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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Abiquiú's Glassy Lake in the Desert

Abiquiú Lake: New Mexico's Seventh Largest Lake We credit Abiquiú Lake with our move to Abiquiú – once we saw the still and calm lake, reflecting the red cliffs and Cerro Pedernal, we knew this was a very special place. It was the beauty, the glassy water, the absence of people and traffic, and the history and culture of the area…and also the energy. While many people flock to Abiquiú to visit O'Keeffe's home and studio and/or Ghostranch, they inadvertantly pass by the lake.

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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Georgia O'Keeffe in Abiquiu, New Mexico

American artist Georgia O’Keeffe was born on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, and lived in many different places before settling in New Mexico - Chicago, New York City, New York’s Lake George, Charlottesville, Virginia and Amarillo, TX. She first visited New Mexico in 1917, and from that time on she would declare that “I was always on my way back.” So many of us here in Abiquiu feel the same way. In 1929 and 1930, O’Keeffe spent her first two summers as a guest at Mabel Dodge Luhan

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The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Abiquiu

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Abiquiu

A foodie myself, one of the questions I get asked most often by guests is, “Where is your favorite place to eat?” Truthfully, it’s also one of the questions I ask most when I’m travelling and visiting a new city. So for those of you asking this question while visiting Abiquiu - this blog is for you! New Mexico is famous for its southwestern cuisine with influences from Native American, Spanish and Mexican cultures. While each group retains its basic identity today in New Me

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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Abiquiu Bucket List

Our Favorite Things to Discover In and Around Abiquiu, New Mexico Congratulations – if you are reading this you likely have added a stay in Abiquiu to your New Mexico vacation. We are biased, but we don’t believe any trip to New Mexico is complete without spending time in Abiquiu…and not just a day trip…you will need several days to really get to know the history and culture of the area. We are often asked about our “bucket list” list of things to see and do – so in this blog

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Take a Self - Guided Driving Tour Through Abiquiu

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Take a Self - Guided Driving Tour Through Abiquiu

There is so much to see and do in Abiquiú – don’t short yourself and schedule only a quick day trip. We recommend at least four days in Abiquiú to really experience the history, culture, geography and arts in the area...and many of our guests stay for a week or month. So many people flock to Abiquiú to visit Ghostranch and take the Georgia O’Keeffe Home and Studio Tour. We definitely recommend you do both. But, don’t miss the many other hidden treasures, including spectacular

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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Brilliant Outlook Ahead!

With all New Mexico counties at a “turquoise” level – meaning COVID numbers have fallen and businesses can begin safely reopening – we are excited to welcome Summer 2021 – long, warm days with blue, blue skies that slowly turn into glowing sunsets. This summer season…after 2020, a year unlike any other…gives us reason to pause and appreciate the beauty of Abiquiu. Abiquiu is re-opening…and for those of you who have trips planned, or maybe are thinking of escaping this summer

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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Art That Speaks: Debra Fritts

Abiquiu, this little village in northern New Mexico, has become a tourist destination and bucket list item because of its history, the blending of cultures, and, of course, America’s most famous female artist, Georgia O’Keeffe. Touring Georgia's home and studio in the village is a popular attraction, as her property stands today just as it did when she lived there. Georgia was inspired by the land, the vistas, rock formations, the random bones she found, and the colors. The l

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Interview with The Desert Monk of The Monastery of Christ in the Desert

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Interview with The Desert Monk of The Monastery of Christ in the Desert

On the bank of the Rio Chama in Abiquiu, New Mexico, in the Chama Canyon wilderness, sits a beautiful Benedictine monastic community – The Monastery of Christ in the Desert. The monks in this community have the goal of living the contemplative life which St. Benedict, whose Rule is followed, envisioned as a life free from all attachments so that a relationship with God is the central, and even exclusive, relationship. The monastery is a rich part of Abiquiu’s fabric, and welc

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Welcome 2021 - Thank you All for Weathering 2020 with Us.

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Welcome 2021 - Thank you All for Weathering 2020 with Us.

