Offbeat New Mexico AttractionsAlamogordoWhite Sands National Monument great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and have created the world's largest gypsum dune field. The brilliant white dunes are ever changing: growing, cresting, then slumping, but always advancing. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this gypsum dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment. A variety of activities are available at White Sands including: Auto Touring, Backpacking, Biking, Bird Watching, Hiking, Interpretive Programs, Nature Walks, and unbelievable Stargazing. For more information visit NPS.ogv/whsa Trinity Site On July 16, 1945 the world changed with the explosion of the first atomic bomb. The explosion took place at Trinity Site which is on what is now White Sands Missile Range. Trinity is a national historic landmark which is open to the public twice a year in April and October. White Sands Missile Range Museum At the White Sands Missile Range museum you can trace the origin of America's missile and space activity, find out how the atomic age began and learn about the accomplishments of scientists. Displays also include the prehistoric cultures and the rip-roaring Old West found in southern New Mexico. Outside the museum is a missile park displaying a variety of missiles and rockets tested at White Sands. For more information visit WSMR-History.org Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail About 10 miles of the old, abandoned Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountain Railroad grade that runs from Alamogordo to Cloudcroft has been converted to rail trails in various sections, and are open to the public. The sections are separately accessable and have different degrees of difficulty, from easy walking at a grade of less than 6% to an eight mile loop that consists of an elevation change of about 1,000 feet and a few steep slopes. The rail trail highlights include magnificent panoramic overviews of the surrounding areas, 100 year-old wooden railroad trestles and culverts, impressive geologic formations, running streams, and five climatic and vegetation zones, rising from Chihauhaun desert to a sub-alpine landscape. Most of the rail trail sections have shelters, benches, and large interpretive, educational signs that explain the main features of the area. For more information visit NMRailsToTrails.org New Mexico Museum of Space History Contains exhibitions ranging from Robert Goddard's early rocket experiments near Roswell to a mock-up of the International Space Station plus larger exhibits, such as the Apollo program's Little Joe II rocket and the rocket sled that "Fastest Man Alive" Stapp rode to 632 mph. Commemorates aeromedical and space related tests which were crucial in developing components for NASA's Project Mercury orbital flights and the Project Apollo moon landings. Enjoy the Clyde W. Tombaugh IMAX Theater and Planetarium, and pay your respects at the Astronaut Memorial Garden -- a tribute to the Space Shuttle Challenger & Columbia astronauts. For more information visit NMSpaceMuseum.org AlbuquerqueThe National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque One of the only museums in the world devoted to the uses of atomic energy -- from peaceful to not-so-peaceful. Learn about the Manhattan Project (much of which took place in New Mexico) and the development of the atomic bomb. Exhibits focus on its development at Oakridge, Hanford, Los Alamos, and the Trinity Test on July 16th, 1945. While there is much space devoted to dropping the bomb, there's also an exhibit on the effects of the two bombs dropped in Japan. The hydrogen bomb, submarines, and more. Learn more about Madame Curie. Plus other small gems of information not widely known, including the fate of the young women who used to paint glow-in-the-dark dials on watches...using radioactive material. There's also sections on peaceful uses such as nuclear medicine. There's even a special children's sections where kids can learn about physics and more. Great changes are coming -- the museum is changing its name to National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, and moving in the fall of 2008 to its new 12 acre site. For more information visit AtomicMuseum.com Rattlesnake Museum in Albuquerque Love these critters? They've got a whole museum full of snakes and things that slither. Plus snake-related artworks, artifacts and memorabilia. For more information visit www.rattlesnakes.com Telephone Museum of New Mexico, Albuquerque Housed in the original 1906 Telephone Central Office this unusual museum is a joy to visit. Filled with historic telephones, switchboards, and exhibits on the development of the telephone. The staff is all volunteers and passionate about their museum. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM. For more information call 505 842-2937. Turquoise Museum, Albuquerque This place is the best place to learn about turquoise -- with several life-times worth of collected turquoise from around the world, and usually a member of the Dan family to explain the intricacies of creating turquoise jewelry, and the crucial questions to ask. Don't buy a piece of turquoise without stopping here first. For more information call (505) 247-8650 and read our article Gone Shopping. Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque Located in the village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, this specialty museum highlights the Unser family's long legacy in car racing, the design and engineering evolution of race cars, plus a variety of changing exhibits related to the racing world. Members of the Unser family have won nine Indianapolis 500©Mile Races, which is more than 10 percent of all of the Indianapolis 500 Races in history. The museum is presented as an experience for the visitor to see the sport from the viewpoint of the drivers, their families and teams. For more information visit UnserRacingMuseum.com El Malpais National Monument Located about an hour west of Albuquerque, there are over 100,000 acres of lava flows, natural arches, hiking trails, stunning vistas, ice caves and more. Read more at El Malpais. For more information visit El Malpais National Monument. CapitanSmokey Bear Historical Park Established to honor Capitan's favorite son Smokey -- the little bear cub found with burned paws after a 17,000 acre forest fire in 1950 on the Capitan Mountains -- the park offers exhibits about forest health, forest fires, wildland/urban interface issues, fire ecology, the history of the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Program and a theatre showing a 10 minute film discussing today's fire and forest health issues. As for the famous and beloved bear -- after living in the National Zoo in Washington D.C. for 26 years, Smokey passed away and was returned to the Village of Capitan to be buried at what is now the Smokey Bear Historical Park. For more information visit SmokeyBearPark.com CarlsbadFiesta Drive-In Yep, a genuine drive-in movie theater. With shows at 7:45 Fri., Sat., Sun. & Mon. $5 a person or $10 a car load. $2 a person on Monday. For more information visit FiestaDriveIn.com CimarronWalk the historic town center Step back in time and enjoy the history of Old Town Cimarron, New Mexico. Visit the Old Stone Jail, the Old Town Plaza, and other sites of interest. Maps and information available at the Visitor Center or call 575-376-2417. Read more and download their walking tour at CimarronNM.com Fort SumnerBilly the Kid's Grave -- Fort Sumner Located a few steps south of the Old Fort Sumner Museum. The tombstone has been stolen three times since its placement in the 1940's. The grave is now enclosed by a metal cage and the cemetery is open to the public. There is no charge to visit Billy's grave, although there is a charge to visit the museum. GPS Waypoint: N34 24.252 W104 11.604 Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner State Monument As Americans settled in the territory of New Mexico, they met fierce resistance from the Navajo and Mescalero Apache people who fought to maintain control of their traditional lands and way of life. Known by the Navajos as the "Long Walk," in some cases a distance of more than 450 miles mostly on foot to the reservation in east central New Mexico. From 1863-1868, more than 9,000 Navajo and Mescalero Apache people were held captive at Fort Sumner and the surrounding Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation. For the Navajos, another three years and approximately 3,000 Navajos had died before the United States government acknowledged Navajo sovereignty in the historic Treaty of 1868 on June 1st. The Navajos were allowed to return to their traditional homelands in the Four Corners region. Visit Fort Sumner State Monument and experience the history of this site. The visitor center displays and interpretive trail provide insight into the tragic history of the Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation For more information visit NMMonuments.org RatonThe historic Shuler Theater a state landmark that remains a center for performing arts in northeastern New Mexico. Bill Fegan 2007 New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts maintains an office in the Shuler from where he manages the Santa Fe Trail School for the Performing Arts. Bill also shares his wonderful knowledge about the Shuler's history to visitors. Visit their website for more information ShulerTheater.com RoswellBitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell The refuge is gaining attention for its dragonflies. It's one of the most diverse populations of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonates) in North America. Over 90 Odonate species occur here, including the continent's largest and the smallest dragonfly species. Each year there's also a Dragonfly Festival. For more information visit www.fws.gov/southwest/REFUGES/newmex/bitterlake/dragonflies.html International UFO Museum, Roswell Famous for what is now known as the Roswell Incident, the town of Roswell hosts an annual UFO festival and the International UFO Museum and Research Center where you can decide for yourself about the flying saucer that allegedly crashed here in 1947. Exhibits and programs about the crash itself and the phenomenon of UFO research. Opened in 1991, the Museum and Research Center shortly thereafter earned 1996’s “Top Tourist Destination of New Mexico.” For more information visit Roswell UFO Museum PortalesDalley Windmill Collection in Portales
It’s not everyday you find a yard landscape with 85 (at last count) windmills. Big, small, reaching to the sky, low to the ground, wood, metal,
or painted, Bill and Alta Dalley have windmills. The Dalleys specialize in historic pieces, most dating back to the late 1800s or early 1900s. It's an
amazing collection that will totally charm. It's located at 1506 South Kilgore Avenue. Jack Williamson Science Fiction Library at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales
On the second floor of the Golden Library, is the third largest collection of science fiction memorabilia in the country. Started when award-winning
science fiction writer Jack Williamson donated part of his collection to the library. The staff gives tours and will even open glass cases to allow visitors to see some of their prized books. This is a very special place.
