1 comments about New Mexico's Historic Places: The Guide to National & State Registers Sites (Adventure Roads Series).

1. For the past nine years, my husband and I have driven from Southern California to and sometimes throgh New Mexico to visit his folks for the holidays. This year we had the pleasure of driving through some of the pueblos around Albuquerque. However, for whatever reason, some of the historical landmark signs were illegible. Not to be outdone, we stopped at the Flagstaff, Arizona library to see if there was a guidebook available which would contain this information. After searching the holdings, the very helpful librarian tried Amazon.com and lo and behold, found the first and only book of it type was just published this year. Considering that, as the book points out, people have lived in New Mexico for more than 12,000 years, it is interesting that it has taken this long. This book is a comphrensive listing of over 1700 New Mexican registrar sites made more accessible for the first time. Previously, one had to go to the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division in Santa Fe to obtain this information. It is a remarkable achievement. However, I can't help but compare it to two other state historic place guides which we have enjoyed, CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARKS (1990, 11th edition) published by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and ROADSIDE HISTORY OF ARIZONA (1986) by Marshall Trimble which we found in a used bookstore several years ago. Each guide has a slightly different organization. NEW MEXICO'S HISTORIC PLACES divides the state into six regions and then lists the national and state register sites alphabetically by town or city without a map of towns or cities in each county. Although the sites are listed alphabetically in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, that does not seen to be the case for all cities. The editor, Marci Riskin lists nine steps on "How to Use This Guidebook." That about seven steps too many on a road trip. CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARKS is organized alphabetically by county preceeded by a map of the cities and highways in that county. Within each county, the landmarks are listed numerically by date of registration. Trimble, on the other hand, divides Arizona into five areas with a map of cities and subheadings according to highways. This format, of course, is the easiest to read on a road trip. So, unless you are very familiar with the geography of New Mexico, make sure you have an OFFICIAL HIGHWAY MAP OF NEW MEXICO issued by the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department and the New Mexico Department of Tourism. Perhaps the next edition of NEW MEXICO'S HISTORIC PLACES will be a bit more user friendly, dividing each region by county, with town, city and highway maps, and also providing historic walking tour maps(or where to find them).

No comments about Ancient Treasures of the Southwest: A Guide to Archeological Sites and Museums in Arizona, Southern Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

No comments about Rand McNally Easyfinder Santa Fe: Laminated (EasyFinder).

3 comments about Country Roads of New Mexico: Drives, Day Trips, and Weekend Excursions (Country Roads of).

1. This small but fact-filled book explores the richness of New Mexico beyond the Albuequerque-Santa Fe-Taos axis. The author really knows her stuff--giving equal weight to the Native American, Hispanic and Anglo influences that make New Mexico such an interesting state. It's in the car beside me every time I head there.



2. My family and I planned a trip last summer (2000) using this book. Our original plan was to spend most of our time in Santa Fe and Taos. After we read this book, however, we found several far more interesting trips that cost us about half what it would have cost in Santa Fe. Sure, we did a night in Santa Fe and Taos, but this book showed us the hidden spots in town that really were known only to locals. This book is so good that we even had a wonderful time in Farmington! Yes, that's right, Farmington. In fact, we plan to return their and once again enjoy the hidden restaurants and trading posts in which we found some of the most unique indian jewelry ever (and at about 1/3 of Santa Fe prices). Kudos to Ms. Moore! I just wish I could talk her into writing a similar book about Wisconsin.



3. This is a nice book. It is well written.
   The chapters are devided into areas of New Mexico. In each chapter there is a little bit about the history of that area, places to visit and more information about other nearby areas.

   Having been to many of the areas that are discussed in this book, I found the description on target and the suggestions of places to visit good. I particularly liked the history of the area with directions to see some of the historical spots in each area.

   Very nice. Well worth the money. This book will join me in the car as we go on our trips. It will join the RoadSide History of New Mexico as one of our invaluable, must keep in the car resources.

   Enjoy.

No comments about The American Alps: The San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado (Coyote Books).

No comments about The Double Eagle Guide to Camping in Western Parks And Forests: Southern Rocky Mountains : Colorado, New Mexico (Double Eagle Guide to Camping in Western Parks and Forests).

1 comments about Montana Places: Exploring Big Sky Country.

1. If people want to write books about beautiful places, they should put at least one colored picture in it. The only color was on the cover. If I had known there were no colored pictures inside the book, I never would have purchased it.

1 comments about Culinary New Mexico.

1. Even residents of New Mexico may not realize all the gourmet events happening around the state, nor the culinary trends taking place: that's why professional food writer Sally Moore's Culinary New Mexico: The Ultimate Food Lover's Guide will prove eye-opening to so many. From restaurants and bakeries to food festivals, cooking stores and even wineries, Culinary New Mexico outlines all food oriented destinations, from handmade chocolate makers to breweries and cafes. The recipes scattered throughout also assure many dishes will be reproduced outside the state; but the meat of Culinary New Mexico lies in its destination-oriented tips travelers and residents will appreciate!

No comments about Santa Fe Fantasy: Quest for the Golden City.

No comments about Haunted Highways: The Ghost Towns of New Mexico.