What to do in New Mexico!

Sheryl
Apr 4, 2019
7 min read

Updated: Apr 11, 2019

1) White Sands New Mexico

For cool, snow looking, silky sand, come to White Sands, New Mexico. It will make Game of Thrones wish they did their filming here! The sand has its use for many things, primarily making our homes cooler to sandboarding on. This was an experience we, as a family, will never forget, especially my kids. How they had to come back here for a another day of sandboarding because one day was not enough. It went from let's go exploring all of New Mexico mom to can we just stay(play) here for the week. I mean who could resist silky cool sand between your hands and toes...and face! Sand board rentals and purchase are at the gift shop before park entrance, where you can find a cool history museum of the sands and neat souvenirs. There is a fee to get into the park but it is good for the whole day. You also should attend the sunset walk which starts around 430pm to get a really cool tour about how White Sands was formed and the habitat that the sands created for different creatures. Although we saw no animals when we visited White Sands, we did see the water beneath the huge sandy land during the tour. Water? Yes there is water underneath all this but you have to come here to understand.

2) Pistachio Land

There's nothing like freshly grown pistachios on the palm of your hand. Here in New Mexico, apparently pistachios are grown well and plentiful. You get to try a variety of pistachios covered in something like red chile to green chile to lemon and toffee. Spicy garlic toffee was my favorite btw. Don't forget the ice cream as they also have a variety of yummy creamy delicious coldness to choose from and it's homemade too. Black cherry was delicious! Then, take a tour of the on the pistachio grove for a fee. Although we didn't take that tour, we managed to get a picture in front of the huge pistachio statue. A little faded pistachio maybe, but you can't miss this place when you're in New Mexico, the pistachio is too big to miss. This is also around 20 minutes from White Sands so if your hungry for snacks before sand boarding....

3) New Mexico Museum of Space History

They have full NASA suits for everyone in the family to try on and what was more cool was the moon background to prove that you were an astronaut at least for a minute. At the museum, you can learn about the first spaceship, to the first woman and man astronaut in space. There is also the planetarium which is just down the stairs of the parking lot. There you can see the night sky in real time and learn about black holes and constellations, depending on what they are showing that day. Don't forget the Star Trek walk through and to take pictures in a real space shuttle.

4) Carlsbad Caverns

Check out the baddest rock formations underground, carved by a prehistoric sea. First, you'll enter through the huge mouth of the cave and swirl your way down into darkness to get to the wondrous fairy like land called the Big Room. Other rooms are available to go into but you have to make reservations for them and there is a fee besides the entrance fee. Reservations must be made as early as possible like a month because when we called for reservations a day or two before and day of, they were booked. Some kids will make you buy miner hats, just like mine did, so make them really feel like they went digging in a cave! Bats were not present the time of the year when we went in November or I would have taken pictures! But just to be clear, there are hundred of bats in this cave during the warmer months. Seeing the bats in the cave would be great as the opening of the cavern have benches to watch all the bats fly out of there. Don't forget to read about the caves and how the stalagmites and stalactites formed at their little discovery center. You'll wonder why orange juice has something to do with the caverns. hint: it has something to do with those bats.

5) Roswell, New Mexico

Super ecstatic by the fact that aliens landed here on earth and inspired by the show Roswell, we just had to go to the place that the aliens actually landed at. What better way than to spend half the day, which is more than enough, at the little town of Roswell. Fall in love with the museum that showcase all the evidence to support that a UFO did land somewhere in Roswell and that we are not alone in this Universe. There is no fee for the museum and it's worth all the knowledge. Walk into this little town and you'll find aliens decorated among the windows and buildings of stores and restaurants. It's such a cute alien town! I think I loved it more than my kids and husband did, but that's just me! You can also walk your way to the Roswell town hall if you're also feeling like you need a little more exploring.

6) The Very Large Array

Just can't get enough of space? New Mexico is what space is all about. If you've seen the movie Contact and Independence Day, then you've seen these things. These are the World's Largest telescopes and communication devices used for space just in case a meteor is coming after earth or an alien wants to come visit. These things were huge and so amazingly unique yet each of them do the same thing which is to look into solar system and other solar systems and study the universe. It's a fee to pay and walk into the Large Array field and see them all lined up and moving around, but it's so worth it plus it helps with space research. The kids loved the mini array and testing out the way one of these things work by using their voice like a can on the string and I kind of freaked out by grinding noise one of them made when the array's moved around. Although you were limited to only seeing a few on the field you can still take great pictures and see them move on the train tracks. Yes, they move on train tracks! Don't forget to visit the mini discovery center as well to watch the little clip about the arrays, check out the awesome space pictures these could take and see how these things were created and how they are still evolving.

7) The Four Corners

Want to experience the best of four states? like Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona? Then why not travel to the corners. Here at four corners you get to touch all the states with each of your fingers or hands and feet. It's a very exciting journey to the four corners if you're into the long up and down roads. There is a fee to go to the four corners to help the indian reservation and there are plenty of little kiosks surrounding the corner selling local handmade items . I bought a few bracelets and they were well made. Be aware of windy weather. There is a little town called Farmington that has plenty of inns and suites to stay at, Hampton Inn of course is our favorite that we got a free room that night because of all the times we stayed with them through our travels. This Hampton Inn at Farmington is very beautifully decorated inside and with very warm, relaxing lobby. If you're looking for some lunch before you head over to the four corners then head over to the town of Bloomfield for an amazing chinese buffet which is quit a lovely restaurant to be at when you've been on the road for hours.

8) Breaking Bad Places

Any Breaking Bad show fans? Step into the places where your favorite breaking bad character stepped on. They were filmed at New Mexico so hello! we just had to check them out. Our favorite was Twisters which was Los Pollos Hermanos in the show. They have great food and awesome churros!!! and Mister Car wash did look like Mister Car wash....

9) Golden Crown Panaderia

This was such a pretty bakery nestled in the quiet New Mexico neighborhood. With it's delicious free cookie for just being there this it truly a wonderful breakfast and lunch spot. What's even more awesome is that it's a full sized family home turned into bakery so you totally feel like you're just a home eating a delicious sandwich or empanada with the family. Founded by leading top chefs in the state, this place will not disappoint you, there is just so many cookies and empanadas to choose from! My faves are their apple empanadas and wedding cookies. yuuuuuum!

10) Torino's @ Home

Trattoria Italiana and caffe

If you're looking for great Italian food in New Mexico this is it! Torino's is so good just the appetizer will make you want more. You have to try the Baratta it's a salty and sweet goodness that's sure to satisfy all your taste buds. The portions are of a good size and you can even share them if you're on the portion control thing, it'll fill you up either way. It's kid friendly, family friendly and worth the price. It's not expensive and you get a good quality meal.

11) Downtown New Mexico

Downtown New Mexico is minutes from UNM and home to a bunch of restaurants and mini shops. It has a very vintage like atmosphere that you wouldn't believe you're in downtown. Five minutes away from the downtown stretch is old downtown which has museums and mini shops as well.