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NEW MEXICO TRAVEL GUIDE

entrance to Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to New Mexico! Hopefully this page and its information helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to New Mexico.

Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.

Author/Contributor: Greg Parsons

 OVERVIEW


The New Mexico landscape is highly varied, with scenery ranging from forested mountains to lonely deserts. In northern New Mexico, top-rated attractions can be found just about everywhere, including museums, historical sites, nature parks, and ski areas. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are also nearby, and they themselves are only about an hour apart about from each other. The highlights of central New Mexico include several excellent national monuments and the alien-obsessed town of Roswell. Southern New Mexico has one of the best caves in the country (Carlsbad Caverns) and the largest white gypsum sand dunes in the world (White Sands National Park).

 TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN NEW MEXICO


Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in New Mexico? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in New Mexico, in no particular order:

Take a guided or self-guided cave tour at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Walk or sand-surf on the gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park
Shop and dine in beautiful Santa Fe
Attend the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Visit Taos, preferably in winter to hit the slopes at Taos Ski Valley
Enter some ancient ruins at Bandelier National Monument
Grab some delicious pistachios at McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch in Alamogordo
Take the Sandia Peak Tramway up to scenic views of Albuquerque
Hop aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Drive the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, a 105-mile scenic drive between Santa Fe and Taos

If I could select only one place to visit in New Mexico, I would choose Santa Fe. I would encourage you to stay at least 4-5 nights there to explore the city and surrounding areas (including driving to Taos and back).

For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.

 5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN NEW MEXICO


Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in New Mexico. I believe each of these attractions should be on your New Mexico bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:

Northwestern New Mexico (including Farmington)
Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area - geological wonders; off-trail hiking
Aztec Ruins National Monument, Aztec - impressive ancient ruins and reconstructed kivas
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness / Bisti Badlands - some of the most fascinating "hoodoos" in the U.S.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park - one of the premier ancient ruins sites in the Southwest
Four Corners Monument - the only spot in the U.S. where four states border each other; note - not everyone will appreciate the novelty of this


Northcentral / Northeastern New Mexico (including Chama, Cimarron, Raton, Red River, and Taos)
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama - one of the premier scenic railroad trips in the U.S.
Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu - educational and retreat center with beautiful scenery and hiking trails
High Road to Taos Scenic Byway - 105-mile scenic drive from Santa Fe to Taos (2 1/2 hours one way with no stops)
Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron - famous Boy Scouts of America property; must be involved in organization to experience
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, El Prado - second highest bridge on the U.S. highway system; scenic views; hiking trails
Taos - an artsy mountain town with excellent skiing/snowboarding
Taos Pueblo, Taos - visit ancient pueblo belonging to a Taos-speaking (Tiwa) Native American tribe of Puebloan people
Taos Ski Valley - #1 ski & snowboard resort in NM; 110 trails; 3,281ft vertical drop; 12,481ft summit
Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, Angel Fire - stunning memorial placed in a beautiful location
Wheeler Peak / Wheeler Peak Wilderness - great hiking & views on the highpoint of NM
Whitewater rafting on the Rio Chama River - day trip or overnight whitewater rafting adventures
Whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande River - day trip or overnight whitewater rafting adventures


Santa Fe & surrounding area
Bandelier National Monument - impressive ancient ruins (some of which you can enter); some hiking trails have fun giant ladders to ascend
Canyon Road, Santa Fe - dozens of art galleries in one of the best small cities in the U.S.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe - Roman Catholic cathedral; includes the oldest Madonna statue in North America
Ethyl the Whale, Santa Fe - 82-foot-long, life-sized sculpture of a blue whale made out of recycled plastic
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe - learn about the artistic legacy of one of the U.S.'s most famous artists
Jemez Hot Springs, Jemez Springs - soak in natural outdoor mineral water pools
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument - unique geologic features that look like tents; between Santa Fe and Albuquerque
Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe - former Roman Catholic church; known for its helix-shaped spiral staircase
Meow Wolf, Santa Fe - interactive and immersive art installation project; a visual extravaganza
Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe - world's largest traditional folk art museum
New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe - well-regarded history museum
Pecos National Historical Park - archaeological sites/ruins; hiking trails
Puye Cliff Dwellings, Los Alamos - remarkable cliff dwellings & ruins
Origami in the Garden, Los Cerrillos - art installation project
Santa Fe / Santa Fe Plaza - hub of one of the U.S.'s best small cities; Spanish-American colonial architecture
Santa Fe Opera House, Santa Fe- one of the most famous operas in the U.S.


