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New Mexico

New Mexico (Spanish: Nuevo México), the Land of Enchantment, is a state in the American Southwest. It became a Spanish colony after conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, then a Mexican territory until the Mexican-American War of the 1840s, and then an American territory until it achieved statehood in 1912. New Mexico still has a large native Spanish-speaking population and many Native American communities, offering a unique culture that clearly stands apart from that of other states. Spanish is the official second language. A visitor to New Mexico will also discover fantastic natural scenery, a major fine arts scene centered around Santa Fe, great outdoor recreational opportunities, and a distinctive regional cuisine. Plus, an assortment of high-tech, Space Age installations - radio telescopes, cutting-edge laboratories, military testing sites, speculative spaceports - gives the state a fascinating fusion of the ancient and the futuristic. New Mexico is a forgotten jewel in the United States.

Cities

 * – The state capital and primary tourist attraction of the state, with historic architecture, scenic beauty, and a concentration of arts and culture.
 * – By far the state's largest city and the center of commerce for the state, with a fair number of tourist attractions in its own right, including a massive and spectacular hot-air balloon fiesta.
 * – Situated in the southernmost Rocky Mountains, Taos is among the most popular destinations due to the incredible scenic beauty, world-renowned ski resorts, architecture, its art scene, museums and food.
 * – The largest town in the northwest section of the state, and a gateway to the Navajo Nation and Four Corners area.
 * – A lovely little town with a lot of history, and the largest town in the northeast section of the state.
 * – The state's second largest city and the largest in the southern portion of the state.
 * – A large town notable for its museum of space history and proximity to the White Sands National Park.
 * – A medium sized town most well known for the alleged crash of a flying saucer near here in 1947.
 * – An old mining town located in the southwestern section of the state.
 * – A spa city in southern New Mexico that is commonly put on lists of weird place names because the town was renamed from Hot Springs to its current name because of a 1950s radio show by the same name.

Other destinations

 * – Gorgeous canyon scenery and well-preserved ancient cliff-side dwellings.
 * – One of the most famous cave systems in the world, with spectacular underground formations.
 * – Extensive archaeological ruins of a large Ancestral Puebloan culture.
 * – Scenic desert landscapes, including ancient lava flows, sandstone cliffs, and caves.
 * – Where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet at right angles, though vehicle access is exclusively in New Mexico.
 * – The largest Indian reservation in the country, covering much of Northwestern New Mexico as well as parts of Arizona and Utah.
 * – The 19 Indian Pueblos of New Mexico, each offering unique attractions.
 * – One of the oldest continually-occupied settlements in the Americas, this UNESCO World Heritage site is located just outside of Taos and has a unique history of its own.
 * – A huge volcanic caldera in the middle of the Jemez Mountains; today filled with a lush alpine meadow.
 * – One of the most spectacular of New Mexico sights, this park holds a vast gypsum sand dune field.

Understand
Understanding New Mexico starts with grasping the overpowering importance of two of its geological features: the Rio Grande, which bisects the state north to south, and the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains, southernmost range of the Rocky Mountains and a part of the same large-scale geological structure that produces the Rio, the "Rio Grande rift." The eastern third of the state is an extension of the Great Plains both geographically and culturally and has more in common with the western parts of Texas and Oklahoma than with the rest of New Mexico. The western third, beyond the Rio and the assortment of minor mountain ranges (Nacimientos, Magdalenas, and the not-so-minor Jemez Mountains) to its west, is part of the same "basin and range" geography as comprises much of Arizona and Nevada, with a little Utah canyon country thrown in toward the northwest corner.

It's the area in between these two sparsely inhabited regions that gives the state much of its identity, houses the majority of its population, and contains many of its travel attractions. The "Rio Grande Corridor" starts at the Colorado state line and includes (from north to south) such well-known places as Taos, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces at the southern end of the state. Travelers who have seen only the flat emptiness of the eastern side or the rugged desolation of the western third simply do not expect this region, with its snowcapped mountains, fertile riparian habitat along the Rio, and a population density that, while not high by the standards of the United States (let alone Europe), is still unusual in the Southwest. Most of the state's many American Indian reservations (the pueblos) are here (Navajo Nation, however, is in the northwest region), as are the most conspicuous remnants of the Spanish influence resulting from the state's ties to Mexico that persisted into the 19th century. At the same time, the relative prosperity of this area (although no part of New Mexico can really be considered "wealthy" except in isolated neighborhoods) is making several of its communities into high-tech centers, for example the Albuquerque suburb of Rio Rancho that houses a great manufacturing plant for computer components. The Sangre de Cristos and Jemez also create a relatively cool and moist (at least compared to the rest of the state) climate zone in which snow can persist in the highest mountains nearly year-round.

There is also a more subtle north/south dichotomy to the culture and geography that breaks basically along the route of Interstate highway 40, which follows the historic Route 66 across the state. Most of the north/south differences (apart from the observation that the north is higher and cooler than the south) are political in nature and affect residents more than travelers, but they lead to the state self-identifying the six regions given under the "Regions" heading of this article. There is no "South Central" region: the Rio Grande Corridor narrows toward the southern end of the state, and features along the southern Rio are treated in the southwest region.

History
Archaeological evidence has shown that humans have existed in New Mexico for at least 13,000 years now, as shown by the existence of "Clovis points" - arrowheads first found near the town of Clovis. For the next several millennium, a long line of Native American cultures lived, prospered, and perished here, the most well-known being the Ancestral Puebloans (also known as the "Anasazi", though that term has fallen out of favor) who emerged around AD 700 and by AD 1100 has established impressive settlements in what is now the northwestern region of the state and were part of a far-flung trade network that reached south to what is now Mexico. However, in the 12th and 13th centuries they abandoned their settlements for reasons not entirely clear; drought, environmental degradation, pressure from other groups, and religious or cultural change are all considered possibilities. It is commonly believed today that the inhabitants of today's Pueblos of New Mexico are the descendants of the Ancestral Puebloans. Of course, Puebloans were not the only Native American group to establish themselves here; despite changing climates, war, and European and later American aggression, many Navajos, Apaches, Comanches, and Utes also make the state their home today.

The first Europeans to arrive in New Mexico were the Spanish. The explorer Cabeza de Vaca may have passed through a portion of the area, but it was the expedition of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado in the 1540s that marked the first significant European contact in the area. Coronado came seeking the mythical Seven Cities of Gold, but found nothing of the sort. His contact with the Puebloan residents in New Mexico was marked by violence against the Natives, which sadly set the stage for more bloodshed to come. Though Coronado returned to Mexico in disgrace, his reports paved the way for the first settlers to arrive in 1598, who were led by Juan de Oñate and established the first European village in the area near present-day Española. Oñate displayed vicious cruelty toward the Puebloans, and after being chewed out by the Spanish Empire a new governor was appointed who led the construction of a capital city, Santa Fe.

Over the next several decades, the Puebloans continued to be the victims of repression on the part of the Spanish, particularly Franciscan missionaries who found that while many Puebloans were receptive to Catholicism, they were also unwilling to abandon their traditional religions. Tension grew until finally the Pueblos banded together in 1680 to drive the Spanish out of New Mexico. It wouldn't be for another 12 years that Europeans returned, this time through a reconquest led by Diego de Vargas. Though there were some military campaigns involved, the Pueblo Revolt had taught the Spanish the consequences of oppression and the Puebloans were granted rights and land in exchange for allowing the Spanish to live side-by-side with them. This partnership largely worked; indeed, Spaniards and Puebloans frequently banded together to wage war against the nomadic tribes (Apaches, Comanches, Navajos) in the area.

Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, but New Mexico's isolation meant that little changed in the relationship between the settlers and rulers, with the exception that Mexico was more willing to trade with the United States. This set the stage for the creation of the Santa Fe Trail - a rugged wagon route that brought American goods and settlers to New Mexico, as well as opening the floodgates to encroachment from the east. An attempt on the part of the then-independent Republic of Texas to gain control of New Mexico ended in humiliating defeat, but within several years Texas was part of the U.S. and the vision of an America "stretching from sea to shining sea" brought New Mexico into the Mexican-American War. Mexican officials didn't focus much on defending New Mexico - American General Stephen W. Kearny marched into Santa Fe without firing a shot - but the residents reacted to U.S. presence with a mixture of welcome and deep suspicion; New Mexico's early years as a U.S. territory were marked by rebellion and bitter land disputes.

Under American rule, New Mexico experienced combat in the American Civil War. Most of New Mexico remained loyal to the Union, and Confederate forces mounted a campaign to stake their claim here. Their presence was short-lived however, as Union forces soon drove them back south after winning a couple of key battles near Santa Fe. The Civil War over, the Union returned to focus on breaking the Comanche, Navajo, and Apache forces in the area, with considerable success.

The arrival of the railroad in 1880 brought numerous new settlers to the area and caused an explosion of growth in towns along the rail lines. Ranching and mining came to New Mexico in full force, becoming the mainstay of the economy. Following statehood in 1912, a new set of visitors came to New Mexico as the state shed its wild west image: artists established themselves in the Santa Fe and Taos areas, tourists came via the railroad to experience the scenery and culture of the Southwest, and tuberculosis patients came to live the rest of their lives in New Mexico's mild climate. With the rise of the automobile came the arrival of Route 66, bringing a new wave of arrivals to the state.

World War II brought a new industry to New Mexico: nuclear science. The world's first atomic bomb was constructed in the top secret government town of Los Alamos and tested at the Trinity site in southern New Mexico. Federal investment in military research brought money and new migrants to the state, which coincided with considerable urban growth in parts of the state, particularly the Albuquerque area. The 1960s and 70s manifested itself in civil rights battles for Latinos and the arrival of a large number of Hippies in the northern part of the state who were attracted by New Mexico's relative isolation.

The last couple of decades have seen a modernization effort in New Mexico. The metro areas of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces are still experiencing major urban growth, and the typical features of today's built American landscape - cell phone towers, gas stations, Wal-Marts - have certainly arrived, along with the problems - traffic, pollution, etc. However, New Mexico remains a place isolated enough from the rest of the country that one can still venture out of the city and find great, wild beauty, and still catch a glimpse of what New Mexico was like hundreds of years ago.

Cultural depictions
New Mexico seems to suffer from the paradox of having a lot of artists, writers, filmmakers, and other purveyors of culture, yet rarely is actually named in cultural works, instead standing in as a generic "Southwestern" place. The areas around Santa Fe and Taos have long been home to artist colonies who find inspiration in the beauty of the state's natural scenery, while many, many films and television shows have been filmed at least in part here (given state tax credits for the film industry), using New Mexico as a stand-in for desert or Western scenes. It's not hard to find New Mexico in popular works, but it can be difficult to find ones that take full advantage of both the unique beauty and the culture of the state.

 * Of the many artists who came to northern New Mexico in the early 20th century, the painter Georgia O'Keeffe is perhaps the most famous. O'Keeffe eventually settled in Abiquiu and used the local scenery to extensive effect in her later works (today, a museum devoted exclusively to her work sits in Santa Fe). Other notables who came to New Mexico around the same time are the writer D.H. Lawrence, whose ranch near Taos now holds his ashes, and famed photographer Ansel Adams, who regularly used New Mexico as a subject in his work.
 * Ceremony (Leslie Marmon Silko, 1977). Considered among the greatest works of Native American literature, Ceremony tracks a half-Native man whose efforts to restore spiritual balance to his land mirror his own fight against PTSD from fighting in World War II. Silko wrote the book while living in cold, rainy Alaska and filled it with loving depictions of her home in Laguna Pueblo.
 * Bless Me, Ultima (Rudolfo Anaya, 1972). A classic work of Chicano literature, Bless Me, Ultima is a coming-of-age story of a young boy from eastern New Mexico who must reconcile his European-derived, Catholic, Latino heritage with the spiritual indigenous culture, deeply rooted in the land, that still survives despite centuries of upheaval and violence.
 * The Atomic City (Jerry Hopper, 1952). This black-and-white film from the Cold War days took advantage of the then-recently publicly revealed existence of Los Alamos (birthplace of the atomic bomb), focusing around a nuclear scientist whose child is kidnapped. Scenes set in and around Los Alamos, Santa Fe, and a climatic sequence taking place on a nearby Indian ruin make excellent use of the local scenery.
 * Easy Rider (Dennis Hopper, 1969). While New Mexico isn't mentioned by name, much of the first half of the film is set in a hippie commune near Taos, giving a sense of what drew people to this remote area to eke out a living from the land and also serving as a great backdrop to the film's themes of freedom, the American Dream, and the issues of the 1960s.
 * Death Comes for the Archbishop (Willa Cather, 1927). This acclaimed historical fiction novel by Willa Cather tells an imagined story about the lives of Jean-Baptiste Lamy (real-life first Archbishop of Santa Fe) and Joseph Projectus Machebeuf (real-life first Archbishop of Denver) during their time in New Mexico and the near-surrounds. It explores a myriad of issues, including the Long Walk of the Navajo (the forced migration of the Navajo from Arizona to the eastern portion of New Mexico), Kit Carson, the American takeover of New Mexico, and the struggles of life in an unforgiving land.
 * Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico (Ansel Adams, 1941). This is one of Adams' most famous photographs, showing the stark contrast of scenery found in New Mexico: An almost-empty desert, with a few adobe buildings, with a mountain range in the background, and a clear sky.
 * Taos Pueblo (Ansel Adams, 1930). This book contains Adams' photos taken in Taos and Taos Pueblo, including one of his more famous photos: San Francis de Asis Church in Taos.
 * The Milagro Beanfield War (John Nichols, 1974). This popular novel (which was made into a movie of the same name by Robert Redford in 1988) centers around a Hispanic farming community in northern New Mexico trying to defend itself against outside business and state political interests, speaking to the real-life struggles of New Mexico's Hispanic communities to preserve their way of life.
 * Breaking Bad (Vince Gilligan, 2008-2013). Of the many films and television shows filmed in New Mexico, the popular AMC series is one of the very few that is not only set here, but really makes the most of it. Centered around a high school chemistry teacher who resorts to cooking meth, the series effectively uses Albuquerque's culture and stark beauty as a backdrop to the main character's rise and fall within the local drug trade (which is indeed a major problem for New Mexico law enforcement). For an itinerary that will take you to many of the show's filming locations, see the Breaking Bad Tour guide.

Tourist information

 * New Mexico Tourism website

Talk
New Mexico is very much like the rest of the U.S. in that English is almost universally spoken. However, uniquely among U.S. states, in New Mexico, both English and Spanish are official languages. Spanish place names and people names are best pronounced in Spanish. Anglicizing the pronunciation can be considered rude here. In the North Central and Northwest regions, you'll have a good chance of running into people for whom English is a second, or even third, language, behind Spanish or a Native American language.

The largest Native American language (in terms of both frequency of use and number of speakers) in New Mexico is Navajo, and you might hear it spoken while in the state, especially in towns on or close to the Navajo Nation (like Grants or Gallup). Conversely, a lot of Native American languages are only spoken by their speakers in private (like the Taos language spoken at Taos Pueblo), and are at high risk of becoming moribund or extinct. Do not assume that there is one "Native American" language or that every Native American is speaking specifically Navajo (or Tewa, or Tiwa, etc.). One neat thing about New Mexico (at least for the linguist) is that Native American toponyms are used on road signs and overpasses on reservation lands, even while Anglicized or Spanicized names are used on exit signs and maps. For example, the town of Pojoaque in Santa Fe County has an overpass with the phrase "Posuwaegeh", the Tewa name for the town, written on it.

