Location: Farmington
Top Things to do in Farmington
What to do and see in Farmington, New Mexico (NM): The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Farmington (Navajo: Tóta' ) is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2013 population estimate from the United States Census Bureau the city had a total population of 45,426 people. Farmington (and surrounding San Juan County) makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA's) in New Mexico. The U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate in 2011 for Farmington was about 45,256.
Restaurants in Farmington
1. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 293 reviews
Reviewed By Mike5466
The people who give this place a 1 or 2 stars, just don’t understand how to get around in the badlands. You HAVE to come PREPARED if/when visiting on your own, otherwise you need to hire a guide to help you find the main attractions within a short timeframe. Many claim their GPS didn’t work here but I didn’t have any problems with connection to my phone GPS guiding me through this wonderful wilderness area. What you can see from the parking area or the road is nothing compare to what you can see if you hike. Making a loop that will take you 4-5 hours, you can see much of what the Bisti Badlands have to offer, granted you know how to read a map and use GPS locations. First thing people ask is when is the best time to visit? Spring is very windy, summer is extremely hot, fall is very wet, winter is very cold. Each season comes with its pros and cons. The roads are sand, silt, and gravel so in the wet season, they may easily be impassible. Would you prefer handling wind, heat or cold? The beauty of winter is that you don’t have to wait long for dawn and dusk, best times to take pictures since the days are short. In the summer you must get up at 4am to get setup to take a decent early morning sun picture and stay up until 9pm to take a nice sunset photo. There are compromises no matter which season you come here. It’s not like you are going to find maps or brochures at the entrance. It’s not like there are bathrooms or food stalls there either. You need to be self-contained if you plan on spending any time here. Water, food, sun protection, maps, etc. Very flat so easy to get around. Vast expanse of alien/moonlike intricate landscape. Makes you feel very small. I only saw a couple leaving the site when I arrive. Easy to be alone here… The lack of trails is what makes this so special. Explore what tickles your fancy. Get immersed in the landscape, its energy, its beauty. Not for folks who like everything done for them. It’s a TRUE WILDERNESS area, don’t expect a playground. Not for instant gratification. You must work at discovering what this amazing place has to offer. Too many folks just want everything spoon-fed to them without doing any of the work. That’s for places like Bryce, Arches, Zyon, with hordes of folks, sheep-like. Not here. You have silence, space, unknowns and must use your common sense and your brains to find treasures and enjoy them. Some folks want to mark trails so they can find their way back. If you do so, please undo those markings so others don’t have to see all the junk left behind. I unmarked many places to keep it as pristine and wild as possible. Find your way in and then out with GPS (it worked fine when I was here) and don’t leave traces behind. Many of these marks are akin to graffiti as they pile up, diverting attention from this mostly unspoiled environment. Please don’t walk on any of the formations. One of the arches is now in pieces thanks to folks climbing it. The many negative reviews of this place just show how little prepared people are. Don’t blame this amazing place for YOUR lack of preparation. This place is quite fragile, it’s a good thing not many people visit. It’s probably the only way to preserve it. Please leave it as pristine as possible for others to enjoy.
2. Farmington Museum
3. Salmon Ruins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 169 reviews
Reviewed By 189randallh
We took the all day tour of Chaco Canyon, which begins at the Salmon Ruins museum. Tori, our guide, is a bona fide archeologist, and Renaissance woman, who made us feel we were living in the community of Chaco Canyon nine hundred years ago. She drove us in a four-wheel-drive vehicle as she told us about what is known of the culture and history of the Chaco civilization that can be seen in the Salmon Ruins, and probably in Mesa Verde to the north. By the end of the one-hour ride to Chaco Canyon, I felt like I had completed a whole semester in an anthropology course for the area. Ask Tori questions! Just listening to Tori is worth the price of the tour. But, the actual tour of the ruins is even better. I can use guidebooks and try to imagine what I'm seeing, but the ruins of Chaco Canyon would be a challenge for me, who have never had a course in archeology. Tori's way of guiding us through the tour is unique: she invited us to imagine how the people who lived in the canyon, as well as visited from afar, might have lived, vibrantly, as we do. She provided understanding of the various theoretical approaches to the civilization, tailoring what she said to our level of knowledge. The next day, we had time to spend at the Salmon Ruins, which were far more meaningful after seeing Chaco. If you haven't visited either, I'd recommend spending an hour or so at the museum before taking the tour of the canyon, to get oriented. I hope to return, to take one of the other tours. The tours help support the work of the archeologists in the area, which is important, as the National Parks funding for archeology has been disappointing for many years now, and the work being done from the Salmon Ruins museum is valuable.
4. B-Square Ranch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By jm8421
We went to the electromechanical museum. The tour took two hours and was fantastic. If you are old enough to remember most of the stuff it is interesting, but if you aren't that old it is truly educational. There is a giant collection of old electronics, some huge machines, lots of old farm equipment,a steam engine, a tank, and a DC3. Even a few hours will only allow a brief introduction. You need to call in advance to make a reservation. 505-325-4275
5. Berg/Animas Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By RoadrunnerNM - Farmington, United States
I love the Berg Park/Animas River Trail here in Farmington. So does my wife and dog, GUS. Together, we walk this trail several times each week. We usually walk from the Veterans Memorial Park to the north end at Browning Parkway, and back again to Broadway on both sides of the river. This gives us about a 5 mile trek. We both love it and so does our dog. The trail is well maintained. Is cleaned by the city. And, kept in great condition. Good place to exercise. We walk this trail all year.
6. Three Rivers Brewery
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 188 reviews
Reviewed By johnlR905TB - Farmington, United States
Take out limited menu. Pick up at the 3RB pizza restaurant. Call ahead. Hamburgers are still delicious and will go back soon for Albuquerque Turkey.
