11 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in New Mexico
The 47th state of the US, New Mexico, is a destination chalked with history, heritage, and complex landscapes, hence its nickname, "The Land of Enchantment." New Mexico is often recognized among travelers for its capital, Santa Fe, and its most populous city, Albuquerque. The Land of Enchantment is a jewel, with many of its highlights and best-kept secrets nested inside the state's small and unforgettable small towns.
Roswell
Roswell in Chaves County welcomes passionate UFO enthusiasts! Roswell is internationally known for its attractions and landmarks related to UFO phenomena. The town's International UFO and Museum Research Center is a prime highlight, containing over 7,000 books, more than 30,000 magazines, periodicals, pamphlets, and over 1,500 DVDs about UFO sightings, especially the well-known Roswell Incident.
While shopping in Roswell, shoppers will inevitably come across souvenirs dedicated to the bug-eyed creatures. Bring home an alien-themed shirt at Invasion Station or browse "out of this world" souvenirs at the Alien Shop! Besides its passion for UFOs, Roswell is also knee-deep in New Mexico's history.
History buffs should tour the General Douglas L. McBride Military Museum, which highlights the history of the New Mexico Military Institute and the Corps of Cadets. Afterward, visit the Roswell Museum to explore the 50,000-square-foot space with exhibits portraying the state's history and the beauty of the American Midwest.
Ruidoso Downs
Lincoln County's Ruidoso Downs was named after the famous Ruidoso Downs Race Track, a venue for the All-American Futurity. This town, comfortably nested in the Lincoln National Forest, is internationally known for its race track, home of the "World's Richest Quarter House Race" since 1959. The Ruidoso Downs Race Track casino is worth visiting, with over 300 slots, rotating jackpots, membership perks, live music, and more!
Besides racing, the Ruidoso Downs Race Track hosts the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, a vibing western festival with musical performers, chuckwagons, and swing dancing.
The fun in Ruidoso Downs is still active in the winter. In the cooler months, visit Ski Apache amongst the Sierra Blanca Mountains. Here, there are several mountains with over 12,000 feet of elevation, experiencing an annual snowfall of over 12 feet. The attraction also has terrains perfect for both beginners and advanced skiers. Ski Apache remains one of the country's "best-kept secret" regarding premier ski spots! This is also the only attraction in New Mexico with an 8-person gondola.
Truth Or Consequences
It's not a mistake to find the town of Truth Or Consequences on a map halfway between Albuquerque and Las Cruces! Once named "Hot Springs," the town had its name changed in 1950 after Ralph Edward of Truth or Consequences (a popular game show) encouraged an American town to change its name to honor the show's 10th anniversary!
Truth Or Consequences is famous as a spa town, famed for its soothing geothermal mineral waters found in the town's commercial spas and bathhouses. After soothing your aching bones in the town's famous waters, head to the town's museums, the Geronimo Springs Museum and the Dianne Hamilton Military Museum. The former exhibits the history of Sierra County, while the latter, found at the Veterans Memorial Park, pays homage to people who served in the armed forces. Elephant Butte Lake State Park is only a stone's throw away from the town. Here, you can visit New Mexico's largest body of water, an attraction that is incredibly popular during the holiday weekends in the summer!
Corrales
Outside the hustle and bustle of Albuquerque, the small town of Corrales retains its calm rural lifestyle and historical charm. American, European, and Hispanic families settled in the area for generations to raise livestock and grow an array of produce, especially grapes and apples.
Glimpse into the past at Casa San Ysidro, a stopping point on El Camino Real de la Terra Adentro National Interpretive Trail. This 1870s architecture is a melange of restoration and preservation of a home with complex designs, from its adobe-style architecture to its Territorial Period Revival rancho. The Old San Ysidro Church was built in 1868 and was once the home of the San Ysidro Parish. Today, this beautifully preserved church serves as a venue for community events, including art fairs and concerts.
While in Corrales, remember to stop by the Corrales Growers Market, which is open once a week from April through October (and once a month in the winter months). The market is a treat for the senses, filled with locally grown goodies, including agricultural products and produce.
Taos
Despite acting as an early Spanish settlement, the Taos area was once occupied by the Tiwa people for centuries. Taos' roots can still be explored, especially at the Taos Pueblo, America's oldest continuously inhabited community. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is world-famous for its adobe settlements and for showcasing the Taos-speaking communities.
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is also a must-see attraction in Taos, straddling 650 feet, and is considered the fifth-highest bridge in America. Take breathtaking photos of the landscape featured in Hollywood hits like The Terminator, White Sands, and Born Killer.
Stop at Taos Plaza, where Spanish colonists settled over 400 years ago. Originally built as a defense structure, the Taos Plaza today functions as a center of the Taos Downtown Historic District. It's a popular attraction to explore the town's heritage and diverse culture, featuring a melange of boutiques and live cultural events!
Questa
You can truly breathe fresh air at Questa, a New Mexico village famous for its outdoors. Questa peeks between the Carson National Forest and the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and sits only half an hour north of Taos. Discover the Gateway to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, a landscape blessed with wide-open plains studded with volcanic cones and canyons harboring flowing rivers (including an 800-foot gorge carved by the Rio Grande). Here, you can awe at the highest volcanic cones in the monument, the Ute Mountain, which stands at 10,093 feet!
Chill and soak in views of Questa by driving the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, an 84-mile loop that starts (and ends) at Taos, with Questa as a stop. This driving route spoils passengers with views of historic towns and the rugged valleys of New Mexico, including some of the oldest rocks in the southwest.