By plane
The state's only major (commercial) airport is in Albuquerque, in nearly the exact center of the state. Santa Fe has limited connector service, and a few of the state's minor cities, such as Farmington, Roswell, Taos and Hobbs have commuter air service. A lot of smaller towns (often resort towns) like Angel Fire have single-strip airfields that can handle private or charter planes; for air travel to these, it's best to contact the relevant town's air services to schedule flights.

For travel to the southern part of the state, particularly the southwestern region, consider flying into El Paso in extreme west Texas. For example, Las Cruces, one of the state's largest cities, is only 45 miles from El Paso compared to 226 miles from Albuquerque.

By car

Interstate 10 and Interstate 40 cross the state east/west, the former entering between El Paso and Las Cruces and paralleling the southern border, and the latter following the route of historic Route 66 through the middle of the state. Interstate 25 enters the state in its northeast corner near Raton, passes through the eastern plains, crosses the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Glorieta Pass near Santa Fe, then follows the Rio Grande south through Albuquerque to its terminus at I-10 in Las Cruces.

Although New Mexico has a fairly long border with Mexico, there are few ports of entry. Most traffic inbound from Mexico enters the United States at El Paso and then continues to Las Cruces and beyond. In addition to the usual customs, etc., at the national border, there are checkpoints along the major highways out of Las Cruces at which vehicles may be searched for illegal immigrants. (If you're considering bringing an illegal in, don't; penalties are serious and enforcement is stepping up, if still uneven.) The small town of Columbus has a border crossing with Mexico that is open 24 hours a day. Santa Teresa NM, adjacent to El Paso and south of Las Cruces also has a port of entry. Although this border crossing is only open from 6AM-10PM, it forms a handy bypass of Ciudad Juarez and El Paso and is an important route for international commerce and travel.

In practice, traffic inbound from neighboring states is generally not subjected to inspection for controlled items, apart from the usual weigh stations, etc., for commercial trucks. However, commercial traffic heading out of New Mexico for Arizona may be inspected on the Arizona side of the state line, owing to concerns about the introduction of agricultural pests.

By rail
The Southwest Chief, the main Amtrak line through the southwestern United States, makes a daily run between Chicago and Los Angeles through New Mexico. Westbound, the line enters the state at Raton, and basically follows the route of I-25 to Albuquerque, making stops at Las Vegas and Lamy (where you can catch a shuttle bus to Santa Fe). After Albuquerque the train follows the route of I-40 to Gallup and on west.

The Sunset Limited makes its way from New Orleans to Los Angeles, with stops at El Paso, TX, Deming, and Lordsburg. This train runs three times a week.

The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad of Chama (New Mexico) and Antonito, Colorado operates tourist trains with vintage equipment passing attractive scenery, but this line doesn't connect to any commercial railroads and isn't intended to open the state to the traveler from afar. There are no other rail services from other states (or Mexico) to points in New Mexico.

On foot
For the dedicated long-distance hiker the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (in short Continental Divide Trail) is a United States National Scenic Trail running between Mexico and Canada. It follows the Continental Divide of the Americas along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states; Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Get around
The larger cities (Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe) have some degree of public transportation, but this is still a state where you'll have to drive most of the time.

Roads in New Mexico are generally well maintained and driving itself can be a pleasurable experience. Although only a few roads are designated scenic drives, most rural highways in the western two thirds of the state provide splendid vistas. However, if you are behind the wheel, please remain attentive to the road and the local driving habits. New Mexico has road conditions and situations that may be different than your own; use caution and drive defensively at all times. Speed limits on interstates are normally 75 miles per hour, except in urban and mountainous areas areas where the speed limit typically drops to 65. Multilane US and state highways have rural speed limits ranging from 45 to 75 miles per hour. Two-lane rural highways have speed limits in the range of 45-65 miles per hour. In urban areas and other communities speed limits can be as low as 15 and as fast as 55 miles per hour, and enforcement is more highly visible and heavy-handed than in rural areas. A number of state highways and most county roads, remarkably enough, are still unpaved and should be driven at reduced speeds. Between this, radar traps, and the fact that many of the roads through the mountains are more sinuous than is apparent on a map, you should expect intercity travel to take a bit longer than the distance would imply, except on the Interstates. There are exceptions in the eastern parts of the state, where you're in serious danger of being run over if you drive as slowly as the speed limits.

New Mexico is a state where you should definitely pay attention to changes in speed limits, especially around Native American reservations and small rural towns, where the speed limit can drop from 75 to 45 mph in less than a mile (and likewise increase from 45 mph to 75 mph on the other side). These speed traps both serve to keep the roads in these areas safer and serve as sources of income for the town through speeding tickets. The topography of the state can help to hide these speed changes as well, such as by hiding a change right after a turn past a mesa or at the bottom of a hill.

Weather-related driving hazards are generally confined to the winter months, when the northern half of the state, as well as the mountainous parts of the southwestern region, can experience snowstorms that close highways or render them hazardous. Have chains or 4-wheel drive available in these areas from December through February, particularly in the mountains. Spring winds can be disconcerting to drivers in tall vehicles and occasionally create reduced visibility from blowing dust, but dust storms are less of a problem than in some neighboring states. Most of New Mexico is at higher elevation, hence slightly cooler, than other states of the Southwest; problems with boiling radiators, etc., are therefore not as common, although it's still a good idea to take water with you when driving in the summer, particularly along the low, hot southern tier (I-10 and vicinity).

New Mexico has a severe problem with drunk driving, although aggressive enforcement and public-education campaigns have reduced DUI levels somewhat, compared to 10 years ago. No road in the state is immune to this problem; there is no time of day when it cannot occur. Defensive driving is the obvious antidote. Large animals on the roadway create hazards as well. Cattle and sheep are often seen in the open range areas of the state; elk are seen in the north central mountains. In the south, the Oryx, an elk-sized antelope imported from Africa, or the Javelina (aka the Collared Peccary), a distant relative of the pig family, are often seen on roads, especially rural routes. Again, just drive defensively.

By train
The New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter train connects Albuquerque and Santa Fe, along with residential communities in the area.

By bus
Information on transit can be found from APTA.

Arts and culture
Santa Fe (and really the north central region in general, which includes the artist hotspot of Taos) has a high concentration of artists and is a major destination for art collectors. The central tourist districts of Santa Fe and Taos are home to a huge number of extremely high-end art galleries as well as a number of excellent art museums. Outside of Santa Fe and Taos, one is still likely to come across galleries in the rural, smaller towns of the north central region, which often take on a more folk art characteristic with a still decidedly New Mexico twist. Albuquerque, though lacking Santa Fe's world-renowned image, has plenty of art institutions in its own right and offers a greater mix between the traditional arts which define Santa Fe and more contemporary work. Also take some time to enjoy the wholly unique Pueblo Deco architecture style which merges the indigenous and Hispanic elements with Art Deco from the early 20th century.

Some of the most notable (and most visited) art sites in New Mexico are Ghost Ranch - the former home and studio of artist Georgia O'Keefe - near Abiquiú and MEOW WOLF in Santa Fe. The High Road to Taos is littered with small art colonies and breathtaking vistas. And there are sizable galleries throughout the state that offer contemporary or traditional Native American art.

New Mexican architecture styles are sure to please the visitor, especially in Santa Fe and Taos, where local ordinances require buildings be constructed in certain adobe styles. These buildings are easily identifiable, as they usually all have some variation on the following themes: tan adobe walls with curved corners, wooden vigas (support beams that run along ceilings and protrude from exterior walls), and wooden doors/window frames. Turquoise is mined in the state, and many buildings will paint their doors and windows turquoise, making these buildings even prettier. This, combined with height restrictions, means that many New Mexican towns (especially in the northern part of the state) blend in well with the terrain and aren't filled with cookie-cutter buildings like in most of the rest of the US. Elsewhere in the state, the ranch style of house dominates, but the tan color scheme still reigns supreme (in lieu of wood most buildings will use silver-colored metal sheets). In the far north the two styles are combined, so towns will have adobe buildings with slanted metal roofs (for snow). These adobe buildings need periodic upkeep (i.e. slapping fresh mud and straw on it), and some places hold community festivals to do so (the most famous of which occurs when the St. Francis of Asisi church in Taos needs a new coat).

