New Mexico travel tips from Albuquerque local and travel journalist Elizabeth W. Hughes.
New Mexico is a little different, that’s why they put USA on our license plates, just to let people know we’re all here, even if we’re not all there. Here’s a primer to help you know before you go.
Lesson 1: Red or Green, New Mexico Cuisine.
We’re talking chile here, some of the best in all the land. Typically speaking the green is hot and the red has a milder, smoky flavor. Always ask your server wherever you go. Some red will melt your face off, and sometimes the green is mild, but it’s all delicious and there are many places to sample it, a good place to start is the charming Barleas Coffee Shop.
Lesson 2: New Mexico is Nuclear
The Manhattan Project gave birth to the atomic age in New Mexico. Check out the National Museum of Nuclear Science History to learn about our state’s explosive past. Armed with this knowledge, refer to your New Mexico Atlas and travel south to the Trinity Site where the first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945. There’s an obelisk that marks this point of interest just past San Antonio, NM on Rt. 380. Twice a year, visitors are allowed to visit the actual detonation site, which is within the boundaries of White Sands Missile Range. Remember that this is an active military installation, so follow the rules and regulations carefully. Another nuclear New Mexico point of interest is the Bradbury Science Museum at Los Alamos National Labs. Los Alamos is about 45 minutes west of Santa Fe.
Lesson 3: New Mexico is Mountainous
New Mexico has many, many mountain tops. There are 86 named mountain ranges in the Land of Enchantment. Some, like the state’s highest point of interest, Wheeler Peak 13,159 feet, involve a vigorous day-long hike to reach the summit. Others, like Sandia Peak, are more easily accessed via the Sandia Peak Tramway. The tramway leaves from Albuquerque’s Northwestern corner and offers stunning views of mountain peaks in all directions, Mt. Taylor to the west, the Sangre de Cristos to the the North, the Manzano’s to the South and the Guadalupes to the Southwest. High Finance restaurant is at the top of the tram for a unique dining experience (no vehicle access) and the 8-mile La Luz trail (Trail #137) connects with tram for a breathtaking adventure from valley floor to alpine peak. Be sure to check the tram’s website to get the latest on seasonal tram hours and weather related closures.
Lesson 4: New Mexico is Rockin’
New Mexico is geologically fascinating. Many points of interest from the El Malpais, to the Petroglyphs focus on geology, rocks and mining. The Turquoise Trail is a scenic byway, linking Santa Fe to Albuquerque via the “old road” Rt. 14 on a New Mexico map. . Down the road a bit is the tiny mining town of Madrid. Once a thriving stop on the Santa Fe railroad, the town is now an artsy outpost for day trippers, and has lots of galleries and shops full of New Mexico arts and crafts to explore. If you follow a Benchmark Map as Route 14 twists and turns north toward Santa Fe, you’ll also hit Cerillos. It’s a tiny, almost ghost town, but was once the center of thriving industry when turquoise and lead were extracted from the hillside. If you fly in to the Albuquerque Sunport and are heading to Santa Fe, this easy drive north is a great way to press your New Mexico reset button and get acclimated to the scenery.
Photo Credits: MyEyeSees on Flickr
