New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment. It is home to the oldest state capital in the U.S. It’s home to no fewer than fifteen national parks and three World Heritage Sites. Almost a quarter of the state is covered in forest. It was the site of the first detonation of a nuclear bomb, and on a less somber note is also the home of Smokey the Bear. It was also (possibly) the site of the first recorded UFO crash in the United States (more on that later). More chili peppers are grown in New Mexico than in any other state (via AirCare1). And perhaps most importantly to me, New Mexico is deeply tied to my own family’s history.
My Dad’s mom grew up on a farm in the southeast corner of the state. Thanks to my Mom’s genealogical research, we know that my family has been in New Mexico for many generations. Through her research, my Mom can place our family in the state at least as early as 1787 – well before it ever became a state (and technically before the United States of America was established).
I had visited New Mexico only once before – in 2006 – and so jumped at the opportunity to return when I was invited by a dear relative who still lives on our family farm. So come along, readers, as we leave New Jersey behind and head to the Southwest, where we will amble among rock carvings that date back hundreds to thousands of years, we’ll learn more about the state’s connection to unexplained aerial phenomena, we’ll explore the oldest section of a city founded in 1706, we’ll drive through the desert, and we’ll eat some amazing food.
Let’s begin (or, “Empecemos”):
My New Mexico Adventure
While I would love to have driven my Acura from New Jersey to New Mexico, that would have been almost 2,000 miles and nearly 30 hours in the car, which would have eaten into my time available to be in the state. I exchanged the TLX for a 737 operated by Delta Airlines.With no direct flights between Newark and New Mexico, I had a layover at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. On a whim, I decided to treat myself to a meal at PF Chang’s, the upscale American-Chinese fusion restaurant chain. Dinner (a cup of wonton soup and an order of kung pao chicken) was lovely, but you absolutely could not beat this view! Refueled, I boarded my connecting flight to Albuquerque.After touching down at the Albuquerque Sunport and claiming my baggage, I hustled to the Hertz Car Rental office. No Hondas or Acuras for this trip. Instead, I’d be placed in a Nissan Rogue – at least it’s the same color as my TLX!Arriving at 9:30 pm (11:30 pm in New Jersey), I was running on fumes. I kept my eyes open long enough to check into my hotel and then went to bed. The next morning would begin my adventures!
Petroglyph National Monument
I awoke early the next morning and decided to start my day by exploring a national treasure – Petroglyph National Monument, located on the western side of Albuquerque.The Visitor Center is located in Las Imagenes, a house that once belonged to Dr. Sophie Aberle. Dr. Aberle was an anthropologist who spent her career studying pregnancy and child rearing practices among Native American peoples. She sold her house to the Department of the Interior to help establish the park.After purchasing some souvenirs, I jumped back in the Nissan. Petroglyph National Monument is spread out across 17 miles on the western edge of Albuquerque. To see the rock carvings, however, you have to go to one of four other locations – there are no petroglyphs at the Visitor Center.I selected Piedras Marcadas Canyon, as according to the National Park Service website the canyon offers views of over 400 petroglyphs on a 1.5 mile hike.The Piedras Marcadas Canyon trail was clean, well-maintained, and easy to follow. Do watch your step – the park is home to desert wildlife such as rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widow spiders. These creatures are typically not aggressive but will respond if you accidentally step into their territory. Stay on the trail and you’ll be fine.Albuquerque is home to a world-famous hot air balloon festival every October. The state is known as the “hot air balloon capital of the world,” and it’s common to see balloons soaring in the sky any time of year (via Visit Albuquerque). I enjoyed watching one pass overhead while I hiked.It wasn’t long before I began to see these enigmatic rock carvings.Formed by using a hammer and chisel to remove the top layer of basalt rocks, petroglyphs are part of the culture of the Pueblo people who inhabited this region for over 1,500 years.The majority of petroglyphs in the park were made between the years 1300 – 1700 A.D., but some have been dated as early as 2,000 B.C. While the vast majority of the petroglyphs were created by native peoples, some were also carved by early Spanish settlers.The meaning of these petroglyphs is unknown to us. While modern Pueblo peoples have interpretations based on their culture, the meaning and intent of the original artists has been lost to us over the centuries. One can only wonder.After an enjoyable hike, I grabbed an iced coffee from Starbucks and began a 3.5-hour drive to Roswell, a city in the southeastern corner of the state. 75-mph speed limits certainly made for a quicker ride!At the intersection of Interstate 40 and US-285 sits Cline’s Corners Travel Center. Cline’s Corners was built in 1934 as a place for weary travelers to stop along old US-Route 66. When I-40 opened, Cline’s Corners had the good fortune of not being bypassed (as was the case of many older roadside stops) but instead was situated right next to an exit from the new interstate highway (via TheRoute 66).Come for the food court and fueling station, but stay for the endless racks of souvenirs! Cline’s Corners is a tourist trap in the best sense of the word. I may have ambled through each and every aisle in the store.Fans of the 1986 comedy Big (starring Tom Hanks) will recognize Zoltar, the fortune-telling machine! This was one of four fortune-tellers awaiting your money to predict the future. After thoroughly enjoying my stop at Cline’s Corners, I got back on the highway heading south.US-285 takes you through the deserts and ranch lands of southern New Mexico. For mile after mile, there are few towns and fewer people. Yet there was a peacefulness I felt as the miles ticked by.
