9 Overlooked Towns In New Mexico Worth Visiting
From the days of Daniel Boone to the days of Richard Boone, the idea of the drifters wandering into a town no one ever visits or even knows about has oozed into collective thought through books, movies, and television shows. Often in these stories, these one-horse, barely-there pinpricks on a map are neither memorable nor serve any purpose beyond window dressing, little more than structures passed through on the way to the important things. As a result, many of the brightest gems in the West are diamonds in the dust, often overlooked when they carry their own unique shades of what makes them so special, and each of which offers an incredible experience for travelers willing to do a little extra digging. New Mexico has a treasure trove of overlooked small towns worth visiting, each of which has its own unique adventures and encounters just waiting to be discovered.
Ruidoso
A sweet little mountain village at the heart of Sierra Blanca, a nearly 12,000-foot peak within the Rocky Mountains, Ruidoso offers an adventure at all times of the year. Easy access to the Rockies gives travelers amazing alpine opportunities, but Ruidoso itself has a great mixture of activities. While Billy the Kid’s legendary escape from the Lincoln courthouse occurred further East, visitors can follow in his adrenaline-filled footsteps at the Ruidoso Race track, where the first two legs of the American Quarter Horse Triple Crown, the Ruidoso Futurity and the Rainbow Futurity, occur, as well as one of the most thrilling races, the All American Futurity, where fans of the iconic breed can watch for photo finishes.
For those wanting a more relaxing, less chaotic way to unwind, Floatation Station offers not only massages and aroma therapy, but also a more in-depth method of relaxing with their flotation tanks, where you can soak away your worries in a foot-deep Epsom salt bath in a completely light-and-sound-free environment.
Truth or Consequences
With a name that conjures images of hoary old gunfighters gunning for the headliner spot in a Louis L'Amour yarn, this small town north of the Mexican border is affectionately known as “T or C” by locals, and it offers more relaxation than retribution. Known as “Hot Springs” until 1950, Truth or Consequences is filled with its former namesake. You can’t go wrong by having a nice soak at Blackstone Hotsprings, where walk-ins are welcome, then wandering down to Coffee Express for a nice ice cream. But mineral water isn’t the only opportunity waiting beneath the earth for you to explore. The Armendaris Bats and Brews tour takes you from the T or C Brewing Company, where you will pick your own poison to enjoy at a catered picnic after exploring a massive underground cave, which is home to an equally massive colony of Mexican Free-Tailed bats.
For those who prefer their thrills a little more grounded, the Macabre Tour of Truth or Consequences takes you through the Bath House District and includes tales of raiding Apache, restless spirits, and more salacious stories.
Sunspot
You won’t find any legends about UFOs here, but that doesn’t mean Sunspot isn’t out of this world. Located about 120 miles west of Roswell, Sunspot stands just 15 miles south of Cloudcroft. All roads may lead to Rome, but only one unique one runs to Sunspot, and taking it is worth the trip.
NM Route 6563 works as a scale model of the solar system, with specially-marked blue signs representing the planets along the 15-mile Sunspot Scenic Byway. As you blast through a model Milky Way, you will know you have reached the sunny center of the model, where you can take in terrestrial beauty. And inside Sunspot proper, you can get an extraterrestrial view at the Sunspot Observatory. Built atop Sacramento Peak, this gorgeous observatory offers not only tours of their facilities, but also delightful nature trails you can explore to ground yourself after contemplating the mysteries of the stars.
Aztec
Named by a somewhat confused friar who attributed the nearby ruins to the Aztecs of South America, Aztec’s foundations hold more than historical humor for travelers. Visitors can wander the Aztec Ruins National Monument, which is within city limits, and admission is free. Built by the ancient Pueblo people, the ruins are a World Heritage site. The nearby Aztec Museum lets you step into the shoes of a settler at their pioneer village.
Once you have enjoyed Aztec’s history, you can enjoy the more recent developments downtown, especially in Feat of Clay, an artist co-op where local artists sell their work. The store features artists from across the Four Corners area of New Mexico, so you can bring home something special, or even learn to make it yourself at their hands-on workshops.
Lincoln
Western legends such as Sheriff Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid have left metaphorical footprints in songs and stories of the Old West, but they left physical ones in Lincoln, the center of the infamous Lincoln County War. Sitting southeast of Capitan, the echoes of gunfire and hoofbeats ring out from the past for visitors to experience for themselves. A good starting place is the Lincoln Historic Site, which consists of several buildings preserved for their historic significance. Depending on the season, nine are open to the public, such as the Old Lincoln County Courthouse, where Billy the Kid made a daring escape during the conflict.
