New Mexico Vacation Directory 2019/20

City of Rocks State Parks, See Page 28, 29 and 30 for more State Park Information.

VACATION DIRECTORY ™

travelnewmex.com • summer/winter 2019

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INDEX

NORTHWEST

NORTH-CENTRAL/ NORTHEAST

CENTRAL

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHEAST

Map Color Indicates Region Throughout Directory

PUBLISHERS

EDITOR

MATT GANTNER WILLIAM HALSEY

AUTUMN GRAY

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES SCOTT SIMMONS

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

WRITERS

AUTUMN GRAY

ASHLEY CONNER DANA BENJAMIN

The New Mexico Vacation Directory is published once a year in May by Moon Dog Publishing, Albuquerque, N.M. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this guide. The publisher does not take responsibility for the accuracy or legitimacy of the advertisers’ messages or that of the guest writers/ columnists or any aspect of the business operation or conduct of the advertisers in the magazine. For information and advertising rates, call (505) 350-8695 or (505) 259-7969.

9400 Holly Avenue NE Albuquerque, NM 87122

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.TRAVELNEWMEX.COM

6: Northwestern New Mexico: Rocks, Roads and Bling 6: Northeastern New Mexico: A Raucous Past Among Varied Vistas 8: Southwestern New Mexico: Frontiers, Old and New 10: Socorro: Something to Love for Everyone 12: Southeastern New Mexico: Caves, Casinos and Culture 12: North-Central New Mexico: History, Art, Culture 16: From Wine Flights to Balloon Flights, Alamogordo Delights All Ages 18: Pop a Pistachio: New Mexico’s Other Tasty Treat 22: Follow Your Heart in Any Direction on Day Trips from Albuquerque 23: Immersive Entertainment Venues Take Visitors to Fantastic Worlds 28: New Mexico State Parks: Your Summer Adventure Starts Here 34: W!ld Moon Boutique 10 Year Anniversary 35: It’s All About Family and Food At Church Street Café 36: Taos Pueblo's Living Community Has Much to be Admired 39: Chama: New Mexico’s Mecca for Year-Round Fun 41: Artesia’s Fall Balloon Event Offers Color, Calm, Community 42: From Pancakes to Planets, New Mexico Creates Ways to Celebrate 43: Rocketeer Academy Rocks STEM 47: Santa Fe Home Tour Set to Impress Visitors in August 50: Las Cruces Farmers, Crafts Market Delights Year-Round 54: Route 66 Casino • Hotel

life is short. ride long.

Let’s not mess around. Let’s get on board the longest and highest narrow gauge railroad in the nation.

Let’s take America’s best scenic train ride from Antonito, Colorado or Chama, New Mexico. See the unspoiled West. Feel the rails underneath us. Listen to the steam whistle. The modern world can wait until we’re good and sooty and done.

book now at cumbrestoltec.com 1-888-286-2737

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America’s most historic scenic railroad 4/1/19 7:19 AM

create your own

ANGEL FIRE

ADVENTURE

Skiing | Snowboarding | Biking | Hiking Fishing | Hunting | Golfing | Ballooning | Ziplining and more...

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AngelFireFun.com | 866.668.7787

VACATION DIRECTORY

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where do you belong?

New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe

The Cultural Atlas of New Mexico leads you to historic towns, museums, and other cultural places throughout the Land of Enchantment. Organized by region, proximity and interest, the Cultural Atlas will help you find where you belong.

http://atlas.nmculture.org www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO

Northwestern New Mexico: Rocks, Roads and Bling If natural beauty, rich history, outdoor activities, culturallyimmersive shopping experiences and perhaps a spin at a great casino sound like criteria for your next adventure, look to the stunning landscapes of picturesque Northwest New Mexico.

Whether you venture to the Four Corners monument (where you can stand in four states simultaneously), are drawn to the ancient mystery of Chaco Canyon, join in the annual Gallup Intertribal Indian Ceremony from August 2-11, or cruise historic Route 66, there is much in this part of New Mexico to heighten the senses and stir dormant primal connections.

Amid 200 million-year-old cliffs outside Gallup is the Red Rock State Park and Museum, featuring interpretive displays of ancient Anasazi culture alongside modern art from the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni tribes.

Immerse yourself in antiquity at El Morro, (south of Interstate 40, west of Ramah on NM 53) where fragments of history and ancient cultures are embedded in the great sandstone promontory. Here, Spanish and American travelers rested and carved their signatures, dates and messages for hundreds of years.

Trading posts and shops throughout Northwestern New Mexico offer a variety of new and old Native American arts and crafts, including painting, pottery, jewelry and fetish carving. The second Friday of every month from February through October, experience art walks from 5-9 p.m. at Farmington’s downtown galleries, in addition to Farmington’s four larger monthly art walks set to take place April 12, June 14, October 11 and November 30.

Venture along historic Route 66 visiting the motels, diners and neon of the era as the "Mother Road" winds its way

west of Albuquerque. The Gallup Cultural Center in the old railway depot offers a storyteller museum and displays on trains, mining, weaving, Native American sand and silver art forms, as well as the stories of Route 66.

To immerse yourself in Native American traditions, visit Zuni during the Pueblo of Zuni Fair, set for August 30 - September 1, or check out its Ancient Way Fall Festival, Arts Market & ArtWalk 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 5. Visit http://www. zunitourism.com/events_calendar.htm for updates and other activities. Guided tours at the pueblo include archaeology tours and an integrated walking tour of the historic village neighborhood. There are also opportunities for arts and cooking demonstrations. Unfortunately, the old Zuni mission is closed for the foreseeable future due to deteriorating structural conditions. To get to Zuni, take Interstate 40 for 85 miles west of Albuquerque, then exit 82 to NM-53/NM-122 W, and turn right onto Chavez Circle for 74 miles.

A scenic drive off I-40 east of Grants escorts you to the otherworldly volcanic flows of El Malpais National Monument.

Take exit 89 off I-40 onto NM Highway 117, which travels the eastern boundary of the park. The Bureau of Land Management's Ranger Station is located nine miles south of this exit and is open daily.

Take a stop from your scenic tour of the region at Sky City Casino Hotel on I-40, east of Grants. Sky City offers 24-hour gaming with more than 640 of the newest and hottest slot and video poker machines, Las Vegas-style table games, bingo, and live entertainment, with fine accommodations and dining all in one place.

Northeastern New Mexico: A Raucous Past Among Varied Vistas NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Northeastern New Mexico's diverse terrain includes everything from the state’s highest mountain, to the valleys and clear water streams of the Pecos River. As a result, this quadrant of New Mexico has some of the most breathtaking scenery to be found anywhere.

As expansive as the mesa is the area’s history, which includes outlaws, Rough Riders, a raucous cow town and the dwellings of ancient civilizations. Experience the mystery and intrigue of the historic St. James Hotel in Cimarron, a tiny community with a storied past that includes Buffalo Soldiers and train robbers.

Make a stop along the legendary Santa Fe Trail into the once-bustling cattle town in Las Vegas, where Teddy 6

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Roosevelt came to recruit the Rough Riders. The City of Las Vegas Museum and Rough Rider Memorial Collection tell the stories of Roosevelt’s charge on San Juan Hill in the (continued on Page 8)

VENTANA “Blue Ridge - Beginnings of Fall” 19" x 25" Pastel

“Arroyo No. 6” 18.5" x 22" Pastel

MARY SILVERWOOD VENTANA FINE ART 400 Canyon Road

•

Santa Fe, NM 87501

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505-983-8815

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800-746-8815

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www.ventanafineart.com

Northeastern New Mexico: A Raucous Past Among Varied Vistas (continued from Page 6)

Spanish-American War. Venture to nearby Fort Union and walk through the territorial style adobe remnants of the region’s largest 19th century military fort. Recognized for its antique shopping opportunities, Las Vegas also provides a chance to learn the New Mexico Harvey House story.

Nestled among the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains just six miles from the Colorado border, hospitable Raton offers fresh air, expansive scenery, a variety of recreational activities, a vibrant art scene and regular downtown events.

A dozen miles northeast of Raton, you’ll find camping, fishing and hiking in Sugarite Canyon.

About 40 miles west of town, enjoy the abundant wildlife of the ultimate outdoor adventure on Ted Turner’s 585,000-acre Vermejo Park Ranch. And don’t miss the National Rifle Association’s largest shooting range in the country. The NRA Whittington Center is located southwest of Raton.

SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO

Southwestern New Mexico: Frontiers, Old and New Smack dab in the middle of Southwestern New Mexico is Spaceport America. Built as a hub for future space travel, the facility is situated along a path followed centuries ago by other like-minded souls seeking a new frontier. Visitors will enjoy the newly updated exhibits included in the four-hour Spaceport America tours, occurring most Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. All tours require a minimum 24-hour advance reservation and are subject to change or cancellation due to mission control requirements. For ticket information, visit https://www.sierracountynewmexico.info/ attractions/visit-spaceport-america/. The futuristic facility, with its two long runways, stands in stark contrast to the many historical landmarks dating back hundreds of years throughout this quadrant of New Mexico.

miles east of the Continental Divide. No trip to this area is complete without a visit to Catwalk National Recreation Area, five miles off the highway from the village of Glenwood.

In the Mimbres Valley, volcanic ash shaped by wind 35 million years ago created the geologic formations that comprise City of Rocks State Park, halfway between Silver City and Deming. Fort Bayard offers a glimpse at Civil War Life. The spectacular Gila Cliff Dwellings, Gila National Monument and Gila Wilderness are an indescribable mustsee. Travelers will enhance their experience by making time to drive the Trail of Mountain Spirits, a 93-mile National Scenic Byway that winds around the southwest corner of New Mexico and past ancient cliff dwellings.

Nearby, the tiny agricultural community of Hatch proudly produces New Mexico’s famous green chile. Name recognition of New Mexico’s beloved signature crop from Hatch is growing nationwide. The region is also home to many pecan orchards and vineyards.