Native Americana

One of the primary attractions of New Mexico is its large and diverse collection of American Indian (or, if you prefer, Native American—both terms are used in the state) pueblos, reservations, artwork, and of course, people. The north central and central regions have the greatest diversity of Native American centers, while Navajo Nation in the northwest region (extending into the other Four Corners states) is the largest Indian reservation/nation within the contiguous United States. There are a few points of interest in other regions, such as the Mescalero Apache reservation in the southeast region and outlying parts of Navajo Nation in the southwest. For detailed information on each of the pueblos, see New Mexico Pueblos.

Many, but by no means all, of the American Indian communities welcome visitors, usually with some restrictions. Following are some tips if you're planning to see the sights of these communities:
 * Check the regional articles for guidance on which pueblos/reservations are open to visitors; not all will be.
 * Please respect local regulations regarding photography and sketching. Most north-central and central pueblos require would-be photographers and artists to pay for permits issued by the pueblo administration, and some don't allow photography or sketching at all. If the restrictions seem draconian, remember that these are not museum exhibits or theme parks, they're towns and settlements where people live their daily lives. However, if you are on public property, pictures may be legally taken. It doesn't matter if you are photographing someone who doesn't want to be photographed, or a building that locals do not want photographed. As long as you are on public property, you are within your legal rights to photograph anything in sight, so make your own decision.
 * Most of the pueblos and reservations hold ceremonial dances, feasts and sings that welcome visitors, as well as some others of a more private, religious nature at which visitors are unwelcome if not forbidden. Many have succeeded in reconciling their historic religious practices with the dominant Christian (particularly Catholic) practice, and celebrations at Christmas (in some cases extending through much of December), Easter, and the feast day of San Antonio (June) are generally open to visitors.
 * For many residents of some pueblos and reservations, not only is English not the primary daily language, it may not be spoken fluently or at all. Most residents in the "service" sector (i.e., those you'll interact with first) are as fluent in English as their Anglo colleagues in neighboring communities, and there is no reason to speak to them in a patronizing or condescending manner.  However, if you venture far from the main tourist centers, you may run into language issues, although you're still odds-on to deal with English speakers. Patience and gestures will overcome many obstacles, but be aware that in certain areas (notably Navajo Nation) it is considered rude to point with extended fingers. A nod or tip of the head for indicating direction is considered more polite (true among fluent English speakers as well).

Ancestral Puebloan ruins

Another primary attraction of the state is its collection of major archeological sites from the Ancestral Puebloans (the term "Anasazi," which refers to the same group of people, has fallen out of favor), who are the ancestors of many of the Native American tribes in the Southwest today and inhabited the area from roughly the 700s AD to the 1300s, when it is believed they migrated to more promising locales, such as along the banks of the Rio Grande. Although Mesa Verde, the most famous of such ruins, is just to the north in Colorado, New Mexico is home to many stunning collections of ruins in its own right, the most renowned of which being Chaco Canyon in the northwest section of the state, with remarkably well-preserved walls and pictographs that are easily accessed. Also in the northwest part of New Mexico is Aztec Ruins National Monument near the town of Farmington, home to more well-preserved walls and an impressive reconstructed kiva. Near Los Alamos in the north central section is Bandelier National Monument, with a superb collection of cliff dwellings situated in a scenic canyon. Perhaps surprisingly, Petroglyph National Monument is located just to the west of Albuquerque, and preserves the largest collection of petroglyphs in the US. These are but just the most famous ruins; there are many other small ones open for viewing and in many parts of the state a hiker on public lands is likely to come across unexcavated ruins; in such a situation, remember not to disturb the site, do not remove any artifacts (pottery shards being the most common), and don't walk or sit upon the remains of walls.

Natural scenery
Being in the high desert, New Mexico is home to a great deal of natural beauty and a surprising variety of it; a few hours of driving can take you from red rock desert to alpine forests, or from flat grassland to sandy dunes. There's some gorgeous scenic beauty in every corner of the state, but there are some highlights.

Many film buffs will be familiar with New Mexico's scenery, as most western Hollywood movies are filmed in the state because of favorable tax laws regarding filming. While perhaps the "western landscape", Monument Valley, is in neighboring Arizona, almost all of the mesas and rock formations commonly associated with the southwest are grouped together in New Mexico.

The northwest region of the state perhaps most exemplifies the popular image of the American Southwest, with red rock mesas and stunning cliffs; really much of the same kind of scenery you can expect in Northern Arizona or Southern Utah. El Malpais National Monument, on the edge of this region, has the unusual mixture of sandstone and volcanic rock, where the remains of ancient lava flows run up against tall sandstone cliffs. The red rocks mostly vanish as one moves into the north central region (although Abiquiu is notable for some stunning red rock features), replaced largely by alpine mountain ranges. The Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains is the remnant of a huge volcanic caldera that now takes the form of a vast meadow in the middle of the range. The nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the state's highest mountain range and perhaps its most spectacular, with several wilderness areas, ski areas, and alpine forests and meadows. West of Taos, the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument covers a spectacular section of gorge carved by the Rio Grande.

The elevation drops off as you move into the central part of the state, with alpine forests replaced by stands of piñon and juniper, although the spectacular Sandia Mountains above Albuquerque jut above the surrounding landscape and are the most easily accessible mountain range in the state, with an aerial tramway that rises from the foothills on the edge of the city straight up to the top of the crest. Within Albuquerque proper and stretching south is a scenic bosque (cottonwood forest) along the banks of the Rio Grande, a thin wetland which provides an important wildlife corridor for this part of the world. To the northeast, the scraggly piñon and juniper forests are replacing by wide, flat grasslands at the edge of the Great Plains.

The southwest portion of the state is home to some of the most remote wilderness areas in the state; where small mountain ranges mark the meeting point between the hot Chihuahuan Desert and the piñon-juniper forests of central New Mexico. The southeastern reaches of the state are where the elevation is at its lowest in the state, and are mostly a vast, featureless plain; although there are some scattered unusual geologic features, the most spectacular being Carlsbad Caverns, a collection of vast caves that are among the most stunning in the world. Near Alamogordo is White Sands National Park, the world's largest gypsum sand dune field and a frequent sight in the state's tourist literature.

International Balloon Fiesta
Albuquerque is the host city for the International Balloon Fiesta, held each year during the first full week in October. This extravaganza of color and sound is a unique event, with participants from throughout the world bringing gaily colored and some unusual or "Special Shapes" hot air balloons. As many as 700 or 800 balloons have been registered with mass ascensions highlighting the mornings, balloon glows lighting up the night and competitions sprinkled in for the competitive and professional balloon pilots. And licensed pilots are required! This event draws tens of thousands of visitors to Albuquerque and New Mexico each year as participants, ground chase crew members and observers.

Scenic routes
New Mexico is home to many scenic routes, such as the Enchanted Circle, which runs through Taos. Travel to the state's website to obtain a map with all scenic routes on it.

