Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Southeastern New Mexico
While a cave might not sound quite as sexy as redwoods, geysers or the Grand Canyon, there’s no question that this one measures up on the national parks’…
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Southeastern New Mexico
While a cave might not sound quite as sexy as redwoods, geysers or the Grand Canyon, there’s no question that this one measures up on the national parks’…
Southeastern New Mexico
Undulating through the Tularosa Basin like something out of a dream, these ethereal dunes are a highlight of any trip to New Mexico, and a must on every…
Southeastern New Mexico
Roswell's excellent museum deserves a visit. Twelve galleries showcase Southwestern artists including Georgia O'Keeffe, Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth,…
International UFO Museum & Research Center
Southeastern New Mexico
There’s a lot of reading to be done here and exhibits dive right into the nitty-gritty, assuming familiarity with Roswell's extraterrestrial past. Display…
Southeastern New Mexico
It's hard to believe that in Billy the Kid's era Lincoln was home to a bustling population of nearly 900. Today it is essentially a ghost town, with only…
Southeastern New Mexico
The remote Three Rivers Petroglyph Site showcases over 21,000 petroglyphs, incised six centuries ago by the Jornada Mogollon people onto the flat surfaces…
New Mexico Museum of Space History
Southeastern New Mexico
Looming over the northeast corner of town and nicknamed 'the golden cube,' this four-story museum is surrounded by historic missiles, and holds excellent…
Valley of Fires Recreation Area
Southeastern New Mexico
At the Valley of Fires Recreation Area, 4 miles west of Carrizozo, you can explore the rocky blackness of a 125-sq-mile lava flow that's 160ft deep in the…
Hurd-La Rinconada Gallery & Sentinel Ranch Winery
Southeastern New Mexico
San Patricio, a tranquil country village along the Rio Ruidoso, has the kind of golden glow and gentle scenery that's been drawing artists to New Mexico…
Mexican Canyon Trestle Overlook
Southeastern New Mexico
Built in 1899 to carry timber down to Alamogordo for the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, the railway line here twisted up the Sacramento Mountains for…
Hubbard Museum of the American West
Southeastern New Mexico
This town-run museum focuses on local history, with a wonderful gallery of old photos, and also displays Native American kachinas, war bonnets, weapons…
Southeastern New Mexico
The painters, writers and craftspeople who live in the tiny enclave of La Luz, 4 miles north of Alamogordo, share a passion for creating artwork and…
Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Southeastern New Mexico
Wintering water birds gather at this 38-sq-mile refuge, 10 miles northeast of Roswell; many birds remain to nest in the summer. Bring your binoculars for…
Southeastern New Mexico
National attention focuses on the Ruidoso Downs racetrack on Labor Day for the world's richest quarter-horse race, the All American Futurity, which has a…
Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico
Southeastern New Mexico
Housed in the 1912 mansion of local rancher James Phelps White, this property is on the National Register of Historic Places, and its interior has been…
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park
Southeastern New Mexico
Northwest of town, this state park is a great place to see and learn about reptiles and roadrunners, wolves and elk, along with desert plants such as…
Southeastern New Mexico
Railroad buffs and kids flock to this 1898 railway depot, for five rooms of train memorabilia and toy trains, and a 2.5-mile narrow-gauge minitrain ($5)…
Southeastern New Mexico
This museum displays Apache artifacts, pioneer memorabilia from the region and paintings by artists from the Taos School. Ask staff about the resident…
Southeastern New Mexico
One of the world's largest solar observatories is near Sunspot, 20 miles south of Cloudcroft. Though it's primarily for scientists, tourists can enter the…
Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation
Southeastern New Mexico
Around 4000 Apache – not only Mescalero, but also Chiricahua and Lipan – live on this reservation, stretching approximately 720 sq miles south and west of…
Tularosa Basin Museum of History
Southeastern New Mexico
Thoroughly regional little museum, spotlighting ancient people, ranching life, the military and local families of note. Lots of small-town artifacts too,…
Southeastern New Mexico
Said to be the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi, established in 1898, this small but well-run place features exotics from around the world. Assuming…
Southeastern New Mexico
At Smokey Bear Historical Park, in the village of Capitan, 12 miles west of Lincoln, you can see the famous bear's grave and learn tons about forest fires…
Southeastern New Mexico
A system of dams and spillways on the Pecos River created the 2-mile-long Lake Carlsbad immediately east of downtown, which holds pleasant trails along…