| Carlsbad Caverns National Park
As you pass through the Chihuahuan Desert and Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico and west Texas�filled with prickly pear, chollas, sotols and agaves�you might never guess there are more than 300 known caves beneath the surface. The park contains 113 of these caves, formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone, creating some of the largest caves in North America. Cave Tours All visitors to the park should tour the main section of the cave, the Big Room self-guided tour. The 8.2-acre Big Room is partially wheelchair accessible. The Natural Entrance self-guided tour is also very impressive, but it is also more difficult due to the steepness of the trail. Guided tours of varying difficulties are also available�from the self-guided areas of the Big Room to crawling through narrow passageways in the Hall of the White Giant or in Spider Cave. To reserve tickets for a guided tour, call our reservation service at 1.877.444.6777.
Cloudcroft Museum and Pioneer Village
Before the turn of the twentieth century, settlers began to flock to the beautiful Sacramento Mountains, encroaching on the Mescalero Apaches who already made their homes in the cool timbers. Some came looking for a better country for permanent settlement. Others were interested in harvesting timber to build a railroad from El Paso to points north. Still others came on holiday, finding respite in the cool breezes and mild temperatures of what the Apaches once termed as Pisacah, “a place of plenty.” Come visit the Sacramento Mountains Museum & Pioneer Village and learn the fascinating story of these resilient peoples as they struggled against the elements and against one another to tame the environs and claim a portion of it as their own.
International Balloon Fiesta
For nine days in October, the New Mexico skies are painted as hundreds of balloons lift off from Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta Park. Nothing rivals the power of Mass Ascension on crisp early mornings as these graceful giants leave the ground to take their place in the cerulean desert sky. For ballooning fans worldwide, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a pilgrimage. There’s something for everyone to enjoy . . . whimsical special shapes filled with equal parts of hot air and wonder, and Balloon Glows that create a magical night landscape for spectators to wander. No matter who you are, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will leave you awestruck and wanting more. What is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta? The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. For more than three decades, the first week in October brings the smell of roasting chiles and the beautiful, magical moving picture show of hot air balloons sailing silently through the crisp fall air. Guests from all over the world come to Albuquerque to celebrate ballooning. Literally hundreds of balloons will be taking flight from the Balloon Fiesta Park this year. From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, the Balloon Fiesta has grown to multiple events launching year-round at the custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park. Our signature event remains Balloon Fiesta�which, with 700 balloons, is the largest ballooning event on earth, the most photographed event on earth, and the largest annual international event held in the United States.
Lincoln National Forest
National Park Overview: Located in South Central New Mexico, the Lincoln National Forest is known as the birthplace of the world-famous Smokey Bear, the living symbol of the campaign to prevent forest fires. The original bear is buried in Capitan, New Mexico. The Lincoln consists of three ranger districts; Sacramento, Smokey Bear and Guadalupe. There are three major mountain ranges; Sacramento, Guadalupe and Capitan that cover 1,103,441 acres in parts of four counties in southeastern New Mexico. Elevations of 4,000 to 11,500 feet pass through five different life zones from Chihuahuan desert to subalpine forest. Vegetation ranges from rare cacti in the lower elevations to Englemann spruce in the higher.
Mountain Monthly Newspaper
The Lodge in Cloudcroft
The original Cloudcroft Lodge was built in 1899 with the billing that it would become �one of the greatest summer resorts in the West.� The dining and kitchen areas of the two-story structure faced Possum Avenue (now US Highway 82) and the front of the building faced Chipmunk Avenue at the end of Wren Place. With a headline of �The Cloudcroft Lodge Gone Up In Smoke,� the June 19th, 1909, edition of the Cloudcroft Silver Lining announced the tragic news that the Lodge had succumb to fire. �The fire was doubtlessly caused by a defective flue as there was a good fire in the fireplace up to midnight, being Saturday night and the guests having been assembled around the fire having a good time,� the story stated. The overall feeling at the time was the fire was �the greatest loss Cloudcroft had ever experienced.� However by 1911, The Lodge was rebuilt at its current location on Corona Place and despite renovations and the addition of central heat and air, the facility has remained as it was when it entertained the likes of Judy Garland, Gilbert Roland, Clark Gable, Pancho Villa and most-recently Sam Donaldson and New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. In the 1930s the resort was managed by Conrad Hilton, who was born and raised in San Antonio, New Mexico. According to reports, Hilton was familiar with The Lodge and wanted to be closer to his family, while his own hotel chain slowly began its climb to prominence. The Lodge offers an amazing view of Cloudcroft, and has a delicious brunch buffet on weekends!
Museum of the Horse
National Atomic Museum
National Recreation Reservation Service (Camp Grounds)
New Mexico Museum of Space History
New Mexico Skies – Amateur Astronomy Guest Observatory
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
The Trusted Home Inspector
PBS Stations in New Mexico |
Petroglyph National Monument
Roswell Symphony Orchestra
Sacramento Mountains Senior Services
Sacramento Peak Solar Observatory
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Sandia Peak Tramway
SnowStats – Snow Conditions
Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts
Tombaugh Planetarium & IMAX Theater
White Sands/Bataan March
The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging march through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, N.M., conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their very lives. Choose between two routes The GREEN route is the full 26.2-mile Bataan Memorial Death March. Awards are presented to the top two finishers in each category. Those marching the 26.2 miles will be able to experience, in part, what Soldiers endured during their long forced trek through the Philippines. The BLUE route is 15.2 miles in length. This shorter march is designed for participates who would like to memorialize Bataan but do not wish to march the full 26.2-mile route. There are NO awards given for this shorter march.
White Sands Missile Range
White Sands Missile Range Museum
Outside the museum is a missile park displaying a variety of missiles and rockets tested at White Sands. These include everything from the WAC Corporal and Loon (U.S. version of the V-1) to a Pershing II and Patriot. More than 50 items are on display. To view some of the missiles and rockets in the missile park use this link — Missiles in Missile Park. The Museum is open year-round. Admission is FREE. Hours on weekdays are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Closed Holidays. The Missile Park is open dawn to dark seven days a week. For more information concerning events call the White Sands Missile Range Museum (505) 678-8824
White Sands National Monument
Like No Place Else on Earth Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world’s great natural wonders – the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world’s largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment.
White Sands Test Facility |