Hike

A considerable portion of New Mexico is preserved in national parks and monuments, national forests, wildlife refuges, and other wild areas, and is available to the hiker/backpacker. The pronounced north-south elevation gradient means that one part or another of the state has satisfactory hiking weather throughout the year. Good places and times for hiking include:
 * The Sangre de Cristo Mountains, highest and most important range in the state, include several wilderness areas. Important trail heads are near Taos and Santa Fe on the west side, and near the otherwise obscure town of Cowles on the east.  Hiking is best from June to September; many high-country trails will be snow-packed from November through May, and October is hunting season, when non-hunters do well to stay off the trails. For easy mountain hikes (in the summer), a trail runs up to the peak of Wheeler Peak from Taos Ski Valley, or travel to nearby Angel Fire for hiking along the ski slopes. For those interested in water activities (such as boating or fishing, not swimming), travel to
 * The Jemez Mountains are a major volcanic range near Los Alamos and include Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve. Bandelier offers excellent hiking practically year-round (hot in mid-summer), while the higher parts of the range are in Santa Fe National Forest or the Preserve and are good for summer and fall hiking.  A disastrous forest fire in the year 2000, followed by an even worse one in 2011, severely degraded outdoor recreation in parts of the Jemez, but there are still plenty of opportunities.
 * The Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque, and their southern extension into the Manzano Mountains, offer hiking and rock climbing. The La Luz Trail enters the mountains from Albuquerque itself and is possibly the most-used trail in the state. Hiking is usually feasible practically year-round, although snow will be sufficient in some winters to make the high-country trails impassable.
 * The Gila Wilderness, in the southwest region near Silver City, is the largest roadless area in the state. Many of the trailheads into the Gila are remote and hard to reach, but as compensation offer a chance to get away from the crowds. Generally hikeable year-round, although the lower elevations will be uncomfortably hot in mid-summer.
 * The Organ Mountains, in the southern part of the state, have several hiking trails close to major towns (notably Las Cruces), as well as spectacular rock climbing. Visit the Organs in fall, winter or spring; they're not high enough to escape the fierce heat of the summer.
 * White Sands National Park is a white dune-covered area in the middle of a desert valley with lower-key hiking than the committal mountain trails. Picnics are common, and adults and children alike love to climb the snowy white hills of beach-like sand. Go in fall or winter; wind is nasty in spring, and it's blazing hot in the summer.
 * Sugarite State Park near Raton was named a Top Ten state park in the nation by Camping Life Magazine. Visitors can explore the remains of the historic Sugarite Coal Camp, hike, fish, or camp.

Mountain Biking
New Mexico offers some of the best mountain biking in North America. Mountain Biking in New Mexico can be done in one of two ways: at private resorts or on public land. Each offers its own unique attractions.

Private Resorts
The bike park in Angel Fire has been voted the "Best in the Southwest" 7 years in a row by MTBparks.com and is the largest bike park in the Rockies, and a handful of other up-and-coming bike parks are popping up across the state. Many ski resorts are turning their mountains into bike parks during the summer months, and these resorts offer the rider the ability to do downhill riding and some off-roading. The benefit of private resorts is that their mountains will often have runs for all levels of experience -- from beginner to expert -- and a wide variety of different runs to use. Many will also have certain areas or runs specifically set aside for tricks as well.

Public Land
Mountain biking on public lands is a bit more complicated than at private resorts, with bikes falling under varying levels of restrictions depending on which government department manages the land you're on. None of the public lands allow complete off-roading or downhill style mountain biking (both of which can seriously damage an environment).

Generally, mountain bikes are considered "vehicles" under US laws (for the purpose of regulating access to trails and public lands), and thus they are not allowed on hiking trails or off-roading within public lands. Mountain bikes are allowed on all roads that pass through BLM-managed lands. Whether or not mountain bikes are allowed on trails (or even within the boundaries of certain places) is usually left to the individual park/monument/forest/etc. to make that decision. You will have to do your own research if you want to go mountain biking in any of these places in the state.

Ski
Alpine skiing is popular in New Mexico and is much more widely available than the state's desert image would suggest. Most of the state's ski areas are in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the north central part of the state, the best known being at Taos and Santa Fe (for those that want easier skiing, places like Angel Fire and Red River). However, there are also interesting areas near Los Alamos in the Jemez Mountains, in the Sandia Mountains above Albuquerque, and at Ruidoso in the southeastern part of the state.

Nordic (cross-country) skiing is also widely practiced, although snow conditions are marginal in some years. The most reliable snow for Nordic skiing is near Cumbres Pass on the Colorado state line near Chama. There is usually enough snow around Taos for Nordic work, and Enchanted Forest Nordic Ski Center near Red River maintains an extensive network of groomed trails. Nordic skiing at Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains is of variable quality; the scenery is gorgeous, but snowpack varies greatly from year to year and may be insufficient to allow much skiing.

Two things to keep in mind if you're coming to New Mexico to ski: First, check on snow conditions before coming. Snowfall varies wildly from year to year in this area. The resulting variations in snowpack are such that even Taos may have marginal conditions, and some of the lower areas may not be open at all (Even if there is good snowfall in New Mexico, if Colorado has a bad year then the northern ski resorts are overrun by Coloradans, making it extremely difficult to ski comfortably or at high speeds; lift lines also take forever). On the other hand, if you come in a good snow year, conditions will be among the best in the world, so it's worth your time to do some research on conditions. Second, the ski areas are at high altitude by the standards of most of the world's Alpine ski resorts. If you're prone to altitude sickness, take precautions before coming, and spend a day or two acclimatizing in the towns before you start to ski.

Orienteer
For basic information about orienteering, see Orienteering.

Orienteering in the manner of the International Orienteering Federation and its national affiliate the Orienteering USA is offered by New Mexico Orienteers (NMO). NMO offers low-key, training-oriented competitions (meets) for all ages. Most meets include beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses. New courses are designed for each meet, to specifications recommended by USOF so that the courses have consistent and predictable levels of technical and physical challenge. Some recreation programs offer their own orienteering events. For a list of scheduled NMO meets and other ways to have fun orienteering in New Mexico, see the NMO website.

Los Alamos
NMO has completed detailed maps of Rendija Canyon, Bayo Canyon, the area around Guaje Pines Cemetery, and connecting corridors across the mesas. NMO also has a map in development for Pajarito Mountain Ski Area and the adjacent Camp May and Santa Fe National Forest.

Los Alamos has excellent and free public transit. All orienteering map locations in Los Alamos can be reached by bus.

In 2000, Los Alamos was devastated by the Cerro Grande wildfire. Several of the orienteering venues here are affected by the wildfire, and subsequent drought and bark beetle outbreaks. Happily, as of 2010 most of the killed trees have fallen, and fallen trees and standing hazard trees have been cleared from trails. New growth is everywhere, mule deer are abundant, and some valleys have magnificent wildflower shows in summer and fall.

After orienteering you may like a hot shower or a swim. Hot showers and warm and cool swimming pools may be enjoyed for a small fee at the Larry Walkup Aquatic Center in Los Alamos.

Valles Caldera National Preserve
In the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP), NMO has made a detailed map of a portion of Valle Grande. This map is used in winter for ski and snowshoe orienteering. VCNP sometimes offers orienteering as one of its own visitor experiences.

Snowshoes for adults and children can be rented by the day, weekend, or week ($5, $10, $20) from the Larry Walkup Aquatic Center in Los Alamos (+1 505 662-8173). Weekend rental includes pick up Friday, return Monday. REI stores in Albuquerque (+1 505 247-1191) and Santa Fe (+1 505 982-3557) rent snowshoes and x-country skis, poles, and boots for around $15 per day.

After orienteering here, the closest places for a day visitor to get a hot shower or soak are in Los Alamos at the Larry Walkup Aquatic Center (95F), or in Jemez Springs at any one of several developed hot springs and spas.

Albuquerque
Albuquerque boasts two orienteering maps, on either side of Sandia Crest. They are the Elena Gallegos Picnic Area on the west side (in town), and a large map on the east side covering the Doc Long, Sulfur Canyon, and Cienega Canyon picnic areas of the Cibola National Forest.

