HotelTonight – Gallup, NM Hotels at the Ready
When I drive through New Mexico, I always tend to lose myself completely in thought. It really is the Land of Enchantment, as I've never seen another part of the world quite like it. The mountains, desert and beautiful culture – it all comes together to form quite a place. I'm always excited to learn that my next business trip is going to be in the area, as I know I'll have a chance to sit behind the wheel, relax and refocus on what I need to do after I arrive at my destination. The only problem I've noticed when driving through New Mexico is that I never seen to have any time to explore the area or its communities. That all changed on my last trip, though, as I got a phone call just as I was setting out one morning telling me that my entire day was clear of meetings. That was great, and I decided to use that day to take a look at Gallup. I wasn't concerned with finding a place to stay, either, as I travel with HotelTonight. I'd book a Gallup, NM hotel room when I needed one.
The Park
As I pulled into Gallup on Historic Route 66 – yes, that one – I noticed that the city seems almost to be built seamlessly into the land surrounding it. I went a little farther and discovered a place called Red Rock Park. It's a park of red sandstone that appears today in brilliant different formations, and I walked around for a couple of hours checking out the breathtaking cliffs and sights. It's as if the stones change color in the sunlight as the angle of the light changes, so I was fascinated by that progression. I could've spent the entire day there.
The Museum
I headed back into town to see what I could find there, and before I knew it I was being told by a nice couple to spend some time in the museum down the road. I'm not normally much for museums, as I'm more interested in what life is like in modern times, but this one was completely dedicated to what life has been like in and around Gallup. I basically walked back in time for a period of hundreds of years until I got to today, and it really helped me gain a perspective on this place.
The Dining
After seeing all of that southwestern culture and landscape, I wanted a southwestern dinner. I heard about a place that specialized in those home-cooked meals, so that's where I went. I had a plate of food that was Mexican in one form but smothered in a sauce made with the famous New Mexico green chili. It was hot, it was tasty, it was perfectly heavy and it was delicious. I knew I wasn't going away hungry, but I still managed to eat the entire thing somehow.
HotelTonight – Gallup, NM Hotels Up the Road
I had really enjoyed my entire day, but now I needed a place to sleep. I opened my HotelTonight app and booked a Gallup, NM hotel room that was just up the road. 20 minutes later, I was lying in my comfortable bed, falling asleep after experiencing something unique in a lovely place.