Three years ago, my now husband and I took our first trip together to New Mexico. It was one of the best trips either of us had ever done, and we fell in love with New Mexico (and each other) so much that after we got married three years later, it became our indubitable honeymoon destination. The two trips combined into an eight-day grand loop across the state, and although every stop was so drastically different from one another, they were all just as incredibly beautiful.
Stop 1: Albuquerque
The big hub where almost every tourist flies into may seem a bit desolated at first glance. Long, wide streets were dotted with shopping centers, restaurants, and gentlemen’s clubs (actually quite a few of them), but cars and pedestrians were a rare sight, even in the center of downtown. Maybe we just weren’t there at the right time. But at least once a year, the city bursts into life with hundreds of hot air balloons filling the sky at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the biggest extravaganza of its kind and the most photographed event in the world.
The fiesta takes place during early October, and is in fact happening right now this year. There are lots of events and entertainment throughout the week, but the ones you don’t want to miss are the weekend morning Mass Ascensions. Watching over five hundred balloons taking off into the morning sky is an experience like nothing else! And the balloons come in all shapes and patterns. In addition to the traditional round, color striped ones, there are also cartoon balloons of Van Gogh, Darth Vader, and Mario, just to name a few. For those that are able to wake up super early, the Morning Glow where flames light up in twilight is also a beautiful sight.
The nearby Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is also worth checking out for a cool history of balloons and zeppelins. Speaking of which, Albuquerque does have a few unique museums, the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History being one of them and has some very educational exhibits.
Stop 2: Tijeras
One might ask what’s there to see in this tiny village. Well, technically this is not a “stop”, but rather a drive, of the “Musical Highway” on Route 66 near Albuquerque. Ever waken up to those loud rumbling shoulder pavements on a highway? If you go the right speed on this one, instead of making that annoying noise and vibration that shakes your whole body numb, the road will actually play America the Beautiful for about 20 seconds. We passed right by it on our first trip and couldn’t wait to try it out when we returned, and it worked! Cruise control is your friend for this one, and make sure to keep your right tires on the rumbled section near the shoulder.
Stop 3: Santa Fe
Towns don’t really get more artsy than Santa Fe. From the State Capitol building that also happens to host an enormous collection of paintings, to Canyon Road where over a hundred galleries and boutiques showcase every style of artwork, there is always something for everyone. For us, it was quite intriguing to see the various painting created on metal surfaces using heat and acid. The colors were so vibrant and the texture almost looked like an embossed relief.
Pictures left to right: sculpture made from paint brushes, film tape, etc. at the State Capitol; kinetic sculptures at Canyon Road; patina painting on Aluminum.
For a modern art experience that gives you weird dreams, look no further than Meow Wolf. Partially gaining its fame from being funded by George R.R. Martin, this place is like a series of comic book themed escape rooms connected by space tunnels. You’ll see what I mean:
Stop 4: Taos Pueblo
Just outside Santa Fe, Taos may be best known as a skiing paradise, but summer is possibly a better time to visit if you could catch the annual feast. We unfortunately missed it by just one day, but were able at least partially make up for it with a similar celebration in the nearby Navajo Nation. Each tribe is of course different, but the colorful dresses, powerful dance, and the resonating drumming and singing all carry similar messages, and are sure to leave anyone yearning to return. There are also a number of other pueblos scattered around the state and their feast days are listed here. But regardless, the pueblo architecture and handcrafted native art at Taos are well worth a visit on its own.
Stop 5: Carlsbad Caverns
New Mexico is far more than a cultural destination. Four hours further south, down in the Guadalupe Mountains, the climate suddenly changes and so does the view. Home to the largest limestone chamber in the country, Carlsbad Caverns is overwhelming both in sheer volume and the intricacy of decorations. Standing at the center of the Big Room, the beautiful stalactites hanging from the ceiling looked like snow covered forests in a fairy tale.
The cave is also a summer retreat for Brazilian free-tailed bats that migrate from Mexico. At dusk, the exodus of hundreds of thousands of them from the cave is simply spectacular. It starts with one, then two, then all of a sudden a swarm, that swirls around the entrance to the cave before stretching afar into the dim evening sky like a dark cloud. The show can last for hours, and even after it gets too dark to see this natural wonder, you can still hear their flight and the occasional sounds of air breaking from their swift dives. Only if cameras weren’t electronic and we’d be able to take some pictures!
Stop 6: White Sands
I always thought of New Mexico as a big open desert, but the drive from Carlsbad to White Sands proved me wrong. Through the myriads of narrow, winding country roads hugging ridged mountains and river valleys, it almost gave me an illusion of road tripping in Hawaii (mostly due to the shape of the mountains… Not trying to compare them here!).
That said, as soon as we arrived at White Sands, I knew I was back in a desert.
Being the largest gypsum dune field on earth, White Sands is technically not “sand”, but that didn’t stop us from totally being kids on a beach.
For the best, purest color with no footsteps, head to Alkali Flat Trail at dawn or dusk, when the soft sunlight and shadows make the dunes look much whiter than midday. Right around sunrise and sunset, the grayish green hue of the grass also combines magically with the rainbow colored sky to create a real life Instagram filtered look.
Stop 7: Chaco Canyon
Lastly, let’s not forget the famous Anasazi. Chaco Canyon may be less known than Mesa Verde, but its collection of ruins and cultural significance is not any less jaw dropping than its younger sister. The main attraction, Pueblo Bonito, is a Great House built around 1000 AD that covered a whopping 2 acres of land and contained almost 1000 rooms. Definitely do the hike to see it from above!
One thought that kept coming to my mind during our trips was that, it is quite impossible to find a single image or word that screams “New Mexico”. Be it breathtaking landscape, rich human history, or eclectic culture and art, this place has got it all. You won’t know until you see it for yourself, that it truly deserves to be called “Land of Enchantment”.