Open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 PM Santa FeBataan Memorial Military Museum & Library The Museum was started by members of the New Mexico National Guard and interested citizens shortly after the end of World War II. The central focus of the Museum is the men of the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment which was sent to the Philippine Islands early in WWII to furnish anti-aircraft support to Clark Air Field and Fort Stotsenberg. The Regiment was divided to form the 515th Coast Artillery Regiment while in the Philippines. Both of the Regiments were lost to enemy action on Bataan when the Japanese overran the Philippines in 1942. The 200th consisted of 1,800 men when deployed. After three and one half years of captivity, less than half were to return to the United States. For more information visit Bataan Memorial Military Museum Georgia O'Keeffe Museum There's probably many reasons to visit Santa Fe, but seeing O'Keeffe's lush, somewhat erotic flowers, landscapes and more ranks high on the must-see list. The Museum’s permanent collection includes more than 120 O’Keeffe paintings, drawings, and sculptures and is the largest in the world. For more information visit www.OKeeffemuseum.org. Poeh Cultural Center and Museum The Pueblo of Pojoaque’s Tribal Council established the Poeh Center in 1988 as the first permanent tribally owned and operated mechanism for cultural preservation and revitalization within the Pueblo communities of the northern Rio Grande Valley. The Center emphasizes arts and cultures with rotating exhibits, and has a permanent gallery of the finely crafted sculptures. For more information visit PoehCenter Sante Fe’s Museum of International Folk Art Founded in 1953 by Florence Dibell Bartlett, MOIFA has gained national and international recognition as the home to the world's largest collection of folk art from around the globe. The collection of more than 125,000 artifacts forms the basis for exhibitions in three distinct wings. The museum showcases folk art, popular art, and toys from more than 100 nations much from the late Alexander Girard, who contributed his immense collection 1980. For more information visit MOIFA.org. Around the StateBandera Volcano and Ice Cave About 1,2000 feet across and 800 feet deep, Bandera is considered a highly accessible erupted volcano (having done its thing some 10,000 years ago). Then, take the lava trail to a collapsed lava tube, where the temperature never rises about 30 degrees(F). For more information visit www.IceCaves.com Lincoln Yep, the whole town. You're wondering what the lure is, right? Ah, The Wild West. Entire one-street town is virtually unchanged from the period of Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Lincoln County war. Eleven buildings are part of the monument, including the Tunstall store, and the courthouse jail. For more information visit www.NMCulture.org and click on Lincoln. Also, investigate The Hubbard Museum of the American West Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park, Carlsbad An indoor/outdoor living museum displaying more than 40 native animal species and hundreds of succulent plants from around the world. While on the 1.3 mile self-guided tour, visitors discover many faces of the Chihuahuan Desert, from sand dunes and pygmy forest to the desert floor. Their website notes that We are not affiliated or associated with The Living Desert in Palm Desert, CA For more information visit Living Desert New Mexico Mining Museum in Grants Described as the Only Underground Uranium Mining Museum in the World. "In the mining industry, it's a fact of life and a philosophy: everything starts with a hole in the ground." Walk-through exhibits lined with information panels describing the work and the equipment. A self-guided tour to recreates the atmosphere of the underground world including the station where workers, materials and mine ore leave and enter the mine. Learn about the "lunchroom," drilling and blasting techniques and the forbidden "open stope." For more information visit www.grants.org. Rio