Eat

A distinctive regional cuisine has developed in New Mexico. Do not call New Mexican food Tex-Mex, Cal-Mex, or Mexican! Some New Mexicans can get offended by those names, since their cuisine is a strong sense of identity, and it is better to be safe than sorry. Often considered a subset of "Mexican" food, "New Mexican" cooking is characterized by:
 * First and foremost, chile peppers ("Chile" is the appropriate spelling in New Mexico and is pronounced like "Chili"). New Mexico chiles, despite their reputation, are generally not nearly as hot as habañeros and some Asian peppers, although their spiciness can still come as quite a jolt to the palate unused to spicy foods. Chiles are green for most of their growing life but turn red and dry out as they mature, and can be picked and cooked either "red" or "green."  When you order a New Mexican dish in a restaurant, you'll be asked whether you prefer red or green sauce, referring to the color -- maturity -- of the peppers used to prepare the sauce.  Green is usually hotter than red, but it depends on the seasons it was grown. They both have distinctive flavors; try both while you're here (the term for "both" is "Christmas"). The difference between red and green chile can also refer to how the chile will be served. In some instances, red chile will come as a sauce while green chile will come chopped or whole. (Incidentally, "red" chile has nothing at all in common with the red "chili" -- note spelling -- typical of Tex-Mex-style Mexican food, which is generally scoffed at in New Mexico.)  The small town of Hatch, near Las Cruces, is famous for its chile farms, and is a good place to pick up some chile to take home.
 * The sopaipilla, a light, puffy fry bread that can be served as a side dish or turned into an entree by stuffing it with meat, cheese, beans and chile peppers. The stuffed sopaipilla is perhaps the quintessential New Mexican dish and is most commonly seen in the northern half of the state (southerly restaurants are more likely to involve tortillas as the table bread, as in the cuisine of "old" Mexico).  As a dessert, sopaipillas are often topped with sugar and honey.
 * "Blue corn," which is just what it sounds like: corn in which the kernels, and resulting corn meal, have a distinctive bluish color. Tortillas made with blue corn differ from the usual tortillas not only to the eye but also to the palate, with a pleasingly gritty consistency and slightly "nutty" taste.  Enchiladas made with blue-corn-meal tortillas are characteristic of Santa Fe and environs and have become trendy on a national if not world-wide level.
 * Piñon nuts, the fruit of the scruffy little piñon pine tree that is widespread in the state. These can be eaten as snacks or as components of dishes, particularly some of the upper-end "Southwestern" cuisine.
 * Also notable is the absence of guacamole and sour cream, two elements common in Cal-Mex and Tex-Mex, respectively.

These components merge into a cuisine that ranges from utterly basic, everyday-lunch fare (served almost everywhere in the state) to incredibly elaborate "Southwestern" meals with any number of exotic variations and add-ons. Santa Fe is justly famous for its rich assortment of New Mexican and Southwestern restaurants, but don't eat New Mexican food just there; there are a number of subtle variations in New Mexican cooking in the different regions of the state (for example, topping enchiladas with a fried egg is characteristic of southern New Mexican food but rare in the north), and you'll be well advised to experiment locally.

Unfortunately, for those visitors that fall in love with the cuisine, finding it outside of New Mexico is a Herculean task, since most searches for "New Mexican restaurants" will end up resulting in recently-opened Mexican restaurants.

Drink

 * Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces are the only cities large enough to have significant night life. However, several of the American Indian pueblos operate casinos that bring in name-brand entertainment.  The casinos themselves are controversial locally because of problems with patrons with gambling addictions, but the entertainment can be reasonably good.
 * There are a surprising number of acceptable wineries in New Mexico, concentrated mainly in the north central region, but there are several others in the middle Rio Grande valley, between Albuquerque and Socorro.
 * The wine- and fruit-based beverage known as sangría, more commonly associated with Spain, is also widespread in New Mexico. Most restaurants with a liquor license that serve New Mexican cuisine will also serve sangría.
 * One warning: small-town bars here, particularly in the northern part of the state, are not always good places for the out-of-state visitor to hang out. For one thing, northern New Mexico has significant problems with drunk driving, and the concentration of intoxicated drivers is high close to small-town bars.  For another, there have been ethnic tensions intermittently in this part of the state that have led to serious bar fights, some of which have involved visitors.  Tread carefully. And, as with anywhere else in the USA, be careful driving on New Year's Eve, Day, and the day after, since those days have an unusually high amount of drunk drivers on the road.

Environmental Factors
Almost the entirety of New Mexico is at high elevation (>4000 ft above sea level), and altitude-related issues are the most common health issues travelers will face while in the state. Most of the popular tourist attractions - especially as you go north - are well over 6000 ft in elevation, including Santa Fe (6998 ft), Taos (6969 ft), and Los Alamos (7320 ft). Even the lowest-altitude major city, Las Cruces, sits at 3900 ft. Plenty of smaller towns, especially those in mountains like Angel Fire or Red River in the Sangre de Cristos, are even higher, clocking in at 8000 ft or more.

The most common afflictions from the altitude are bloody noses and shortness of breath/more frequent breathing. Both of these are minor afflictions for the healthy traveler (really more of nuisances than actual problems), but for travelers with health issues like heart problems or asthma, these can compound already iffy situations. The best solution to the altitude "problem" is acclimation, which usually takes between 1-2 weeks, but for the short-term traveler, plenty of over-the-counter medications exist that can help.

Being at high elevation, the sun can prove more dangerous than one might expect. Higher elevation means that there's less particles in the air (hence harder breathing) to break the UV rays. Make sure to wear sunblock while outside, especially in the winter as the snow reflects the UV light more than normal.

New Mexico, being mostly desert climate, is obviously quite dry. This plus the altitude can make nosebleeds quite frequent and long-lasting. It's recommended to bring/buy a humidifier and use it. Also make sure to drink a lot of water throughout the day.

Disease
Like many western states, New Mexico has had cases of hantaviral pulmonary syndrome. The state has been able to confirm 84 cases of the illness since 1993, which is a significantly higher incidence rate than any other western state. Realistically, however, hantavirus is of very little concern to the traveler; but sensible precautions should be applied. Do not venture in a wild animal's den or handle any dead animals; particularly rodents, as rodents seem to be the primary vector of the illness. There is no cure for the disease, treatment mainly consists of supportive therapies. The main defense against the virus is prevention.

For more information on prevention and transmission, visit the CDC website on hantaviruses.

New Mexico is one of the rare places where bubonic plague, or yersinia pestis, is endemic. While it is quite rare that humans get it nowadays (about 5 people in the US die from it each year on average), travelers should still be cautious around wild animals, especially prairie dogs (which are the primary carriers of the fleas that carry it in the state). The common early symptoms are identical to the common flu, but if you alert your doctor about the disease while still in the flu-like symptoms stage, it can be treated. Travelers with pets should take extra caution to ensure that they don't hunt and kill prairie dogs, as the disease can jump from them to you.

Crime

 * Albuquerque has a crime rate that is higher than average for an American city, but most of it is property crime that affects residents more than visitors. The "South Valley" and the region between the University of New Mexico and Kirtland Air Force Base (as well as the infamous "War Zone" near the state fairgrounds, the site of some nasty drug-related crime) are best avoided by solitary travelers after dark.  Otherwise there are no specific violent-crime issues that unduly threaten the visitor.
 * Illegal immigrants are common in the southern region of the state, although less so than in neighboring Arizona. There are checkpoints along major highways leading north, at which the Border Patrol checks vehicles for illegal passengers. Refer to this section for more information, and behave sensibly with them and you won't have any problems.
 * There are some social problems associated with the drug trade that may create unpleasant situations for the unwary visitor in some areas. The world-wide cautions regarding packages from strangers apply here too, and, in addition, some caution is indicated in rural areas of the north central and northwestern regions.  The former is a notorious "pipeline" for narcotics entering the country from Mexico, and you really don't want to blunder into a drug deal being transacted in the hinterlands.  The main drug-related hazard in the rugged northwest is that it is a "drop zone" for contraband delivered by light plane.  If you see a small plane drop below the local horizon when you know there is no airport around, don't investigate; chances are good that a shipment of something illegal has just been delivered to waiting, unfriendly people on the ground.  This is less of a problem today than 20 years ago, but can still lead to decidedly hairy situations.
 * Drunk driving is a notorious social problem in New Mexico, particularly in the northern half of the state. There is no hour of the day, and no road, immune to DUI. Drive defensively. Also watch out for drunk pedestrians, as public intoxication is not a crime in New Mexico.

