I want to go bake my head in the desert sun for a few days and I need some recommendations for someplace to go in NM that I haven’t really been to before. I have visited Albuquerque many times, but it has been years since I was there last. I love that it is near both the mountains and the desert, but on this trip I would like to step out of my room and be able to walk into the sand and heat.
I’m looking for little out-of-the-way places, B&Bs, small hotels/motels, etc. No nightlife necessary, for that I would just stay in ABQ. Retreat centers may be okay, but I’d rather bring my own woo and not rely on someone else’s, if you know what I mean. A place to sit and write, a place to contemplate my next step. Quiet. Near a national or state park would be great. I plan on driving and it takes me about 16 hours to get to ABQ from KC.
Any suggestions? Feel free to ask me more questions and help me narrow my choices.
I live in New Mexico and I think Alamogordo might fit your requirements. White Sands National Monument is just down the road. Carlsbad & Carlsbad Caverns are about 150 miles east of there. Three Rivers Petroglyph site is just 30 miles north and contains a remarkable display of ancient rock engravings.
Another 30 miles north is Carrizozo and nearby Valley Of Fires State Park, an extensive lava flow with a paved hiking trail. In the nearby mountains are Capitan (and the Smokey Bear Museum) and Lincoln, of Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid fame.
In the tiny community of San Patricio, NM (about 60 miles NE of Alamogordo) is the Hurd-La Rinconada Gallery and guest homes. I haven’t stayed there but I have visited; they have lots of beautiful artwork and you couldn’t find a more quiet and out-of-the-way place.
I can’t recommend any specific lodging in Alamogordo; I have camped at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park just south of town but it doesn’t sound like you’re looking for a campground.
Thanks Bumbershoot, I’ll look into San Patricio. It sounds like what I am looking for. I’m not adverse to camping, but I just returned from a 6 day camping trip and I’m kinda want’n air conditioning and a hot shower at the end of the day this time.
ETA: The Gallery Guest Homes sound lovely, but there is no internet. I could do without, but I’d rather not. But the area may be perfect.
I understand about wanting internet service! The only place I have stayed in the area (other than the campground) is the West Winds Lodge in Ruidoso. It was very nice & reasonably priced (plus they do have internet) but Ruidoso is in the mountains and you specified more of a desert location.
I checked bedandbreakfast.com and they don’t have any listings for Alamogordo. I always enjoy visiting that part of the state and I hope you find something you like!
One of the great views near Cloudcroft is of the White Sands National Monument from a turn out on the mountain road going down to Alamagordo.
Depending on your route to get there in the first place, you may also be driving thru Roswell, with all the fun that entails. Avoid stopping in Artesia. Stinky little place. Tho the oil field landscape east of Artesia is, shall we say, interesting…
…
Over to the west a bit from Ruidoso and Alamogordo is the Silver City/Deming area. Right in between there is what is perhaps my favorite place on earth: Faywood Hot Springs. They have camping places and cabins available, and the City of Rocks State Park is nearby.
To the south, Deming has one of the most interesting local museums I’ve ever seen, and if you’re at all interested in rock collecting, the Rockhound State Park is (I believe) the only state park that allows you to take rocks home!
To the north, Silver City has become something of an artists’ colony, but it hadn’t completely become a Hipster Haven the last time I was through.
All in all, it’s a very relaxing area of New Mexico, and very far from urban.
I’ve lived in New Mexico almost 14 years and I’ve never been to Silver City! I’m not sure why; my older brother has been backpacking in the Gila Wilderness many times and keeps telling me how nice it is in that area. And your links look really interesting, InternetLegend. Maybe this summer I’ll make a trip down there.
Another area that the OP might enjoy is around Magdalena. It’s a small, quiet community with quite a history as a true wild west town. Both miners and cowboys came there and things could get rough on a Saturday night. Here’s a link to lodging & dining in the area.
It has art galleries and historic buildings as well. There are two ghost towns nearby. Water Canyon campground & picnic area is not far away, with rugged terrain, hiking trails and trees for a break from the high desert. 30 miles west is the Very Large Array. I don’t think I’ve ever visited the VLA without seeing pronghorn antelope.
Madrid is a nice little former mining town on Hwy 14 (the Turquoise Trail), a very scenic drive from Cedar Crest on the east side of the Sandia Mountains north to Santa Fe.
It’s a popular stop on that drive, with lots of art galleries, shops, eateries and so forth. It can get pretty crowded on weekends. They have music festivals and other special events in the summer.
Madrid was practically a ghost town by the early 1970s, when hippies started moving in and selling arts & crafts to tourists. It has made quite a comeback. The most popular drinking establishment is the Mine Shaft Tavern, which has live music on the weekends.
Chama is near the Colorado border and is beautiful. You can ride the Cumbres railway up over La Manga pass, visit several lakes or just hang out in town. Chama Days is around the first week of August.
Chiming in to +1 Cloudcroft. If you are there at night, whatever you do, don’t look up. Last time I did that I was so star struck in nearly fell over backwards.
How about around Santa Fe? We just spent a week there last fall. Lots of art galleries to wander around in. Also museums and historical venues. We also did day trips to Taos and Los Alamos. The most unexpected place we visited was Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Much more scenic and interesting than we expected.
Love Santa Fe. If the OP drives up there, I recommend taking the old meandering highway instead of the interstate. A nice drive.
Bumbershoot, I loved living in Albuquerque and remember those days fondly. I used to live in the Citadel Apartments right on the corner of University and Indian School. Do you know them by any chance? Seems like everyone I’ve ever met since then who used to live in Albuquerque knew those apartments. Someone said they were pretty rundown now, but they were fairly new back then. This was a long time ago, some good times. It was after returning to the US from the first time I lived in Thailand, and the only reason I left Albuquerque was I was accepted to school in Hawaii. I’ve often wondered what would have happened if I’d stayed.
Well, I’ve driven past the Citadel Apts. countless times- I like to watch the Lobos play at the Pit and often take University Blvd. to or from games. Plus a good friend used to live about a mile south of there (half a block from Roosevelt Park on Coal Ave.), but honestly I never knew the apartment complex’s name until now, or paid much attention to them.
I actually live and work in Rio Rancho (1.5 miles from the city limits) and have never lived in Albuquerque proper. But I love Albuquerque and I love living in New Mexico. I’ve been to pretty much every place people have mentioned in this thread (except the stuff in the Silver City area) and agree that they are all worth visiting.
