Words by Dennis Begin
New Mexico is called the ‘Land of Enchantment,’ captivating tourists with its multi-cultural society. One of the first Spanish explorers, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, looking for the Seven Cities of Cibola (Gold) in 1540, was not enchanted with Nuevo Mexico and left a legacy of failure and brutality. The land Coronado explored would become part of the Imperial Spanish Viceroyalty of Nuevo Spain in 1598, part of Mexico in 1821 and finally American territory in 1848. New Mexico joined the union in 1912 and then evolved into a unique southwest culture combining Hispanic, Native Indians and Anglo Americans traditions. For example, the modern New Mexico flag is the Zia Indian symbol for the sun and the four seasons.
To visit New Mexico, plan on spending at least one month. Limited to December, our biggest fear was the weather, with temperatures averaging between -2 to 8 degrees C or 27 to 46 degrees F. December proved to be sunny during the day but very cold at night. To visit most of the state, we found that by staying in three RV Parks and making day trips, we could cover most of the state.
What does New Mexico offer Snowbirds?
Northern New Mexico
Albuquerque [ABQ]
The Stagecoach Stop RV Park in Rio Rancho, 24 km (15 mi) north of Albuquerque is highly recommended because the park is winterized for winter RVing.
ABQ is the largest city in New Mexico with 900,000 people residing in the metropolitan area. The city straddles the Rio Grande River with the Sandia Mountains to the east. Start your visit in Old Town or La Placita ([Little Plaza), established in 1706. The Little Plaza originally was a presidio or military fort and still features the San Felipa de Neri Church, as well as plenty of unique shops, restaurants, and boutiques.
Dennis Begin
City of Albuquerque and Rio Grande River.
A modern historical attraction in ABQ is Route 66. This famous highway ran through Nob Hill and Central Avenue before heading west. The street is lined with 1950’s hotels/motels, gas stations, diners and brightly colored neon signs. Some of the more famous buildings include El Vado Motel, Jones Motor Company (Kellys) and the KiMo Theatre. Dining at the original 66 Diner is like stepping back in time.
Dennis Begin
66 Diner on Route 66.
Albuquerque has many fine museums, including the Museum of Natural History and Science, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and the Albuquerque Museum.
For a bird's eye view of Albuquerque, take the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway. It is a fifteen-minute ride to the top of the Sandia Mountains at over 10,000 feet.
Santa Fe (Holy Faith)
Located 100 km (60 mi) north of Albuquerque, Santa Fe is the capital of the state with the Legislature called The Roundhouse. Founded in 1610 and combining Spanish and American control, the city claims to be the ‘Oldest Capital in the United States’. This small city of 70,000 is also called ‘The Creative City,’ being the centre of southwest art. It is especially known for the desert paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe. There are 275 art galleries in the city with 70 galleries found along Canyon Road, where tourists can find artwork catering to all genres. There are also fourteen major museums spread out from Central Plaza to Museum Hill. If you are an aficionado of the arts, Santa Fe is a must-visit.
Dennis Begin
New Mexico State Legislature in Santa Fe is called The Roundhouse. Oldest Capital in the United States.
Also located near the Central Plaza is the Loretto Chapel, the site of a possible miracle in 1878. When the Sisters of Loretto (Light) hired a carpenter, he produced a 23.5-foot spiral staircase without any central support. The story of the mysterious carpenter, how the staircase was built, the type of wood used and then the disappearance of the carpenter, is an intriguing mystery or a possible miracle.
Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, NM
Spiral Staircase in Loretto Chapel
Los Alamos and Trinity Site
Los Alamos is 55 km (35 mi) northwest of Santa Fe. It is a little town with a huge significance — it was where the first atomic bomb was created by scientist, Dr. Robert Oppenheimer. The atomic bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man, were used in 1945 to end the Pacific War with Japan. The Bradbury Nuclear Museum deals with the history of the Manhattan Project.
On July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb (The Gadget) was successfully tested at Trinity, located in the White Sands Missile Range, 203 km (126 mi) southeast of Socorro. Replicas of the three atomic bombs are found in the Albuquerque Museum of Nuclear Science and History.
