
Not only does Santa Fe have a thriving art scene, but it is also becoming a culinary capital in the US. Throughout the city, you will find many art galleries and works and another notable thing about Santa Fe is that the city is known for its pueblo architecture. It has even been recognized by UNESCO as one of their Creative Cities Network. Santa Fe is renowned for its creative vibe and artistic history. Santa Fe is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States and is a must-visit if you find yourself visiting New Mexico! The city is the capital of New Mexico but is merely the 4th largest with a population of just over 84,000.įounded in 1610, it is technically the oldest capital city in the United States and it is also the state capital with the highest elevation (7,199 feet), which is pretty impressive. You can take a look at the dinosaur bones, petrified wood, and so much more! Santa Fe If rock formations aren’t that interesting for you, exploring the wilderness study area is also an excellent option for visitors to this New Mexico landmark. The animal and plant life there is vibrant, mainly due to its geologic age and climate.Īh-Shi-Sle-Pah’s most iconic sights are the hoodoo formations that are also referred to as fairy chimneys. This place has some picturesque locations, and the particles that make up the soil there are geologically composed of layers of sandstone, shale, mudstone, and bituminous coal. This location incorporates impressively eroded giant rocks, multicolored badlands, weathered rock formations often referred to as hoodoos, and many other sights that are well-worthy to visit. This is easily one of the most underrated places to visit in New Mexico ! Ah-Shi-Sie-Pah (San Juan County)Īh-Shi-Sle-Pah is located in San Juan County, New Mexico, between Chaco Canyon and the De-Na-Zin Wilderness. If you decide to do some hiking in the area, you’ll be able to see many petroglyphs on the trails. They were carved in the basalt, and there are approximately 20,000 of those within the park.


When visiting, you’ll find most of the petroglyphs located in the Boca Negra Canyon area, some of which are more than 3,000 years old! Petroglyph National Monument This location was formed a few millennia ago, and it’s unique mainly because of the extensive volcanic activity that takes place there. Petroglyph National Monument is one of the best places to explore in New Mexico, especially if you’re interested in history and archeology. You will find many cool attractions in Ruidoso, making it a worthwhile stay! Petroglyph National Monument If you’re looking to plan a trip to White Sands, a great base is Ruidoso, a ski and outdoorsy town nearby. You can also take advantage of the hiking trails there. Some of the wonderful things to do in White Sands National Park are picnicking, photographing, camping, and going sledding on the dunes. It is New Mexico’s most visited national park. Interestingly, this national park only gained status in December 2019 after being a National Monument for nearly a century. There are many species living in White Sands National Park, most of which are invertebrates (and 40 moth species, oddly enough). This is the largest dune field of its kind on the entire planet, making it one of the coolest destinations in New Mexico, without a doubt. The park covers 145,762 acres and you will find fields of white sand dunes that are created from gypsum crystals there. White Sands only became popular in a mainstream kind of way in the last few years thanks in part to Instagram but this park in the Tularosa Basin deserves every bit of tourism it receives. One of the craziest and most scenic places to visit in New Mexico is White Sands National Park, a park that is surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range. Best Places to Visit in New Mexico – The List White Sands National Park You can then view it on your cell phone or computer by heading to your Google Maps account, click the menu and add it to ‘Your Places’. To add this map to your Google Maps account, click the ‘Star’ icon next to the map name. Let us know which places in New Mexico we failed to mention in the comments! New Mexico Destinations Map

This New Mexico destinations guide will include a bit of everything, from Albuquerque to White Sands National Park and many lesser-known destinations for your New Mexico bucket list. These are the best places to visit in New Mexico – just proving how diverse and spectacular the state is! New Mexico is bound to soon have ‘its moment’.
