More
Take the path less traveled. Discover some of New Mexico’s offbeat attractions and find your place among the weird and the wonderful.
Photo by Kate Russell
If you’re searching for more than the standard “fun things to do in New Mexico”, you’ve come to the right place. While there are plenty of hidden gems in New Mexico’s parks and bustling cities, there’s much more to discover if you dig a little deeper. Don’t get us wrong, White Sands National Park is breathtaking and Roswell is plenty weird, but for a truly off-the-beaten-path road trip, check out these 10 New Mexico hidden attractions.
Whether you’re attending an event (like a concert or a workshop) or stopping by to begin your cosmic adventure, Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return will get your road trip started on the right foot. What better place to begin an offbeat New Mexico adventure than a family home that’s been plunged into a mysterious dimension?
If you’d like to plan your road trip around a mind-bending interactive art in Santa Fe, check out this event lineup and buy your tickets accordingly.
When it comes to artistic experiences, New Mexico has plenty to offer. Whether you’re into art or… dinosaurs? You’ll enjoy a stop at Ghost Ranch. The once-home of famous painter Georgia O’Keeffe operated as a dude ranch back in the day, and was home to quite a few dinos long before that. In fact, in 1947, an archaeologist discovered a huge collection of Coelophysis skeletons on the property. One of these fossils was even named the New Mexico State Fossil.
Ghost Ranch is a great option for quirky museums in New Mexico. It’s home to hiking, landscape tours, paleontology exhibits, art classes, meditations, and even a tour of the Oppenheimer movie set located on the grounds.
Ghost Ranch hosts a music festival September 11 through 13 under the desert sky. Blossoms & Bones is a 3-day celebration of music, art, and community in Abiquiú, New Mexico. As a special treat, anyone who buys a festival ticket will receive an exclusive discount promo code to experience the immersive world of Meow Wolf Santa Fe.
If you’ve seen Transformers, Jumanji, or the Avengers, you may recognize this New Mexico landmark. Shiprock is a monadnock (an isolated hill rising above a plain), and it’s a sacred formation in Navajo culture. Its Navajo name, Tsé Bitʼaʼí, translating to “rock with wings” refers to the legend that the Navajo people were brought from the north to New Mexico by a giant bird. The pinnacle holds a prominent place in local culture, and while climbing it is forbidden, you can view the landmark and take photos from a safe distance.
You’ve stopped at manmade attractions, historical and cultural sites, now it’s time to make a stop to appreciate the natural (while otherworldly) beauty at the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. Over 60 square miles of badlands offer countless wonders. From ethereal sandstone rock formations that resemble stingrays, to the giant “cracked eggs” and hoodoos (small, thin spires of rock formed by erosion), this adventure will have you feeling like you’ve left the planet. Just make sure you don’t leave without a map or a GPS device, as hikers warn it’s quite easy to get lost here without one.
If you like to live on the edge of your seat, The Lightning Field is a great stop on your road trip. Thankfully located over 40 miles from the next town, this installation consists of 400 stainless steel poles meant to attract lightning. Thanks to its location in the high desert, this is a more frequent occurrence here, especially in the summer. And while trekking to the installation doesn’t guarantee you’ll see nature’s big show, the anticipation is part of the experience.
If you’re planning to visit The Lightning Field, you’ll need to make reservations in advance. Only six visitors are allowed per day, as the work was meant to be experienced in isolation, according to the artist. One of the more truly offbeat attractions in New Mexico, some even refer to this stop as a “pilgrimage.”
If you’re a sci-fi fan, you’ll probably recognize this location on our list of unusual places to visit in New Mexico. The Very Large Array’s presence in classic films like Contact and Terminator Salvation is hard to miss. That’s because it’s the world’s largest radio telescope. When you arrive at the visitor center, you can check out the museum and view a film about its history (narrated by Jodie Foster, of course). After you’ve caught up with Jodie, you can take the self-guided walking tour to learn how the array works. If you’re on a mission to commune with the universe, there’s no better place to do it.
I Spy old shoes, car parts, cell phones and more. This 20x40 foot sculpture stands out in the midst of the New Mexico desert. Using all materials from local landfills and recycling centers, the giant bird was created as a symbol to inspire viewers to reconsider their consumption patterns. The Recycled Roadrunner is open to the public 24/7 every day of the year, and visitors are free to touch and examine the sculpture from close-up (just no climbing). This tribute to the state bird of New Mexico makes a great backdrop for a picnic, or a simple stop for a photo.
For a glimpse into history, visit the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. “Reminders of the earliest contact” is the three sites at Salinas showcase abandoned Pueblo communities from the early to mid 1600’s. Walk through the Mission of San Gregorio de Abó, take a scheduled petroglyph tour, explore the excavated mound and churches, or visit the museum to learn more about those who lived here.
“Tinkertown is ready to inspire your imagination and awaken your creative spirit,” says the Museum’s website – making it a perfect stop to reinvigorate you towards the end of your road trip. A museum that wasn’t meant to be, Tinkertown started in the 60s when Ross Ward toured carnivals and sideshows with his hand-carved dioramas. Thanks to public demand, he grew his collection to open his home to the public for appreciation of his work. Tinkertown evokes Night at the Museum, and invites viewers to imagine Ross’ 40 years of work as truly alive.
While it may not be quite alternative travel, New Mexico’s last road trip stop is a unique experience on Route 66. The Blue Hole may be more well-known than some locations on this road trip, but the unique experience it offers truly can’t be matched. You’ll need to garner your spirit of adventure for this last stop to truly experience it, as a diving permit may be required. The Blue Hole is fed by an underground cave system which provides completely fresh water over the course of every six hours or so. Anyone can go for a quick swim (though no lifeguard is on duty), but dedicated adventurers with scuba permits can explore the depths of the underground caves below the surface.
