Turquoise Trail

The Turquoise Trail, or Highway 14, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, is a great scenic drive that includes expansive views, historic towns, and a glimpse of New Mexico's mining history. Start off on I-40 east, and take the exit for Tijeras. This takes you around the Sandia Mountains, the dramatic wedge-shaped mountain range that frames Albuquerque. Continue on to Madrid, which was once a thriving company town in the 1800s, when coal mining was booming. Today, Madrid is a funky art community with many galleries, shops, studios and a small mining museum. If you continue on Highway 14, you'll pass by Cerrillos, home of a once famous turquoise mine, and eventually end in downtown Santa Fe. The drive takes less than 1-1/2 hours each way, without stops.