You can wander into the Turnstall Store, which was owned by John Turnstall, a British shopkeeper and one of the leaders of the feuding factions. Here you can see the actual goods the store sold in the 19th century. After walking the dusty streets of Lincoln, you can wet your whistle at the Bonito Valley Brewing Company’s taproom, which offers beers inspired by the Western legends on both sides of the feud.
Santa Rosa
Sitting on the unequaled Route 66 between Albuquerque and Tucumcari, Santa Rosa is a desert rose with plenty to do without having to leave town, making it the perfect rest stop for travelers heading down Route 66. For those looking to get wet and wild, the Santa Rosa Water Park is the perfect place to start, a fun and refreshing way to beat the heat, and the kids will love the wide assortment of structures to dive from.
If you are looking for a more natural and scenic swimming spot, The Blue Hole is a natural oasis that offers a unique diving experience. It is a combination of a sinkhole and a natural spring that always stays at a balmy 62 degrees Fahrenheit. After your dip, you can enjoy a spicy fajita and a cold beer at Joseph’s Bar and Grill. Joseph’s has a classy 1950s feel that helps bring you back to the American Arcadia of Route 66.
Clovis
Nowhere in New Mexico, perhaps in the entirety of the West, can you find as unique a culture as Clovis. From the prehistoric Clovis people who are still offering new mysteries to archaeologists to the “Clovis sound” spread by such rock legends as Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, Clovis is a center of curiosity.
Visitors can start their day at the Blackwater Coffee Company, where they can enjoy a stiff Bonfire Cold Brew or a nice apple plum cider, then boogie on down to the Clovis Rock and Roll Museum to get a taste of music history, before helping yourself to even more grooves by touring the 7th Street Studio, a restored recording studio where Norman Petty, Buddy Holly, and more recorded the unique Clovis sound. Then, as the sun warms the sky, seek out the Blackwater Draw Archaeological Site to see artifacts that reveal the oldest-known prehistoric people.
Chimayo
When you are traveling to heal from life’s woes, Chimayo should be the first entry on your itinerary. Located 25 miles north of Santa Fe, centuries’ worth of legends describe this unincorporated small town as having healing properties thanks to the hot springs nearby, giving Chimayo a reputation as “the Lourdes of America.” Like the French Lourdes, Chimayo is a Catholic pilgrimage site, perhaps the biggest in the States. Over 300,000 visitors come to see El Santuario de Chimayo, a small, well-preserved shrine built atop a patch of soil that is sacred according to various legends.
Chimayo offers more than just spiritual wellness; Chimayo is also home to two famous weaving families. Galería Ortega has displayed the skills of the Ortega family for nine generations, so you can wander in and enjoy a bizcochito and coffee while taking in three centuries of weaving skill. Once you get a taste of the distinct Chimayo style, you can find more, and even take classes at Centinela Traditional arts, where Chimayo’s other weaving royal family, the Trunjillos, have their craft on display.
Taos
A shining jewel of art gleaming in New Mexico’s High Desert, Taos is a much-loved destination for artists of all sorts who are drawn like moths to its stunning light, but it offers plenty of unforgettable experiences for any visitor. Taos was born of the earth and clay mixed to form the Taos Pueblo, which is unique among Native American sites. The Taos Pueblo is not only a living Native American community, but also both a National Historical Landmark and a World Heritage Site, and is only three miles from Taos Plaza, which is a historical site in its own right and the center of Taos’ historic district, and offers easy access to the many unique shops and galleries.
While you are exploring the Plaza, nothing beats a tasty snack or bracing drink at the Alley Cantina, which, as the oldest standing building in Taos, has 400 years of history to drink in along with your beverage of choice.
It is easy to overlook some of the smaller gems in the West, even for experienced travelers and thorough explorers. But when you make the effort to dig deeper, these lustrous pearls present visitors with an utterly unmatchable array of experiences to choose from, especially in New Mexico. Culinary questers can find all the new flavors their tongue can handle, while historical hopefuls can drink deep of the heady brew offered by these quieter locales that have made their mark in the history books. The more adventurous and active will find new challenges to conquer and will be rewarded with stunning vistas that span as far as the eye can see. New Mexico’s unsung heroes reach out to travelers no matter what they seek.
