Phaedra Haywood

Saturday is the Fourth of July. So go ahead, celebrate your independence from royal rule. Shoot one off in honor of the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. There are some fireworks restrictions, of course, but thanks to recent rains they aren't as tight as they were in drier years.

Opening

Puye Cliffs was scheduled to re-open in mid-May. Hours will be 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Sunday. Three different tours will be available at different prices, with visitors selecting from options that include everything to just the buildings and photo opportunities to a trek to the top mesa ruins. Call 505-901-0681 for more information.

To get to Puye Cliffs, take U.S. 285/U.S. 84 north, turn off on N.M. 502 to Los Alamos, turn right on N.M. 30 north to Española. Watch for the Valero Gas Station on the lefthand side of the road. It's the Puye Cliffs welcome center, where you will purchase tickets and get directions to the cliff dwellings. The Puye Cliffs visitor center is seven mil...