Albuquerque & surrounding area
Albuquerque Biological Park, Albuquerque - several different family-friendly attractions, including a zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (event), Albuquerque - the premier hot air ballooning event in the world; typically held in early Oct
Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, Albuquerque - museum focused on the history, science, and art of ballooning
Explora Science Center & Children's Museum, Albuquerque - excellent, hands-on science center
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque - museum featuring Pueblo Indian culture, history, and art
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Albuquerque - national repository of nuclear science information
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, Albuquerque - best natural history and science museum in NM
Petroglyph National Monument - one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America; literally 1000s of petroglyphs can be found
Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque - one of the top 10 aerial tramways in the U.S.
Unser Racing Museum, Albuquerque - one of the best racing-focused museums in the U.S.


Central New Mexico
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - one of the finest birding sites in the southwest; watch migration of sandhill cranes in the fall
El Malpais National Monument - volcanic landscapes; lava flows; lava tubes / lava tube caving; natural arch; hiking; scenic driving
El Morro National Monument - interesting sandstone formations & petroglyphs
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - outstanding cliff dwellings
Riverbend Hot Springs, Truth or Consequences - one of the finest hot springs resorts in the southwest
Roswell - a city obsessed with UFOs and aliens; includes world's only UFO-themed McDonald's restaurant; includes a UFO museum
Sky City Cultural Center / Acoma Pueblo - historic buildings & Native American culture exhibits
Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, Tularosa - one of the best petroglyph sites in the Southwest
Very Large Array, Socorro - enormous radio telescopes; fantastic photo opp


Southern New Mexico
Bat flight at Carlsbad Caverns National Park - one of the most amazing wildlife events in the U.S.; bats typically fly from late May through Oct
Carlsbad Caverns National Park - amazing natural cave; self & guided tours available
City of Rocks State Park - impressive geology/rock formations and has a great campground in a fantastic setting
White Sands Missile Range Museum, White Sands Missile Range - indoor and outdoor missile museum
White Sands National Park - absolutely beautiful white dunes (made of gypsum); several short hiking trails and one long one; bring a sled!
World's Largest Pistachio / McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch, Alamogordo - best place in the U.S. to see and buy pistachios; roadside attraction


Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in New Mexico? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.

For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:  AZ  |  CO  |  OK  |  TX  |  UT

 BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN NEW MEXICO


These towns and cities in New Mexico are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:

Albuquerque - a large city with excellent museums and access to many nearby national forests and mountains; not far from Santa Fe; home of the (amazing) Albuquerque International Baloon Fiesta (typically held in October)
Roswell - a medium-sized city famous for its International UFO Museum & Research Center and other UFO/alien-focused attractions
Santa Fe - a medium-sized city with lovely adobe architecture, baroque churches, and art galleries; this is one of the U.S.'s oldest cities; strong Native American culture and not far from Albuquerque
Taos - a small town known for its art galleries, boutique shops, and its famous skiing/snowboarding resort; strong Native American culture
Truth or Consequences - a small town with a hippy/art culture, hot springs, wellness tourism, and historic buildings

My favorite city in New Mexico is Santa Fe - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 nights there to explore the city and surrounding areas (including day trips to Taos and Albuquerque)

My favorite town in New Mexico is Taos - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there to explore the town and surrounding areas

If you like adobe architecture, visit Santa Fe.
If you like aliens/UFO history, visit Roswell.
If you like art galleries, visit Santa Fe.
If you like hiking, visit Albuquerque, Santa Fe, or Taos.
If you like hot springs, visit Jemez Springs or Truth or Consequences.
If you like museums, visit Albuquerque or Santa Fe.
If you like pistachios, visit Alamogordo.

If you want to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, stay in or near Carlsbad.
If you want to visit White Sands National Park, stay in or near Alamogordo.

Albuquerque has many great attractions, but overall the city is not as attractive as Santa Fe. The two cities are about one hour apart from each other.

