72 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in New Mexico - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in New Mexico

Chill forest

Santa Fe, New Mexico

House of Eternal Return

Immersive environment funded by George R.R. Martin is part haunted house, part choose-your-own-adventure, and part jungle gym.

35.6546, -105.9965

Added by caitlinrinn

Ra Paulette's Hand-Carved Caves

La Madera, New Mexico

Ra Paulette's Hand-Carved Caves

One man has carved a number of natural New Mexico caves into psychedelic sandstone temples.

36.3031, -106.0467

Poised to go sledding at White Sands National Monument.

Tularosa, New Mexico

White Sands National Monument

Explore the largest pure gypsum deposit in the world, and go dune sledding while you're at it.

32.7872, -106.3270

Added by Seth Teicher

Roswell, New Mexico

International UFO Museum and Research Center

A museum dedicated to the alleged Roswell Incident.

33.3936, -104.5228

Added by CPilgrim

Bisti Badlands

Farmington, New Mexico

Bisti Badlands

Seemingly grown on some other world, these New Mexico rock formations look like a disused science fiction set.

36.3045, -108.1187

Added by EricGrundhauser

Carlsbad, New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns

Second largest cave chamber in the world, discovered in 1898 by a sixteen year old and his friend known as "pothead."

32.1753, -104.4438

Santa Rosa Blue Hole

Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Santa Rosa Blue Hole

A clear blue swimming hole that has hidden unexplored caves for over 40 years.

34.9387, -104.6825

Added by jamienfruita

Quemado, New Mexico

The Lightning Field

In the remote high desert of New Mexico, a strange array of poles beckon fury from above.

34.3439, -108.4956

Added by jamesb

See All 72 Things to Do in New Mexico See All 72 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
from New Mexico

Blue Corn Mush

Gastro Obscura

Blue Corn Mush

Adding juniper ash to this traditional Navajo dish gives it as much calcium as a glass of milk.

Gastro Obscura

Added by rachelrummel

Chocolate Daisy

Gastro Obscura

Ingredients & Condiments

Chocolate Daisy

This wildflower releases a cocoa fragrance each morning.

Gastro Obscura

Added by rachelrummel

Green Chile Wine

Gastro Obscura

Green Chile Wine

In Southern New Mexico, chiles add a kick to everything, including vino.

Gastro Obscura

Added by Zoe Baillargeon

Honeypot Ants

Gastro Obscura

Meats & Animal Products

Honeypot Ants

These insects swell with sweet, golden nectar.

Gastro Obscura

Added by Sam OBrien

Explore New Mexico

New Mexico Leaderboard

Places Added

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Recent New Mexico Activity

theamarant has been to El Santuario de Chimayo

theamarant has been to Dark Bird Palace

theamarant has been to Loretto Chapel

pennylemonade wants to go to Gila Cliff Dwellings

pennylemonade wants to go to Truth or Consequences

Stories
About New Mexico

<em>Grand View Motel, Raton, New Mexico; December 18, 1980.</em>

The Vanishing World of Neon Motel Signs

A photographer has spent decades capturing these symbols of Americana and the open road.

Sparks with the skull in situ.

A Kid Found a 1.2-Million-Year-Old Stegomastodon Fossil by Tripping Over It

It was a whole skull!

by Sarah Laskow

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New Mexico

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