New Mexico

The narrative of New Mexico is as enduring, wild, mysterious and magical as the arid backdrop on which it plays out. The Wild West has long been America's favorite tale of adversity and freedom, and nowhere is it better witnessed than the "Land of Enchantment." Artists, musicians, writers, and filmmakers from around the world are drawn to Santa Fe's attractions, and many visit seeking to experience northern New Mexico's "unique light." In this region you'll also find Taos, a long-established Native American Pueblo, home to fantastic skiing, and a laidback mountain lifestyle. Los Alamos, where the nuclear bomb was developed (and still a ...

The narrative of New Mexico is as enduring, wild, mysterious and magical as the arid backdrop on which it plays out. The Wild West has long been America's favorite tale of adversity and freedom, and nowhere is it better witnessed than the "Land of Enchantment." Artists, musicians, writers, and filmmakers from around the world are drawn to Santa Fe's attractions, and many visit seeking to experience northern New Mexico's "unique light." In this region you'll also find Taos, a long-established Native American Pueblo, home to fantastic skiing, and a laidback mountain lifestyle. Los Alamos, where the nuclear bomb was developed (and still a tightly guarded research facility today) as well as the ever-extraterrestrial Roswell also call this state home. New Mexico's capital, Albuquerque, supports a quirky mix of posh adobe homes and run-down trailer parks. And the state also has historic Route 66 running through it. In the state's far southern region you'll find the eerie, and gorgeous, White Sand Dunes National Monument, and towns, like Truth & Consequence, named for the sole purpose of drawing tourists!

About the Expert

Aaron Anderson is coauthor of Lonely Planet's Washington, D.C. City Guide, a contributor on western states to Lonely Planet USA, and he wrote the Austria chapters for Lonely Planet's Western Europe and Europe on a Shoestring.