EP2007 - The Area - Southern New Mexico

Cactus, yucca, and rocky landscape signal your arrival in Southern New Mexico, but this desert also offers lush forests, snowy peaks, flowing rivers, and endless opportunities to backpack, hike, mountain bike, ski, fish, hunt, boat, golf, ride horses, bird watch, or sit on a beach.

In larger towns such as Las Cruces, Ruidoso, Silver City, and Truth or Consequences, the attractions go inside: Museums show off the history of the area, from the original inhabitants to the ones who followed. They include the Apache, who fought to preserve their homeland; early explorers, who stayed to mine the gold, silver, and copper; the U.S. military, who protected settlers; outlaws like Billy the Kid, who perpetrated his crimes throughout the region; the ranchers, who found tall grass for their cattle; farmers, who used the river water for their crops; the ill, who recovered in the healthy climate; and most recently, those who seek the last frontier of space.

Discerning art lovers find galleries and artist studios in every town and village. The “land of enchantment,” as New Mexico is known, has long drawn creative spirits. The Mimbres Indians left their imprint in cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and pottery. The state’s vast landscapes almost demand the creation of paintings or photographs.

The dramatic sunsets are legendary for their hues from yellow and orange to red, pink, and purple. Music, plays, and dancing enjoy that enlightened infusion. Performances vary from the intimate in a tiny one-theater to the grandiose in a majestic auditorium to the thrill of the beating drums at a Native American powwow.

In the summer the deserts conjure a vision of heat, but in the mountains, breezes cool the most fevered brow. Winters are mild, with snow at the highest elevations.

New Mexicans represent a blend of cultures with Hispanic, Native American, and Anglo predominant, but the welcome mat is out for everybody. Restaurants tap into the ethnicities of residents. At a Mexican eatery, be ready to answer the state question, “Red or green [chile]?”

Whether you seek the solitude of a hike in a wilderness area or the friendliness of the residents, you’re sure to find it in Southern New Mexico.

Don’t Miss - Mesilla: Billy the Kid Land

You may think you’ve arrived in Old Mexico when you drive into Mesilla. The village was Mexican at its incorporation in 1848. The Gadsden Purchase in 1853 made it part of the United States.

At San Albino Catholic Church, built of adobe in 1855, masses are celebrated in English and Spanish. The building anchors the plaza, where residents meet friends, hear musical performances, and participate in political rallies, while visitors snap photographs and shop the area.

Descendants of the original settlers still live in original houses that have changed little over the years. In structures that line the plaza, proprietors offer goods such as gifts, clothing, fruit from the nearby pecan orchards, and a traditional Southwestern meal at one of the many fine restaurants lining the streets.

In Mesilla, where Billy the Kid was tried, this will be only your first encounter with the famed outlaw as you explore his escapades throughout the region.