Just outside of Las Cruces, stop in for a glass of awardwinning wine or pick up a fine vintage to take home at Rio Grande Winery. Owned and operated by Gordon Steel, the winery is a sweet oasis in the desert, with a panoramic vista of the Mesilla Valley included. Some say the grapes at Rio Grande Winery are blessed since they are harvested by cloistered monks in a deal Steel worked out with a New Mexico monastery.

Once a railroad hub, Las Cruces is home to New Mexico State University and serves as a center for agriculture, science and technology research. A short jaunt to the southwest part of Las Cruces and you’ll find yourself in the quaint village of Old Mesilla with its distinctive central plaza and shopping venues.

Head west toward New Mexico’s bootheel and enjoy the rustic ambiance of Deming, Lordsburg and bordertown Columbus. Check local listings in these areas for reenactments of life on the frontier.

Civil war history, mining, prospectors and the Wild West are all part of the texture of Silver City, located just three 8

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Pecan Trees of Las Cruces Photo by OddAxe Industries

VACATION DIRECTORY

traditions B E G I N W H E R E memories A R E M A D E

WHERE

F U L L C A S I N O | L U X U RY R E S O R T | Z I P L I N E C H A M P I O N S H I P G O L F | F U L L S E R V I C E S PA InnoftheMountainGods.com

| 1-800-545-9011 | Mescalero, NM www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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TM

SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO

Socorro: Something to Love for Everyone

Saddle up and head south, partner.

The rodeo arena and sports complex opened in the Spring of 2017 in the little city that offers something to love for everyone - Socorro. The complex is part of a larger, long-term vision that Socorro city leaders hope will attract athletes, rodeo cowboys and patrons, concert-goers, and others to the area.

Funding for the complex came from a loan from the Lodgers’ Tax, and the other half came from the State Legislature. A future civic center near the Rodeo and Sports Complex is also in the works. Many events are planned for the facility, including concerts, horse shows and clinics, and rugby tournaments, as well as rodeos and barrel races.

Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array The Very Large Array [VLA] is comprised of 27 radio telescopes in a “Y” pattern spread across the plains of San Augustin 50 miles west of Socorro. The VLA has been used by more astronomers and has been mentioned in more scientific papers than any other radio telescope in the world. Each antenna is an 82foot diameter dish that weighs 230 tons.

The on-site visitor center and gift shop offers displays and videos that educate about radio astronomy and the VLA telescope, and are open all year from 8:30 am to sunset. A self-guided tour lets visitors explore the antennas up close.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge offers unique bird and wildlife viewing opportunities. Peak visitation occurs in winter when bald eagles and thousands of sandhill cranes and snow geese flock to the fields and marshes. Plan to visit the weekend before Thanksgiving during the annual Festival 10

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of the Cranes. This world-famous event includes speakers, special tours and arts and wildlife displays.

The 12-mile auto tour loop takes visitors through a full range of wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. Visitors can take the self-guided tour and nature trails, which range in length from one to nine miles. *Story courtesy of the City of Socorro.

UPCOMING SOCORRO EVENTS Dave Farr Memorial Team Roping City of Socorro Rodeo & Sports Complex 07/12/2019- 07/14/2019 Socorro County Fair & Pro Rodeo (PRCA) City of Socorro Rodeo & Sports Complex 08/30/2019- 08/31/2019 17th Annual Socorrofest Socorro's Historic Plaza 10/04/2019- 10/05/2019 31st Annual Festival of the Cranes Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge 11/20/2019- 11/23/2019 Holiday Electric Light Parade & Luminaria Stroll on the Plaza Socorro's Historic Plaza 12/07/2019

experience

SOCORRO unlike any other city!

SOCORRO

visit us at www.SocorroNM.org www. facebook.com/SocorroNM

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SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Southeastern New Mexico: Caves, Casinos and Culture The Wild West, world war history, recreational activities and weird phenomenon are all part of a sojourn to Southeastern New Mexico, historically a farming and oil region.

In the other-worldly desolation of the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin at the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert, walk through dunes of glistening gypsum sand and experience the unforgettable beauty of White Sands National Monument. This is where the first settlers came more than 10,000 years ago and the U.S military conducted research during World War II. At the White Sands Missile Range Museum, you can learn more about the history of the region and the Trinity Site, where scientists tested the first atomic bomb in 1945.

A short jaunt away is Artesia, where downtown you can experience art and culture on the street. A series of bronze statues are positioned within the downtown district on Artesia’s History in Bronze and Downtown Walking Tour. It begins at the Artesia Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center in the historic train depot and stops at the impressive Artesia Public Library, home to a 46-foot Peter Hurd mural.

The artwork was rescued from a downtown Houston building slated for demolition. Downtown Artesia offers local shops, unique community events, a performing arts center with national acts, a community theater and children’s productions.

The diverse and dramatic geology in this region features flat expanses of seemingly endless prairie connecting to the foothills of the Sacramento mountains, in which the villages

of Cloudcroft and Ruidoso nestle. There are gambling venues to be explored in and around Ruidoso, including the many amenities and luxury of the Inn of The Mountain Gods, and Billy the Kid Casino and Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

To the south is Carlsbad, where Carlsbad Caverns National Park invites visitors beneath the earth’s surface to see dozens of limestone caves. Bats that sleep in them by day fill the evening sky as they head out in a cloud of black to hunt insects.

In Lincoln County, visit the courthouse where notorious outlaw Billy the Kid shot his way out of jail. New Mexico’s most visited historic site, Lincoln offers an immersive experience hearkening back to a violent period in the state’s history - the Lincoln County Wars.

A short drive away from Lincoln is Fort Stanton, established to protect settlements along the Rio Bonito in the Apache Wars. Built in 1855 as a U.S. military fort, this is the largest of New Mexico’s state historic sites. Kit Carson, Billy the Kid and Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry all lived at Fort Stanton. Confederate forces occupied the outpost in the beginning of the American Civil War, and later it served as America's first federal tuberculosis sanatorium.

No trip to this part of the state is complete without a visit to the UFO Museum in Roswell. Nearby, take a spin to Bottomless Lakes State Park, 14 miles southeast of Roswell, where sinkholes range to 90 feet deep.

NORTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

North-Central New Mexico: History, Art, Culture

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The largest city in the state, the oldest state capital in the country, world-class art communities, a real railroad town, and excellent gaming and travelers’ accommodations can all be found in New Mexico’s North-Central quadrant cities of Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos, and in the towns around them.

Majestic mountains rise abruptly from great expanses of plains, falling off to wooded river valleys. This diverse terrain provides a wealth of outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, cycling and mountain biking. Just as varied are the communities, which comprise a mix of small-town charm, bucolic serenity, bustling metropolitan life and a sleepy mountain-ringed village.

Make some time to experience the rich history and culture of Belen, founded in 1740 and interwoven with Spanish, German and other cultures. The community boasts an

original Harvey House and offers a glimpse at what this historic railroad town looked like in the early 1900s.

There are also plenty of modern shopping opportunities.

Birders, golfers, artlovers, historians and campers will find plenty of entertainment in Socorro. Check out the City’s website for a full list of activities available in the area, including walking tours, dirt biking and ATVs, and downtown shopping and dining. (continued on next page)

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VACATION DIRECTORY

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North-Central New Mexico: History, Art, Culture (continued from Page 12)

Check out the rich history of Los Lunas with a visit to its Visitors Center, your source for information about the array of local events held year-round. While you’re there, look at the rich history of Los Lunas through a photo display inside the building.

Do not miss Albuquerque’s Historic Old Town Plaza, the humble roots from which Albuquerque grew. Old Town offers an impressive selection of New Mexico cuisine and the work of local artisans in an area that surrounds historic San Felipe de Neri Church. There are three nearby museums and the City’s BioPark.

The plaza offers a therapeutic ambiance if you just want to sit and watch the world go by.

Sixty miles north of Albuquerque on I-25, historic Santa Fe has world-class art galleries, museums, and restaurants, and is the seat of state government. Explore the fascinating history of the Palace of the Governors on historic Santa Fe Plaza amid the city’s signature Pueblo Revival architecture. Savor local cuisine at any of 200 restaurants, or grab a bite from a food cart's tasty handheld faire on the plaza.

House and Museum Hours Tuesday (by appointment only) Wednesday - Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Thursday open until 7 p.m.

www.bernco.gov/openspace • (505) 244-0507

North of Santa Fe in the town of Española, take a spin by the Santa Claran Hotel and Casino; the Puye Cliff Dwellings, which give visitors an immersive experience into the lives of the ancient; and the Black Mesa Golf Course, a great challenge to duffers.

Known as a world class ski area, Taos offers clean air and magnificent views, rich spiritual traditions, creative inspiration, abundant outdoor recreation, shopping and varied dining. A day in Taos will change your outlook and perhaps even your style.

For additional winter sport options, check out Angel Fire Resort, which opened in 1966 as a small ski destination. Now it is a fourseason resort offering a memorable Rocky Mountain experience for families, outdoor enthusiasts and groups. Located 8,600 feet above sea level, the resort has views of Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico.

Eight miles south of the Colorado border, the small town of Chama boasts elk habitats, clean rivers, hunting, fishing, rafting, hiking and camping, as well as a must-see night view of the Milky Way. Serious hikers can pick up the Continental Divide Trail not far from town. Chama’s train depot is the western terminus of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad offering daily steam excursions May 25-October 20. Chama also hosts an annual 4th of July fireworks display, and in the fall, the area around Chama is one of the best places in the state to see brilliant foliage.

discover O Keeffe GALLERIES

=

HOME AND STUDIO GOKM.ORG

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MARIA CHABOT. GEORGIA O’KEEFFE HITCHING A RIDE TO ABIQUIU, 1944. PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT. GIFT OF THE MARIA CHABOT LITERARY TRUST.

If you like games of chance, then try your luck at Route 66 Casino on Interstate 25, west of Albuquerque. The casino floor features more than 1,300 slots, from pennies to high stakes machines, Vegas-style table games, a popular bingo hall, as well as full hotel accommodations, food, and regular entertainment options.

STORE

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Santa Fe National Forest

Our version of joyriding.

