Planning A Trip Down I-10

[Imagebuffet]

I'm thinking of driving out to New Mexico from Dallas in October, taking I-10 across Texas. Any suggestions for things to photograph along that route?

[BigJon]

Lazy drive with lots of time? If so I would suggest a stop in Junction at the South Llano State Park, lots of wildlife. Sonora has the caverns, awesome tour with lots to see. Balmorhea State Park is another relaxing stop, swimming in a million gallon per hour pool. It contains some endangered fish and lots of catfish, oh and a diver or two. LOL If you can spare some time Ft Davis they have some nice places to eat, authentic Mexican food, dang good. The State Park in Ft Davis has some great views, and it's just a few miles from the McDonalds Observatory. Once in El Paso the Wyler Aerial Tram is really cool. Awesome view over El Paso and Ft Bliss. Also the Trans Mountain Pass in El Paso is a nice little drive and some nice scenery. Other than that I can't say there is much more, I am sure there is but nothing I have found yet.

[KD5NRH]

Originally Posted by Imagebuffet

I'm thinking of driving out to New Mexico from Dallas in October, taking I-10 across Texas. Any suggestions for things to photograph along that route?

How are you getting to 10? Depending on how free your route is, you could hit a lot of central Texas before you get to the interstate.

[LonestarMan]

Drop down to Alpine and Marfa. Don't forget Guadalupe Peak. Stop for mexican food at John Madden's favorite stop Chuy's restaurant in Van Horn.

[venchka]

Why? Sure is the long way to go. How many times have you driven to N.M.? Which routes?

[BigC]

Go a little further and see Tombstone Az.

[Imagebuffet]

I've driven through New Mexico from Dallas a few times, now, following either I-40 or I-20. My Mom and step-dad used to live in Albuquerque, but now live in Deming. I've been to Marfa and McDonald Observatory. I've been up and down I-25 in New Mexico as far North as Los Alamos and all through way through El Paso.

Someone is asking to buy pictures of Sonora Caverns. I don't have any. I won't have any before the deadline, but now I know something I need to add to my collection.

When I drove North from McDonald Observatory several years ago, I passed through a beautiful mountain valley. I want to go back to that area and photograph. I'm probably going at the wrong time of year, though.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by BigJon

Lazy drive with lots of time?

I plan to spend about 8 days, which would include a stop at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Trinity Site and as many wild (non-commercial) hot springs as I can find. I might attend the Alamogordo Air and Space Expo, if it has space flight-related exhibits.

Originally Posted by BigJon

If so I would suggest a stop in Junction at the South Llano State Park, lots of wildlife.

Good; I am unfamiliar with that, so I will check it out.

Originally Posted by BigJon

Sonora has the caverns, awesome tour with lots to see.

I definitely need to visit, even though I'm not much of a cave person.

Originally Posted by BigJon

Balmorhea State Park is another relaxing stop, swimming in a million gallon per hour pool. It contains some endangered fish and lots of catfish, oh and a diver or two.

I had planned to take 17 South from Balmorhea, and I have seen hints that something interesting must be there, but I didn't know what. Thank you for the suggestion. I will have to look into this further.

Originally Posted by BigJon

LOL If you can spare some time Ft Davis they have some nice places to eat, authentic Mexican food, dang good. The State Park in Ft Davis has some great views, and it's just a few miles from the McDonalds Observatory. Once in El Paso the Wyler Aerial Tram is really cool. Awesome view over El Paso and Ft Bliss. Also the Trans Mountain Pass in El Paso is a nice little drive and some nice scenery. Other than that I can't say there is much more, I am sure there is but nothing I have found yet.

I need to increase my travel photo collection, so I'm looking for these kind of locations.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by KD5NRH

How are you getting to 10? Depending on how free your route is, you could hit a lot of central Texas before you get to the interstate.

My route is free, and I plan to drive my Honda Civic. I have been trying to catch bits and pieces of central Texas for years. I need to find interesting things to photograph, rather than just driving through. However, I think I want to spend the bulk of my time in New Mexico, in the mountains and hot springs.

[venchka]

Get off of the "I" system highways and see the real world. Take US-287 (more or less) NW out of F.W. I say more or less, becasue even US-287 from F.W. to Amarillo looks like an Interstate highway. Drive parallel to the big highway. Go though the old towns, what's left of them. Wander around the Panhandle.

In New Mexico, same thing. Stay away from the big highways.

ps: There is no wrong time of the year.

[Imagebuffet]

I would also like to get a GPS, to pinpoint where I take my photographs and to chart my route, besides the fact that I get lost very easily and could use a guide to get me out.

[DickVH]

If you're gonna go to Albuquerque consider going to Fanta Fe "the back way" up NM 14. Taos and the Enchanted Circle, especially around Eagle Nest and Red River offer some great views.

Dick

[Teddington]

If you go out I-10, jump up to White Sands National Monument, north of El Paso. If you go out I-10, I highly recommend coming back the north route through Amarillo and coming down 287. It's a much nicer drive. One of our favorite stops coming back from Phoenix through northern NM was El Morro National Monument.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by Dix-Pix

If you're gonna go to Albuquerque consider going to Fanta Fe "the back way" up NM 14. Taos and the Enchanted Circle, especially around Eagle Nest and Red River offer some great views.

Dick

I definitely want to go back through Jemez Springs and hit up all the hot springs. I would like to get up to Angelfire, too, but that's a long trip.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by Teddington

If you go out I-10, jump up to White Sands National Monument, north of El Paso. If you go out I-10, I highly recommend coming back the north route through Amarillo and coming down 287. It's a much nicer drive. One of our favorite stops coming back from Phoenix through northern NM was El Morro National Monument.

White Sands National Monument is on my "to do" list, along with Trinity Site on the other side of the missile range. I want to swing through Lincoln National Forest, Cloudcroft and Ruidoso and maybe Capitan, too.

In November, I stopped in Santa Rosa and swam in Blue Hole. That was fun! There is a hot spring somewhere North of that general area, about 70 miles away. I can't remember the town the springs are near, though.