Santa Fe is one of the finest small cities in the U.S.. The arts, museum, and dining scene is fantastic. There is also an amazing amount of great hiking nearby, including trails in some exceptional national forests and national monuments. You can also take a day trip to Taos and back on one of the most scenic drives in New Mexico, the "High Road to Taos". If you haven't visited Santa Fe, I would spend at least 4-5 nights there.

Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.

 WHAT IS NEW MEXICO FAMOUS FOR?


Here are some things that New Mexico is famous or well known for:

adobe dwellings/architecture
atomic bomb development / testing
Breaking Bad TV filming locations
chili peppers
cliff dwellings
hot air balloons / hot air ballooning
hot springs
national monuments
Native American culture & heritage
petroglyphs
Pueblo historical sites
satellites
southwestern art
UFO sightings/aliens
white sand / gypsum sand dunes

Click here if you'd like to learn what other U.S. states are famous for.

 NATIONAL PARKS IN NEW MEXICO


There are two official national parks New Mexico, plus there are many other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:

National Parks
Carlsbad Caverns National Park - incredible guided and self-guided cave tours; nightly bat flight show in season
White Sands National Park - stunning white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals; there is no other park like this in the United States

National Monuments
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Bandelier National Monument
Capulin Volcano National Monument
El Malpais National Monument
El Morro National Monument
Fort Union National Monument
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
Petroglyph National Monument
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

National Forests
Carson National Forest
Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands
Gila National Forest
Lincoln National Forest
Santa Fe National Forest

National Historical Parks / Other National Parks
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
Manhattan Project National Historical Park
Old Spanish National Historic Trail
Pecos National Historical Park
Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Valles Caldera National Preserve

Both Carlsbad Caverns National Park and White Sands National Park are world-class. I highly recommended both. One day is enough to visit each of these parks. If you are visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park, I would consider visiting nearby Guadalupe Peak National Park, which is just over the border in Texas.

My favorite national monument in New Mexico is Bandelier National Monument. Seeing and exploring the archaeological sites is an awesome experience.

My second favorite national monument in New Mexico is Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. The Slot Canyon Trail is the main highlight there, and it's a top 10 hike of New Mexico.

For more information on New Mexico's national parks, visit the New Mexico page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.

 STATE PARKS IN NEW MEXICO


New Mexico has more than 30 state parks. Many would agree that these represent New Mexico's finest state parks:

Flagship / Premier State Parks:
Cimarron Canyon State Park - scenic views; hiking; camping; fly-fishing; horseback riding
City of Rocks State Park - interesting geology/rock formations; hiking; mountain biking; camping

Other Notable State Parks:
Bottomless Lakes State Park - swimming; camping

My favorite state park in New Mexico is City of Rocks State Park. If you enjoy camping or geologic formations, it doesn't get much better than this.

To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.

 BEST WATERFALLS IN NEW MEXICO


New Mexico has more than 100 natural waterfalls. Here is a list of many of the best waterfalls in New Mexico:

Northern New Mexico
Jemez Falls in Santa Fe National Forest
Nambe Falls in the Nambe Pueblo Reservation near Santa Fe (privately owned; public access may or may not be possible)
Resumidero Falls in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area of Santa Fe National Forest
Soda Dam in Jemez Springs
Upper Frijoles Falls in Bandelier National Monument
Williams Falls near Taos Ski Valley

Southern New Mexico
Bar Canyon/Soledad Canyon Waterfalls in Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
Fillmore Canyon Waterfall in Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
Sitting Bull Falls in the Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area in Lincoln National Forest

For a listing of all known waterfalls in New Mexico, visit the World Waterfall Database website.

 BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN NEW MEXICO


Here is a list of the best scenic drives in New Mexico:

Dunes Drive, White Sands National Park - an 8-mile, partially paved route through White Sands National Park in southern NM
Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway - a 84-mile paved route that encircles Taos Ski Valley and Wheeler Peak (the highpoint of NM)
High Road to Taos - a 70-mile paved route from Santa Fe to Taos
Jemez Mountain Trail - a 170-mile paved route from Tierra Amarilla to Bernalillo via Abiquiu, Espanola, Bandelier NM, and Jemez Springs
Sandia Crest Byway - a 14-mile paved route that climbs up the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque

For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.

 BEST RAIL TRAILS IN NEW MEXICO


There are only a few notable rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in New Mexico. Here are two of the best:

Paseo del Bosque Trail in Albuquerque
Tramway Recreation Trail in Albuquerque

For detailed information on all known rail trails in New Mexico, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.

 BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN NEW MEXICO


New Mexico currently doesn't have any major amusement parks. The only notable amusement park in New Mexico is Cliff's Amusement Park in Albuquerque.

 BEST MUSEUMS IN NEW MEXICO


New Mexico has many excellent and unique museums. The best museums in New Mexico include:

Northern New Mexico (including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos)
Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, Albuquerque
Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, Albuquerque
Explora Science Center and Children's Museum, Albuquerque
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Santa Fe
Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Albuquerque
New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Albuquerque
Unser Racing Museum, Albuquerque

Central / Southern New Mexico
International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell
New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo
White Sands Missile Range Museum, Alamogordo

As you can see above, Albuquerque and Santa Fe are both national hot spots for museums.

 BEST DAY HIKES IN NEW MEXICO


New Mexico has hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and there is great hiking to be found all over the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in New Mexico:

Northern New Mexico (including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos)
Alcove House / Main Loop Trail - Bandelier National Monument
Atalaya Mountain - Santa Fe National Forest
Bisti Badlands - Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area
Deception Peak / Lake Peak - Pecos Wilderness / Santa Fe National Forest
Gold Hill Trail - Wheeler Peak Wilderness / Carson National Forest
Kitchen Mesa - Ghost Ranch (privately owned but general public is welcome)
La Luz Trail - Sandia Mountain Wilderness
Mount Taylor - Cibola National Forest
Nambe Lake - Santa Fe National Forest
Picacho Peak Trail - Santa Fe National Forest
Pueblo Alto Trail - Chaco Culture National Historical Park
San Antonio Hot Springs - Santa Fe National Forest
Santa Fe Baldy - Pecos Wilderness / Santa Fe National Forest
Slot Canyon Trail - Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Trampas Lakes - Carson National Forest
Tsankawi Ruins - Bandelier National Monument
Wheeler Peak - Wheeler Peak Wilderness / Carson National Forest
Williams Lake - Carson National Forest

Central New Mexico
Argentina Peak & Little Bonito Trail Loop - White Mountain Wilderness
Big Tubes - El Malpais National Monument
Catwalk National Recreation Trail - Gila National Forest
Inscription Rock / Mesa Top Loop Trail - El Morro National Monument
Jordan Hot Springs - Gila Wilderness
Pecos Baldy Lake - Pecos Wilderness
Ruins Trail - Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site - BLM public lands
Zuni-Acoma Trail - El Malpais National Monument

Southern New Mexico
Alkali Flat Trail - White Sands National Monument
Bar Canyon - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
Dripping Springs Trail - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
Dune Life Nature Trail - White Sands National Monument
Fillmore Canyon Trail - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
Natural Entrance Tour & Big Room Tour - Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Pine Tree Trail - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
Soledad Canyon Loop - Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument

The highpoint of New Mexico is Wheeler Peak (13,167'), and it's a fun but challenging day hike. Use the town of Taos in northern New Mexico as your base camp to hike this mountain.

To find more hikes in New Mexico or to learn more about the hikes I've listed above, I recommend purchasing hiking guidebooks on Amazon (or from your local retailer). Another option is using alltrails.com, but you have to be very careful when using that website as its information is often wrong or incomplete. Published hiking guidebooks will likely always be significantly better than the information you find online.

 BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN NEW MEXICO


New Mexico offers a few excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking trails/areas in New Mexico include:

Continental Divide Trail
Crest Trail
Gila River Canyons Loop
Gold Hill
Horseshoe Lake
Lake Katherine
Mogollon Crest Trail / Mogollon Baldy
Pecos Baldy Lake
Pecos Skyline Trail
Santa Fe Baldy
Trampas Lakes
Wheeler Peak

White Sands National Park used to offer primitive backcountry camping, but it looks like it may have been permanently closed by the National Park Service.

 CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN NEW MEXICO


New Mexico offers many excellent adventures, including these classics:

ATV/ORV-ing Red Sands OHV Area (BLM public lands)
Backpacking Gila Wilderness
Backpacking Pecos Wilderness
Backpacking Santa Fe National Forest
Backpacking Wheeler Peak Wilderness / Carson National Forest
Bouldering in Ponderosa
Caving in Carlsbad Caverns State Park
Caving in lava tubes in El Malpais National Monument
Climbing the ladders on the Alcove House Trail in Bandelier National Monument
Cycling the Paseo del Bosque Trail
Day hiking La Luz Trail to Sandia Crest
Day hiking Lake Katherine
Day hiking Wheeler Peak (NM highpoint)
Day hiking to any of New Mexico's hidden hot springs
Hot air ballooning in Albuquerque
Hot air ballooning in Taos
Llama trekking in Taos
Mountain biking at the Angel Fire Bike Park in Angel Fire
Mountain biking the High Desert Trails in Gallup
Mountain biking the South Boundary Trail - designated by IMBA as an "epic" mountain biking trail
Overlanding/4x4 driving the Carson-Santa Fe Backcountry Discovery Trail
Overlanding/4x4 driving the Enchanted Rockies Trail
Rock climbing at Box Recreation Area
Rock climbing at Sugarite Canyon State Park
Rock climbing in Taos
Sledding the gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park
Snowmobiling near Angel Fire, Red River, or Taos
Whitewater rafting the Rio Chama River
Whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande River

 SKI RESORTS IN NEW MEXICO


There are currently 8 actively-operating ski/snowboard resorts in New Mexico. These ski resorts are generally considered the best:

Premier Ski/Snowboarding Resorts:
Taos Ski Valley - 110 trails; 3,281ft vertical drop; 12,481ft summit

Other Notable Ski/Snowboarding Resorts:
Angel Fire Resort - 81 trails; 2,077ft vertical drop; 10,677ft summit
Ski Apache - 55 trails; 1,900ft vertical drop; 11,500ft summit
Ski Santa Fe - 86 trails; 1,725ft vertical drop; 12,075ft summit

 NEW MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS


For offbeat and unique New Mexico attractions, visit one or both of these amazing websites: Atlas Obscura and Roadside America

Many people will combine a visit to northern Mexico with attractions in southwestern Colorado. Some examples include the great city of Durango and the archaeological treasures in Mesa Verde National Park.

 UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN NEW MEXICO


Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in New Mexico:

biscochitos
blue corn pancakes
calabacitas
carne adovada
chiles rellenos
frito pie
green chile cheeseburger
green chile pizza
green chile stew
hatch chilis
horchata
huevos rancheros
pistachios
posole
red chile sauce
sopaipilla

For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in New Mexico (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in New Mexico (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.

 OTHER KEY NEW MEXICO INFORMATION


Here is some helpful key information about New Mexico:

State Capital:
Santa Fe

Major Airports:
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)

Largest Cities:
Albuquerque (568,301), Las Cruces (114,139), Rio Rancho (107,350), Santa Fe (91,417), Roswell (48,434), Farmington (46,774), Hobbs (41,786)

Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-10, I-25, I-40

State Highpoint:
Wheeler Peak (13,167') in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness area of Carson National Forest (northern New Mexico); a challenging day hike is required to reach the summit; watch out for thunderstorms!

Professional Sports Teams:
None

Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Pie Town, Truth or Consequences, and Weed

Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.

natural entrance of Carslbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
natural entrance of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico

White Sands National Park, New Mexico
White Sands National Park, New Mexico

Pistachioland: McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch in Alamogordo, New Mexico
Pistachioland: McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico

Four Corners Monument, New Mexico
Four Corners Monument, New Mexico

New Mexico welcome sign
New Mexico welcome sign

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico

Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico

 ROAD TRIP GUIDEBOOKS


In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any link to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com (affiliate).

Fodor's Bucket List USA (1st edition; 2021)
Moon USA State by State (1st edition; 2021)
Your Guide to the National Parks (3rd edition; 2022)
Road Trip USA (9th edition; 2021)

 MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES


Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:

Alabama Maryland Oregon
Arizona Massachusetts Pennsylvania
Arkansas Michigan Rhode Island
California Minnesota South Carolina
Colorado Mississippi South Dakota
Connecticut Missouri Tennessee
Delaware Montana Texas
Florida Nebraska Utah
Georgia Nevada Vermont
Idaho New Hampshire Virginia
Illinois New Jersey Washington
Indiana New Mexico Washington DC
Iowa New York West Virginia
Kansas North Carolina Wisconsin
Kentucky North Dakota Wyoming
Louisiana Ohio  
Maine Oklahoma  

As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.

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