Download our new SANTA FE COUNTY TRAIL MAPS app on your Android or Apple device.

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~ 9,000 Feet Above Stress Level ~

e Lodge at Cloudcroft

In the Sacramento Mountains you wi discover a place where the dining is elegant, the golf is one of a kind and the spa wi soothe your soul. Since 1898 e Lodge has been a place to relax, renew and rejuvenate.

601 Cona Place Cloudcroft, New Mexico 88317 eLodgeRest.Com • 575-682-2566 • 800-395-6343

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SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

From Wine Flights to Balloon Flights, Alamogordo Delights All Ages 1. Experience the elegance of a wine tour—

without breaking the bank. Alamogordo is a wine lovers’ paradise, offering chances to explore vineyards, rich with history, and sample local wines.

White Sands National Monument is the place to get out and fly and fly.

2. Savor local flavors. Home to pistachio and pecan

farms, Alamogordo is an ideal immersive vacation experience, complete with the opportunity to tour farms and enjoy locally grown pistachios and pecans.

Family enjoys World’s Largest Pistachio.

3. Extend vacation memories by taking home a taste of New Mexico. Purchase a bottle of wine and local nuts, as well as sweets and gifts to savor the experience.

The grove where it all happens.

4. Enjoy the great outdoors at the iconic and picturesque White Sands National Monument, perfect for year-round camping, sledding, picnicking, photography and exploring.

The museum puts smiles on the faces of adults and children alike.

www.AlamogordoNMTrue.com Flying over the White Sands National Monument in a hot air balloon.

Pecan lovers will love all the selections

5. Learning is fun for kids and explorers of all ages in

Alamogordo. Explore the Toy Train Depot Museum, Alameda Park Zoo and the New Mexico Museum of Space History.

Alameda Park Zoo

Up close and live.

AlamogordoNMTrue.com

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SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Pop a Pistachio: New Mexico’s Other Tasty Treat George and Marianne Schweers wanted to return to their agriculture roots after a career in the Air Force that culminated at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo.

When 400 seedling pistachio trees, the first planted in New Mexico, came up for sale, the couple thought a perfect opportunity had presented itself. Neighbors thought the Schweers were, well, nuts.

Pistachios are fun to pop open and a heart-healthy snack.

But in New Mexico? Pistachios are from Iran, or Turkey, or maybe California?

The Schweers were just ahead of the trend in the desert Southwest. They had done their homework and knew that Pistachia Vera is a desert plant, a member of the cashew family and highly tolerant of saline soil. It thrives when irrigated with water having 3,000 to 4,000 ppm of soluble salts. Otero County was the place for soluble salts. Eagle Ranch was born.

Now, 43 years later, Eagle Ranch is New Mexico’s oldest and largest-producing pistachio grove with more than 13,000 trees. It’s also the only farm in the state that processes its own pistachios completely. The farm is a fully integrated agri-business: growing, processing, packaging and selling its products on the premises. All pistachio products from Eagle Ranch are sold under its familiar Heart of the Desert trade name. The Schweers’ son, Gordon, developed the original chile-flavored pistachios. The farm now boasts nine flavors of pistachios, all packaged with the Heart of the Desert logo adorning the bags.

The family added Heart of the Desert wine to the product line in 2002. The vineyard has more than 24,000 grapevines with seven varieties of grapes harvested each year. Chardonnay, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Riesling, Malvasia Bianca and Gewurztraminer make the production of a wide range of wines possible.

Heart of the Desert Pistachios and Wines ships its farmfresh products worldwide, selling them by mail order and online. There also are four store locations: the primary store on the farm beside Hwy 54/70, north of Alamogordo; “Heart of the Desert” on the plaza in Old Mesilla; “Eagle Ranch Mercantile” in the lobby of the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces; and “The Cork & Kettle” in Ruidoso. Tours of the farm are fun and free, and wine tasting is delightful at all four locations. *Story courtesy of Heart of the Desert.

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Ranked No. 1

es c u r as C

on the list of Best Things to do in Las Cruces.

L

l Livestock tours l Demonstrations l Special Events l Play areas for

children

l Gift Shop &

Snack Bar

l Indoor &

Outdoor Exhibits

Open 9-5 Monday - Saturday 12-5 on Sunday.

l Barns, corrals

and Greenhouse

575.522.4100 l 4100 Dripping Springs Rd. Las Cruces, NM 88011 www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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Step Into New Mexico’s History

The past comes alive at El Rancho de las Golondrinas living history museum. Explore New Mexico’s Hispano traditions and culture from the 1700s–1800s at this one-of-a-kind destination where the past comes to life and weekend programs are fun for the whole family. Open Wednesday through Sunday, June to October, with free admission for New Mexico residents on Wednesdays.

2 019 WEEKEND E VEN TS Spring and Fiber Fest: Tierra, Aqua y Vida | June 1–2 Experience the Land, Water and Life of New Mexico at El Rancho de las Golondrinas. Learn about the people, culture and historic landscape of New Mexico and get hands-on with history.

Herb and Lavender Festival | June 15–16 Lavender and herb product vendors along with lectures and hands-on activities on all things lavender.

The 26th Annual Santa Fe Wine Festival | July 6–7 Celebrate your freedom with handmade wines from New Mexico. ¡Viva Mexico! | July 20–21 Celebrate the rich culture of Mexico at El Rancho de las Golondrinas Our shared histories and cross-cultural influences are undeniable at ¡Viva Mexico!

New Mexico Beer and Food Festival: Panza Llena | August 3–4 Discover New Mexico beer, experience historic methods of food preparation, learn from food historians, attend workshops, sample delicious locally made creations and find something special from our vendors and artisans.

Fiesta de los Niños | August 31–September 1 Immerse yourself in a weekend of interactive family activities that are fun for all ages—storytelling, magic shows, crafts, historic games, and more.

The 12th Annual Santa Fe Renaissance Fair | September 14–15 Enjoy incredible performances and music, delicious food, and arts and crafts vendors at New Mexico’s premier Renaissance Fair.

Harvest Festival | October 5–6 Taste syrup from our burro driven sorghum mill, help make cider by cranking a traditional apple press, stomp grapes, and pick a pumpkin from our scarecrow-guarded patch.

Spirits of New Mexico’s Past | October 26 Step back in time and encounter a diverse assortment of characters from New Mexico’s illustrious and often little-known past.

For more information visit golondrinas.org

partially funded by the city of santa fe arts commission and the 1% lodgers’ tax, county of santa fe lodgers’ tax, new mexico arts, and new mexico bank and trust

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Andres Salazar

ALL ARE WELCOME! A PLACE TO INSPIRE, EXPLORE AND CREATE. Year-Round Horseback Trail Rides O’Keeffe Landscape Tours Archaeology and Paleontology Tours & Museums Transformational Workshops Overnight Stay Lodging & Campground Hiking Trails

FEATURED WORKSHOPS & RETREATS: Family Week 2019 Intergenerational Activities Hot Air Balloon and 4th of July Activities June 30-July 6, 2019 Festival of the Arts Weeks Painting-Pottery-Silversmithing-Photography-Writing & More July 7-13, 14-20 and 21-2, 2019

To learn more visit:

GHOSTRANCH.ORG or call

505.685.1000

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NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO

Follow Your Heart in Any Direction on Day Trips from Albuquerque New Mexico tourists and local staycationers tend to plan their trips around the state’s cities - Santa Fe for arts and fine dining, Taos for skiing and mellowing, Albuquerque often just because it’s the largest city and easiest to fly into. Those are the stereotypes. While there’s truth to those assigned molds, the menu of things to do in each extends well beyond the popular, and often unfairly limiting, soundbites. But for those willing to travel a small radius outside the urban cores, an even more brilliant kaleidoscope of activities awaits.

Here are 10 suggested day trips within a twohour radius of Albuquerque in each of the cardinal directions: WEST

NORTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

Acoma Pueblo/Sky City Cultural Center: 1 hour, 10 minutes (65 miles) Founded in the 13th century, Acoma is the oldest continually inhabited settlement in North America and the 28th Historic Site designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The pueblo is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with guided tours every hour on the half hour beginning at 9:30 a.m., and ending at 3:30 p.m.

See Acoma pottery and Native American crafts for sale by local artisans at the cultural center and view exhibits at the Haak’u Museum.

The pueblo is 6,460 above seal level and can be cold in winter and blazing in summer. Religious leaders reside here year-round, so please review rules and regulations about photography, clothing and other etiquette at http://www.acomaskycity.org/ before visiting. You’ll find directions and other details there, too.

El Malpais National Monuments: 1 hour, 40 minutes (104 miles) Visit the ancient volcanic landscape of El Malpais, a haven for nature lovers and anyone who is a geologist at heart. A free caving permit will allow tourists to explore underground lava tubes. Take a hike along cairned routes through the lava flows or up to sandstone bluffs. You can even witness an outflight of Brazilian free-tailed bats with the guidance of a ranger in the El Calderon Area of the park. Guided bat outflights usually occur weekly during the months of June through the beginning of September, but the start and end of the season is wholly dependent on the schedule of the bats and the weather. Please contact the El Malpais Visitor Center at (505) 876-2783 for more information, and visit https://www.nps.gov/ elma/index.htm for additional details on the park.

El Morro National Monument: 1 hour, 54 minutes (118 miles)

One of the thousands of markings on Inscription Rock at El Morro reads "R. H. Orton, Capt, 1st Cal, Cav. 1866." Photo credit: U.S. National Park Service.

If you plan to visit El Malpais, it only makes sense to add El Morro to the itinerary – or vice versa. The site of a natural pool that provides year-round drinking water, El Morro has for centuries served as a comforting stop for travelers in the otherwise vastly inhospitable terrain.

Many who passed through left their mark, carved as a signature, drawing or a short message in what is now called Inscription Rock. More than 2,000 markings left

by Anasazi Indians, Spanish conquistadors and American travelers can be seen in the sandstone.

