The south-western state of New Mexico has a lot
of room for enjoyment as it’s the fifth-largest in America by
size and the 36th by population as it’s home to only about two
million people. The region was settled by Native Americans for
hundreds of years and then belonged to New Spain and Mexico
before it became the 47th state to join the Union back in 1912.
Like the name suggests, it has a large Hispanic influence and
population, and is still home to many Native Americans. The
capital city is Santa Fe, and Albuquerque is the largest. Other
major centers include Rio Rancho, Las Cruces, Roswell, South
Valley, Farmington, Alamogordo, Clovis, Hobbs, and Carlsbad.
The strong mix of culture and history makes the
state a very interesting place indeed as it’s reflected in its
food, local art, and annual festivals. There are many outdoor
activities to enjoy such as golfing in Las Cruces, ballooning
over Albuquerque, and skiing in the Taos mountains
If you’d like to get a good look at the local
culture and art, one of the best places to hit is Santa Fe as it
has quite a few galleries that feature the unique and colorful
artwork of the local people. The Santa Fe Opera is also popular
as is the annual Chamber Music Festival.
The city also showcases the natural beauty of
the state with some spectacular scenery. The state’s landscape
features rose-colored deserts, snow-capped mountains, dense
forests, and the Rio Grande. This makes for some pretty
interesting flora and fauna, including cacti and roadrunners.
While in Albuquerque you can visit the New
Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, the National
Museum of Nuclear Science and History, and the National Hispanic
Cultural Center. If you head over to Silver City you’ll find a
large exhibition center for local artists.
There are tons of places to enjoy the outdoors
and some of the best ones to visit include Carson National
Forest, Lincoln National Forest, Santa Fe National Forest, the
Aztec Ruins National Monument, the Bandelier National Monument,
Capulin Volcano National Monument, the Carlsbad Caverns National
Park, the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic
Trail, the El Morro National Monument, Fort Union National
Monument, the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, and the Santa
Fe National Historic Trail.
New Mexico is pretty dry when it comes to
climate and it can get quite hot during the summers, while the
winters are relatively mild. It’s best to check the area you’re
visiting first for weather details as it’s a pretty big state.
It’s nice to drive into and around New Mexico as
it gives you a great opportunity to view all of the sites and
scenery. However, there are quite a few train stations if you’d
like to arrive by railway and check out the sights at the same
time. If you’re arriving by air, the main airport is located in
Albuquerque and there are quite a few regional ones spread
throughout the state.
While there aren’t any major league sports
franchises in New Mexico there are minor-league pro ones for
baseball, basketball, hockey, and indoor football as well as
collegiate sports.
There are plenty of hotels and motels etc. to
choose from in all price ranges and the restaurants offer an
excellent mix of dishes from the local cultures as well as fine
international cuisine.
New Mexico has some of the most fascinating
scenery in the country to go along with its rich history and is
a wonderful place for people of all ages to spend some time
exploring it.
About New Mexico