Trinidad Holiday Inn
During our 2009 Southwest sojourn you’ll see lots of lodging reviews at members of the InterContinental Hotel Group. Over the pass few years we’ve become rather fond of the Holiday Inn Express brand. Generally finding a clean, comfortable stay at a fair price and consistency of quality from one location to another. Reservations through their website are easy to make and the lowest Internet price available. I have found calling the hotel direct sometimes gets a better rate.
I’ve found Priority Club membership a rewarding program – easy to earn and redeem points. On this trip we’re using points for six nights and earning bonus points by accumulating eight or more additional nights. Please follow along as I blog brief reviews of each facility we use.
The Trinidad, Colorado Holiday Inn is located at exit 11 on Interstate 25 (11 miles north of the Colorado/New Mexico border) . The three-story Holiday Inn is a totally new facility that opened in 2008. We made this reservation only a few hours before leaving home. The king room was comfortably furnished with night stands on both sides of the bed, easy chair with ottoman, flat-screen television, desk and wireless Internet that worked. Bathroom was large with everything functioning. All was new and clean.
The swimming pool and fitness center remain open until midnight. The hotel is designed so that these activity areas are away from guest rooms. A full service restaurant and bar is on site. On check-in we received a $5 coupon good towards breakfast in the restaurant.
The next time we need a room in the Trinidad/Raton area we’ll happily stay at the Trinidad Holiday Inn.
I’m not a truck stop aficionado but Russell’s Truck Stop four miles north of Springer, New Mexico merits a visit. Actually I believe the more correct term is Travel Center. A few days before our trip the March issue of New Mexico magazine arrived with a feature on Springer. An interior picture of Russell’s caught my eye and I vowed to stop on our way south. The magazine didn’t identify exactly where to find Russell’s, we went sailing by at 75 mph, had to go four miles to the next exit and head back north.
A clerk tells me that the owner of Russell’s started with just a couple of old cars but now has bout 35, mostly convertibles and mostly from the 50s. She says he’s building another truck stop on I-40 near the New Mexico / Texas border housing about two dozen of his collection. Almost as much fun as the convertibles is the row of peddle cars and firetrucks from the same era.
We note the clientele as almost an equal mix of local rangers solving the world’s problems over coffee, over-the-road drivers and travelers. After breakfast Bob browses the trucker supplies while I take pictures of rhinestone studded purses, and Coke and Betty Boop memorabilia. In addition to the restaurant there’s also a Subway deli and an ice cream counter all under the same roof. I’m impressed with the fresh flower bouquets in the Ladies restroom.
Tourists and truckers will find all the amenities they expect from a good travel center plus a bit of nostalgia at the I-25 exit 419 in Northern New Mexico. Don’t fly by, stop for a visit to Russell’s.
We’re just at the end of the President’s Day holiday but I think it’s time to plan for next weekend. The gumbo starts cooking at 8am, February 21, 2009 in Manitou Springs. After the judges complete their tasting at 10:45 the public digs in – 2 tastings for a dollar. Competition is limited to 18 entries; winners receive cash prizes & trophies. Head to Soda Springs Park for a mumbo jumbo gumbo splurge.
Carnivale Parade sets off through downtown Manitou at 1pm. I’ve never attended this event but this is the same community that brings us Coffin Races in October and the Great Fruitcake Toss in January. I’m pretty sure they know how to have a good time with gumbo and carnivale.
I want to like the 
west Colorado Travel Region.
If you’re anywhere near a 
Where To Go - Travel USA 