A paved, half-mile trail leads to the inscriptions, many of which are crisp and easily legible due to varying degrees of preservation. The trail links with a longer loop along the mesa top, passing the ruins of an ancient pueblo, while giving fine, elevated views over the forested landscape, according to the website, http://www. americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/el-morro/nationalmonument.html. A campsite and visitor center complete the list of attractions. All can be seen in just a few hours.

NORTH Jemez Springs: 1 hour, 10 minutes (59.5 miles) From the stone ruins of a 16th-century Spanish mission to the traditional Native American dances at Jemez Pueblo, the natural mineral hot springs, a bevy of art galleries – and even a chance for a Big Foot sighting! – the Jemez Springs village and surrounding areas has something for everyone. For more things to see and do and for a calendar of annual and special events, visit http://www. jemezsprings.org. Whether it’s a hike, some history or just a helluva good time you seek, you’re sure to find it in this serene and scenic hamlet.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument: 1 hour (55 miles) A photographer’s wonderland. A hiker’s paradise. A geologist’s laboratory. Whatever your inclination, the (continued on Page 44)

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VACATION DIRECTORY

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Immersive Entertainment Venues Take Visitors to Fantastic Worlds New Mexico has been called the Land of Enchantment since the early 20th century for its rainbow sunsets, infinite landscapes, cultural diversity and world-renowned arts community. These have been the primary draws for the state’s booming tourism industry for a century. However, New Mexico has in recent years landed international recognition for enchanting locals and tourists alike with cutting edge immersive and interactive entertainment experiences that rival those produced in the world’s biggest cities.

Santa-Fe’s Meow Wolf is hands-down the most popular and famous in New Mexico, with locations set to open in Denver; Las Vegas, Nev.; Washington, D.C.; and Phoenix in the next few years. The art collective launched its Themed Entertainment Association award-winning House of Eternal Return in March 2016, with support from Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin. Creators describe it as a place to explore “a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, and an expansive narrative amid surreal, maximalist, and mesmerizing art exhibits.”

In other words, you just have to experience it to understand.

That “you had to be there” quality is typical of immersive entertainment. The blend of technology, art, theater and digital imagery not only makes description difficult but is also designed to create an adventure unique to each person.

Compare it to an LSD version of the 1980’s Choose Your Own Adventure books. These “gamebooks” didn’t just tell a story;

they gave their young readers some control by enabling them to choose the course of the plot and the main character’s decisions. If you and a friend read StoryLab's two-hour immersive dining experiences take guests on the same adventures such as trip through space and a winter wonderland. book, you’d StoryLab will soon be called Electric Playhouse. Photo credit: Mario each have a Caldwell different story to tell at the end.

Today’s immersive experiences do the same but on a far grander and more stimulating scale. Among the most prolific are escape rooms, which rose to popularity about a decade ago. There are now more than 8,000 in the world and more than 2,000 in the U.S. New Mexico has claimed up to a dozen at any given time.

All follow the same model: Operators lock a handful of participants in a themed room or series of rooms for an hour. (continued on Page 27)

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Art, Design and Influence New Mexico’s mid-century modern art and design icons Alexander Girard, Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee), and Georgia O’Keeffe influenced Santa Fe’s textile, fashion, and visual art landscape. Explore their contributions through exciting summer exhibitions and programs.

Mid-Century Santa Fe includes Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe (from Vitra Design Museum) at the Museum of International Folk Art, Action/Abstraction Redefined at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, and a series of community events and lectures hosted by the O’Keeffe Museum.

newmexicoculture.org/mid-centurysantafe

Clockwise: Alexander Girard, arm chair No. 66310, 1967, series production by Herman Miller Furniture Co., collection Vitra Design Museum, photo: © Vitra Design Museum, Jürgen Hans.

Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee), Untitled (Squares), 1968, acrylic on canvas, wood, 42.25” x 31.5”, IAIA Museum of contemporary Native Arts Collection, CHE-23.

Opening of the exhibition Fantasy and Enchantment: Selections from the Girard Foundation Collection, Museum of International Folk Art, December 4, 1977. Photograph by Art Taylor, Bartlett Library and Archives, Museum of International Folk Art.

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Immersive Entertainment Venues Take Visitors to Fantastic Worlds

VACATION DIRECTORY

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(continued from Page 23)

Their goal is to free themselves as quickly as possible within the time limit by solving a series of clues and puzzles associated with a storyline. Uncover treasure in an Egyptian pharaoh’s tomb, find a way out of a sinking submarine, or discover the identity of a serial killer by searching his cabin for evidence before he returns. There’s something for every age, interest and skill level.

Engaging storytelling is the quintessential element of immersive entertainment - often venturing into fantasy or the macabre, usually multi-sensory and always unpredictable. The acclaimed interactive New York play “Sleep No More” turns Shakespeare’s Macbeth into a mind-bending theater noir that’s more haunted house than stage drama. In the production, which opened in 2011, the audience walks unguided through a maze of settings on various floors of a hotel, following actors at will and sometimes interacting with them. The show remains so popular, reservations were being taken for 2020 as early as spring of this year. It is widely credited with launching the immersive theater craze, though nothing like it has hit New Mexico yet.

“Immersive entertainment is the “next logical step after the rise - and relative fall - of books, radio, then broadcast and then cable television, and now interactive gaming,” said Vincent P. Clark, professor and director of the Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center at the University of New Mexico. “Each felt immersive at first, but eventually people wanted more.

“There is also a growing sense, promoted by the internet and social media, that people find themselves insufficient at some level. … They want to explore other identities and places

that are more exceptional and unique, as if they were real. It allows them to transform into someone or visit somewhere ‘better’ for a while.”

While many of New Mexico’s StoryLab, soon to be called Electric Playhouse, is more traditional expanding its immersive entertainment offerings to become more family-oriented. A new West Side attractions could location will focus more on projected interactive be characterized video games. Photo credit: Mario Caldwell as other-worldly by most standards (See Day Trips story on Page 22), our growing list of immersive and interactive entertainment venues are adding a new dimension to what the state has to offer visitors.

Here are four such experiences, divided by genre, that will deliver you to alternate universes for an hour or more.

DINING (& GAMES) StoryLab, 610 Central Ave. SW, Albuquerque, 505.807.7042, https://www.storylabinteractive.com/ You don’t have to visit Sublimotion restaurant in Ibiza, Spain, to get a taste of what’s marketed as the most expensive dining experience in the world. StoryLab’s two-hour techno-party meal in Albuquerque is strikingly similar but exceedingly more (continued on Page 37)

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Rockhound State Park

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TAOS El Monte Sagrado Resort & Spa 855.846.8267 ElMonteSagrado.com Palacio de Marquesa 855.846.8267 MarquesaTaos.com

SANTA FE Eldorado Hotel & Spa 800.955.4455 EldoradoHotel.com Inn and Spa at Loretto 866.582.1646 HotelLoretto.com Hotel St. Francis 800.529.5700 HotelStFrancis.com Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe 855.752.9273 HotelChimayo.com 32

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Pictured is Inn and Spa at Loretto in Santa Fe.

ALBUQUERQUE Hotel Chaco 866.505.7829 HotelChaco.com Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town 800.237.2133 HotelAbq.com

LAS CRUCES Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces 866.383.0443 HotelEncanto.com

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NORTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO 34

ADVERTORIAL

www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

It’s All About Family and Food At Church Street Café

VACATION DIRECTORY

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It is a family restaurant. From the photos on the walls to the chef in the kitchen, Church Street Café is a testimonial to what family means to owner Marie Coleman.

Coleman was a young mother studying radiology in Albuquerque when she bought a house in Old Town. “We had to push spider webs away when we walked through the building,” she says. “But it was fascinating! It was 300 years old.”

Initially, Coleman’s aunt, Reina Jaramillo, was angry about the purchase. “She told me, ‘Marie, you are in school. You have no business putting any money down on a house.’” The building, however, soon captured Reina’s imagination.

“It was my aunt’s idea to turn it into a restaurant,” Coleman says. “She said, ‘This is a restaurant and you are going to put the kitchen right here.’” That kitchen has been expanded a couple of times as the café grew from 80 seats to about 250.

THE CUBA CONNECTION There is a photo of aunt Reina and Coleman’s mom, Rita, hanging in one of the front dining rooms at Church Street.

They are little girls, maybe 4 or 5 years old, and it was taken in Cuba, N.M., where Reina eventually owned and operated the Silver Star Saloon. Marie Coleman grew up in Cuba and worked for her aunt at the Silver Star. “But I never dreamed I would go into the restaurant business,” she said.

Why should she? Her uncle took her out to lunch one day and gave her an early lesson in restaurant ownership.

“My uncle and I had gone someplace to eat and while we were sitting at our table, he asked me if I saw the man mopping the floor,” says Coleman. “I said I did, and he said, ‘He’s the owner.’”

Despite that early introduction, Coleman has been running Church Street for 25 years. That’s what happens when you are born into a family of restaurant owners. Her mother’s brother owns El Bruno’s Restaurant Y Cantina, with locations in both Cuba and Albuquerque. And Marie’s brother, Jim, is the man in the Church Street kitchen.

“My brother is the best cook in the family,” she says. “He is always coming up with something different, saying, ’Here, try this,’ or ‘Take a bite of that.’ I am a good taster.”

Coleman typically eats huevos rancheros or breakfast burritos first thing in the morning, and she is partial to Jim’s carne adobada, pork marinated and baked in red chile. It is smooth and warm, perfect for a cold morning. Her best sellers, however, are A plate of carne adobada, beans enchiladas, and Coleman and a tortilla is a great way to get the homestyle taste of New prefers Christmas rather than Mexico. Photo by Martin Frentzel. red or green alone.

Church Street Café in Old Town is a labor of love for owner Marie Coleman and her brother, Jim, who is “the best cook in the family.”

Photo by Martin Frentzel.

The menu includes great salads and sandwiches, and Jim Coleman is also coming up with a new appetizer, which includes avocado fried like a chile relleno.

A FAMILY FRIEND The Ruiz family owned the Church Street house originally.

Coleman displays photos of them in the restaurant, and there is a display window where a variety of items found in the building – bottles, bones, a yardstick – are on display.

