Have Baton, Will Travel

There is no first and no worst; no ratings or rankings. There is no competition, and nobody wants to beat anyone else. There is only the road, sun, wind, sky, and beauty. There are my old friends and family with whom to share my adventures, and new friends to be made. Our time together on the road is cooperative-especially when it comes to sharing a new dish, tasting an incredible wine, or beholding a new vista. This is why I love to travel.

A recent trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, reveals a vibrant city with a rich musical heritage.

A few days of dining and sight-seeing and I was captivated. Completing my trip in Albuquerque, with its equally rich culture and potential performance venues, along with the incredible beauty of surrounding mountains and desert, convinces me that Northern New Mexico might provide a unique and memorable trip for singles, family or a high school band to experience.

Flying into Albuquerque, I found a large and easily accessible airport. While booking, I noticed many surprisingly affordable flights throughout the day from San Antonio. I stayed in the Embassy Suites near downtown, which came complete with a budget-saving all-you-can-eat full breakfast served throughout the morning. Note to band directors: this hotel has several large ballrooms away from guest suites which would allow for rehearsals.

The drive from Albuquerque to Santa Fe took an hour. A quick bit of business on behalf of my daughter and travel buddy Emma (who will be moving to Santa Fe in September) and the city was ours to explore. We found an incredible amount of art. It was explained to us by a local that Santa Fe is the third-largest "Art City" in America, behind New York and San Francisco. On our brief walk through the beautiful downtown plaza, we found galleries and boutiques around every corner. We spent quite a bit of time in the Chuck Jones gallery. Both of us are fans of cartoon art, and Chuck Jones' illustrations featuring Warner Brothers characters and Dr.Seuss were displayed as framed art throughout the gallery.

We also enjoyed a small shop featuring flavored Olive Oils, Balsamic Vinegars, and Salt. Small paper cups, like those found in fast joints for ketchup, allowed us to mix and match samples of oil and vinegar. After tying dozens of combinations of each, I found chipotle oil paired with strawberry vinegar to be my favorite, and I was wishing for a bowl of lettuce!

We discovered Del Charro, a popular and inexpensive cafe just off the plaza,for a late lunch. After dining on Green Chili cheeseburgers and beer-battered french fries, we headed out for a quick road trip to Las Cruces. Along the way we passed the famed Santa Fe Opera House. Impressive! Equally beautiful was the backdrop mountain scenery. We drove through high mountain forests, and then negotiated my first switchback down into a desert canyon. I'm not the most comfortable driving along the edge of deadly drops down rocky cliffs, but my daughter proclaimed the whole thing exhilarating. I wish we had more time to explore Las Cruces, but we did manage a stop at the visitor center for a brief overview and some information about the town's historic and scientific beginnings.

Leaving west from Las Cruces, I had to stop at a gate on the highway as it travels through the National Laboratory, a large government institution where America's first atomic weapon was created during World War II. I showed my I.D. and "vouched" for my daughter, and soon we were on the high road back to Albuquerque, gazing at pine forests rivaling those I grew up with in East Texas-only these were in the mountains of New Mexico!

The next morning, Emma and I headed for the Albuquerque BioPark, a beautiful park featuring a botanical garden and an aquarium which focuses on the Rio Grande River. Yes, that, Rio Grande-the one that defines our southern Texas border. It flows through these parts as well. Visiting the exhibits and viewing a brief movie narrated by Gene Hackman made us aware of the river's struggle to remain open, scenic, and flowing, and the danger several river species face as human, agricultural, and industrial demand for the river's waters increase.

In the afternoon, we left Albuquerque for a quick flight and layover in Denver, where we found an airport wine bar to toast our successful trip.

Here are a few "visions" we experienced:

Santa Fe Opera House