I got the itch to get the 100 on the road with the family during Christmas break. I plan to take my wife and kids to visit my Mom in Amarillo, TX for a day or two and then I feel like I am too close to NM and CO to stop at the TX panhandle. I would like to spend a day or two in NM overnight in a hotel with some good scenery and shopping for the
and kids and then hit CO to see some scenery in lower CO and stay a night or two. My youngest is 1.5 so skiing is out of the picture for now
First all, I expect some snow so will chains fit on BFG AT's 295-75-16 without problems?
Looking for some locals to contribute candid feedback on any recommendations for places to stay and routes to follow, mild/ medium scenic trails/highways, of which are all wide open for consideration.
First of all, book early, most places charge a fortune for hotels on Christmas break and they fill up fast. Especially in snow regions.
New Mexico
If you're going to be in NM one of the best towns that will make the wife happy will be Santa Fe. Go to the main Plaza and Canyon Road for all the art galleries. Santa Fe is one cool town unlike any other in the US.
We always stay here in Santa Fe, has some charm and is affordable, breakfast included and close to the main Plaza.
http://santafesageinn.com/
Then just 1.5 hours past that is Taos, Taos is my favorite place in New Mexico. Great town with a really nice ski mountain. Even if you don't ski there's sledding, tubing and jumping around in the snow. The town doesn't always see a ton of snow but you'd be guaranteed some at the Taos Ski Valley.
In town hotel: El Pueblo Lodge, rated the best of the affordable hotels. Very close to all the action in town. I hate wasting money on hotels so these are good prices. There are lots of other haute hotels if you like.
Ski Valley: Must must, I repeat Must stop at the ski valley is lunch at the Bavarian Lodge
http://thebavarian.net/
You will need 4wd to get there, it's a several mile dirt, snowy road past the ski resort that takes you up to 10k elevation. It has amazing character and charm and is in a truly beautiful setting. One of a kind. Great beer and brats inside with a cozy fireplace. Good place for the little ones to play in snow. I say again, this is a MUST see spot in Taos!!!
Rio Grande Gorge is also a good stop in Taos, sort of a smaller Grand Canyon.
Colorado
If you have enough time and want to hit Colorado as well go to SW Colorado. It's much closer than Denver and is amazingly beautiful. Head towards Durango, then take the Million Dollar highway to Silverton and Ouray. Ouray is worth a stay, great little down surrounded by very steep mountains. It's like being in Switzerland. You can also drive over to Telluride which is very much like Aspen, you're wife will like all the fancy shops.
The Million Dollar highway is one of the best drives in the US, especially when things are covered in snow. It has two 10k passes. Be careful they do shut down the road for days at a time when it's snowing hard with no way out. If it's snowing hard, be sure to ask the locals if the pass is closing. I was on this road during a blizzard and all the cars where sliding off the road, I passed them all straight and steady with the LC.
I would say getting in Santa Fe, Taos and SW Colorado in the same trip might be tough unless you have plenty of time to do it all.
Chains and gear (the tech part of thread)
As far as chains, you can fit them on the rear but may have fitment issues on the front due to the Upper Control Arms. The only chains I could get for the fronts are rope/wire type, they have to be very thin or they will rub. The LC works best with chains on all 4 tires, it's front end can slide if you only have chains on the rear. That being said I've never used my chains, with your BFG AT's you should be good unless you hit ice.
Bring Ice Melt or sand, a small shovel, tow strap, put in -20 degree wiper fluid, you can use your floor mats if you get stuck. The stock lift jack is always handy to so you can lift up the tire that gets stuck and fill in the hole with sticks/gravel and such. Also make sure you have your general emergency gear in the vehicle, plus some handwarmers if you get stuck somewhere. Keep the vehicle at 1/2 tank of gas or more.
On another note, if it's snowy and the roads are bad, it's best not to be in remote areas too late at night. It remote parts of New Mexico if you get stuck after 5pm you may be there all night. Also after 5pm the roads start to ice up.
Anyway, ping me if you have more questions.