Rebuilding the house was done Family photos adorn Church Café. The little girls shown

by Coleman and an old family Street here are Marie Coleman’s Aunt friend, a curandero named Reina Jaramillo, on the left, and her mother, Rita. Photo by Charlie Trujillo. Marie had to Martin Frentzel. show up every morning at 8, and Charlie would give her a list of the materials he needed for that day’s work. It was written on a piece of wood and he would instruct her to bring the wooden list back because he was going to use it.

“He became an angel,” she says. “I couldn’t have done it without him.”

Charlie also liked to recycle the materials from the old house.

The stalls in the bathroom were constructed with the lumber from the original ceiling, and the handle on the chimney flue in one dining room was an old door knob.

One of Coleman’s favorite dining areas is the patio behind the old house, and her angel’s imprint is found there, too.

“Charlie built the waterfall back there,” she says of the patio where she loves to garden when she isn’t handling the myriad chores that come along with restaurant ownership. “I do enjoy it,” she says. “I enjoy the people and the food.”

She enjoys the memories, too. Church Street isn’t just a place to eat; it is a family restaurant where diners can quickly feel at home.

Church Street Café is located at 2111 Church St. NW, Old Town, Albuquerque, NM, 87104. Call 505-247-8522 for more information. www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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“After the Rain” (Photo Credit: Taos Pueblo Tourism)

Taos Pueblo’s Living Community Has Much to be Admired

Taos Pueblo welcomes visitors

from all over the world. It’s considered the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States by archaeologists who say ancestors of Micaceous Pottery (Photo Credit: the Taos Indians lived in the valley Taos Pueblo Tourism) long before Columbus discovered America and even hundreds of years before Europe emerged from the Dark Ages.

And the people of Taos Pueblo are happy to share their storied history with tourists. It’s something the Pueblo has been sharing openly since the 1920s.

“Take a tour of the pueblo, if possible,” says Ilona Spruce, tourism director for Taos Pueblo. “Some of our guides are college students who were born and raised here and come back to share their perspective of the pueblo. There’s something very special about this because they are truly proud of where they came from and who we are as a people.”

Parts of this Northern New Mexico pueblo remain much like they were when the first Spanish explorers arrived in New Mexico in 1540. Those explorers were looking for the fabled Cities of Gold and believed Taos was one of them.

Architecture is a big draw of the Pueblo. The structures are made entirely of adobe — earth mixed with water and straw, made into sun-dried bricks. Roofs of each of the five stories are supported by large timbers (vigas) hauled down from the

mountain forests. Smaller pieces of wood, pine or aspen latillas, are placed on top of the vigas. The roof is then covered with packed dirt.

The outside surfaces of the pueblo are continuously maintained by “Taking a Tour” (Photo Credit: plastering with thick layers of mud.

Rima Krisst) Interior walls are carefully coated with thin washes of white earth to keep them clean and bright. The pueblo is actually many individual homes, built side-by-side and in layers, with common walls but no connecting doorways. In earlier days there were no doors or windows, and entry was gained only from the top.

Today, about 150 people live at the pueblo full time, and another 1,500 or so other families own more modern homes to the north or south of the oldest two structures.

“When people visit for the first time, I like to remind them to be mindful that our pueblo is a living community,” Spruce says.

“Even though we openly welcome our visitors, we also need to let them know that these are people’s homes and some of the most beautiful and architecturally unique spaces.”

Taos Pueblo is a World Heritage Site as well. The pueblo is open to visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except during tribal ritual days that require closing the Pueblo. Late winter to early spring, the pueblo closes for about 10 weeks. Visit www.taospueblo.com for more information and to view events open to the public.

Taos Pueblo Tourism, 120 Veterans Hwy. Taos, NM 87571 (575) 758-1028 36

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Immersive Entertainment Venues Take Visitors to Fantastic Worlds (continued from Page 27)

affordable at $85 for four to five courses instead of nearly $2,000 for 20.

As soon as you walk in the warehouse-like space, digital images produced by 24 projectors and 24 computers engulf you. A banquet-style table in a more intimate second room does double duty as a flat-screen displaying an interactive light installation. The walls and floors, too, dance with imagery, which may morph or move with a step or a wave. Menus correlate to an adventure, or monthly theme, creating a multisensory experience.

for all of your celebrations!

Local themes have included “Elements,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Life.” At the most popular "Space" nights, “it’s like you’re in a galaxy, like you’re on a spaceship,” said studio director Theresa Kitt. “There’s a voice over a speaker that talks you through each of the courses. It’s like traveling throughout space for the evening.”

In “Life,” butterflies escort visitors from the entry hall to the dining room. Greeting them at the table are fireflies that can be dispersed with a sweep of a hand. Flowers begin to bloom with the first course. “Winter Wonderland” leads diners along a forest walk in search of a cabin that reveals Santa’s workshop.

It ends with them sitting around a digital fire pit, roasting real marshmallows. (Check out a promotional video at https://youtu.be/9A2C4swxrEA) StoryLab CEO and founder John-Mark Collins said transitioning the company to the Electric Playhouse name will begin about the time of publication of this magazine, with the new 24,000-square-foot location anticipated to open as early as October.

While the Playhouse will still offer themed dining experiences, its focus will be broader and more family-oriented. Think Main Event or Hinkle Family Fun Center but with a Hulk-sized injection of virtual reality. Interactive video games projected on walls and floors will allow children to compete against one another for highest scores or unite against a common enemy.

Computer software generates everything from a vintage Space Invaders, where players toss balls at aliens projected on a wall, to fast-moving colored boxes on the floor. Jump on your assigned color, and score points!

Collins says he has recently taken on a partner from Lucas Film Ltd. and hopes to license Star Wars and Disney content among his themes. He also intends to franchise the concept in cities nationwide. Just within the last few months, One Dome in San Francisco licensed his technology and content for its interactive dining experience for the remainder of the year.

Come fall, Collins says he expects to have three rentable party rooms that will accommodate as many as 60 people each at Electric Playhouse. Whether the user is a family needing a venue for a child’s birthday party or a business seeking a unique presentation space, he says, the client will have the ability to drive content - pictures of the birthday princess or proposed company logos, for example.

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NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Immersive Entertainment Venues Take Visitors to Fantastic Worlds (continued from Page 37)

ART Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return, 1352 Rufina Circle, Santa Fe; 505.395.6369; https://santafe.meowwolf.com/.

Open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Closed Tuesday.

Tickets may be purchased online for between $17 and $29, depending on age and state residency. Keep in mind tickets expire 30 days after purchase.

See also The PASEO Outdoor Art Festival in Taos, September 13-14 in our festival listings on Page 18.

HEALTH Santa Fe Salt Cave, 1424 2nd St., Santa Fe, 505-365-2875, http://www.santafesaltcave.com/ You won’t find an interactive experience here, but the Salt Cave’s goal is total immersion in a holistic, healing environment. Visitors spend 45 minutes lounging within a manmade cave constructed of nine tons of pink Himalayan salt. Not only are the walls, ceiling and floors covered in it, but a machine called a Halogenerator also blows salt particles into the air as soothing music plays.

Salt is an anti-inflammatory, with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, said cave owner Kim Rash.

The Salt Cave claims to help with allergies and upper respiratory issues by opening up airwaves; decrease skin problems such as acne, dermatitis and eczema; provide mental and emotional support; and promote general well-being.

Santa Fe Salt Cave was created out of nine tons of beautiful and healing pink Himalayan salt crystals. Time spent in the cave is said to be beneficial for respiratory and mental health. Photo credit: Amanda Oda.

“The high salt concentration saturates the air with negative ions, which can help the body produce more serotonin, a chemical in the body that helps reduce anxiety and depression.

High vibrational crystals can help raise the high energy frequency, contributing to well-being,” Rash said.

She acknowledges that “not everyone gets that,” but regardless of what you believe, the cave is sure to help you decompress.

“We live in such a stressful, chaotic time that people are craving an escape,” Rash said. “You can always escape in these places (that offer immersive experiences) for an hour or two hours … without spending a lot of money or time.” (continued on Page 42)

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Chama: New Mexico’s Mecca for Year-Round Fun One of the best-kept secrets in New Mexico is the enchanting Village of Chama. With an elevation of 7,860 feet, Chama is nestled high in the Southern Rockies, just 120 miles north of Santa Fe. The historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam trains leave the Chama depot daily from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October. Riding the railroad is a day trip of exhilarating mountain views, deep gorges, beautiful spring wild flowers, and later in the season, amazing fall colors.

Fishing local trout streams and lakes is a leisurely pleasure, but for a real experience, try fly fishing the Rio Chama, which runs the east side of the village. Hikers and mountain bikers find many trails, including the Continental Divide Trail nearby. The Sargent’s Wildlife Area surrounds Chama with meadows and trails for hiking and horseback riding. Hunting adventures with reliable guides are close to town.

Chama has a lively Western-style business district with lodging, RV parks and cozy dining establishments. Located at the junction of Highway 17 and U.S. 84 (Take State Hwy 285 north from Santa Fe to Española, then take the “Chama Highway”/84 north.), the Village of Chama is the perfect destination for anyone seeking scenic outdoor recreation.

Crowds gather in Chama for the famous Fourth of July fireworks display. Western Heritage Days are the second weekend in June. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad offers a fireworks train in the evening. Chama Days, the second weekend of August, is always fun with a softball tournament, New Mexico Professional Rodeo Commission rodeo, dances and a parade. Enjoy the Valley Studio Tour every Labor Day weekend and visit our local artists.

Western Heritage Days ~ 2nd Weekend in June.

Cool times in cool pines are the epitome of summer fun in Chama’s cabins and vacation ranches.

And it’s an absolute mecca for winter sports, too!

For your safety and comfort, take a light jacket or sweater for those cool evening walks, and check with the local ranger district before heading out to hike. Never travel alone and make sure you are adequately prepared. At these altitudes, the weather can sneak up on you.

Chamanmv.com Summer on the Chama River. (Photo credit: www.exposureandfstop.com) www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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Save the Date!

