NATURALLY NEW ME XICO

DISCOVER HIDDEN GEMS IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT

BY ANNETTE BROOKS

Embark on an unforgettable journey of adventure and exploration through New Mexico’s breathtaking landscapes and cultural tapestries this spring break. Enjoy sightseeing and outdoor activities that connect you with Mother Earth’s natural wonders, from the sparkling gypsum dunes of White Sands and ancient cliff dwellings of Bandelier to the depths of Carlsbad Caverns and New Mexico’s vast starlit skies.

CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK

Descending into Carlsbad Caverns, you’ll enter a subterranean world where nature has been at work for millennia, crafting an underground palace of limestone formations. The Big Room, a colossal chamber, showcases nature’s artistry with stalactites and stalagmites that challenge the imagination. Here, silence reigns, punctuated only by the drip of water, marking time in the cool, cavernous depths.

The caves were formed as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from underground waters mixed with oxygen from rainwater to form sulfuric acid that dissolved the limestone over millions of years.

Santa Rosa Blue Hole

Attention SCUBA divers! Just under two hours east of Albuquerque, there’s a stunning 80-foot-depp natural artesian spring known for its crystal-clear, sapphire-blue waters that attract divers year-round. Maintaining a constant temperature of 62°F, the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa also offers serene desert surroundings that invite relaxation and exploration. Whether diving or enjoying the view, the Blue Hole is a captivating gem of the Southwest you don’t want to miss.

White Sands National Park

The landscape at White Sands transforms into an almost alien expanse of white gypsum dunes. The park protects around 41% of the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Here, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto another world, where the sun reflects off the sands, creating an illusion of a snowy desert. As the day ends, the dunes take on the hues of the sunset, offering a serene spectacle of nature’s ephemeral beauty.

CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Immerse yourself in history at Chaco Canyon, once the cultural hub for the ancestral Puebloans dating between 850 and 1250 CE. The ruins, particularly structures like Pueblo Bonito, showcase the advanced architectural skills of a civilization that thrived centuries ago. If you’re camping, plan to stay here for the night, where the dark sky, unpolluted by city lights, reveals the heavens much like it did for the Chacoans, linking modern observers with ancient astronomers.

Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier presents a rugged terrain where the past is etched into the cliffs. Here, you can climb into cavates — small human-made caverns — and walk along trails that reveal petroglyphs and the remnants of ancient dwellings. It tells a story of continuous human habitation stretching back millennia, offering a tangible connection to those who once called these canyons home and paying tribute to a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities.