Bordered by Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Mexico and Arizona, New Mexico is located in the southwestern United States and is known for its natural landscapes and cities such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe. But New Mexico’s charm can be found on an even smaller scale through its quaint small towns, filled with rich local history, monuments, and local delights. Discover small towns across New Mexico that are packed with charm.

truth or result

No, it’s not a typo. Truth or Consequences is the actual town name. This New Mexico town in Sierra County is named after game show host Ralph Edwards. truth or result. On March 31, 1950, Ralph demanded that the town, then known as “Hot Springs,” be renamed after a popular TV show.

Visit the town’s famous geothermal mineral waters at spa lodges and resorts, the perfect escape from the city’s dreaded traffic. Snowbirds can also escape the bone-chilling winter by visiting Truth or Consequence and enjoying the scenery and recreational activities around the Rio Grande, from golf to birdwatching.

Los Alamos

This small community in Los Alamos County is famous for being home to the US Government’s Atomic Energy Laboratory (Manhattan Project), which developed the world’s first nuclear weapon.

Visitors can tour these sites by visiting the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Los Alamos. The town also has several museums, memorials, and facilities for recreational activities such as skiing, golfing, and skating.

Chama

This small town is located in north-central New Mexico, near the Colorado border. This quaint village nestled in the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico is a year-round destination for travelers, especially families. This picturesque village sits at an altitude of 7,680 feet and is blessed with expansive views of jagged peaks and dramatic valleys. Take a ride on the Cumbres and Tolteca Scenic Railway to see the Tolteca Gorge, or take short trips to Lake El Bado and Heron for camping and hiking.

Jemez Springs

Jemez Springs offers small-town charm and is a relaxing vacation spot within driving distance of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Located along the Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway, this quaint New Mexico village offers relaxation-seeking travelers the healing waters of Jemez Springs.

Choose from a collection of commercial hot springs and bathhouses in Jemez Springs, or trek to rugged natural hot springs and discover natural wonders like Spence Hot Springs (near Soda Dam) and Macquarie Hot Springs (near Battleship Rock in the Santa Fe National Forest).

Santa Rosa

It’s not hard to find adventure in Santa Rosa, dubbed the ‘Scuba Diving Capital of the Southwest’. Located in Guadalupe County in northeastern New Mexico, Santa Rosa is a fun place for the whole family and exudes the iconic charm of a small, friendly American town.

Dive into the city’s blue hole. This Blue Hole is an 81-foot-tall natural hot spring that maintains a constant temperature of 62°F. Splash in the waters of this natural spring or explore the underwater wonders on a fun dive.

Messilah

Messilah now exists as a small town in New Mexico, but was once a major stop on trips between San Antonio and San Diego. Stepping into Messilah is like stepping back in time as the town has changed very little since its 1800s heyday.

Stroll through the Church of San Albino in the town square. This church is the oldest (and still active) church in the Messilah Valley. This vibrant city is lined with unique boutiques, galleries, wineries, and specialty restaurants.

Taos

Taos is a town in New Mexico, part of Taos County, located in the north-central part of the state in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The town’s name comes from the Spanish word tiwa, which refers to the Pueblo people. For decades, artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams and D.H. Lawrence visited Taos, considered a resort colony for artists. No visit to Taos is complete without exploring the adobe settlements of Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chimayo

Chinmayo is located in north-central New Mexico, close to Albuquerque and Santa Fe from the High Road via the Taos Scenic Byway. This quaint town is famous for its Santuario de Chimayo, also known as El he Santuario de Nuestro Señor de Esquiplas. A National Historic Landmark, the shrine has a reputation for healing the sick. Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the site is also considered special because it was frequented by Native Americans, Hispanics, and followers of the faith. Each year, the landmark is visited by more than 300,000 people, making him one of Chimayo’s most popular sites and serving as a center of Catholic pilgrimage in the United States. Visit Chimayo’s textile shops and sample local foods before heading out.

Aztecs

Known to the Navajo as “Quinteel” (or “Broad Horse”), the town’s name comes from a misunderstanding of Escalante’s visit to the San Juan Basin. He stumbled across the remains of an Aztec monument and thought it was built by the Aztec Indians (although they were built by the Anasazi).

History is alive and well here in the Aztecs, especially along the downtown core, with many historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Otherwise, this San Juan County community is full of natural wonders and historic buildings, perfect for activities like fishing, mountain biking, and hiking.

Alamogordo

Alamogordo has never heard the word “boredom.” Located in the high desert at the foot of the Sacramento Mountains in Otero County, this Southern New Mexico community averages 287 days of sunshine, giving visitors plenty of sunshine to enjoy thrilling activities.

Play a round of golf at Desert Lake Golf Course, see the workings of an F-117 Nighthawk at Holloman Air Force Base or feel the soft sands of nearby White Sands National Park. This New Mexico destination also has several family-friendly attractions, such as the Alameda Park Zoo and the New Mexico Museum of Space History.

Before leaving Alamogordo, don’t forget to stop by the world’s largest pistachios near the world’s largest gypsum dunes.

Roswell

The Roswell area of ​​Chavez County is known to tourists as the site of an extraterrestrial sighting and spacecraft crash reported in 1947. Since then, believers in extraterrestrial life flock to Roswell each July for the UFO Encounters Festival.

Visitors can admire Roswell’s wide range of UFO memorabilia and related activities, including exhibits at the International UFO Museum and Research Center and souvenirs at the Invasion Station Gift Shop.

Roswell is not only known as the “Alien Town”, but it is also a center of cultural activity and local history, as it was once home to the Mescalero Apache and Comanche hunting grounds.

Conclusion

New Mexico is known for cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, but smaller towns are just as iconic and have unique features that make them worth a visit. With beautiful scenery, exciting activities, and as many amenities as the big cities, visitors won’t be disappointed when visiting these lovely small towns.