2019 Artesia Events Wet & Wild

Clays Crusher

June 8

September 21

Smokin’ on the Pecos

Fiesta! – A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage

June 28, 29 & 30

September 21 - 22

4th of July Extravaganza

Art in the Park

July 4

October 19

Eddy County Fair July 22 - 27

Trick or Treat MainStreet

Red Dirt Black Gold

October 26

August 24

CHAMBER of COMMERCE A RT E S I A • N EW M E X I C O

Balloons & Tunes November 2 & 3

SENM Regional Swap Meet & Car Corral

Light Up Artesia

September 12 - 14

December 5

107 N 1st St, Artesia, NM 88211 www.artesiachamber.com

575-746-2744

• •

� � �

Weekend festival is ideal entrée to rural town’s art, culture scene For hundreds of thousands of people around the world, Albuquerque’s annual kaleidoscope of hot air balloons in October lures them to New Mexico. With good reason. The International Balloon Fiesta remains the largest and most impressive anywhere. Some years, around 800 balloons decorate the city’s fall sky like Christmas ornaments confused about the season.

But for those not in town then or for anyone who considers crowds and traffic jams a deal-breaker no matter how legendary the event they surround, the more intimate town of Artesia provides an alternative.

The town’s Balloons & Tunes Festival occurs the next month, always the first weekend in November. Last year, 30 balloons floated above Artesia’s farm and ranchlands, a sight to behold by a manageable number of onlookers seeking a mix of adventure and relaxation.

classic novels as well as favorite books of several local students. It symbolizes the foundation the community has in learning, education, literature and our youth.

Inside the library, visitors will find a 30-foot windowed wall displaying a 1952 Peter Hurd mural. Despite Artesia’s cowboy past and rural economy, the town has a noticeable artistic edge.

Along your walk, make sure to shop the unique local merchants along Main Street, and grab a bite at a café. Saturday night offers a Fire Concert for those who enjoy live music. And then rise and shine again Sunday for the balloons once more.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Artesia’s Fall Balloon Event Offers Color, Calm, Community

Whether you go for the color, for a ride, to learn how to fly or even just to hear their slow whoosh, whoosh as they glide above you, Artesia’s festival not only has it all on a smaller and some would say, more personal, scale, but also, it’s free!

Balloons lift off at dawn Nov. 2 and 3 at Eagle Draw Park, weather permitting. So, wake early, dress warmly and take a hot chocolate or coffee as hand and tummy warmers.

And then don’t leave.

Artesia is known for its Historic Walking Tour downtown, which showcases the town’s culture and history, in part through a series of nine bronze statues: The Vaquero (cowboy), The Trail Boss, The Rustler, The First Lady of Artesia, The Derrick Floor (dedicated to the men and women who take the risks and do the work to find, produce and refine state oil and gas), The Partners, Pioneering Endurance, Women’s Intuition and The Foundation. This last, larger-than-life bronze, located in front of the public library, includes a variety of www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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Immersive Entertainment Venues Take Visitors to Fantastic Worlds (continued from Page 38)

Check the website for special events, including flute performances, sound journeys with tuning forks, animal totem events and Reiki sessions.

Open 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed Tuesday. Be sure to make an appointment online or by calling. No shoes allowed in the cave.

Cost per halotherapy session: $35. Show a New Mexico ID on NM Love Thursdays, and receive $10 off a single session.

THEATER Escape Rooms: You, the participants, are the actors on a private set. It’s your job to figure out how to escape.

A minimum of four people are often required for a reservation, but smaller parties may be placed with other groups upon request. Check the websites or call for room themes, hours and reservations. Note that some story lines may not be suitable for young children.

• New Mexico Escape Room: 3916 Carlisle Blvd.

NE, Albuquerque, and 4401 McLeod NE, Albuquerque; 505.289.1002; https://nmescaperoom.com/ Cost: $25 per person.

• Escape the Room: 6600 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque; 505.633.0242; https://escapetheroom.com/albuquerque/ Cost $28 per person.

• Escape Santa Fe: 505 Cerrillos Rd A-104, Santa Fe; 505.303.3876; https://www.escapesantafe.com/ Cost: $30 per person.

• Lost Cruces Escape Room: 755 S Telshor Blvd.

STE G4, Las Cruces; 575.373.2112; https://lostcruces.com/ Cost: $28 per person • Under Lock and Key: 2909 N Prince St Suite E, Clovis; 575.218.9916; https://www.underlockandkeyclovis.com/ Cost: $25 per person

SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO

From Pancakes to Planets, New Mexico Creates Ways to Celebrate

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Finding a festival in New Mexico at any time of year is about as difficult as finding a cactus. It can feel like you’re bumping into one every time you turn around. But if there is a blooming season for festivals, it’s between May and October.

Events are popular in New Mexico because they get communities involved toward a common goal, said Aimee Awonohopay, public and industry relations director for the state Tourism Department. However, they also turn the communities into destinations for tourists, so in addition to building relationships locally, they also help boost economies.

As for what New Mexicans think worth celebrating – just (continued on Page 45) about anything! For transportation buffs, we’ve got festivals around UFOs, motorcycles, cars, rockets and trains. If you prefer something more organic, there’s fanfare over lavender, lilacs and herbs. For animal lovers, cranes and ducks get a good degree of attention.

Days devoted to food applaud pancakes, raspberries, macaroni and cheese, beer and wine, chile, chocolate, enchiladas and salsa, and more! But as you might expect, it’s the art markets that This will be the 40th year for the Great American Duck Races to occur in Deming. In addition to duck-related activities, attendees enjoy a tortilla toss, dominate throughout parade and general hilarity. Photo credit: The Great American Duck Races the year. www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

Rocketeer Academy Rocks STEM STEM education has been a part of the New Mexico Museum of Space History’s mission since before it was STEM – or STEAM. From the beginning, the museum’s mission statement read: “to educate the people…on the history, science, and technology of space.” Today, more than 40 years later, the mission and the execution holds steady in the very capable hands of the museum’s Rocketeer Academy educators who reach thousands of students each year across the state.

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo Program, the museum’s popular Rocketeer Academy Summer Camp is offering a special Apollo+50 camp for cadets in grades 4-9. Using the Kerbal computer program, cadets will re-enact the space race and then come up with a way to get back to the moon and build a permanent base.

Other exciting summer camp programs include Space ‘bots, Moon Base, Solar System Voyagers, Wheels Up, and Rocket Science Investigators. Each camp is designed to spark the imagination of young adventurers and send them on the road to intergalactic adventure!

Whether it’s bringing the museum’s portable planetarium to Santa Rosa schools or hosting groups at the museum for an Alien Autopsy, STEM education plays an increasingly important role in how Rocketeer Academy educators reach out to students. “The workforce of the future depends on the students of today nurturing an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Including Art in the equation gives students the opportunity to include creativity with their passion,” said Museum Executive Director Christopher Orwoll.

For more information on how your school or student can become involved with the Museum’s Rocketeer Academy, visit the website or call the number below.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit the website at www.NMSpaceMuseum.org. Like us at: www.facebook. com/NMSpaceMuseum/

w w w.NMSpaceMuseum.org

New Mexico Museum of

SPACE HISTORY Alamogordo • New Mexico

Come see the all new 4K Laser Dome Projection System — the very first in the world!

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... ALONG WITH ALL NEW PLANETARIUM SHOWS!

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LIVE STAR SHOWS! with Museum Educators For more info, visit NMSpaceMuseum.org AL AMOGORDO, NM • 575 - 4 37-28 40 www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Follow Your Heart in Any Direction on Day Trips from ABQ (continued from Page 22)

cone-shape tent rock formations, also known as hoodoos, and the undulating canyon walls leading to them will impress. The formations are products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 million to 7 million years ago and left pumice, ash, and tuff deposits more than 1,000 feet thick, according to the Bureau of Land Management’s website on the area. While fairly uniform in shape, they vary in height from a few feet, up to 90 feet.

The area is accessible from a parking area only by foot, via an easy 1.2-mile Cave Loop Trail or the more challenging 1.5-mile Canyon Trail ending in a 630-foot climb to a spectacular overlook. It offers views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, and Sandia mountains, and the Rio Grande Valley.

Dogs are not allowed. Cost is $5 per vehicle.

For more, visit https://www.socorronm.org/attractions/ bosque-del-apache-national-wildlife-refuge/ or https:// www.fws.gov/refuge/Bosque_del_Apache/.

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument: 1 hour, 45 minutes (93 miles) Step back in time with a visit to one of the least visited national monuments in the West! This complex of three 17th-century Spanish Franciscan missions, built beside ancient pueblos, is representative of European colonization of local Indian tribes. The national monument headquarters is in the small town of Mountainair along US 60, though each site also has its own visitor center as they are spread several miles apart.

Though the drive time from Albuquerque is minimal (continued on Page 46)

SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m., with some closures throughout the year. Be sure to check the website for updates and other information: https://www.blm.gov/visit/kktr.

Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu: 2 hours (124 miles) Explore Georgia O’Keeffe territory, and see why the hills and valleys of this Northern New Mexico landscape so inspired the iconic painter. In addition to visiting her ranch via guided tours, there are museums and tours that focus on the archaeology and paleontology of the area. There is even a Movie Site Tour that takes you to locations of numerous productions filmed here.

For those seeking outdoor adventure, take a hike on any of five trails winding through the famous red rocks overlooking green pastures. Ropes courses, a labyrinth, horseback riding and canoeing are also available. And if you just can’t get the kids interested in anything else, the ranch does have an outdoor swimming pool to entertain them for the day for a small fee. For complete information, visit https://www.ghostranch.org/.

NORTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

SOUTH Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Socorro: 1 hour, 25 minutes (95 miles) Bosque del Apache contains 57,331 acres that provide refuge for migrating waterfowl, including cranes, geese, and ducks who winter there each year. While the best time to see the famous sandhill cranes is late fall, the refuge provides visitors a chance to see other birds and wildlife, as well as varied scenery year-round. Free guided tours are available seasonally. Check with the Visitor Center for availability by calling 575-835-1828.

Hunting, fishing, frogging and hiking can also be done at the refuge.