Dennis Begin
Replica of atomic bombs, Little Man and Fat Boy. In Museum of Nuclear Science and History, Albuquerque.
Central New Mexico
Roswell
Select from either the Town and Country RV Park or the Trailer Village RV Park.
This small city is associated with UFOs or Unidentified Flying Objects and is ‘The Alien Capital of the World’. In July 1947, a surveillance balloon from Operation Mongul crashed near Roswell. The US Army identified the debris as a ‘flying disk' and later a weather balloon. Rumours quickly circulated about a crashed alien flying saucer, little green men and a government cover-up. Despite federal government denials, the world has become fascinated by UFOs and extraterrestrials, as “…the truth is out there”.
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Dennis Begin
UFO Museum in Roswell, NM.
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Dennis Begin
McDonald's Restaurant. UFO Theme. Roswell, NM
By the mid-sixties, Roswell needed to revitalize the downtown core and boost the local economy. Many storefronts adopted the UFO theme with even McDonald’s designing their restaurant to look like an oval space ship. Roswell remains a mecca of Ufology with the International UFO Museum and Research Center being a major tourist attraction.
Patricia Begin
Dennis Begin and Little Green Men in Roswell, NM.
Very Large Array (VLA)
The VLA is 80 km (50 mi) west of Socorro on the Plains of Agustin. It is home to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), involving 27 large radio telescopes that listen for life deep in space. If that sounds like a science fiction movie, there is a movie is called Contact, starring Jodie Foster and Mathew McConaughey.
Jack Lougee
Very Large Array [VLA] near Socorro, NM
Southern New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns
Located in southeast New Mexico, the Carlsbad Caverns are found in the porous limestone reef of the Guadalupe Mountains and Chihuahuan Desert. The caverns include Lechuguilla Cave, the deepest limestone cave in the nation, as well as the largest single underground chamber called ‘The Big Room’. The Big Room is 255 feet high, 625 feet wide and 3,800 feet long (about 12 football fields). Formed over four million years, the caves are a wonderland of stalactites and stalagmite, with a unique white colour. One of the more famous shapes created by water and calcite from the limestone is called The Klansman.
Las Cruces - City of Crosses
For RV accommodations, select from Sunny Acres RV Park, Las Cruces KOA, and Hacienda RV Resort, but check for amenities and if they can accommodate a big rig.
Las Cruces is situated between the Organ Mountains to the east and Rio Grande to the west, providing numerous recreational activities. Start with a visit to the Visitor Center and learn the history behind the three crosses. Tour the Alameda Depot Historic District and the Mesquite Street Original Town Site, with a visit to the Old Santa Fe Railroad Depot. Other tourist sites include the New Mexico State University, the Farm and Ranch Museum and Fort Selden, the original home of the U.S. Buffalo Soldiers. If you like hiking and nature, try the Dripping Springs Natural Area and the Soledad Canyon. It is, however, the historic Mesilla Plaza that is the major attraction, starting with the San Albino Church, numerous art galleries, shopping, ties to the outlaw Billy the Kid and the first-class La Posta Restaurant.
Dennis Begin
Old Mesilla Plaza, Las Cruces, NM.
El Paso, Texas and Mexico
Since Texas is only 97 km (60 mi) south of Las Cruces and the word Texas means ‘friendly’, it is worth a visit. El Paso or ‘Pass of the North’ is a US border city, famous for South El Paso Street, the Hotel Camino Real and the Sun Bowl (football). Juarez, Mexico, is just across the US border along with the beautiful Our Lady of Guadalupe Church/Mission. El Paso has many attractions, including The Mission Trail, the Wyler Aerial Tramway to the top of Ranger Peak and the US Border Patrol Museum. No visit to El Paso would be complete without a visit to Rosa’s Cantina, made famous by Marty Robbin’s song, ‘El Paso’, or a scenic drive up Franklin Mountain, with a view of the city at night.
There is a great deal to see in New Mexico and a little bit of Texas. Other interesting New Mexico sites include Chaco Canyon, Taos Pueblo, Lincoln and Fort Sumner, the Sky City (Acoma), White Sands National Monument and the mining town of Silver City.