Roswell
After three and a half hours, I had finally arrived in Roswell! Even though it wasn’t my Acura, I made sure to grab a “car selfie.”Built in 2017, the welcome sign celebrates both Roswell’s farming heritage, as well as its more-famous connection to UFO history… more on that later (via Roadside America).My accommodations for the next few days would be at the Roswell Inn. The alien by the front door welcomed me.Despite the 1960s roadside motel design, the rooms are renovated, clean, and nicely appointed. It was an excellent choice!For much of its history, Roswell had been a small city surrounded by farms and an Air Force base. It rose to international prominence in 1947 when an Unidentified Flying Object allegedly crashed northwest of the city in the summer of 1947. Ever since then, Roswell’s fame has been tied closely to visitors from other planets.There is hardly a single business in town that doesn’t try to cash in on the extraterrestrial visitor craze. I grabbed lunch at this UFO-shaped McDonalds.I hardly ever eat fast food anymore, but it was worth indulging for a meal in the world’s only UFO and space-themed McDonalds (via Atlas Obscura).Aliens are everywhere in Roswell! Fortunately, this Dunkin’ opted for a more subtle and restrained approach… or maybe not.I spent the afternoon visiting with family and then headed back to town to have dinner. One establishment that did not lean into the UFO mania was Los Cerritos Mexican Kitchen, an excellent restaurant located next door to my motel. It was highly rated on Yelp, so I decided to give it a try.I knew I was in for a good meal based on the chips and salsa alone. The chips were fresh, and the salsa was so good I wanted to fill a swimming pool with it, dive in, and eat my way out. It was the right blend of tang and spice. So good!An order of Tacos De Camaron absolutely blew me away – these were maybe the best shrimp tacos I have ever eaten.A few days later I returned to Los Cerritos with family and this time tried an enchilada. The flavor instantly reminder me of my grandma’s enchiladas. It was a perfect blend of savory and spicy, a unique flavor profile I have only had with enchiladas in New Mexico. Add to it crisp and tasty flautas, delicious refried beans, and perfectly cooked rice, and I was blown away. How were my meals at Los Cerritos? Out of this world.The next morning, I had a date with destiny – a tour of the UFO Museum and Research Center in downtown Roswell!I seem to be in the right place…In July of 1947, a rancher who lived northwest of Roswell discovered debris from an aircraft crash in his fields. Debris from the crash was witnessed by neighbors and local firefighters. The museum has a day-by-day display of information, first-hand reports, and news articles from the first 15 days after the crash.The day after the reported crash, the US military arrived at the site and removed the debris. The Army stated that the debris was from a military balloon. However, a host of witnesses of the crash claim that the materials observed were like nothing seen on Earth, and were covered in strange markings. The Roswell Incident, as it came to be known, has led to a controversy that has persisted for almost 78 years.A local radio station interviewed the rancher at the station owners’ home. The station owner reported that on July 9 military officials arrived and confiscated the station’s equipment and threatened to revoke the station’s license if the interview with the rancher were broadcast.One of the more interesting items on display – debris that is purported to be from the crash site.Despite the museum’s relatively small size, it offers a comprehensive overview of the Roswell Incident. There are several other displays, such as this installation about popular culture representations of UFOs.The museum devotes considerable space to UFO representation in other cultures. One of the most discussed examples is The Palenque Astronaut – a carving on a Mayan tomb lid that dates to 400-600 AD. Does the carving portray an astronaut piloting a space ship? I’ll let the viewer decide.The museum even had displays of “ancient astronauts” found in cave paintings… or petroglyphs.Are aliens among us? Do the powers that be have more information about them then what has been revealed? To quote The X-Files, the museum theme is that The Truth Is Out There.I stepped into the museum’s library and had the space to myself. I ambled through the bookcases for a few minutes before heading out. My thoughts on the UFO Museum? For only $7, the museum presents an affordable way to learn about Roswell’s connection to UFOs. However, if you’re someone who has a more serious interest in extraterrestrial life, you might find the museum’s exhibits a bit limited in scope. Still, it’s a worthy stop for anyone planning to visit to Roswell!After my museum tour, I ducked