0.1 miles. Turn right onto Tramway Blvd NE/NM-556 N and go 8.4 miles. Turn right onto Tramway Road NE and go 0.7 miles. Tramway Road NE becomes Tramway Loop NE, and after less than 0.1 miles, end at the Sandia Peak Tramway, located at 10 Tramway Loop NE in Albuquerque.
Distance from Previous Site: 23 miles / 36.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 36 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 45 minutes Take the Sandia Peak Tramway up the mountain for a view of New Mexico's desert floor to its mountain forest. At 2.7 miles, Sandia Peak Tramway is the longest in the world.
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Stop 3: Cerrillos
Directions from previous place: Leaving the Tramway, go northwest on Tramway Loop NE toward Sandia Heights Road NE. Tramway Loop NE becomes Tramway Road NE; go 0.7 miles. Turn left onto Tramway Blvd NE (NM-556 S) and go 8.5 miles. Turn left onto Central Ave SE (NM-333 E) and go 0.1 miles. Merge onto I-40 E via the ramp on the left and go 6.2 miles. Take the NM-337 Exit (Exit 175) toward NM-14/Tijeras/Cedar Crest and go 0.2 miles. Turn slight left to take the ramp toward NM-14 N/Cedar Crest and go 0.4 miles. Turn slight right onto NM-333 N and go 0.2 miles. Turn slight left onto NM-14 N and go 31.6 miles. Turn left onto Waldo Street and go 0.3 miles. Turn right onto CR-59/1st Street. Continue to follow CR-59 and go 0.1 miles until you end at Cerrillos.
Distance from Previous Site: 49 miles / 78.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 25 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 30 minutes Spend some time in Cerrillos, a city with dirt streets and Southwestern charm. Grab a bite to eat at one of the local eateries, and mingle with the locals.
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Stop 4: Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum
Directions from previous place: Go southwest on CR-59 toward Rail Street for 0.1 miles, then turn right onto Waldo Street. Go 0.1 miles until you reach the Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum located at 17 Waldo Street.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes Visit the Turquoise Mining Museum to see a private collection and display of tools, equipment, objects and artifacts used in daily life during the mining era of Los Cerrillos. If Todd Brown, who runs the museum, is there when you visit, ask him about the 28-room house he and his wife built.
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End: Shona Sol Sculpture Garden
Directions from previous place: Leaving the museum, go southeast on Waldo Street toward 3rd Street for 0.5 miles. Turn left onto NM-14 N and go 14.5 miles until you reach the Shona Sol Sculpture Garden located at 3358 NM-14.
Distance from Previous Site: 15 miles / 24.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 30 minutes End your day at the Shona Sol Sculpture Garden, which displays the work of several artists from Zimbwabe. Made from hand-crafted stone, this African art collection is beautiful and impressive.
