~ Top 10 Tourist Destinations in New Mexico, USA ~

[MysteRy]

Top 10 Tourist Destinations in New Mexico, USA

What a fascinating state to be in! New Mexico is a land of heat, deserts and cacti, canyons, UFOs, mesas, ruins and caves. This southern oasis boasts a landscape like no other. At times you will feel like you are on another planet. At other times you'll think people from other planets have been here. Man has been here for over 10,000 years and many of the places you'll visit on your top ten were formed more than 100,000 years ago. There is so much to see in this state ... here is just a taster of where to begin.


1. Bandelier National Monument   



11,000 years of human settlement is preserved at this amazing canyon. There are unique pueblos, cave dwellings and petroglyphs here, dotting the volcanic Frijoles canyon walls. In terms of prehistoric architecture and anthropology, Bandelier is unique. It's also rather beautiful, with the Rio Grande flowing between narrow canyons and the mountains soaring to 10,000 foot above sea level. Two walking paths are easy and take you past waterfalls and desert landscapes, plus to the ruins of course. Los Alamos is just twelve miles away.

[MysteRy]

2. Carlsbad Caverns National Park   



Beneath the cacti and desert shrub lies a magical underground world. You would never suspect it from above, but here in the Guadalupe Mountains is a series of show caves and chambers, one of which is over a kilometre long. There are over a hundred caves here, but the three main ones are open to the public with good paths and lighting. What's really nice is that you can explore at your own pace, entering through the natural cave opening, on self-guided tours. At sunset, the skies are filled with bats emerging from the cave entrances. Many species live here; with Mexican free-tailed bats the biggest population. Many people also come here to bird watch, with more than 300 different kinds including a huge number of cave swallows. Considering there are only 500 in the whole of New Mexico, Carlsbad Caves is something of a mecca for twitchers.

[MysteRy]

3. White Sands National Monument   



So far in New Mexico, we've had caves, canyons, volcanoes and ancient homes. Now, we have the most incredible inland sand dunes, made up of gypsum crystals: the largest such dunes in the world!  There are over 700 square kilometres here of white sands and they are incredibly rare, as well as beautiful. Because gypsum is dissolved in water, it rarely exists as sand. Rivers would normally carry the sands away. But here in the Tularosa basin, there are no rivers coming in and none going out. To be here is to be on what seems like a tropical coral beach, but without the sea. The contrast in colour between the sands, the sky and the plants that emerge is simply stunning.  You must come here for the unique experience. Take Highway 70 southwest from Alamogordo or come from Carlsbad Caverns on the scenic route US 82 which wends its way through the Sacramento Mountains.

[MysteRy]

4. Chaco Culture National Historical Park   



This national park, between Farmington and Albuquerque, in a remote and wild canyon, has the highest concentration of 1,000 year old pueblos in the USA. Chaco Canyon was a very important centre for the ancient peoples who lived here between 950 and 1150 AD. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is fascinating to visit. These houses and places of worship were enormous. One, Pueblo Bonito, covers two acres, was four floors high and had over 650 rooms. You will be blown away by the scale and the longevity ... the sheer achievement of ancient man before the turn of the first millennium. There is simply nothing else like this north of Mexico. Take in wall art from a thousand years ago. Gaze on astronomical charts. The park is open every day from dawn until dusk.

[MysteRy]

5. Navajo Nation   



The Native American Navajo people have over 70,000 square kilometres of land set aside, within their own jurisdiction, in the north of New Mexico, extending into Arizona and Utah. This is, by a long way, the biggest area given to the Native Americans in the USA. There are some 300,000 Navajo people with their own language, government, traditions, president and a history here for thousands of years. The area of the Navajo Nation is often called the Four Corners, as it is where the four states meet (see above). Coming here not only allows the visitor to see how the original people of the States have lived for thousands of years, but also to take in some breathtaking natural scenery. Chaco (see above) is here, along with lakes and lush valleys, canyons and red deserts. There is no way to understand New Mexico without immersing yourself in the Navajo Nation so make sure it's on your travel agenda.

[MysteRy]

6. Santa Fe   



The LA Times declared Santa Fe as THE place to visit in 2012. It's an arty city with traditional and beautiful adobe buildings; a superb climate and great dining and accommodation. The Spanish, exotic influence is absolutely everywhere in Santa Fe, especially in its churches and cathedrals. The low-rise desert city is just an hour north of Albuquerque on I25. This is the state capital and its also the oldest capital in the USA. There are fourteen museums here commemorating everything from Spanish Colonial to contemporary arts, Native Americans to the governors. Time your visit right and you can enjoy rodeo or a fiesta, or the strange rite of the Burning of Zozobra - a giant effigy, a bogeyman, who has been burnt by the residents since the early 1700s. But to be honest, it's always party time in Santa Fe.

[MysteRy]

7. Four Corners Monument   



New Mexico meets Arizona, Utah and Colorado at a place named Four Corners. This is the only place that is jointly owned by four states of the Union, and you can actually have your limbs in four different states at one time! A small bronze plaque marks the exact point and people come here to jump or step between the different states. This is the Navajo Nation, rich in history  (see below) and you'll find out how remote this unique place is when you visit. Come forty miles south from Cortez in Colorado on highway 160.

[MysteRy]

8. Roswell   



No X-Files fan, UFO spotter or conspiracy theorist can visit the state without coming to Roswell, New Mexico. No matter what the true facts of the case are, some sort of flying disk did crash near here in the summer of 1947. Though the ranch at the centre of the controversy is actually nearer Corona, it is Roswell that has really benefited from the massive influx of visitors, whether terrestrial or extra! There is a massive festival each year and a must-stop is at the UFO Museum and Research Centre. But you'll also be delighted by this historic neighbourhood with fascinating old buildings. Then, for recreation you can play the Bottomless Lake. Find a warm welcome in Roswell, on Route 285 in the southeast of the state, about 200 miles southeast of Albuquerque.

[MysteRy]

9. El Malpais National Monument   



This volcanic landscape is made up of caves, cinder cones, lava flows, shield volcanoes and the overall effect is of an unearthly realm. The Spanish called it the badlands, but we think this national monument is more than good. It is surreal to walk across lava fields beneath sandstone cliffs, taking in natural arches and craters. You can explore lava tubes below the earth's surface that are up to 115,000 years old. Albuquerque is just over 70 miles to the west and the Monument is accessed via Interstate 40 south of the town of Grants. Again, it is open year round, free of charge.

[MysteRy]

10. Valles Caldera   



Formerly a private ranch, this volcanic caldera - or now extinct and collapsed crater -  became a national preserve in 2000. Here in the Jemez Mountains, 89,000 acres of land is available to all. The land itself is impressive, dotted with domes from previous eruptions and including the Redondo Peak which stands at over 11,200 feet high. But this is a quiet, friendly park with lots of outdoor recreation opportunities. You can hike and horse ride here in peace and solitude and none of the tourist tat you might expect. Valles Caldera prides itself on being different, keeping the numbers who take part in the many different activities low. All the family can learn about the history and the formation of this volcanic land, also fish, spot wildlife including elk and wild turkey and - in the winter - enjoy skiing, sleigh rides and snowshoeing.


New Mexico is one of the most intriguing and stunning states of the south, rich in mystery, history and natural beauty. With ready, quick access from Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado and Utah ... as well as the borders of Mexico ... it's definitely one to put on the list for a great family vacation.