New Mexico's 9 Most Laid-Back Towns
New Mexico's quieter towns have a knack for making time feel less urgent. In Chama, a steam train rolls through mountain country, passing through sprawling grasslands and aspen meadows with occasional wildlife sightings. Geothermal springs in Jemez Springs offer a reason to linger while the rich local art in its galleries reflect the area's creative spirit. Tucumcari's neon and roadside relics on Route 66 keep a different era close at hand. Taos draws visitors into its adobe streets and centuries-old indigenous heritage. Many of these places are infused with spiritual or religious influences and give visitors the chance to get outside and explore the Southwest US at its best. Here are New Mexico's most laid-back towns.
Aztec
Aztec is a town on the Animas River just 20 minutes from the Colorado border. The ancient Pueblo site of Aztec Ruins National Monument from the 11th and 12th centuries preserves the homes, ceramics, and agricultural methods of the Native American peoples here. Down in town, Aztec's Main Street is made up of properties on the National Register of Historic Places, such as the Lil Aztec Flower Shop on 101 North Main Avenue, selling vibrant bouquets to brighten up your home through its turquoise storefront. A few doors down, the circa 1940 Aztec Museum & Pioneer Village has an 18-foot cyclorama, a buffalo mural, and a pioneer village model that visitors can explore. And for classic New Mexican cuisine, try Rubia's Fine Mexican Dining, which has a reputation for its good seafood, specifically the fish tacos.
Chama
Chama is another town about 10 minutes south of the Colorado border in the Rocky Mountains. This town comes with a railroad legacy, where visitors can take the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad through the San Juan Mountains and Conejos Valley on an old-fashioned steam train that runs seasonally. Chama is also home to trailheads that connect to the Edward Sargent Wildlife Management Area, spanning 20,209 acres of grasslands, aspen meadows, and streams with elk and occasional bear sightings, a great idea for a hike or a fishing trip. And the refined rustic establishment of Rio Chama Espresso Kitchen & Wine Bar fills up cups of Cowboy Beans roasts while serving sweet and savory bites to eat. Their treats can also be taken to go, so they are perfect for a snack on the train or while amongst the oaks and aspens.
Taos
Taos is a town by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in north-central New Mexico. Go to Taos for a creative and spiritual immersion; the central parts of downtown are lined with art galleries and adobe architecture that is commonplace in the Southwest US, such as at Parsons Gallery of the West, presenting the Wild West via an assortment of paintings from artists local to New Mexico and elsewhere. Renowned for not only its bohemian scene, Taos also has its very own Taos Pueblo, a site of cultural importance less than 10 minutes outside of town. Visit Taos Pueblo to see an adobe building that has stood for ages, honoring the region's strong Native American heritage. Many make the pilgrimage to the early 19th-century San Francisco de Asís Catholic Church in Rancho de Taos, too.
Tucumcari
Tucumcari is located on Route 66, to the far east of New Mexico about 40 minutes from the Texas border. See the Route 66 monument, The Mother Road, on the west side of town with its silver sixes and chrome vintage structure meant to resemble a 1950s car, designed by artist Tom Coffin. Learn more about the paleontology, the railroad industry, and the pioneering roots of this formerly Wild West town at the Tucumcari Historical Museum or the Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum. If traveling as a family, this is a great way to keep the kids entertained for a couple of hours. Concerning getting food, SideKix on 66 is a classic American roadside diner where a burger and a side of fries can be enjoyed as road trip fuel for wherever the road takes patrons next.
Jemez Springs
Jemez Springs is a part of the 1,600,000 acres of the Santa Fe National Forest. This is a place of spiritual significance, where many visitors take advantage of the Jemez Hot Springs resort for its healing geothermal waters. And although it is a rather isolated rural village, there is still that thread of New Mexican artistry: Jemez Fine Art Gallery is located here, displaying a range of mixed media, sculptures, wood batik, oil paintings, and even more through its resident artists. The Bodhi Manda Zen Center is another piece of what makes Jemez Springs a spiritual hot spot. This is where followers of American Rinzai Zen Buddhism have congregated since 1973 for seminars, and meditations are offered to visitors, either silently or with chanting, for a deeper integration of one's spiritual practice.
Truth or Consequences
Truth or Consequences is where the Rio Grande twists along the eastern side of town by Elephant Butte Reservoir in the southern half of New Mexico. Another hot springs destination, Truth or Consequences features multiple places to swim. A fine example is Riverbend Hot Springs right on the banks of the Rio Grande or the Mothership Yoga Lounge & Hot Springs, the latter of which offers more privacy and seclusion. While in town, take a trip to the Geronimo Springs Museum, which is proud to have the largest prehistoric pottery collection in Sierra County, as well as fossils, old newspapers, and many other sorts of interesting artifacts to provide further insight into Truth or Consequences' background.
Capitan
Capitan is where the legacy of Smokey Bear lives on in the southeastern quadrant of the state. The beloved American fire mascot, Smokey Bear, has its own Smokey Bear Historical Park to educate visitors on forestry and wildfire prevention, especially younger visitors. Keep in mind that breakfast can be ordered any time of day at the Smokey Bear Restaurant, known for its southern comfort food. Take a drive outside of town on the Billy the Kid Trail to the Smokey Bear Mountain Viewing Area, where visitors can take photos with a prop of Smokey Bear while gazing out at the Capitan Mountains on the horizon, encompassing the New Mexican beauty in the desert.
Ruidoso
Ruidoso was made for outdoor recreation, sandwiched between the peaks of the Sacramento Mountains. This town also lies less than half an hour south of Capitan. Grindstone Lake and its surrounding trails is one of the highlights of Ruidoso, designed for 18 miles of biking, hiking, and horseback riding, or catching rainbow trout, catfish, or smallmouth bass depending on availability. For snow bunnies, check out Ruidoso Winter Park for snow tubing and get the opportunity to rent a heated igloo. And for a bit of rest and relaxation after all the activity, head to Noisy Water Winery to indulge in the local wine through a private library tasting, making the most of New Mexican wine country. Indulge even further at Blue Lotus Day Spa for a rejuvenating yoga class or massage.
Silver City
Silver City, by the Gila National Forest, is only about 2 hours north of the US-Mexico border. This is a former mining town with a creative flair, where galleries and theaters light up its downtown arts district, like Animalia Studio with its animal-focused creations. On the west side of town, the WNMU Fine Arts Center Theater is a great place to go to appreciate a wide variety of live music, comedy, and theater. Leave town and plan a day out on the 18-hole course at Scott Park Golf Links in the New Mexican desert sun, taking in the regional beauty on the grassy turf. And, for a fun bit of trivia, Silver City is also where the outlaw Billy the Kid lived between 1873 and 1875 in a log cabin off the East Broadway Street bridge, above the San Vicente Trail, commemorated with a tiny cabin donated by film director Ron Howard.
Take Your Time In New Mexico
The historic arts districts, the spas and hot springs, and the tidbits of history here and there, all set against the backdrop of the New Mexico desert, make this state truly remarkable. Detox in the steaming waters of Jemez Springs and Truth or Consequences. Behold the preservation upholding the old ways of life in Aztec and Taos. Pay tribute to Smokey Bear in little Capitan, or tick off a Route 66 bucket list trip in Tucumcari. Explore the great outdoors in Ruidoso and Silver City, or wind through the Rocky Mountains by train in Chama. These nine laid-back towns have a plethora of possibilities awaiting visitors in New Mexico.
