Paddling Elephant Butte Lake
Raft, kayak, canoe, or generally paddle the rocky shore of Elephant Butte Lake State Park, a reservoir of the Rio Grande in central New Mexico.
Category New Mexico
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Meow Wolf’s Extended Universe
The Meow Wolf art collective births an extended universe of immersive art and interactive storytelling across New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado with more to come.
Elephant Butte Lake State Park
New Mexico is a colorful and dramatic state of deserts and mountains. Water is a precious commodity. Which lead to the authorization of the Rio Grande Project back in 1905. This program to provide power and irrigation to New Mexico and Texas led to the erection of several dams along the Rio Grande, including the Elephant Butte Dam just north of Truth or Consequences. The resulting Elephant Butte Reservoir, however, is more than just a holding tank for farmer's fields. It has become a recreation hotspot as Elephant Butte Lake State Park.
Shakespeare Ghost Town
Southern New Mexico is a harsh desert environment. The winds whip by at intensities provoking an early warning system for dust storms and sun protection is warranted even in the winter. Yet, scrappy people have lived and even thrived in this area for generations. Some stay. Some move on. A bit of both is found in Shakespeare's Ghost Town, the remains of a thriving mining town now passed down through a family of caretakers and conservationists.
Shiprock
Shiprock—Tsé Bitʼaʼí, "rock with wings" or "winged rock" to the Navajo people—rises a dramatic 1,583 feet above the desert floor of North-Western New Mexico. These eroded remains of an ancient volcano are sacred the the Navajo who live in the area. While access to the peak itself is forbidden, the dramatic views of Shiprock make it worth a visit.
Bombs, Dune Running, And Sun In White Sands National Monument
White Sands National Monument has been high on my list of places to visit for quite a while. It was also high on another list: a tentative list of new World Heritage Sites. You know, like the Pyramids of Giza, Galápagos Islands, and other major cultural or natural sites in the world.
Aguirre Spring Campground
We don't have high expectations when we compromise on a campground. We are headed to White Sands National Monument, but there are no drive-in camp sites in the monument itself. So, we need a campground not too far outside of the monument to spend the night and are willing to sacrifice scenery for proximity. So, we expect the regular cramped campgrounds. We are not prepared for the remarkable views from Aguirre Spring Campground.
New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum
We raced through Texas. We have plans for that state for a little later in the winter. Right now, we have some people to see further west. For all the fury of travel, we do make a point to get out of the car each day. Today, that stop is along the very small wedge of New Mexico that is traced by the 10: the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.
El Morro
Hike past petroglyphs, historic route markings, and graffiti around the iconic cliffs of this box canyon at El Morro National Monument in New Mexico.