New Mexico--The Land of Enchantment

Lots of culture here in Santa Fe. A walking tour of the city is like a stroll through another time. A lot of history (and a lot of huffing and puffing--it's at 7000ft above sea level, so the altitude may give you breathing problems!). The buildings all appear to be the "pueblo" adobe style--which adds to the exoticness of the experience. Along the sidewalk of the Palace of the Governors--facing the Santa Fe Town Plaza, local Native American artisans display and sell their handicrafts. Beautiful turquoise and silver jewelry. Pottery and sculptures. Wood carvings. Paintings. Cultural expressions of the life in New Mexico.





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Many of the restaurants here feature not only authentic New Mexican food (a cultural blending of Texan, Native American, Mexican cuisines), but also provide the wonderful atmosphere to go along with it.. In the cooler months, many of the restaurants have fireplaces blazing with cozy and delicately scented pinon fires--which add to the warmth and wonderful aromas of the food and experience.

Also, you must experience the Santa Fe Opera, and maybe some demonstrations of flamenco and the accompanying guitar, or the many galleries and museums in the town.

Santa Fe is celebrating its 400th Anniversary this year!

Yum.

Hatch Chile!
One thing you should be aware of--in New Mexico, the RED salsa and sauce is MILD (not hot by New Mexico standards but still mighty hot by non-New Mexico standards!) and the GREEN salsa and sauce is NUCLEAR (meaning hot enough to make an ice-berg sweat!). No matter which you go for, the Hatch chile has a unique flavor that is to die for!

Verdolagas!

Chop these garden (or desert, for that matter) goodies up and mix 'em in with the chile when you make your burritos and enchiladas! Excellent meal with again, a unique New Mexico flavor! If you are in Albuquerque (or most of any of the other cities and towns), on Farmers' Market Day you can usually find pickup truck loads of verdolagas for sale--either by the basket or the bundle. This is a good way to start with this savory herb (by the bunch, that is).

Sopapillas!

You will usually get the tortilla chips and salsas before your meal, but the ultimate in New Mexico dining are the fresh and hot sopapillas that come with a bottle of honey after your meal.
Navajo Fry Bread

For an authentic taste of New Mexico culture, try some Navajo Fry Bread!

The wide variety of burritos, enchiladas, tostadas, empenadas, chile rellenos, menudo, posole, and other dishes make New Mexico dining an adventure of its own!

This largest city of New Mexico is a cosmopolitan mix of culture, technology, and energy! From the heights of the city near the base of the Sandia Mountains (and Tijeras Canyon heading east) to the edge of the Rio Grande, the city (called the "Duke City" because it was named after the Spanish Duke of Alburquerque) covers nearly 180 square miles at the intersection of highways I-40 and I-25. 

For technology, Albuquerque is the home of Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia Laboratories, and the University of New Mexico. Old Town Albuquerque resembles Santa Fe in many ways--from the old cental plaza (where again native artisans display and sell their handicrrafts) and the old building styles that resemble pueblo dwellings.  Also in downtown Albuquerque are the Rio Grand Zoo and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History--both are fantastic places to take kiddos for a tour. 

At the edge of the river (just north of Old Town Albuquerque) is the Rio Grande Nature Center--a wonderful place to take the kids for a walk--and perhaps see beavers, lizards, local birds, and other critters from a well-maintained path through the wooded area next to the Rio Grande.

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If you have time, be sure to take the Tramway from the base of the Sandia Mountains to the top of the Sandia Peak.  The Tramway is the world's longest. The view of the city and the river and mesa beyond is spectacular--whether you go there during the day or for an evening dinner at the restaurant at the top of the Tram. (On the other side of the mountain is a nice ski resort as well for keeping busy during the winter snow season!)

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In October, Albuquerque is the home of the world famous International Balloon Fiesta. It's truly awesome to see the "mass ascension"--hundreds of balloons all rising into the air at one time. That evening, you can see them all glowing like "luminarias"--another chance to get some great photos, if you are a photography bug.

You can see more about Albuquerque here!.

Alamogordo is the county seat of Otero County and has a bit of mistaken history that claims that it was the site of the first atomic bomb test. Well, in a way, that might be somewhat true--but it was the Alamogordo Air Test Range and the actual test site ("Trinity Site") was closer to Socorro and Carrizozo in the "Jornada Del Muerte" (aka "Journey of Death") valley than to Alamogordo. 

Alamogordo, however, is the home of the International Space Hall of Fame and home to many who work at Holloman Air Force Base, which is about 15 miles south of town. And... a little further southwest of Holloman Air Force Base is White Sands National Monument - a unique desert sand dune environment that features pure-white dunes of gypsum sand - which resembles huge piles of sugar or salt.

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In the canyons of the Sacramento Mountains to the east of the city, the Apache Chief Geronimo held off U.S. Calvary troops until he finally surrendered. 

The Alamogordo Historical Museum and Zoo at the north end of White Sands Blvd as you head south into town have a lot of displays and exhibits and local wildlife for you to see and learn more about the area.

As you can see, there are many things you can do in Alamogordo. Have you scheduled your trip for this destination yet?

