Traveling in New Mexico
New Mexico is of the most unique states in the country, calling itself the enchanted land. New Mexico’s large mix of American, Hispanic, and Native American culture make it stand out from other states in the country. The state is one of the few places in America where Native American style dominates the architecture. New Mexico is also famous for its diversity of unique landscapes. Scorching hot deserts of white sand can be found in the south, while in the north snowy mountains that peak at 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) dominate landscape.
Santa Fe
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New Mexico’s historic capital Santa Fe has the largest collection of old buildings in the state. For starters, the San Miguel Chapel is the oldest church in the United States, and the Palace of the Governors is the oldest occupied public building in the US; both were founded in 1610. With Santa Fe’s mix of Native American and Spanish Colonial architecture, the city stands out and provides a different experience from other cities in the United States.
Albuquerque
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New Mexico’s largest city attracts travelers during all seasons of the year. Regarding attractions, the city is most famous for the International Balloon Festival which is held in early October in Albuquerque. This is the largest gathering of hot air balloons and is the most photographed event in the world! The rest of the city offers plenty such as Old Town and historic neighborhoods, various museums from Native American art to Nuclear history, and even a ride up the Sandia Peak with the world’s longest tram.
Wheeler Peak
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Located in the Sangre de Christo Mountains, Wheeler Peak is the highest mountain in New Mexico, rising 13,160 feet (4,010 meters) above sea level. Wheeler Peak is surrounded by several other mountains over 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), and has the most beautiful mountain scenery in the state. All kinds of mountain sports can be done here, such as back country skiing, ice climbing, hiking and camping.
Roswell
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Since the 30’s, Roswell has been a major player in altitude experiments and for rocket and aerospace engineering. Roswell became famous around the world in 1947 when what was claimed by some to be a UFO crashed in the vicinity of the city. Since then, Roswell has become the most famous UFO incident in history, and those who believe in the government cover up passionately research the event even to this day. Alien and UFO tours are readily available.
White Sands
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This national monument represents a vast area of desert and the largest gypsum sand dunes in the world. Gypsum is a type of mineral and gives the sand the white color making it almost appear like snow. For miles, the area is covered in waves of white sand dunes that are occasionally dotted with shrubs. One of the best ways to experience White Sands is via a scenic dune drive, but this can even be closed at times due to missile tests by a nearby military base!