Southern New Mexico: A One-Day Adventure For The Whole Family

The closest major city to use as a base is El Paso, Texas. Everything on this list is within a two-hour drive of El Paso, and can be squeezed into a fast afternoon, one long day trip, or two more relaxed days. Alternatively, you can stay in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as a base if you prefer a less-urban setting. (But I recommend staying in El Paso to try Don Beto’s Paleteria downtown—the best, most affordable, paletas I’ve ever had!)

Start your day by going to White Sands National Park. Especially during the hotter months, you will be glad that you visited in the more peaceful, temperate morning. Here, you and your family can climb the white sand dunes. You can also rent or buy a sled to coast down the white gypsum hills. (Pro tip: if you choose to buy a sled, you’ll get a much better deal in the nearby town of Alamogordo than at the park visitor center). Once you’re done frolicking along the hills, drive the 16-mile loop through the park and enjoy the otherworldly views. Be aware that once you’ve passed the visitor center, there is no water. Be sure to bring full water bottles and refill at the visitor center if need be!

Take a drive through the White Sands, or climb the dunes!

After your White Sands adventure, drive about 30 minutes east to the town of Alamogordo. While the town itself is small, you may not know that pistachios are grown nearby. And did you know there are vineyards here, as well? McGinn’s Pistachioland is famous for its giant pistachio statue that you can see from the road. Also, for a few dollars, you can get a great tour of the pistachio orchard and the vineyard, where you can learn about the science of pistachio growing and the history of the location. Kids (and kids at heart) will love trying all of the pistachio samples in the extensive gift shop, where you can also buy shirts and other fun local souvenirs.

Pistachioland is locally famous, but equally intriguing is the Heart of the Desert store, just a mile to the south. No giant pistachio statue here, but you can sample and buy all sorts of pistachio goodies. In contrast to Pistachioland, this shop is a lot smaller and more intimate. They also have a small winery, where you can taste their local wines (including a pistachio wine, which is nicely light-bodied) and perhaps enjoy your wine and snacks on their covered patio, which overlooks the orchards. If you’re there later in the day, you can sit on the patio for their 4-6 p.m. happy hour! I do recommend going to both, since they’re just a mile apart, and the types of pistachio treats are very different.

Relax in the beautiful seating area at Heart of the Desert!

Another family-friendly activity in Alamogordo is the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Learn about the history of space exploration as well as the U.S. and international space programs. You can also pay tribute to Ham, the first chimpanzee to go into space, who is buried on the museum grounds. Be aware that this museum is closed on Tuesdays.

If you have the stamina to go another couple of hours after this, or perhaps as a separate day trip, drive an additional two hours east to Roswell, for everything UFO-themed. While the alleged UFO crash site is a drive north from the city of Roswell itself, you can still visit the International UFO Museum in town, which includes interactive exhibits. For those not into the supernatural, Roswell also offers a zoo and Southwestern art exhibits.

So, if you’re looking for a variety of fun activities from food to the outdoors to space history, all within an easy drive of each other, look no further than New Mexico! Try it out, and let me know what you think.

This region is very hot and dry in the summer, so be sure to carry water. Additionally, it can be cold and potentially snowy in the winter. I recommend shoulder season to be comfortable, as many activities, such as White Sands and the Pistachioland tour, are outdoors.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our New Mexico page.