Duration: 7 days, 8 nights

Location: Carlsbad, NM – Monument Valley, UT 

Fuel: $210

RV Site Fees: $340 

Miles Traveled: 646

We planned and executed a very ambitious travel itinerary that took us from TN south to the Florida panhandle where we met up with another RV’er, then west to Las Vegas and back to TN. There where numerous stops along the way. I have decided to break the trip up in sections to better cover the details of this trip.

First, up was the I-10 Corridor starting in Milton, FL and ending in Carlsbad, NM. You will find RV park reviews, favorite foods, and all the sites we took in during our travels by clicking the dropdown link above. Now for part two of our journey, Native American Experience.

The ratings you find below reflect my general overview of the locations we visited for this segment. Being our first-month long trip plus of this nature, we learned a great deal about a month long trip and the pace we that we decided to take.

Overview

As a young man during the early 70’s I had all I could take off work and needed a break from a relationship. The cure was a driving trip west in my Volvo wagon, camping mat and gear in back to meet a good friend in Colorado and trip around the Southwest. On my way from Evansville, IN to pick him up Denver I made a detour to Mesa Verde. 

Memories

The visuals of Mesa Verde, The Cliff Palace, and that National Park stuck in my head for years. Page, AZ, Grand Canyon, Brice Canyon, Zion, and many more stops are etched in my mind. That relationship I was talking about, well I ended up marrying her. Forty some odd years later, I wanted to share those special places with Ginny, she had never been west. This time we were going to be traveling in a 38′ fifth wheel, fully locked and loaded, “AirConditioned Gypsies”.  

Amazing

Visually this was the most scenic portion of our month and halve long trip. The desert southwest and the southern Rockies are some very beautiful country. First stop, Sante Fe, NM and the Los Suenos RV resort. What Monument Valley is visual, Sante Fe is cultural. We enjoyed a few days there and headed to Cortez, CO to stay near Mesa Verde National Park.  The butte was visible from our site at Mesa Verde RV park. The memories came flooding back and I could not wait to show Ginny around.   

Iconic

The last stop on this segment was Monument Valley Navajo, Tribal Park. Words can not describe this expansive valley of iconic rock formations. You have seen them in numerous John Wayne westerns.

 As for the restaurants, I and have identified a few in the Best Foods section. I am an avid cook and so was our caravaning partner. We put ourselves to use in Mesa and Monument where the restaurants were few and far in-between. We picked up some fresh grouper, redfish and such at Joe Patti’s in Pensacola and they made up the bulk of our meals. The review on food will reflect Sante Fe only. There was another five tent standout RV park on the trip this time. Gouldings Monument Valley is a must stay. You will find more detail below. As for activities and food, they are what you make but the sightseeing is abundant.

RV Parks

Cities/Itinerary

National Parks/Attractions

Memorable Food & Drink

Geronimo – $$$$

Ask a Santa Fean where to go for a nice night out, and most will have one recommendation. Geronimo rarely inspires descriptions that are anything less than superlative: the most-elegant night out and most-captivating flavor combinations among others. Despite the exceptional experience, Geronimo isn’t stuffy. The restaurant’s setting in a mid-18th-century house, with kiva fireplaces and adobe walls, makes it inviting and intimate. Menu highlights include the tellicherry-rubbed elk tenderloin, green-miso sea bass, and mesquite-grilled Maine lobster tails.. Geronimo in the heart Art District at  724 Canyon Rd. Sante Fe, NM  (504) 523.4455 MAP

Restaurant Link: Geronimo

Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen  $$

Debates about the best margaritas in town can turn into Wild West–style showdowns among New Mexicans. Many choose to wet their whistle at Maria’s, where visitors can customize their margaritas with more than 100 tequila types. Maria’s former co-owner Al Lucero wrote The Great Margarita Book, with a foreword by Robert Redford, one of many luminaries to have spent time at Maria’s since its opening in 1950. The restaurant’s substantial menu includes New Mexican staples such as blue corn enchiladas, homemade posole, and sopaipillas, served either savory (for instance, stuffed with beef) or sweet (with honey on top). Maria’s – 555 Cordova Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505 MAP 

Restaurant Link: Marias

Honorable Mention

Needed to take a little different approach to the Honorable section. As I have mentioned, I enjoy cooking. That has proven to be a challenge on the RV. After a year of trial and error, we have come up with a method and recipes that work.

Solution

The trip from Sante Fe to Monument was a perfect time to test out a few recipes. The restaurants were far and few in between, fast food seemed to abound. By the way, if any of you have some great dinners, drive-ins or dives for this segment speak up. So here are a few tried and true that worked for us during this trip.

RV Stove 

If you have not read my post regarding a hack for the stove, check out this link for a solution to those blackened or burnt bottoms. Tackle That RV Stove

• Key Lime Pie

This fresh desert can be cooked in either a conventional oven or a convection/microwave oven. In fact, originally, other than setting the crust, this pie was not even cooked! It goes great with either of the below meals. Recipe Link: Key Lime Pie

• Gnocchi with Squash and Sweet Corn

What is not to love about finding fresh sweet corn and zucchini in the farmer’s markets along your trip route. Store bought Gnocchi in the RV pantry and your run and running in a flash with this delicious meal. Can’t find fresh corn, now worries use a good frozen brand. Served with Arugula Orange salad below. Recipe Link: Gnocchi with Squash & Sweet Corn

• Healthy Meatloaf, side of broccoli (steamer) and sweet potato (microwave)

This mini meatloaf bakes in a muffin pan for an easy dinner recipe that’s ready in 30 mins. We make this ahead and freeze them in packs of 4. I will share my RV reheating instructions. The Birds Eye broccoli steamer and sweet potato both be made in the microwave. Recipe Link: Healthy Mini Meatloaf

• Greek Lamb Chops with Gyro Chopped Salad

We love lamb, but cooking it indoors has not been my favorite thing to do. Bring on a hot grill or medium campfire and you are in business. This can be whipped together in 30 mins and will please the greek food lovers in the bunch. Recipe Link: https://lovetowanderrv.com/greek-lamb-chops…ro-chopped-salad/