Hacienda Vargas Inn Bed & Breakfast
A Historic Place to Stay on El Camino Real in Algodones, New Mexico
Nov 6, 2008
Happily placed halfway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico, along El Camino Real (once part of the historic Route 66), Hacienda Vargas Bed & Breakfast Inn is a restful haven and an ideal spot for those who want to experience the historic Southwest.
Historic El Camino Real
Steeped in a rich history, El Camino Real is one of the oldest routes in the United States, its travelers—Spanish explorers, soldiers, farmers—dating as far back as the 1500s. Moreover, this fabled thoroughfare adds to the romantic charm of Algodones' Hacienda Vargas Inn, which was once used as a stage coach stop and later as a train station. Even those who could care less about New Mexico's history cannot help but wonder about the other travelers who stayed beneath the Inn’s massive beamed ceiling, walked the wide tiled hallways, or took refuge in the comfortable adobe rooms.
The Updated Accomodations
Today, travelers can stay in one of the seven rooms available (prices range from $89-$189). Each room, unique in its size and décor, has a Kiva fireplace and a private bath (jacuzzi tubs in some; antique claw foot, perfect-for-soaking tubs in others). Most rooms also have external access to the courtyard garden which is host to beautiful blooming perennials and shaded by a 200-year-old tree. The inn-keepers’ dog will be happy to escort visitors around the picturesque grounds or tempt them with a game of fetch.
Just beyond the courtyard are train tracks that guests might wonder about, until 11 pm or so when a train clacks by and answers the question of whether or not the tracks are still in use. The inn also boasts a small library where guests can curl up by the oversized fireplace and read more about the Inn’s historic locale or non-historians can pick up a tattered copy of a Nora Roberts or John Grisham novel.
The Morning's Menu
And while the accommodations strike the perfect balance between Old World history and modern day convenience, the “bed” just might be out-shown by the “breakfast.” Guests should be sure to ask owners Cynthia and Richard to make their world class pumpkin and roasted pinion pancakes part of the morning menu.
For those who abhor the gourd, the hosts also whip up piping hot muffins, sizzling hash browns and eggs, as well as offer freshly squeezed orange juice, in-season fruits, coffee, and an elaborate collection of teas. Anyone intimidated by staying at a bed & breakfast for fear of community bathrooms or meddling hosts should be confident to trek off the beaten path and stay at Hacienda Vargas for a night…or two…or three. You get the idea.
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