Alternatively, those keen on learning local history can embark on the half-mile Questa History Trail, which begins at the intersection of Highways 522 and 38 and loops through the historical church plaza. Navigate using the red wooden arrows to discover the history and heritage of Questa, including Native settlements, trade routes, the impacts of the Spanish Inquisition on the American Southwest, and more.
Hatch
New Mexico's jewel, Hatch, is north of Las Cruces on the Rio Grande River Banks. The town is world-famous for growing the Hatch Chile peppers (New Mexico's state vegetable)! Foodies with spicy tastebuds ought to make a trip out of visiting "the Chile capital of the world," also known as the "best Chile place in the world!"
During Labor Day, invite a couple of friends to attend the Hatch Chile Festival. Afterward, sink into a hearty burger at Sparky's, known for its famous Hatch green chile cheeseburger! Before heading home, don't forget to stop at the Hatch Chile Express to bring the spice home, from zesty salsas to fresh chile powders.
Chimayo
The healing vibes at Chimayo are 25 miles north of Santa Fe at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Before the Spanish came to the area, the Tewa people believed the site flowed with healing spirits from the hot springs. According to the Puebloans, the lands were also habituated by supernatural bodies.
Chimayo is internationally known for El Santuario de Chimayo, a Catholic pilgrimage site and National Historic Landmark embedded with adobe architecture. During Holy Week, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flock to the church for prayers and to seek the landmark's reported healing properties.
While here, stop by the Chimayo Museum at the Plaza del Cerro, a historic neighborhood in the town. The museum is chalked full of artifacts and vintage photographs depicting the community's past. The building is an admirable architectural structure, highlighting a fine example of a traditional New Mexican adobe home, from its white-washed mud-plastered interior walls to its hardened mud floors.
Complete your visit to the town and learn about the Chimayo weavers and their intricate art, especially the works from the weavings of the Ortega and Trujillo families. Unique rugs, coats, blankets, and other woven accessories can be admired and found at the Centinela Traditional Arts, Ortega Weavers, and Trujillo's Weaving Shed.
Abiquiu
Abiquiu is a New Mexico jewel along Highway 84 between Española and Chama! The town's remarkable landscape was the backdrop for a collection of Hollywood westerns and blockbuster hits like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls and Cowboys & Aliens but is most famous for being the hometown of painter Georgia O'Keeffe.
During your stay at Abiquiu, spend the day at Ghost Ranch and check out its visitor center, tackle one of its hiking trails, or explore its two museums, the Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology and the Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology. The Ghost Ranch was also frequented by Georgia herself!
Fans of Abiquiu's artists must tour the Georgia O'Keeffe House, a National Historic Landmark that was also the home and studio of the famous artist. Visitors can also soak in the surrounding landscape that inspired Georgia's artistic visions.
Folks who love the outdoors can enjoy their day at Abiquiu Lake, one of Northern New Mexico's popular fishing spots. The area is also the site of 200-million-year-old fossils and offers panoramic views of the Cerro Pedernal from the dam, all surrounded by a collection of red sandstone formations!
Carlsbad
Besides its views of the Pecos River and the Chihuahuan Desert, there's a reason Carlsbad is nicknamed "The Pride of the Pecos" and "The Pearl on the Pecos." This New Mexico town is a gateway to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a famous attraction drawing tourists to survey an army of bats leaving the caves between October and May. This world-famous attraction is only 18 miles from the town!
Lake Carlsbad, in the heart of Carlsbad, is an ideal locale for fishing, boating, water-skiing, and camping. Head over to the Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area to picnic with a group in one of the shaded picnic areas and grills. The area is surrounded by city-owned parks, golf courses, and a walkway stretching 4.5 miles.
A desert oasis awaits at the Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, nestled in the Lincoln National Forest, about 42 miles west of Carlsbad. Here, visitors can discover a series of spring-fed waterfalls stretching 150 feet and 16 miles of canyon land trails made for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders!
Alamogordo
This Southeastern New Mexico town is blessed with 287 of sunshine, making it equipped for outdoor adventures. Alamogordo is also well-equipped for nature-oriented thrills thanks to its location in the high desert at the base of the Sacramento Mountains.
Enjoy the backdrop of the Sacramento Mountains in South Alamogordo at the Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. This attraction sits at the mouth of Dog Canyon, housing water pools drawing crowds for millennia. Here, visitors will also find a historic ranch belonging to the late Oliver Milton Lee, a prominent figure in New Mexico's history. The park also spoils hikers traversing through the Dog Canyon Recreational Trails with views of the Tularosa Basin and the Organ Mountains.
Less than 30 minutes away from the Oliver Lee State Park, and just north of town, fans of quirky roadside attractions ought to visit McGinn's PistachioLand. This farm includes 90 acres of pistachios with 14 acres of vineyards. Its popular highlight is its larger-than-life pistachio, dubbed the largest pistachio in the world. Celebrities like Norman Reedus and the Osbournes even stopped by the farm to see the massive nut!
No trip to Alamogordo is complete without a visit to the White Sands National Park. This US park encompasses 275 square miles blanketed with wave-like white gypsum dunes! Enjoy the spectacular views of the park by walking through the Interdune Boardwalk and the Dune Life Nature Trails, admiring the landscape of the world's largest gypsum field.
New Mexico is a venture-worthy jewel with a rich history, heritage, and complex landscapes. A trip to New Mexico is unforgettable when travelers explore its small towns, from the UFO-themed attractions in Roswell to PistachioLand in Alamogordo. Visiting these charming towns will make tourists understand why America's 47th state is nicknamed "The Land of Enchantment."
