9 Most Welcoming Towns In New Mexico's Countryside
New Mexico, which joined the United States only in 1912, embodies the spirit of the American Southwest. Also called the Land of Enchantment, the state boasts sites of significant Native American, Mexican, and European heritage. New Mexico has played a critical role in advancing progress in the modern modern era — whether through its mix of cultures, its vibrant arts scene, or its status as a center of innovation for modern nuclear technologies.
For the traveler, some of the state's most welcoming places happen to be small. Outside larger cities like Albuquerque or its capital, Santa Fe, the state's seemingly out-of-the-way places are worth the drive. New or repeat visitors might find something new and unexpected in towns like these.
Alamogordo
Alamogordo, north of El Paso, Texas, is popular for its diverse outdoor options. The largest among those attractions is White Sands National Park, where snow-white sands resemble landscapes from the Sahara or other deserts. For a break from the New Mexico heat, check out the New Mexico Museum of Space History here, which has fascinating exhibits on the past and present of US space exploration.
Alamogordo's main landmark is worth a detour, and a gauranteed fun time. Outside town on Highway 54, "The World's Largest Pistachio," actually a public statue, stands 30 feet tall and celebrates local agriculture. The structure resembles, well, a giant green nut. This man-made pistachio stands by the entrance of McGuinn's PistachioLand, a winery, orchard, and popular tourist spot.
Aztec
In northwestern New Mexico not far from the border with Colorado, the small town of Aztec offers attractions found in few other places in the American Southwest. The Aztec Ruins National Monument draws thousands of visitors, families, and history buffs of all ages. At one time a significant settlement of the Pueblo tribe of Native Americans, the vestiges of stone-built Aztec houses and other buildings here speak to the greatness of a civilization now lost to history.
Traveling back to the present, an adrenaline rush awaits at the Aztec Speedway, where cars race and fans watch the action from the stands. Nature lovers flock to the Animas River, which also winds a course through Aztec's downtown. Riverside Park offers space for picnics and other family gatherings. The Aztec Skate Park, also downtown, lets skateboarders and other daredevils show off their spins and tricks.
Bloomfield
In northwest New Mexico and south of Aztec, the small town of Bloomfield offers a relaxing visit. The San Juan River flows south of town, while at the nearby Salmon Ruins Museum, exhibits showcase archeological findings of a Native American community here. The site offers a compelling summary of Native American history before the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Western Hemisphere, and tracks how Native communities migrated around the region, beginning from around the 11th century.
For some fun outside, head to the Vereda Del Rio San Juan Park and Boat Launch, or to picturesque Bloomfield Canyon, both along the San Juan River.
Chimayo
In petite, north-central Chimayo, the legacies of Catholic, Spanish, and other spiritual influences join together. The town is often referred to as the "Lourdes of America," after the southwest French town and Catholic pilgrimage center. Chimayo's small downtown boasts Spanish-style plazas, or placitas, including El Portrero de Chimayo and the Plaza del Cerro. El Portrero is the site of El Santuario de Chimayo, a quaint chapel which, according to local legend, holds out the promise of healing to pilgrims with physical or spiritual challenges.
Outdoor recreation in Chimayo runs the gamut, including camping at North Lake Campground, which is ideal for families and provides options for fishing and boating.
Los Alamos
Los Alamos comes with a controversial reputation, which is what draws many visitors here. The town was the site of the Manhattan Project, the program to develop the United States' first nuclear weapons. later used against Japan in World War II. Popularized recently amid the success of the 2023 film "Oppenheimer," today's Los Alamos greets visitors wanting to understand how the arms created here impacted modern life and warfare. Travelers can visit the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, the Los Alamos History Museum, the Bradbury Science Museum, and other locations to understand how Los Alamos has influenced world events.
For some time outside, head to the Bandelier National Monument, with its dramatic canyon views and details on the 11,000-year-old human settlements across the region. In addition, the 89,000-acre Valles Caldera Natural Preserve includes streams and waterways ideal for fly fishing, or simple moments amid New Mexico's natural beauty.
Mesilla
Mesilla, a quintessential border town, is one of New Mexico's most historically significant sites. The town became a permanent US settlement in 1854 as a result of the Gadsden Purchase, which redefined US territory in this part of the border region, and concluded years of disputes between Mexico and the United States.
Mesilla lies some 45 miles northwest of El Paso, Texas, and today is a quiet, welcoming spot. The Mesilla Plaza, a National Historic Landmark since 1961, draws history lovers from far and wide. The town honors its Mexican heritage each year with a Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) festival in town. And the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, which lies west of town, is popular among locals and visitors.
Raton
In northeast New Mexico, just south of the Colorado state line, the small town of Raton is a welcoming, art-loving destination. The Raton Museum, not to mention the Old Pass Gallery, offer local color from artists in diverse mediums. The local Raton Arts & Humanities Council lends support to the place's creative streak, and organizes performances, exhibitions, concerts, and similar colorful events.
Local, natural beauty includes the Climax Canyon Nature Trail, which offers a great workout with a side of fresh air. Raton's Mexican food, like the hearty portions at Portillo's Restaurant, offer just one way to take in local culture here. Raton enjoys access to the Amtrak rail network, which maintains a stop in town.
Silver City
Silver City, in southwest New Mexico, rests at an altitude of almost 6,000 feet, at the edge of the Pinos Altos Mountains. The town lies just east of the Continental Divide Trail. As its name suggests, Silver City owes its existence to a late-19th-century minerals boom, which drew adventurers and fortune-seekers from all over, and made Silver City a boomtown. These stories stand on vibrant display inside the Silver City Museum downtown.
Silver City honors another, much less lucrative local resource: clay. Each summer since 2012, the Silver City CLAY Festival celebrates the role this malleable material has played in local history, handicrafts, and the region's economy. And did you know? Silver City also enjoys ties to the legend of Billy the Kid. During his childhood, the future outlaw, then known as William H. Bonney, lived here with his family.
Taos
The small north-central town of Taos attracts visitors for its famous legacy as a center of American art and architecture. The Taos Pueblo, a former Native American town, offers what remains standing of elaborate adobe buildings. UNESCO named the site a heritage area in 1992. Similarly, more than 20 of Taos' buildings appear today on the National Register of Historic Places.
Modern art fans flock to the Taos Art Museum at Fechim House, and to the Harwood Museum of Art, both located downtown. Taos is synonymous with the American master painter Georgia O'Keeffe, who some consider the "Mother of American Modernism." O'Keeffe worked at the now-famous Ghost Ranch, about 75 miles west of Taos, for extended periods of time beginning in the 1920s.
Some of New Mexico's Most Welcoming Towns Are Small
These towns show how much New Mexico has to offer the curious tourist. Though smaller than Albuquerque or Sante Fe, these smaller places are used to welcoming visitors. Chimayo has a long record of greeting Catholic and other pilgrims. Aztec and Bloomfield show modern travelers how Native American activities in the region changed over centuries. Raton and Taos illustrate New Mexico's creative side. And natural wonders, from White Sands National Park to the Valles Caldera Natural Preserve, underscore how rich in beauty this Land of Enchantment really is. For a fascinating trip beyond New Mexico's better-known locations, a warm welcome awaits the adventurous visitor in the state's smaller destinations.
