Grants

Grants is a small town in western New Mexico, United States. It is one of the stops along the historic Route 66 highway west of Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city. Long little more than a wide spot in the road, Grants expanded dramatically during the 1950s as a result of the discovery of rich uranium ore in the area. A crash in the uranium market around 1980 seriously damaged the town's economy, but in recent years it has recovered somewhat. Get in Grants is about 75 miles from Albuquerque by car, along Interstate 40, which at this point follows the historic Route 66. Albuquerque International Sunport is the nearest major airport. Grants is not presently served by any commuter airlines, but it's so close to Albuquerque that you might as well drive anyway. Get around Just drive. Grants sprawls more than its current population would suggest. It's not large, but many of the motels are near the Interstate and fairly far out of downtown, such as it is. See The New Mexico Mining Museum chronicles the region's uranium-mining history. 100 N. Iron Avenue; open 9-4 M-S; admission $3, students and seniors $2. It's rare for a scenic turnout/rest area along an Interstate to be worth mentioning in a "See" entry, but two exceptions are nearby. A viewpoint between Albuquerque and Grants gives a striking view of the "Sky City" at Acoma Pueblo. Further west, another scenic turnout offers views into one of the continental United States' most recent volcanic basalt flows, erupted from a vent a few miles south of the highway some time in the last 2000 years (estimates for the age vary). Do Like most small communities, Grants has its share of local events and festivals. Call the Chamber of Commerce at 505-287-4802 or the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center at 505-876-2783 for more information. The Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center, on the east side of the city at Exit 85 off I-40, is a good place to start. Exhibits in the center highlight the many outdoor recreation opportunities in the region. The center's theater shows the award-winning short documentary "Remembered Earth," a wonderful film that reveals the story of the regions landscapes. The USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management all cooperate to run the center. The primary draw of the region is the enticing mix of outdoor recreation and cultural sites. Nearby Mount Taylor is the highest mountain in the region at 11,301 feet, and offers hiking trails, camping, and numerous forest roads that lead into the Cibola National Forest. Cycling is also a great way to enjoy the area: for mountain bikers, forest roads on Mount Taylor and in the nearby Zuni Mountains offer limitless opportunities for rides. The region's paved roads are also great for the Lance Armstrong road bike crowd due to light traffic, wide vistas, and long distances. Buy Grants itself is not a particularly notable source of art or memorabilia, but its proximity to Navajo Nation as well as Acoma Pueblo means that American Indian arts and crafts can sometimes be found. See under Get out below for information on an interesting series of Navajo rug auctions; finding lodging in Grants is a good idea if you're attending this auction, there being no lodging near the auction site. Eat Pickings are thin here, and a restaurant formerly on this list appears to have closed recently. Good things have been heard about La Ventana in the downtown district; can someone write a review? Drink Sleep Most of the usual motel/motor-lodge chains can be found near I-40 exits. Best Western, Days Inn, Holiday Inn (Express), Super 8, Travelodge and the Choice Hotels collection (specifically, a Quality Inn) all have franchises. Most are not fully booked during most of the year, but reservations are a good idea at peak travel times, and also during the first or second week in October, when the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta fills hotels and motels up to a hundred miles away. Get out El Malpais National Monument is a rugged national park that offers hiking and a chance to explore lava flows, lava-tube caves, and volcanos. The Navajo Nation covers much of northwestern New Mexico and offers various points of interest. If interested in Navajo rugs, be sure to check out a rug auction [1] at the tiny town of Crownpoint, an hour north of Grants. Auctions are held on Friday nights every month or two, "usually ... but not always" on the third Friday of the month (see site below for schedule), and are both an opportunity to acquire some quality folk art at excellent prices and a fascinating cultural study. Chaco Culture National Historical Park is 90 miles north of town; Grants is a good place to find lodging if you're bound for Chaco, there being no lodging in the park other than a very basic campground. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!