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NEW MEXICO
One of our favorite States to visit!
We love the open spaces, the clean air, fabulous sunsets and the variety of State Parks that we can stay in. If you purchase an annual pass, you can stay in any of the NM State Park campgrounds for free (primitive) or with a minimal add-on for electric and water hook-ups.
From the Albuquerque region in the north, to Las Cruses in the East, there are a number of choices to make in the years time-frame of your pass. If you are in New Mexico in the winter months, it would probably be best to stay as far south as possible. However, in the summer and fall months, the variety of parks around Sante Fe and Albuquerque are amazing. The most popular northern route is the road between Sante Fe and Taos.
Visit this site for some well researched information on what to do in the area.
We love the open spaces, the clean air, fabulous sunsets and the variety of State Parks that we can stay in. If you purchase an annual pass, you can stay in any of the NM State Park campgrounds for free (primitive) or with a minimal add-on for electric and water hook-ups.
From the Albuquerque region in the north, to Las Cruses in the East, there are a number of choices to make in the years time-frame of your pass. If you are in New Mexico in the winter months, it would probably be best to stay as far south as possible. However, in the summer and fall months, the variety of parks around Sante Fe and Albuquerque are amazing. The most popular northern route is the road between Sante Fe and Taos.
Visit this site for some well researched information on what to do in the area.
PANCHO VILLA STATE PARK, COLUMBUS, NM
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We have enjoyed visiting this park on a few occasions. Despite it's desert location, we find the wildlife and the history to be quite an attraction. If anyone is thinking of spending the winter in New Mexico, this would be a great location in the depths of the coldest part of winter because it is the most southerly location and marginally warmer than other areas in New Mexico might be. No matter what the weather, It is pleasant to walk around the circular layout of the park. Some people will measure their walking distance during the day, because the route is apparently, exactly 1 mile. It is also pleasant to explore the history of the area without freezing to death while doing this.
The park has an interesting history, based on the invasions from the Mexican hero, Pancho Villa. The town of Columbus is the base for your explorations, but another town we love to visit is Palomas, Mexico, which is where Pancho Villa was based during the time of the US raids. There is an interesting museum in the town of Columbus, which is where the Pancho Villa State Park is located. There are numerous artifacts to be found in this packed building and it is worth taking a walk from the campground, over the road, to spend a couple of hours in the museum, not only to learn about the history, but also to talk to the volunteers who work in the museum. Located in the park is another museum devoted to the history of the battles with Pancho Villa. It's an interesting observation that wherever you stay in the park, you will be walking in what was a veritable war zone one hundred years ago. Out in the field next to the park, we even noticed people with metal detectors looking for relics from the war. |
THE PINK STORE, PALOMAS, MEXICO
As a follow-on to the history of Pancho Villa on the US side, a great side-trip from Columbus, NM is a quick trip over the Mexican Border to the town of Palomas, where the premises where Pancho Villa held office are the focal point for visitors who can easily cross the border into Mexico for a days' outing. The current premises are called The Pink Store, which, you will understand when you get there, the building is pink.
When walking into the store, you will encounter a hive of activity mainly from the attentive staff who will welcome you with open arms, including offering you a cup of coffee or tea, or, as we prefer, their fabulous Margaritas! The ploy of offering visitors a drink on arrival seems to work for the store, because you will see visitors walking the aisles with cocktails in hand, feeling somewhat compelled to purchase nick-knacks that, if not filled up with the superb (and strong) key-lime margaritas, they would not have considered purchasing. This effect applies to us when we visit and we happily part with quite a bit of money, every time we visit the store.
If you follow the sound of music, towards the back of the store, you will come across a very inviting restaurant, where you feel a need to sit down and order from their very enticing menu of traditional (and not so traditional) foods and, of course, you will feel it extremely necessary to order another couple of their very cheap margaritas to follow the earlier freebies you had been offered.
Another reason to cross the border is to pay a visit to either the dentists, opticians and pharmacist that are located along the main road through the town.
Unlike other border towns, the locals in this town will not hound visitors with services that they could offer. It is up to you to walk the streets in search of what services you need. The town has a safe feel to it, unlike other border towns I have come across, however, it is probably not recommended walking away from the main road, where you are in view of the local police, who are constantly visible.
When walking into the store, you will encounter a hive of activity mainly from the attentive staff who will welcome you with open arms, including offering you a cup of coffee or tea, or, as we prefer, their fabulous Margaritas! The ploy of offering visitors a drink on arrival seems to work for the store, because you will see visitors walking the aisles with cocktails in hand, feeling somewhat compelled to purchase nick-knacks that, if not filled up with the superb (and strong) key-lime margaritas, they would not have considered purchasing. This effect applies to us when we visit and we happily part with quite a bit of money, every time we visit the store.