Environment

 * Disease: New Mexico made unpleasant headlines a few years ago owing to an outbreak of the "Sin Nombre" hantaviral lung disease that claimed some lives and depressed the tourist industry. Realistically, however, hantavirus is of very little concern to the traveler, as is the better-known bubonic plague that is endemic in the state's rodent population.  Sensible precautions apply here as anywhere else (don't handle dead animals, don't poke around in animal dens, etc.), but these just aren't major concerns.  Much more prevalent, if less threatening, is the Giardia parasite that causes gastro-intestinal disturbances; to avoid it, purify water if backpacking or camping.  Tap water state-wide is generally safe.
 * Most of the state is high desert. When out and about, use sun screen, and if hiking, carry more water than you think you'll need.  It's wise to wear long pants when hiking (particularly off-trail) in the desert, even if they're uncomfortably warm; most of the desert flora and fauna are thorny, spiny or venomous, and long pants will help keep you from being stuck or bitten.  (Don't worry unduly about rattlesnakes, though; many long-time residents of the state have never seen one, and bites are rare.)  If bicycling, beware the dreaded "goat head," an invasive weed whose seeds, distributed in the fall, seem tailor-made for puncturing bike tires -- they look like a miniature version of the caltrops used in ancient days to hinder passage of foot soldiers.  Carry a patch kit and a spare tube, particularly in the fall. Or find a bike shop (of which there are dozens in Albuquerque) and ask to have your tires "slimed". The "slime" is a thick, glue-like fluid inserted into the inner tube that will seal most punctures from the inside. You can also find pre-slimed inner tubes at Wal-Mart and Target. It is highly advisable to slime your bike tires in New Mexico. Otherwise, you are almost guaranteed to get a flat tire or two.
 * The mountains of the north (and some near Alamogordo in the south) are high enough to create hazards from altitude sickness and some other environmental threats. The high peaks create thunderstorms in the summer, so that the wise hiker is off the summits by 1PM or so to avoid lightning strikes.  Avalanches are fairly common in the Sangre de Cristos during the winter, and can occur in some of the other ranges.

Respect
New Mexicans share the same cultural norms as the rest of the United States, although there are some state-specific things to look out for.

 * New Mexicans take pride in their state and their unique culture, and may not always like being compared to neighboring states like Colorado, Arizona, or Texas, or to the country of Mexico. Even during Spanish rule, New Mexico existed as a separate province from Mexico itself (and was even called "New" Mexico during Spanish and Mexican rule).
 * Many Native Americans in the state have mixed relations with non-Native Americans and the US Government, owing to both historical relations between the groups and the current socioeconomic status of many tribes. The reservations are some of the poorest areas in the country (owing to decades if not centuries of disenfranchisement by the government), and alcoholism and gambling addictions are serious social issues in many of the reservations. The Catch-22 here is that the primary income source for most reservations are casinos. However, Native Americans are also fiercely proud of their heritages and cultures, and there are numerous opportunities to learn more about each of them while visiting reservations or Indian Centers in Santa Fe or Albuquerque.
 * The Zia Sun, the state symbol of New Mexico, is legally protected as an important cultural symbol of the Zia people, and they are to be contacted for any permission to use it for commercial use. While you are free to use it for civil purposes, please do so respectfully, knowing that it is a sacred symbol.
 * While visiting reservations, respect the land and the people that live on it. If certain areas are off-limits to non-members of a tribe, don't try to go to them. Likewise, some reservations may close rather unexpectedly to the outside public when major community events (like deaths or religious ceremonies) happen.
 * New Mexico has a rich history shaped by Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo influences. Be respectful of all cultures and traditions. This includes respecting the sovereignty of the Pueblo people and understanding that some places, like kivas and graveyards, are sacred and off-limits to visitors. It boasts a unique blend of cultures, with a strong Native American presence. If you visit a Pueblo, tread with reverence. These communities have inhabited the land for centuries, and their traditions and ceremonies hold deep significance. Follow their specific etiquette, which may involve dressing modestly or refraining from photography in certain areas. It's always best to ask permission before taking photos of people or religious ceremonies. Be respectful of all cultural sites, and treat any artifacts you encounter, no matter how small, with care.
 * While English is widely spoken, understanding a few basic Spanish phrases will go a long way, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. A simple "gracias" (thank you) or "buenos días" (good morning) demonstrates respect for the local language and culture.  Learning a few phrases can also enhance your interactions with locals and enrich your overall experience.
 * New Mexico's arid climate makes it susceptible to wildfires. Always check fire restrictions before venturing out, and  be mindful of your activities that could spark a blaze.  Water is a precious resource in the state, so use it  conservatively.  By following these simple practices, you'll contribute to the well-being of New Mexico's delicate ecosystems.
 * Many communities in New Mexico have a strong sense of community engagement. People may participate in local events, festivals, and traditions, providing opportunities for social interactions.
 * Friendliness can vary between rural and urban areas. In smaller towns, residents may be more likely to know their neighbors and engage in community activities. In larger cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, you may encounter a mix of urban and community-oriented attitudes.

Go next
If you're planning on crossing into Mexico, the crossings at Juarez (reached via El Paso or Santa Teresa) are far busier than the one near Columbus, with all that entails -- longer lines on the US side, but more to do once you're over the border. The mercado is busy, schlocky, and colorful. One warning: drinking age in Juarez is 18, and on weekends, many younger students at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, and at colleges in El Paso, make the pilgrimage to indulge. Traffic back into Las Cruces can be frightening at such times. Be cautious. Due to the drug war in Mexico, the security situation in Juarez may be bad. For more on that topic see the article on Juarez.

Some destinations in other states that are close to their borders with New Mexico and hence reachable as day excursions are (clockwise from the southwest corner):

 * Arizona – The Grand Canyon state borders New Mexico to the west, making Chiricahua National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument and the Navajo Nation good day-trip options.
 * Utah – Located to the northwest, this state contains some of the most impressive landscapes on earth. Hovenweep National Monument, which extends into Colorado, is a daytrip possibility.
 * Colorado – The Rocky Mountain state borders New Mexico to the north, offering opportunities to visit Mesa Verde National Park, the scenic railroad in Durango, enjoy Alpine skiing (areas closest to the state line are Durango Mountain and Purgatory near Durango and Wolf Creek near Pagosa Springs), explore the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, known in Colorado as the Sangre de Cristo Range, which contain several "Fourteeners" (mountains with summits over 14,000'), or visit Great Sand Dunes National Park.
 * Oklahoma – Sharing a tiny border in the northeast, Black Mesa, the highest point in the state and a pleasant hike, is literally a stone's throw from the state line near the tiny town of Kenton (OK).
 * Texas – The largest of the lower-48 states, Texas is located to New Mexico's east. The towns of Amarillo, Lubbock and El Paso are all easy daytrips, as is Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

title: New Mexico


text:
New Mexico Pueblos

One of the primary attractions of New Mexico is its large and diverse collection of American Indian (or, Native American—both terms are used in the state) pueblos, reservations, artwork, and of course, people. The 19 pueblos are spread across north central, central, and northwest New Mexico. Each pueblo is unique, with their own distinct artistic styles, attractions, and customs.

Understand
"Pueblo" - the Spanish word for "town" or "village" - is used in New Mexico to refer to the series of small Native American communities in the state, most of which were established along the Rio Grande. This usage of the word dates back to the first Spanish explorers who passed through the area, who used the term to refer to what were then (and in some cases still are) Native communities housed in apartment-like structures built of adobe and stone, usually arranged around a plaza or perched atop a mesa for defense reasons.

