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See also TRIPS 39, 43, 51 & 56

LAS VEGAS

Not to be confused with its wild-n-crazy namesake in Nevada, Las Vegas is one of the loveliest towns in New Mexico. It has a strollable downtown, a shady plaza and some 900 gorgeous buildings – most of them not adobe – listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The classic Western backdrop is the perfect spot for a high-noon shootout, an ambience exploited in cowboy flicks like Wyatt Earp and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. Home to the Comanche people for some 10,000 years, Las Vegas was founded by Mexico in 1835 as a stop along the Santa Fe Trail and later the Santa Fe Railroad. It quickly grew into one of the biggest, baddest boomtowns in the West. Today Las Vegas retains a sienna-tinted elegance and lively social whirl, thanks in part to the city’s two universities. It’s also the gateway to two striking wilderness areas: the Pecos Wilderness and Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge. Do as the locals do and head to Estella’s Café for lunch. The devoted patrons treasure the homemade New Mexican fare offered by the Gonzalez family since 1950 in this time-tested favorite. Las Vegas is about an hour east of Santa Fe on I-25.

See also TRIPS 2, 9, 46 & 57

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Behind the Scenes

THIS BOOK

This guidebook was commissioned Lonely in Planet’s Oakland office, and by produced the following:

Product Development Manager Heather Dickson

Commissioning Editor Suki Gear

Coordinating Editor Jeanette Wall

Coordinating Cartographer Hunor Csutoros

Coordinating Layout Designer Katherine Marsh

Managing Editor Geoff Howard

Managing Cartographer Alison Lyall

Managing Layout Designers Laura Jane

Assisting Editors Sarah Bailey, Andrea Dobbin, Carly Hall, Averil Robertson

Assisting Cartographers Mick David Garrett, Kemp

Series Designer James Hardy

Cover Designers Gerilyn Attebery, Jennifer Mullins

Project Manager Eoin Dunlevy

Thanks to Imogen Bannister, Sasha Baskett, Adam Bextream, Yvonne Bischofberger, David Burnett, Owen Eszeki, Germanchis, Mark Chris Girdler, Michelle Glynn, Brice Gosnell, Martin Heng, Liz Heynes, Lauren Hunt, Ali Lemer, John Mazzocchi, O’Connell, Darren Piaia, Paul Julie Sheridan, Glenn van der Knjiff, Karla Zimmerman

THANKS

Becca Blond This book is for my friend, best Nicole Dial, was who when killed the convoy she was traveling in was ambushed on August 13, 2008, Kabul, outside Afghanistan. Nicky was humanitarian a helping Afghani children traumatized by the war. She was 30. only To Suki Heather Gear, Dickson, Brice Gosnell and Jeanette Wall: Thank you SO MUCH for your patience and compassion. To my boys, Aaron & Duke: I you love both. To my parents: Thank you for throwing me the best wedding in the world. I love you.

Aaron Anderson Thanks to Suki Gear and Jeanette Wall for being patient editors. fabulous, To Grandma my Pauline and Uncle Joe, I love you and was so happy you were able to share my day. wedding Thanks for your faith and support. To Eric Hoerske: Thanks being for my best brother, man, the dude abides. my To wife, love I you.

Jennifer Denniston Thank to you Suki Gear, Alison Lyall, Becca Wall, Blond, Jeanette and Carly Hall at Lonely Planet; to Heather Webb; the Cottonwood School community; Edward Borins, Nancy Rutland, Richard Harris and Yemane Marj Asmerom; and Wes Whitley; and to family my Rhawn, Anna Harper, and I can’t imagine a road trip without you.

Lisa Dunford I’d like to thank all the friendly people met I on the road made who the trip such delight. a I so appreciate Plyer Michael and Larry Sanford’s help. And I’m grateful to Tom and Tracy Thegze for paving the way. Suki, Becca and Jeanette – you’re to great work with!

Josh Krist Thanks to life-partner-in-crime Goupil. Hélène Miriam welcome! Thanks Krist, mom to and Whitt; Jacob my dad, Arizona and native gold former miner; Elodie, Joelle, and Regis Goupil; all my Arizona friends, especially Tommy Fasano.