Puerco Bridge Part of Route 66 history, this truss bridge was built in 1933. Its 250 feet length made it one of the longest in New Mexico. It was replace in 1999, but today it stands as a piece of road history rather than a functioning bridge. It's off I-40 near exit 140. GPS coordinates are N 35° 02.023 W 106° 56.474. Rockhound State Park, Deming Located on the rugged west slope of the Little Florida Mountains, Rockhound State Park is a favorite for "rockhounds" because of the abundant agates and quartz crystals found there. Scattered throughout the park are rock and mineral specimens of volcanic origin. These treasures range from varieties of silica minerals, quartz crystals, chalcedony, Agate, and common opal. Visitors are allowed to take up to 15 pounds of rock for their personal collections. For more information visit EMNRD.state.nm.us Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa It started off as one man's passion for historic cars and turned into a fun and fascinating auto museum with route 66 memorabilia. For more information visit Route66AutoMuseum Sky City Cultural Center and Acoma Pueblo The Cultural Center has just reopened after a devastating fire, and it is a beautiful building and a wonderful introduction to the life of the Acoma people. After visiting the cultural center, take a guided tour of the Acoma Pueblo -- atop a mesa. This is one of the oldest pueblos in New Mexico. Read more at Acoma Pueblo and Haak'u Museum, and visit SkyCity.com Stein's Railroad Ghost Town, Hidalgo County Perhaps not strictly a ghost town -- more like an outdoor museum where you can tour a piece of the abandoned west, see ruins and have a bit of a ghost town experience. Located at exit 3 on Interstate 10, Stein's is owned and operated by Linda and Larry Links. Call to check hours before going-- (505) 542-9791 Murals of Tucumcari The 17 wall murals of Tucumcari celebrating its history and culture, including the Mother Road. Painted by Doug and Sharon Quarles they grace building walls turning brick into canvas for their murals. You can pick up a map of the murals at the visitors center or download the map at: Tucumcarinm.com Villa Philmonte, Cimarron Waite Phillips, an Oklahoma oilman, built the Villa Philmonte as a Spanish Mediterraneanhe summer home for his family on the Philmont Ranch. Philmont (derived from his name and the Spanish word for mountain, "monte") became a showplace with herds of Hereford cows and Corriedale sheep. Apparently Phillips believed in sharing his wealth with people outside his family offering 35,857 acres of his ranch to the Boy Scouts of America in 1938 to serve as a national wilderness camping area. The property, now totaling 127,395 acres was renamed "Philmont Scout Ranch". Restored to the period when Phillips owned the ranch, it now serves as a memorial to him and his generosity to the Boy Scouts of America. Guided tours are offered during the spring, summer, and fall. For more information visit Philmont.com the unofficial Philmont site, or PhilmontScoutRanch.org the official site. Wildlife West Nature Park A combination environmental education center, licensed zoological park, and wildlife refuge on 122 acres. It features native New Mexico plants and animals. All the animals are rescued, injured, and non-releasable wildlife who will be able to live, forever protected. The park is the premier educational project of the New Mexico Wildlife Association. Read more at Wildlife West and visit WildlifeWest.org. Golf in a New Mexico Pueblo New Mexico has 19 Native American pueblos, or villages and some offer golf (as well as other visitor
attractions). The courses are owned and operated by these sovereign villages. Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club
has been rated by Golf magazine as one of the ten top places to play. It's located at the base of Sandia Mountains.
Isleta Eagle Golf Club is designed around three lakes and the Rio Grande.
There's also the Santa Ana Golf Club, a top rated course, and
Pueblo de Cochiti in the Jemez Mountains.
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