Hours are 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday from June 1-August 31 and 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily September 1-May 31. Entrance costs $5 per vehicle.

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A hiker stands in awe of the cone-shaped rock formations formed by volcanic eruptions 6 million to 7 million years ago at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Photo credit: M'Lee Ayotte-Beazley, Bureau of Land Management.

VACATION DIRECTORY

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From Pancakes to Planets, New Mexico Creates Ways to Celebrate (continued from Page 42)

To help you discover a new delight or revel in a longstanding passion, below are some of the most popular festivals in the state and a few that are just odd enough to be worth your time.

Bodacious Butterfly Festival, June 21-23, Raton/ Sugarite Canyon: Join rangers at Sugarite Canyon for catch-and-release butterfly walks, get tips on creating butterfly gardens and let the kids try to "survive" a pretend butterfly migration. A schedule of events and locations will be available at the park Visitor Center. Contact: 575.445.5607 InterPlanetary Festival, Santa Fe, June 14-16: One of New Mexico’s newest events, the InterPlanetary Festival is only in its second year but truly taking off in popularity. It combines science and tech exploration with the typical offerings that come with a festival – music, art, food, etc. Presented by the Santa Fe Institute, this year’s program kicks off with a screening of 1968's Planet of the Apes, specially introduced

by J.W. Rinzler (author of The Making of Planet of the Apes). A full lineup of impressive speakers and authors will present on topics including "Health Futures," "Extremophile Cities," and "Building Life from Scratch." Check out all this stellar festival offers at https://interplanetaryfest.org/.

Pancakes on the Plaza, Santa Fe, July 4: This Independence Day tradition has been uniting locals and tourists in Santa Fe and other Northern New Mexico communities for 44 years to celebrate the holiday through breakfast – and lots of syrup. Besides a bounty of buttermilk (served 7 a.m. to noon), you’ll find a vintage car show, silent auction, a coloring contest for the kiddos, and arts and crafts for sale for adults. Presented by the Rotary Club of Santa Fe. For a schedule, see https://www.pancakesontheplaza.com/.

UFO Festival, Roswell, July 5-7: This event celebrates one of the most controversial incidents in history the 1947 Roswell Incident. Something crashed at a ranch in this southern part of the state that year, but the debate goes on – weather balloon or alien spacecraft? UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike will come together for guest speakers, authors, live entertainment, human and pet costume contests, a Light Parade, and many more stellar activities. For details, visit http://www.ufofestivalroswell.com/.

International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe, July 12-14: Voted Best Art Festival by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers Choice Awards, this spectacularly colorful event celebrates people and cultures from around the globe. Artists from about 60 countries, many developing, gather at Museum Hill to sell their hand-crafted products and introduce festivalgoers to their work, their community and their lifestyle. Many dress in traditional clothing. A food market exposes visitors to a banquet of culinary delights they may otherwise not

Santa Fe funk band “The Sticky” performs at the 2018 InterPlanetary Festival in Santa Fe.While its focus is science and tech exploration, it offers traditional festival fare as well. Photo credit: Kimberly Corante for the Santa Fe Institute.

have a chance to taste. According to the website, 20,000 visitors attend, purchasing $3 million in folk art. On average, nearly $20,000 per booth is sent back to artists in their native countries to help sustain entire communities. https:// folkartmarket.org/events-programs/international-folk-artmarket-santa-fe/ CLAY Festival, Silver City, July 15-22: From workshops for professionals and children to an impressive market of items for sale, this event offers something for lovers of pottery at every level. This year’s exhibition will be juried by internationally known artist Sunshine Cobb, owner of Sidecar Studios, a vibrant space for ceramic artists and other creative community activities in Sacramento, Calif. For details, see https://clayfestival.com/.

Lavender Festival, Village of Los Ranchos/ Albuquerque, July 20-21: See 100 vendors of every kind of lavender-based product and creators of lavender-related artwork imaginable - lotions, pottery, food, paintings, beer and wine, and even lavender plants themselves!

Entertainment includes live music, yoga sessions, a petting zoo, games and classes for children, and agricultural and culinary demonstrations. The event attracts about 9,000 people annually. Proceeds support Lavender in the Village, a 501(c)3 whose mission is to support local agricultural and educational programming. https://www.lavenderinthevillage.org/ 40th Annual Great American Duck Race, Deming, August 22-25: Attendees at this festival will see a Tournament of Ducks Parade, multiple duck races, the Great American Tortilla Toss and a host of other live entertainment, competitions and food. Read all the quack about it at https://www.demingduckrace.com/. (continued on Page 48)

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NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Follow Your Heart in Any Direction on Day Trips from ABQ (continued from Page 44)

to Mountainair, it is best to plan a full day if you want adequate time to get to all three sites and spend some time at each.

If time is limited, it’s worth it to trek to the furthest ruin, Gran Quivira, which is also the most extensive. The pueblo has seven kivas and more than 200 rooms, partly reconstructed so that the walls are around 3 feet high, according to the monument website.

For more information and directions to all three, visit http://www.americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/salinaspueblo-missions/national-monument.html.

No fee is charged for entry, and the ruins are open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. (5 p.m. in winter).

EAST Wildlife West Nature Park, Edgewood: 33 minutes (31 miles) This 120-acre nonprofit wildlife preserve is operated by the New Mexico Wildlife Association and provides a natural and safe home for a multitude of rescued animals that for a variety of reasons cannot be released into the wild. See up close more than 20 species of animals, including elk, black bear, pronghorn, fox, bobcats, mountain lions, raptors, raccoons, porcupine and wolf-hybrids.

Park hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. mid-March through October and noon to 4 p.m. beginning in November.

Admission costs $9 for adults, $7 or seniors and $5 for children age 6 and older. Children under 5 get in free.

For information: http://wildlifewest.org/wwblog/.

NORTHEAST Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway This historic and quaint road links Albuquerque and Santa Fe by way of old mining towns famous for their production of turquoise, lead and coal, along with a very minor amount of gold. We have placed it in the East quadrant even though the road stretches north and south because we are highlighting two stopping points along the portion of the route just east of Albuquerque: Tinkertown and Madrid.

Madrid: 52 minutes (34 miles) Nestled in the canyon of the Ortiz Mountains, the old coal-mining town of

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Madrid deserves your foot traffic. At its peak in the early 20th century, Madrid’s population surpassed that of Albuquerque, and it produced 250,000 tons of coal annually. Post-mining, the village devolved into a ghost town until the 1960s and 70s when artists and free spirits began moving in. Today, Madrid provides visitors with a unique blend of Old West cliché, Santa Fe-style galleries and hippie eclecticism. Stop for a bite at one of several boutique cafes, people watch and browse a bit before heading further north or back to the big city. If visiting over the holidays, you’re in for a treat: Madrid is best known for its village-wide Christmas light display, begun in the 1920s.

For more about the trail, the towns that dot it and its history, visit http://www.turquoisetrail.org/.

For more on Madrid, see http://www.visitmadridnm.com/.

Tinkertown: 30 minutes (25 miles) On your way to or from Madrid, consider popping in to Tinkertown, which is not a town at all but the name of what’s loosely referred to as a museum. More carnival, attic, fun house and memorabilia mecca than gallery, the 22-room attraction is the result of one man’s artistry and collections over 40 years. See 50,000 glass bottles, an animated Western town, vast collections of Americana, a coin-operated fortune teller, a 35-foot antique wooden sailboat, and just about anything else you can imagine.

It is located along the Turquoise Trail in Sandia Park on NM Highway 536, on the way to the Sandia Crest.

Admission costs $4 for adults, $3.50 for “geezers” (62+) and $1.50 for ages 4-18. Younger than that get in free.

For details and a map, visit http://tinkertown.com/.

Photographer's revel in the opportunities for stunning wildlife shots at Bosque del Apache.

Photo credit John Hubbell / USFWS

VACATION DIRECTORY

Santa Fe Home Tour Set to Impress Visitors in August

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Whether you’re in the market for a Santa Fe home or just want a chance to step inside houses in the City Different, a self-guided tour on Haciendas - A Parade of Homes can help you make solid plans for the future or just live your dreams for a weekend.

The Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association hosts what has become known as Santa Fe’s Best Open House. Its 27th annual showcase is scheduled for two weekends, August 9-11 and 16-18. The association again expects the tour to highlight at least 18 homes from a variety of builders – but with a few exciting changes.

This tour includes a Twilight Parade, a special free evening event planned for 4-9 p.m. August 16. It will focus on select homes, providing a true Santa Fe experience. Arroyo Vino Restaurant & Wine Shop will provide wine and cheese accompaniments as visitors take in stunning homes surrounded by New Mexico’s rainbow sunsets and inspiring vistas. It’s easy to see why many attendees plan the tour as a destination right up there with the Santa Fe Opera, Indian Market, and fine dining and shopping.

The range of home prices and styles are also expected to be more diverse, appealing to a wider spectrum of pocketbooks and aesthetic preferences, while still capturing that cutting edge, creative, endemic design and use of materials that has made Santa Fe famous.

Though the public usually comes for the impressive architectural visuals, some less showy aspects of construction are equally exceptional. Our builders routinely seek creative ways to incorporate sustainability and efficiency into the built environment, and this February, the National Association of Home Builders awarded the Santa Fe chapter with the title of “Best in Green” in the United States. The honor recognizes the Home Builders’ water efficiency program. Methods that builders use for achieving water efficiency range from rain barrel and gray water systems to fixtures used in the home.

Tickets cost $15, but no ticket is required for the Twilight Parade alone. For more information, tickets and a map, visit https://www.sfahba.com/parade-of-homes/.

Ticket sales and donations from the Association and its members have contributed thousands of dollars to local charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Club, United Way, Agua Fria Children’s Zone, and the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society.

A A PPA ARRAAD DEE O OFF HHO OM MEESS

©Robert Reck

Camping • Fishing • Hunting Rio Costilla Park is the ideal get away place whether you prefer time alone, with family, or a gathering among friends. Camping and Fishing on nearly 10,000 acres and Hunting on 80,000+ acres located in Northern Taos County of New Mexico. Rio Costilla borders the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado and the Valle Vidal Unit of Carson National Forest. Owned and Operated by Rio Costilla Cooperative Livestock Association (RCCLA).

