The southwestern United States offers plenty of sights, culture, and fun to the adventurous. All three of those things are in abundance in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico should be on your list of sunny and warm vacation destinations, as the state offers an amazing variety of people, history, and beautiful natural wonders. Here are four unmissable places to explore in New Mexico, whether you choose it as a place to visit for a few weeks or to settle down for much longer.
Santa Fe
Few cities in New Mexico offer a perfect cross-section of the state’s culture and tourist potential as Santa Fe. It’s a bright and beautiful city full of Pueblo-themed architecture and resembles no other. Visitors and residents enjoy visiting the historic plaza, which features 17th-century Spanish-American colonial-style buildings, historical monuments, museums, churches, restaurants, and more. Enjoy Santa Fe’s vibrant artistic community by visiting one of its galleries. Many events take place there throughout the year, including Christmas decorations and celebrations and the annual Santa Fe Indian Market.
White Sands National Park
Imagine a sandy beach extending to the horizon and glistening with pure white sand. White Sands National Park consists of more than 176,000 acres of white gypsum, forming an awesome place that astronauts can see from space. With dunes towering at 60 feet high and far-reaching stretches of dried lake beds and trails, White Sands National Park offers a landscape that’s perfect for hiking and exploring, photography and other artistic endeavors, picnic lunches, plant and wildlife watching, and even sledding. An unnaturally beautiful natural location!
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
There’s even more to see in underground New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns has been drawing tourists for decades with its system of more than 119 gorgeous caves and caverns created through the slow breakdown of the limestone below the state. Guided tours of the “Big Room” and other notable caves will reveal the park’s stark beauty and awesome history. Fans of the Chiroptera order of flying mammals will enjoy the nightly bat flight program!
Elephant Butte Lake State Park
You’ll find Elephant Butte in the southwestern part of New Mexico. Its lake is one of the largest in the state, and it offers a slew of water sports in the middle of New Mexico’s arid clime. You can go boating, fishing, jet skiing, kayaking, and more. Hiking around the lake is another pleasant pastime. However, the Lake State Park isn’t the only must-see attraction in Elephant Butte and the surrounding region. Nearby, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (named after a game show many years ago) presents arts, culture, food and entertainment, and its famous hot springs for extra rest and relaxation.
Those are just four unmissable places to explore in New Mexico, and there’s even more to see than that. Explore the possibilities of a sun-drenched trip to the Land of Enchantment for your next vacation.