into Sweet Baby J’s, a bakery in downtown Roswell.Sweet Baby J’s is a small-batch bakery. While offering a small selection of yummy cakes, cookies, and pastries in the store, Sweet Baby J’s does most of its business through pre-orders. I walked out with an oatmeal cookie and a chocolate chip cookie. The oatmeal cookie was finished by the time I reached my next destination…What better way to wash down a cookie than with some coffee? My next stop was to Stellar Coffee Co., an independent coffee shop.Free wifi, a comfortable place to hang out, and a delicious oatmlik latte? I was over the moon for Stellar Coffee Co.!Aside from playing tourist, I spent a lot of time with relatives at the farm south of Roswell that’s been part of my family for generations. My Dad told me about standing on these very train tracks across the road from our family home when he was a small boy. It’s interesting to walk through a property that has been tied to my family for generations. This brick walkway was laid down by my great-grandmother many decades ago. It was a cool experience to literally walk in my ancestor’s footsteps.I was treated to a lovely dinner at Piccolino’s Restaurant, an Italian eatery in the town of Hagerman.My chicken parm sandwich was excellent, and the salad was fresh and tasty. It was an excellent meal!I’ve driven through white-out blizzards, ice storms, heavy winds, and downpours. But on the way back from dinner I encountered my first ever dust storm. Drought conditions in New Mexico have dried out the soil. Unless the land has been irrigated, much of the top soil has become loose, easily becoming airborne in strong winds. I slowed down and made my way safely back to the house.
Old Town Albuquerque
On the day before my return flight, I said goodbye to my relative and headed back to Albuquerque for a long-awaited lunch and a tour of the oldest part of the city. I absolutely loved the solitude of the drive through the desert.Since I began planning for my trip, there was one place I knew I wanted to stop: Sadie’s of New Mexico. For over 70 years, Sadie’s has been serving New Mexican cuisine. When I visited Albuquerque in 2006 with my Mom, Sadie’s was my favorite meal, and I was determined to re-experience the magic!Sadie’s was absolutely packed, so I grabbed a seat at the bar. The chips and salsa were a solid start to the meal. The taco and tamale platter was tasty, and the sopapillas (a quick bread made from fried dough) was great. However… Sadie’s has been dethroned. The meal was good, but it couldn’t hold a candle to Los Cerritos in Roswell. Congratulations, Los Cerritos, you now hold the title as my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant. Let it be known.My final stop before heading to my hotel was Old Town, a section of Albuquerque that dates to 1706 – 83 years before the founding of the United States! Old Town Plaza (pictured) dates to the very earliest years of the village that would eventually become the city of Albuquerque.This was my second visit to Old Town. I came here with my Mom in 2006 – check out this 19-year old photo of the same scene as the previous photo. Camera technology has certainly advanced in the past 19 years!The centerpiece of Old Town is San Felipe de Neri church. This Spanish colonial church was built in 1793 and has been in continuous use ever since. It is one of the oldest buildings in Albuquerque.Old Town occupies almost a square mile of Albuqerque and is instantly recognizable by its adobe-walled buildings. Old Town is filled with restaurants, shops, and museums, and is a prime tourist destination (via Wikipedia).Old Town is a cool place to hang out, shop, eat, and spot neat things like a historic car club meetup at the Plaza!In the dry air of the Southwest, vehicles do not rust. I saw so many classic import cars that were still on the road, and all were completely rust-free. This 1970s Datsun 620 pickup truck had zero rust, and looked like it was certainly well-used (and well-loved).Sadly, the Rattlesnake Museum was closed – I had saved it as my last stop in Old Town (when in New Mexico, right?). After an enjoyable afternoon, it was time to return my rental car and prepare for my flight home.With a little sadness, I returned the Nissan Rogue to Hertz. The little SUV proved to be a comfortable, spacious, fuel-efficient little run-around, perfectly suited for driving in the Southwest. I have not been thrilled with my previous Nissan Rogue rentals, but I really feel like Nissan made enough improvements to the vehicle to make it worthwhile for someone looking for affordable, efficient transportation. After bidding the Nissan adios, I headed to the airport for my flight home.After two flights (and a lengthy weather delay in Atlanta), I was finally back in New Jersey. It was an amazing trip to New Mexico, but it also felt good to be home.