Billboard, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico Art Print
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On the drive from Alamogordo to Las Cruces, you will pass by White Sands National Monument before reaching White Sands, NM--home base of White Sands Missile Range.  The White Sands National Monument has a visitor center and museum where you can see interesting exhibits about the peculiar wildlife that live in the brilliant white gypsum dunes and see remnants of some of the history of the area as well.  Sometimes this road is closed off by a temporary road-block when White Sands Missile Range is test firing a missile. The WSMR main base is at the base of the jagged desert Oregon Mountains. This was the main base that handled the landing of NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia STS-3 at its remote runway in March 1982. You drive over a pass through the Oregons on the way to Las Cruces, which is nestled against the southwestern side of the mountains.

In addition to New Mexico State University main campus, Las Cruces is also the home of the Physical Science Laboratory.

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• State Bird--Roadrunner






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• State Fish--Cutthroat Trout


• State Gem--Turquoise


• State Flower--Yucca




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• State Tree--Pinon Pine


• State Vegetable--Chile, Pinto Bean


• State Mammal--Black Bear

On the road from Taos to Eagle Nest Lake and Angel Fire Ski Resort, Red River features jeep rides from the valley floor to the some of the aspen-covered peaks. One of the most beautiful times to do this is in the fall when the aspens and maples are showing their gold and red colors. The air is crisp and the fragrance of pinon fires wafts through the breeze. By the time you get back to the lodge, you will want to get a deep cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast burrito filled with New Mexico's famous Hatch chile!

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One of the most memorable things you can do here is to enjoy a savory New Mexico-style breakfast burrito at a restaurant facing the town plaza while viewing the fall colors!  Of course, there is the attraction of seeing Taos Pueblo--still inhabited by Native Americans of the Taos tribe--this is a beautiful site full of wonder. The mountains in the background frequently display snow well into May.  The ski resort in the Taos mountains is also a fantastic experience.  You can see Kit Carson's house in Taos, as well as explore a multitude of galleries featuring local painters, jewelers, sculpters, photographers, potters, and leather-workers.

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New Mexico has more than 120 named mountain peaks that exceed 10,000 feet altitude including the following:

• Wheeler Peak--Taos County, 13,161 ft


• Truchas Peak--Rio Arriba County, 13,102 ft


• Big Costilla Peak--Taos County, 12,739 ft


• Latir Peak--Taos County, 12,723 ft


• Santa Fe Baldy--Santa Fe County, 12,622 ft


• Baldy Peak--Colfax County, 12,441 ft


• Lake Peak--Santa Fe County, 12,409 ft


• Sierra Blanca--Otero County, 11,973 ft


• Elk Mountain--San Miguel County, 11,661 ft

In southern New Mexico, Ruidoso is a mountain resort community that has a magnificent view of Sierra Blanca--a mountain considered sacred to the Mescalero Apache Indian Tribe that makes the surrounding area their home. The tribe maintains and runs the Inn of the Mountain Gods resort in this beautiful area of the state.

The Deming Duck Race is an interesting claim to fame. It puts Deming on the map, so it can't be all bad, eh?

Hot Springs, New Mexico, got its new name Truth or Consequences after it sold the rights to use the name to raise funds for the city. You can read more about it on its website.

As you leave Santa Fe heading up I-25 toward Colorado, you'll pass by Las Vegas. Las Vegas, New Mexico, that is. Lots of quaint shopping areas and chances to see wildlife in the surrounding wilderness areas.

Cuba--Yup, There's Cuba In New Mexico.

Although the population of Cuba, New Mexico, isn't large, you can still find things to do and see there!

Cloudcroft--The Highest Golf Course in the Continental U.S.

In addition to the highest golf course in the Continental U.S., Cloudcroft features ghost hunting in one of the local haunted lodges, and get some great apples during the fall. The Ski Resort there is great for powder snow as well!

Carrizozo--Near the Ancient Volcanic Lava Flow--The Badlands or "Malpais"

The town of Carrizozo might not be big on a map, but it has a lot to offer for interesting things to see and do! Some of these attractions include the Valley of Fires lava flow (the "Malpais"), Three Rivers Petroglyph site, the ghost town of White Oaks, and the Lincoln National Forest and Wilderness areas.

Tularosa--Between Carrizozo and Alamogordo.... is Tularosa!

About 14 miles north of Alamogordo and about 50 some miles before reaching Carrizozo, is the town of Tularosa. Tularosa is a sleepy little town of about 6000 people. Some interesting shops and images here. Central to the town is an old adobe church--center of many of the town's happenings--and which provides for many nice photography opportunities.

Mesilla--Lots of History Here... Billy the Kid Stopped by Here on a Fateful Day

Like most towns and cities of New Mexico, Mesilla has a diverse population of about 2200 residents (most from descended from the original settlers of the area) with the integration of Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-American cultures. Mesilla is the site of the trial of Billy the Kid, and played a part during the American Civil War.

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Roswell! Are you an Alien? Most likely it doesn't matter....

Aliens may or may not have landed here, but it still makes Roswell an interesting place to visit (whether from this planet or from some other planet!).

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Carlsbad--Home of the famous Caverns!

On the Pecos river and home of the famous Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad is on the Southeastern Side of New Mexico. If you visit here, you must definitely visit the zoo and the caverns!

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