If you follow the sound of music, towards the back of the store, you will come across a very inviting restaurant, where you feel a need to sit down and order from their very enticing menu of traditional (and not so traditional) foods and, of course, you will feel it extremely necessary to order another couple of their very cheap margaritas to follow the earlier freebies you had been offered.
Another reason to cross the border is to pay a visit to either the dentists, opticians and pharmacist that are located along the main road through the town.
Unlike other border towns, the locals in this town will not hound visitors with services that they could offer. It is up to you to walk the streets in search of what services you need. The town has a safe feel to it, unlike other border towns I have come across, however, it is probably not recommended walking away from the main road, where you are in view of the local police, who are constantly visible.
DEMING, NEW MEXICO
Located in the middle of New Mexico, just off the I-20, Deming is a great location to base yourself for a few days on your journey, or, if you like the place enough, you could spend the whole winter here. There are numerous RV Parks and resorts; most with basic facilities, but with low monthly rentals.
There are a number of day tripping opportunities from this centrally located town. One day could be taken up with a trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings in the Gila National Park, another day could find you in the interesting town of Silver City. There's a bit of history to this town, not only for it's mining past, but also because it was inhabited by Billy the Kid in his early years. In fact, the Tourist Information located in the town center will tell you about his escape from the local jail.
Another trip could be to The White Sands National Monument, near Las Cruses. There is an interesting round trip you could take that will include the town of Hatch, that lays claim to be the 'Chilli Capital of the World'.. We have not been there as yet, but it is definitely on our must see list.
There are a number of day tripping opportunities from this centrally located town. One day could be taken up with a trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings in the Gila National Park, another day could find you in the interesting town of Silver City. There's a bit of history to this town, not only for it's mining past, but also because it was inhabited by Billy the Kid in his early years. In fact, the Tourist Information located in the town center will tell you about his escape from the local jail.
Another trip could be to The White Sands National Monument, near Las Cruses. There is an interesting round trip you could take that will include the town of Hatch, that lays claim to be the 'Chilli Capital of the World'.. We have not been there as yet, but it is definitely on our must see list.
ROCKHOUND STATE PARK
A short drive out of Deming is the Rockhound State Park, which we enjoyed. I imagine true 'rockhounders' would appreciate what is on offer here, but, even though we did not recognize the rocks strewn around the park, we did enjoy our walks around the perimeter.
We enjoyed the mountain scenery, the beautiful sunsets and sunrises as well as the magnificent open vistas around the park. The town of Deming can be seen in the distance and the I-10 can be seen relatively close to the park, however, the silence is beautiful, especially through the long, dark nights.
There are a number of walks to be taken around the park, but, as the name aspires to, it is a rockhound heaven. Strewn throughout the park, there is a variety of interesting stones, which, any self-respecting rock collector will know, once they (the rocks) get cleaned up, they will be very interesting to look at. We don't know much about rocks, so we did not appreciate the beauty of the plain, dull colored stones that we could have picked up if we chose to.
The campsites are nicely laid out in the park. Most of them have a view of the surrounding vistas. But even if you are in a site further down the hill, fear not, if you take a short walk on the pathways around the park, you will be assured a great sunset, or even a great moonrise if you feel brave enough to take a midnight stroll.
A short drive out of Deming is the Rockhound State Park, which we enjoyed. I imagine true 'rockhounders' would appreciate what is on offer here, but, even though we did not recognize the rocks strewn around the park, we did enjoy our walks around the perimeter.
We enjoyed the mountain scenery, the beautiful sunsets and sunrises as well as the magnificent open vistas around the park. The town of Deming can be seen in the distance and the I-10 can be seen relatively close to the park, however, the silence is beautiful, especially through the long, dark nights.
There are a number of walks to be taken around the park, but, as the name aspires to, it is a rockhound heaven. Strewn throughout the park, there is a variety of interesting stones, which, any self-respecting rock collector will know, once they (the rocks) get cleaned up, they will be very interesting to look at. We don't know much about rocks, so we did not appreciate the beauty of the plain, dull colored stones that we could have picked up if we chose to.
The campsites are nicely laid out in the park. Most of them have a view of the surrounding vistas. But even if you are in a site further down the hill, fear not, if you take a short walk on the pathways around the park, you will be assured a great sunset, or even a great moonrise if you feel brave enough to take a midnight stroll.