Garage Updates
Before closing, I wanted to offer a quick automotive update from my garage, share two friends’ high mileage meetup, and pass along a milestone from a family member.
After a winter spent making several long-distance drives to the Adirondacks, Grace, our 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was due for some maintenance. Now with 121,000 miles on the odometer, what did she need? An oil and tire rotation… and that was it. Cheers, Grace, and thanks for the trouble-free driving this winter. Onward!Ever want to see what 1.6 million miles looks like? This is it. My friends Tyson and Justin recently had a meetup in Arizona. Tyson’s 1994 Acura Legend coupe (left) has over 598,000 miles, while Justin’s 2003 Honda Accord coupe (right) reports over 1,059,000 miles on its odometer. You can check out a video of their meetup here.Finally, please join me in welcoming my Dad to the high mileage club! His 2017 Honda Accord V6 Touring recently crossed the six-figure mark, rolling 100,000 miles on its way to Cape May, New Jersey. Dad reports that his car remains trouble-free. Next up? A well-deserved timing belt service for its engine. Congrats, Dad… onward!!
Wrapping Up
New Mexico truly lived up to its nickname as the “Land of Enchantment.” From beautiful landscapes, to amazing food, to awesome history, it made a fantastic state to visit. Add to all of this my own personal connection to the state, and I will definitely be returning to visit again.
Thanks for coming along on this special journey down the open road ahead.
I’m glad you had a nice visit with family and got to see several places. Really special to be able to connect with a property that’s been in your family for generations.
I really want to visit Roswell someday. It was enjoyable to see where you went.
Congrats to your dad on 100k!
My visit to meet Tyson in AZ was a great time. I have to thank you for recommending I reach out to him years ago. He’s a great guy!
What a great trip! It looks like it was such a special visit with your family and learning more about the area and seeing the sites. I went to Albuquerque for a conference a while back and visited the old town while I was out there. I peaked in that church and there was a wedding rehearsal going on. It was such a special moment to catch!
The Open Road Ahead 
I’m glad you had a nice visit with family and got to see several places. Really special to be able to connect with a property that’s been in your family for generations.
I really want to visit Roswell someday. It was enjoyable to see where you went.
Congrats to your dad on 100k!
My visit to meet Tyson in AZ was a great time. I have to thank you for recommending I reach out to him years ago. He’s a great guy!
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It was an amazing trip – I’m so glad I was able to spend a longer time exploring the state.
You’ll definitely like Roswell – be sure to report back once you go. And I’m glad you got to hang out with Tyson – 1.6 million miles!!!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip to the southwest! Roswell is still on my must-see list. And, thanks for the feature!
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Roswell is awesome – a great road trip destination for the coupe!
Thanks for reading!!
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What a great trip! It looks like it was such a special visit with your family and learning more about the area and seeing the sites. I went to Albuquerque for a conference a while back and visited the old town while I was out there. I peaked in that church and there was a wedding rehearsal going on. It was such a special moment to catch!
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What a magical place that must have been to have a wedding – such a gorgeous church!
Thanks for reading!!
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