Happy New Year! All of us at The Grand Hacienda B&B, The Casita del Lago and Abiquiu Lake Mesa Vacation Homes, and the Studios of Abiquiu Lake wish you a healthy, joyful, and travel-filled 2021! For the past 14 years, we have started each year with a letter of thanks to our “family of friends and guests”. We are so thankful for all of you who weathered 2020 with us. It has been a bumpy ride, for sure! When life gave us 2020, we adapted. We spent the year mastering soc

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A Californian’s Perspective on the History of New Mexico Wines

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

A Californian’s Perspective on the History of New Mexico Wines

By Guest Blogger: Robert Dolci, President of the Northern Rio Grande Chapter of the New Mexico Vine and Wine Society I spent most of my adult life in California’s Silicon Valley, and what I know about wine came out of a bottle from either Napa Valley or Sonoma County. Just about the only wine I drank from my mid 20s until my mid 60s was wines from Northern California. Why not, it was really good stuff. In 2012, my wife Wendy and I moved to New Mexico. In 2013, we joined the V

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Descansos: Part II – Symbols of Love, Loss and Tragedy

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Descansos: Part II – Symbols of Love, Loss and Tragedy

Johnny Eata, born in 1965, was only 47 years old when he died in 2012 on NM-96, outside of Abiquiu in the village of Youngsville. Not much is known to the passing public about Johnny. No obituary to be found. But we do know a bit about Johnny's life, and his love for motorcycles, because of the incredible descanso on the side of the road. Flocked by a “Born to Ride” sign and motorcycle toad statue that make up part of his memorial, Johnny's memory lives on to all who pass

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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

The Evolution of Descansos

The meaning and history of the descansos roadside memorials in New Mexico.

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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

El Santuario de Chimayó Pilgrimage

El Santuario de Chimayó

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Abiquiu's Neighbor - The Village of Youngsville

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Abiquiu's Neighbor - The Village of Youngsville

Youngsville, NM - a tiny village outside of Abiquiu.

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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Spring is in the Air

Spring 2020 in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

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“It’s the most wonderful place you can imagine. It’s so beautiful there. It’s ridiculous.”- O'Keeffe

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

“It’s the most wonderful place you can imagine. It’s so beautiful there. It’s ridiculous.”- O'Keeffe

When you set out to #DiscoverAbiquiu, you most certainly will discover that you are in “O’Keeffe Territory”, and for good reason. Georgia O’Keeffe first visited Abiquiu in 1929, and eventually made it her permanent home in 1949. Her famous paintings depict her representation of everything “New Mexico,” including Abiquiu’s Cerro Pedernal, Plaza Blanca, Ghost Ranch and numerous landscapes and still life paintings. The natural world that surrounded her – the landscape, river, m

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"Stand Still, and Learn to Be Astonished."

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

"Stand Still, and Learn to Be Astonished."

58 artists. 25 different studio/stops. Photography, paintings, sculpture, metal work, wood work, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, soaps, candles, masks, birdhouses – and more. The 25th annual #AbiquiuStudioTour did not disappoint! As we drove from studio stop to studio stop, following the well-marked route with map in hand (and on the phone map), we discussed the awesome job the tour planners did this year – large pink flags marked the studios along the road, studio numbers were

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Fall 2018 Update: Surround Yourself with the Most Spectacular Views

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Fall 2018 Update: Surround Yourself with the Most Spectacular Views

Hello to our family of guests and friends of The Casita del Lago and Abiquiú Lake Mesa! The long, sunny days of Abiquiú's summer, with the bright blue skies and colorful mesas, are giving away to the crisp, golden days of fall with a fresh palette of color. The beauty that surrounds us in Abiquiú is at its finest. In the fall, after the busy summer months, we take the time to pause, and enjoy – and look forward to the changing seasons. And so, already, we are looking forwa

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Cafe Abiquiu offers Convenient Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!

Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Cafe Abiquiu offers Convenient Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!

Located in Abiquiú, next to the Georgia O’Keeffe Welcome Center, Café Abiquiu offers a casual dining experience. We especially love dining al fresco on the outdoor patio. The restaurant offers a menu with lots of variety - there is something for every one. You'll find New Mexico specialties, such as Huevos Rancheros, Green Chili Cheeseburgers and Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas. For dinner and lunch, choices include everything from tacos to hamburgers to salmon to steak. Selec

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Abiquiú Lake Vacations Abiquiú NM

Your New Mexico Bucket List

Is Abiquiú, New Mexico on your bucket list? If not, we think it should be. While Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos and Los Alamos attract over 6 million visitors each year, it is the village of Abiquiú that we believe is the hidden gem – and no visit to New Mexico is complete without spending time in Abiquiú: The Land of Enchantment, the Home of Georgia O’Keeffe. Dinosaurs, Native Americans, Spanish explorers, and castle wrestlers all called this land home. The village of Abiqui

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