How many of these enchanted places have you seen?
New Mexico Department of Tourism’s Top 10 Attractions:
- Billy the Kid Museum
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park
- Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
- Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
- International UFO Museum
- Sandia Peak Tramway
- Santa Fe
- Taos Ski Valley
- White Sands National Monument
Another ten enchanted places:
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
- American International Rattlesnake Museum
- Bandelier National Monument
- Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
- Chimayó
- Mesilla
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory Very Large Array
- Pecos National Historical Park
- Petroglyph National Monument
- Valles Caldera National Preserve
What’s worth seeing in New Mexico that isn’t listed? I’d include El Morro National Monument, Lincoln State Monument, Taos Pueblo, Acoma Sky City (the pueblo, not the casino), and a pueblo feast day.
NewMexiKen has been to 13 of the 20 listed and “sorta-kinda” to four more (been near, driven by, checked out the price of admission). And, obviously, I’ve been to those I would add to the lists.
Wow, I’ve been to all except Billy the Kid, about whom I have zero interest, but I’ve even been by that. Of your additions, I haven’t been inside Taos Pueblo and I can’t recall Lincoln State Monument.
I’d add some drives: The route up NM4 past Valles Caldera; Enchanted Circle; the loop around El Malpais; almost any dirt road in NM.
I’d add almost every mountain range and the drive between them.
For ruinists, I like Aztec National Monument, even Salmon Ruins. For the hardcore, all of the outliers are awesome and in awesome locations.
What about the world’s largest pistachio nut in Alamogordo?
How big is it?
Dunno, but if it’s the world’s largest…
There was an interesting article on it last year in the Abq Journal. I’ve seen it from the highway; I’d guess 15-20 feet tall. Interesting that Parade Magazine singled it out as the one thing to see in NM.