Located on the grounds of the White Sands Missile Range military installation (one of the largest in the country), the White Sands Missile Range Museum is full of information about the United States’s nuclear program, our space adventures, and our development of rocket technology. The museum is nice, but the Missile Park is where you’ll snap your photos… The park has roughly 60 different rockets all used by the US in combat between WWII and the Gulf War. They’ve got a Loon (the US version of the V-1), a Pershing II, a Patriot, and heck, even a V-2.
New Mexico is also home to Dripping Springs Natural Area. Here, you'll find piñon and juniper lining the easy, well-marked trails, which offer the chance to see all kinds of desert wildlife, like golden eagles, mule deer, hawks, quail, lizards, and even mountain lions.
Spend the night soaking up some New Mexico culture at the Lundeens Inn of The Arts; each room in this B&B (located in a historic, 100-year-old building) is named for an artist and decorated with Southwestern flair.
Then, the interstate will take you through a short portion of New Mexico. You won't be here long, but you can stop by the gorgeous desert landscapes of City of Rocks State Park. Rocks and boulders, shaped by the forces of nature into hoodoos and pinnacles, reach nearly 40 feet tall, and make for a striking landscape to hike through.
Tatiana Danger
Roadtrippers co-founder. When I grow up I'm going to be Indiana Jones or a professional pizza tester. Current Status: Mom to Bruce and Nina.