New Mexico is dotted with beautifully unique small towns; read on to learn which ones you should visit today.
While New Mexico is home to well-known cities like Santa Fe and Albuquerque, the Land of Enchantment is dotted with some of America’s most unique small towns. One of the things many New Mexicans love about their state is the extraordinary, and diverse, physical landscape, which ranges from iconic desert vistas to stunning mountain peaks. And within that landscape, generations of New Mexicans have established some of the nation’s most unique small towns.
Which New Mexico town you most want to visit will depend on what you’re looking for. Depending on where you go, you can find art, history, breathtaking landscapes, and more. So, where to begin? Take a look at some of New Mexico’s best small towns to visit, and start planning your next trip!
1. Alamogordo
Were you a part of the social media-based “Dubai chocolate” fad? Or perhaps you enjoy pistachios in the shell as an occasional snack. At any rate, lovers of the bright-green nut will have a field day in Alamogordo, home of “The World’s Largest Pistachio.” While this is actually a massive sculpture that’s become an icon of the Alamogordo skyline, it’s far from the town’s only attraction.
Visitors can also enjoy a trip to the Toy Train Depot railroad museum, go for a scenic wander through White Sands National Park, or meet some endangered Mexican wolves at the oldest zoo in the southwest.
2. Carlsbad
Perched on the edge of the Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad is home to a major, must-see attraction in the form of the famous Carlsbad Caverns National Park. After a thrilling trip underground at the Caverns, you can explore the town of Carlsbad itself, which is home to a lively Main Street area for shopping and dining. You can also consider spending a night in the historic Trinity Hotel, which has been restored to Victorian splendor and houses a restaurant.
3. Chama
All aboard for Chama! This tiny town, located just south of the New Mexico-Colorado border, boasts stunning views of the Rockies in the distance and a historic steam train. Chama marks one end of the line on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, which runs between Chama and Antonito, Colorado, with a stop for lunch in between.
Back in town, you can enjoy hiking trails, stay in one of several lodges or B&Bs, and learn something while picking up beautiful, practical souvenirs at Tierra Wools heritage weavers.
4. Gallup
Where does the Wild West meet the Silver Screen? In Gallup, New Mexico, especially back during the golden age of Western films. Located on Route 66, Gallup was once a popular base to film Western movies, and today the historic El Rancho Hotel pays tribute to that. Visitors in Gallup can enjoy hiking at Pyramid Rock and visit the Navajo Code Talkers Museum to learn about how Native Americans helped the US in World War II.
5. Los Alamos
For such a small town, Los Alamos packs an “explosive” punch when it comes to science and history. If you’ve seen the film “Oppenheimer,” the name Los Alamos may sound familiar as the site of some of the earliest atomic bomb tests.
Today, visitors can explore the area’s atomic past at the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and learn a bit about the scientific research that continues at government-supported laboratories in Los Alamos to this day at the Bradbury Science Museum.
6. Roswell
Cue the “X-Files” theme music. Roswell is nationally famous for its association with UFOs, which has persisted since a “sighting” in the 1940s, and it is home to an annual UFO Festival. Whatever time you visit, you can check out the International UFO Museum and Research Center, and even play a round of alien-themed mini golf. Beyond the interplanetary attractions, Roswell is also home to art museums and a National Wildlife Refuge.
7. Ruidoso
Up in the Sierra Blanca mountains, you’ll find Ruidoso, one of the most beautiful of southwestern New Mexico’s mountain resort towns. One of the state’s best spots for ski lovers, Ruidoso is located near the Ski Apache slopes, which offer year-round skiing owned and operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
In town, you can watch a horse race at Ruidoso Downs, climb Monjeau Lookout to enjoy the view, and take in an Old Western evening at the Flying J Ranch, complete with a banjo show and dinner from the chuck wagon.
8. Silver City
There may not be “gold in them thar’ hills,” but there is silver, at least historically, in the area surrounding Silver City. The town was a prospecting haven in the nineteenth century and still celebrates that heritage today, though it’s better known now as the home of Western New Mexico University. Part historic mining town, part cozy modern college town, and part outdoor adventure hotspot with hiking trails, natural caves, and more, Silver City has a little bit of everything—although, just like in the nineteenth century, any prospectors might leave disappointed!
9. Taos
Taos is one of the prettiest of New Mexico’s northern high-desert towns, but beyond that, it’s home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is also a National Historic Landmark and a living, breathing community. No trip to Taos is complete without a stop in Taos Pueblo, a Native American community that has lived in the area for nearly a millennium. Taos is also home to a thriving artistic community, with a variety of specialty art galleries and three art museums, as well as plenty of unique shopping and dining.
10. Truth or Consequences
No, that’s not a question; it’s one of America’s most unique town names, and it’s located right here in New Mexico! But Truth or Consequences (or “T or C” for short) boasts more than just a really cool name. This town is home to some of the Old Wild West, as well as dramatic views at nearby Elephant Butte Lake. Check out the Geronimo Springs Museum before learning about the other thing that makes T or C famous these days: wellness tourism. As the site of centuries-old natural hot springs, T or C is home to spas and resorts where you can enjoy the ancient tradition of relaxing and “taking the waters.”
