Things to do / Travel Guide
Simply put, you can expect to be quickly won over by the amazing scenery, rich culture, and easy pace of life in the northern New Mexico and southern Colorado region of the United States. Don't be surprised, if like countless others before you, you fall in love and return to this region again and again.
Albuquerque is the region's largest city and the economic center of New Mexico. Heading north, you'll have the ever-present Rio Grande River as your companion and the dramatic backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to gawk at. The road from Albuquerque to Santa Fe is the busiest thoroughfare and the most visited area in the region. In Santa Fe, one of the United States most famous and long-standing tourist draws, the region enters the New Mexico landscapes that have inspired generations of artists, including Georgia O' Keeffe, with their endless vistas of colorful mesas and mountain sunsets.
In the countryside between Santa Fe, Taos, and beyond, you'll encounter not only beautiful scenery but ancient Native American pueblos that are still inhabited. The residents of these villages, most of whom are members of tribes of the Pueblo nation, maintain the cultural traditions of their ancestors, the original settlers of this region. This area of the state contains one of the largest and richest Native American populations in the United States and their impact on the culture of the region is tremendous. In Taos, like in Santa Fe, a thriving community of artists produces works sought after throughout the country, in the popular “Santa Fe” or “Southwestern Style”. In addition to its cultural offerings, this area has an amazing assortment of outdoor activities available, from skiing to fishing to whitewater rafting.
In the eastern corners of the region, the wild prairies of eastern New Mexico meet the foothills of the lower Rocky Mountains in Raton, New Mexico. From Raton, the countryside edges further into the lower Rocky Mountains and the small and strikingly beautiful Cimarron, New Mexico. About a hundred miles south of Cimarron, the small town of Las Vegas, New Mexico, lies cradled in the forested foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Somewhat overlooked, this corner of the region promises the enchantment tourists expect, without the crowds that are common elsewhere.
North of Taos, the region includes the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado. This area is home to Alamosa, Colorado, a notable tourist town that offers easy access to nearby national monuments and mountain recreation areas. This small portion of southern Colorado also includes the dramatic Blanca Peak, 14,317 feet of soaring, jagged, black mountain that dominates the landscape. Outdoor recreational activities abound in the clear rivers and gorgeous mountains of the area's backcountry.
The people of this area represent a variety as rich and diverse as the landscapes of the region. The largest ethnic group is Hispanic, followed by Caucasian, and finally the region's Native American population. Together, these three ethnic groups have formed a distinctive cultural and ethnic makeup that is wholly unique to the region, and one of its most appealing aspects.
Northern New Mexico and southern Colorado are on Mountain Time, two hours behind Eastern Time and one hour ahead of Pacific Time.
Safety Precautions
A great deal of this region is high desert and if you're planning on hiking or spending a great deal of time outdoors in the desert make sure to take necessary precautions against poisonous animals and thorny plant life, also taking into account the blazing desert heat.
The mountains of the region can often be very dangerous for the inexperienced backpacker and in the summertime serious storms can break out in the mountains, creating dangerous hiking conditions sometimes in the blink of an eye. If you're planning on hitting the trails in this region, make sure to be aware of the weather conditions and plan accordingly.
|
|
|