🚙 Roadtrip through New Mexico (Part 3 & last)

Part 3:  Shifting Sands, Pistachio,  Aliens and Outlaws

If you missed Part 1 and 2 – here is Part 1, Part 2

White Sands – A Sea of Gypsum

White Sands National Park, a surreal landscape of rolling white dunes covering 275 square miles—the largest gypsum dune field in the world. Visible from space, the dunes shimmer between the San Andres and Sacramento Mountains.

That evening, dark clouds rolled in and a storm swept across the dunes, dramatic and otherworldly. Wildlife scurried for cover—coyotes, foxes, and the many birds that call the dunes home.

The next morning we returned under clear skies. Sunlight made the dunes glow even brighter, a dazzling contrast to the stormy mood of the night before.

PistachioLand and Space History

Leaving Alamogordo, we stopped at PistachioLand, home of the world’s largest pistachio (yes, really). A fun roadside oddity—and the perfect excuse to stock up on local nuts.

Nearby, the New Mexico Museum of Space History reminded us that this state played a crucial role in the Space Race. Rockets were tested here, astronauts trained here, and space exploration history was written in the desert.

Cloudcroft – A Mountain Escape

From there, the road climbed steeply to Cloudcroft, a village perched at 8,675 feet. Developed in the late 1800s as a mountain retreat, it still has a charming main street and crisp alpine air—so different from the desert below.

Smokey Bear’s Legacy

In Capitan, we visited the grave of Smokey Bear. Rescued as a cub from a forest fire in 1950, Smokey became the face of wildfire prevention for generations of children. Today he rests quietly in the mountains where his story began.

Roswell – UFO Capital of the World

Our next overnight was Roswell, where the 1947 “crash” still fuels endless theories of aliens and cover-ups. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, the town leans into its legend with murals, museums, and plenty of UFO souvenirs.

And if you’re wondering where the aliens went… well, that’s a mystery best left to Google. 😉

Bottomless Lakes and Billy the Kid

On our last day we visited Bottomless Lakes State Park, a chain of deep, shimmering sinkhole lakes that reflect the desert sky. From there, our final stop was the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner.

Billy the Kid remains one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West. Though he claimed to have killed 21 men, the real number was likely under ten. He was shot dead by Sheriff Pat Garrett at just 21 years old, cementing his legend.

Heading Home

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With that story in our minds, we turned toward home. The road stretched wide and empty, perfect for both reflection and watchfulness.

In five days, New Mexico had shown my sister and brother-in-law its many faces—scientific wonder, ancient cultures, quirky stops, sweeping landscapes, and spicy flavors. They left with memories of deserts, mountains, and skies so big they make you feel small.

And I left with gratitude that this journey, though short, had captured the spirit of New Mexico at its best.