Rio Costilla Park, Nature At Its Best!

Funding provided by Taos Lodgers Tax.

(575) 586-0542 • (800) RIO-PARK • www.RioCostillaPark.com

Santa Fe’s Best Open House Save the Date AUGUST 9-11 & 16-18 11 AM - 6 PM

For entry information, sponsorship opportunities and to learn more, visit sfahba.com www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

From Pancakes to Planets, New Mexico Creates Ways to Celebrate (continued from Page 45)

ZozoFest, Santa Fe, August 23-25: The Burning of Zozobra, also known as Old Man Gloom, occurs annually over Labor Day weekend. The 50-foot high bogeyman marionette is a modern and more imposing image than the original 6-foot puppet created by local artist Will Shuster in 1924. The burning tradition has occurred every year since as a kickoff to Las Fiestas de Santa Fe and has become so popular that it has inspired burning man spin-offs nationwide. For event details and more history, visit https://burnzozobra.com/zozofest/ The PASEO Outdoor Art Festival, Taos, September 13-14: This two-night event spans Taos’ entire historic district with engaging, immersive, interactive and illuminating installation art. What you’ll see is atypical of anything normally found in gallery space. It is designed to enhance a sense of community and encourage you not just to view but to touch, dance, and enter into.

(See more about immersive experiences on Page 23)

https://paseoproject.org/event/the-paseo-2019-festivaloverview/ Las Cruces Country Music Festival, Las Cruces, October 11-13: From a stage lineup that includes country music’s latest stars to a horseshow tournament and fun run, this event is worth dusting off your boots – or buying a pair! Notable acts have included Dwight Yoakam, Travis Tritt, Kacey Musgraves, Kenny Rogers, Lee Ann Womack, Sawyer Brown, Eli Young Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Rick Trevino, Dustin Lynch, Charlie Daniels Band, Casey James, and Little Texas. As of deadline, the 2019 schedule had not been posted. See www.lascrucescountrymusic.com/ for details.

For a fairly comprehensive list of festivals year-round, see https://www.newmexico.org/events/festivals-fairs/. The site includes a calendar that allows you to input specific dates to see what’s going on during the time that interests you.

The nexus for the 2018 PASEO Festival was the Space Cloud, a massive inflated pavilion designed by Espacio la Nube of Madrid, Spain. Here, people sit inside it in Kit Carson Park. Photo credit: Joerg Stagger

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The largest retail arts and crafts store in the Southwest; solely owned and operated by the Pueblo of Sandia.

-Authenticity Guaranteed-

Jewelry • Pottery • Storytellers • Navajo Rugs • Zuni Fetishes • Sand Paintings • Flutes, Rattles & Drums • War Bonnets • Moccasins • Pendleton Blankets • Zapotec Rugs • Books & Music

Inventory of the Bien Mur Indian Market Center:

Hopi, Navajo, Santo Domingo, and Zuni Retail & Wholesale Association Membership

100 Bien Mur Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113 • 505-821- 5400 Monday – Saturday: 9:30am – 5:30pm, Sundays: 11:00am to 5:30pm.

Call for seasonal hours.

www.sandiapueblo.nsn.us

MUST SHOW I.D.

Wednesdays

on the rail, all year!

Outdoor Recreation, Dining, Shopping, Museums, & More!

Plan your adventure at: riometro.org 866.795.7245 www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO

Las Cruces Farmers, Crafts Market Delights Year-Round The Farmers & Crafts Market of Las Cruces has been in business for almost 50 years, with many old-time vendors and plenty of new ones, too, as time has gone by.

The market has arts that have been showcased in local galleries, sculptures made from a variety of materials, fine jewelry, painted gourds, rope creations, and homemade soaps and lotions. For that rock collector in all of us, you can purchase an uncut geode and get it sliced in half on the spot to see what’s inside. There are many other unique and wonderful items waiting to be discovered.

Whether you’re a long-time friend of the market or a first-timer, you will always find something new and interesting here. As the only year-round farmers market in the state, it offers fresh produce, local honey, locally made salsas and food products, and a variety of food vendors.

Eat a freshly made donut right after it rolls off a hot-oiled machine, check out the other delicious baked goods, have a grilled-to-order hamburger or hotdog, and don’t forget the burritos. There is always something at the market to tantalize your senses.

Customers have often said that attending the market on Saturdays is a weekly ritual that kicks off the weekend, and is one of the go-to spots to take out-of-town guests. They

䘀䄀 刀 䴀 䔀 刀 匀 ☀ 䌀 刀 䄀 䘀 吀 匀 䴀 䄀 刀 䬀 䔀 吀 伀䘀 䰀 䄀匀 䌀刀唀䌀䔀匀

Saturday mornings draw crowds to the market in downtown Las Cruces.

love the fact that it’s pet- friendly, too, and you will see owners walking the market’s seven blocks with their dogs each week. If you don’t have a furry companion, a local animal shelter often holds on-site adoption fairs here.

"I’m very excited about our wonderful Farmer’s Market,” said Kasandra A. Gandara, City Councilor, District 1. “Not only does it give many of our merchants a way to highlight their craft but also it has been instrumental in bringing economic vitality to our downtown, and it brings our community together. It is certainly a gem of the Southwest.”

匀䤀䌀 ☀ 唀 一吀 䴀 䔀 䰀䤀嘀 吀䔀刀吀䄀䤀一䴀䔀 䔀一 唀䔀 䜀䤀䘀吀匀 唀一䤀儀䔀吀 䘀伀伀䐀 ⬀ 匀吀刀䔀

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匀愀琀☀圀攀搀

㠀㨀㌀ 愀洀 琀漀 ㄀瀀洀 50

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眀眀眀⸀昀挀洀氀挀⸀漀爀最⼀渀洀

VACATION DIRECTORY

www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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S AN TA F E ’ S NE W P L AC E TO ME E T . . .

START SUMMER RIGHT! The Liquid Muse Presents...

NM Cocktails & Culture Culinary Festival May 31 - June 2

at Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe Events Include: Taco Wars, Chef & Shaker Challenge Grand Tasting, Mixology Seminars, Bartender Battle, Art Show

Tickets and full schedule at: NMCocktailCulture.com

THE RAILYARD S

E AN T A F

WWW.R AILYARD SANTAFE .COM

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A CITY WORTH SAVORING Explore the city’s art galleries, museums, sporting events, food trucks, fine dining, live music and cultural performances all in one place. The ABQ365 blog and calendar of events is the easiest way to discover all that Albuquerque has to offer. #TrueABQ

@VisitABQ

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White Water Rafting, Family Adventure, Mellow and Scenic Rio Grande del Norte, Rio Chama Los Rios River Runners, 575-776-8854 losriosriverrunners.com

NORTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

The open road to excitement is at Route 66 Casino Hotel. Rev it up with thrilling casino action featuring over 1,300 slot games and 15 action-packed table games. Fill up with delicious dining options, including New Mexico’s best casino buffet.

Switch gears with top-notch, toe-tapping entertainment.

Coast into indulgence and stay the night in our classy and comfortable hotel.

Have an out-of-this-world experience. An unidentified flying object has landed in the center of the Route 66 Casino Hotel gaming floor, and its alien presence has drawn the newest slot games in the country. The larger-than-life flying saucer draws inspiration from both Area 51 and Route 66. Slot machines within the Area 66 realm will be regularly replaced with brand new exclusive machines, making Route 66 Casino first-to-market with 18 new games every 90 days!

Experience world-class quality, service and value at one of our award-winning restaurants and three lounges.

Tempt your taste buds at Thunder Road Steakhouse and Cantina. Located in the heart of the casino, this multi-level restaurant serves up sizzling steaks, spicy tacos and specialty drinks from the tequila bar. Enjoy free entertainment by the best local bands every weekend on the bar-top stage. Voted best buffet many times over, Buffet 66 is a world of fresh choices all in one place, with an array of international flavors on the menu. When it comes to All-American comfort foods and cocktails, we’ve got it all! Flashback to the good ol’ days in the newly renovated Johnny Rockets restaurant. Swing by the '50s-inspired diner for an All-American burger, onion rings, and milkshake. Main Street Restaurant & Bar is the

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perfect place for breakfast, or order a home-style special. Grab an indoor patio table and watch all of the casino excitement. If you’re looking to simply wet your whistle, swing by the 360 Lounge, Poker Pub or Main Street Bar, and ask about the drink specials.

Let us entertain you. With 2,800 plush theater-style seats in Legends Theater, every seat is a good seat. Experience performances from some of the best comedians, rock legends, country superstars, and premier tribute bands in the business. Legends Theater features more than 20 headliner performances every year.

The fun doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down.

Relax in one of the 154 newly renovated rooms at Route 66 Hotel. Refreshed from floor to ceiling, a recent $2 million remodel features an inviting ambiance of lively designs, modern furnishings and many upgrades to make your stay comfortable. Re-energize with in-room amenities from top brands like Simmons Beautyrest®, Starbucks®, and Bath & Body Works®. Hotel reservations are available now.

For rates, member discounts and reservations, please call 866-711-STAY (7829).

The entire family can get their kicks at Route 66 at Kids Quest and Cyber Quest, the on-site hourly child care and a non-violent game arcade. Route 66 Casino Hotel is the only casino property in New Mexico to offer this children's program. Open seven days a week, Kids Quest accepts children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.

The best gaming, dining and entertainment is just a hop, skip and short 18-minute drive west of Albuquerque, exit 140 on Interstate 40. Get all the latest Route 66 Casino Hotel news and announcements at www.rt66casino.com.

READY. SET.

GO PLAY! VACATION DIRECTORY

Get away from the everyday and head toward excitement. Enjoy thrilling casino action, delicious dining options, top-notch entertainment and then stay the night in our classy and comfortable hotel.

866-352-RT66 (7866) • RT66CASINO.COM

www.travelnewmex.com | SUMMER • WINTER 2019

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