Though often referred to in the collective, each pueblo is unique, with its own set of artistic, cultural and linguistic sensibilities, though they have often had to unite in response to outside forces. The pueblos' historical relationship with the Spanish settlers has varied considerably, from a violent revolt in 1680 in response to the extremely harsh measures the first conquistadors took in converting the Natives to Catholicism (to this day, the Pueblo Indians have tried to reconcile their Native beliefs with Catholic traditions) to more friendly terms in later years when the Pueblos would unite with their Spanish neighbors to fight other Native tribes in the area, like the Navajo, Apache and Comanche.

The absorption of New Mexico into the United States in the 1840s brought new difficulties, with many young Natives taken from their communities and placed in boarding schools in the decades that followed. Today, many Pueblo Indians live outside their historic settlements in modern-day housing. But in spite of all this, the Pueblo tribes proudly continue on, practicing the traditions their ancestors did. Some pueblos have taken measures to isolate themselves as a way of protecting their old traditions from an encroaching outside world, while others eagerly welcome visitors so long as they respect the locals' privacy and way of life.

Respect
Many, but by no means all, of the pueblo communities welcome visitors, usually with some restrictions. Following are some tips if you're planning to see the sights of these communities:

 * Please respect local regulations regarding photography and sketching! Most north-central and central pueblos require would-be photographers and artists to pay for permits issued by the pueblo administration, and some don't allow photography or sketching at all. Do not photograph tribal members without first asking permission. Those who break the rules risk having their cameras and film confiscated. You will also want to refrain from bringing a cell phone onto a pueblo, as tribal officials could confiscate cell phones if they feel they might be used for photography. If the restrictions seem draconian, remember that these are not museum exhibits or theme parks: they are towns and settlements where people live their daily lives.
 * Like any other village, these pueblos are a home to someone, so respect their property and their privacy. Do not litter. Do not enter homes unless invited to do so. Stay far away from kivas, ceremonial rooms, and cemeteries.

 * Most of the pueblos and reservations hold ceremonial dances, feasts and songs that welcome visitors, as well as some others of a more private, religious nature at which visitors are unwelcome if not forbidden. Bear in mind that the pueblo people are very protective of their religious beliefs, so do not press questions about pueblo religion. You are also required to be silent during dances and ceremonies, which means no applauding and no talking to the participants. If this seems odd, think of the dances not as a performance, but as a religious ceremony: the equivalent of a church mass.
 * Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on pueblo land.
 * For many residents of some pueblos and reservations, not only is English not the primary daily language, it may not be spoken fluently or at all. Most residents in the "service" sector (i.e., those you will interact with first) are as fluent in English as their Anglophone colleagues in neighboring communities, and there is no reason to speak to them in a patronizing or condescending manner. However, if you venture far from the main tourist centers, you may run into language issues, although you are still odds-on to deal with English speakers. Patience and gestures will overcome many obstacles, but be aware that in certain areas it is considered rude to point with extended fingers. A nod or tip of the head for indicating direction is considered more polite (true among fluent English speakers as well).

Get in

There are a variety of ways to get in to New Mexico - see the Get in section on the New Mexico article for further details - but once you get in, you'll need a car to travel to and between the pueblos. Specific directions are given for each pueblo below. Roads are generally in good condition, but some are narrow and you may wind up on a couple of gravel roads for the more remote pueblos. Pueblos along a main road (such as those along I-25 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe) will usually have a gas station along said main road, but those pueblos off the beaten path will often have virtually nothing in terms of gas stations —head to the nearest town or large road to find one.

See

There are also several museums across the state that, while not operated by the pueblos, offer a lot of great pueblo-related artworks and information. Here are some of the best ones:

Eight Northern Pueblos
Spread across North Central New Mexico, from north to south:

Central New Mexico Pueblos
Roughly from north to south:

Northwest New Mexico Pueblos
From east to west:

Feast Days and Dances
All of the pueblos (excluding Zuni) hold feast days, an annual celebration in which the pueblo's patron saint is honored. Many pueblos have succeeded in reconciling their historic religious practices with the dominant Christian (particularly Catholic) practice, and celebrations are open to the general public, with many festivities and food. Dates for feast days are covered above under the individual pueblos.

There are also numerous dances at each of the pueblos throughout the year. Most pueblos will have dances for January 6 (All King's Day), Easter Sunday, and Christmas (some on Christmas Eve, others on Christmas Day). For a complete list of dances, see here.

In addition to pueblo dances, New Mexico also plays host to the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow, held every April in Albuquerque, and the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, held every August in Gallup. Both these events draw Native American dancers and artists from across the country, but you're sure to see people from the pueblos as well.

Casinos
The draw of legalized gambling brings people (along with their money), so many of the pueblos have built casinos of their own, ranging from regular establishments with slot machines, gaming tables, and an on-site restaurant, to lavish resorts with golf courses and hotels.

In Northern New Mexico there are five casinos. Taos Pueblo operates the Taos Mountain Casino just outside the pueblo entrance. Just north of Española is the Ohkay Casino near the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo while Santa Clara Pueblo operates the Santa Claran Casino right in the middle of Española. Between Española and Santa Fe is the Cities of Gold Casino operated by Pojoaque Pueblo. Just down the road, closer to Santa Fe, is Tesuque Pueblo's Camel Rock Casino .

In the Albuquerque area are several casinos to take advantage of the large population of the region. Between Santa Fe and Albuquerque is Casino Hollywood, operated by San Felipe Pueblo. The Santa Ana Pueblo runs the Santa Ana Star Casino just outside of Bernalillo. On the northern outskirts of Albuquerque is the Sandia Casino, while the Isleta Casino draws people to Isleta Pueblo to the south of Albuquerque. East of Albuquerque along I-40 is Laguna Pueblo's Route 66 Casino and Dancing Eagle Casino and Acoma Pueblo's Sky City Casino.

Buy
Just about anywhere where there's plenty of tourists in New Mexico, there will be plenty of Native American art for sale. The Old Town area in Albuquerque and the Plaza areas in Santa Fe and Taos are packed with art galleries, many of them offering authentic Native American art, most of it extremely high-quality. You will also find plenty of touristy places which often sell the occasional piece of real Indian art alongside the postcards, t-shirts, mugs, and other kitsch.

In Santa Fe, Indian artists gather on the Portal (porch) at the Palace of the Governors museum on the Plaza, selling tourist trinkets like jewlery and small pottery. If it's on the Portal, it's guaranteed to be authentic Native American art, but sidewalk vendors elsewhere in town could be passing off non-Indian junk as authentic, so be careful.

If you want to be certain that what you're buying is authentic Native American art, sometimes the best thing to do is just go straight to the pueblos themselves. Virtually every pueblo contains at least several shops, located either along the main road near the entrance to the pueblo, or within the pueblo villages themselves in homes-turned-shops (be extra careful to make sure you're entering a shop and not someone's private residence, and don't venture into rooms behind the shop if it looks private as it probably is).

You can also attend annual festival markets. The Santa Fe Indian Market, held annually every August on the Santa Fe Plaza, is the largest such event, with hundreds of vendors selling an extremely wide range of Native American art. Events like the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow mentioned above are also great chances to browse for art.

Eat
"New Mexican" cuisine (see the Eat section of the New Mexico page) is popular among pueblo peoples; after all, it is influenced by both the native and Hispanic cultures who have lived in the area for centuries. Many of the elements of "New Mexican" apply to Puebloan cuisine as well, but there are a few dishes which are distinctly Indian:

 * Oven bread is very popular among the pueblos. It is baked in a horno, an outdoor beehive-shaped oven built out of adobe that uses a wood fire as its only heat source. Hornos are common in northern New Mexico and the bread baked in them is light and fluffy.
 * Frybread is another common dish, made by frying or deep-frying a flat dough in oil or lard. It is similar to a sopaipilla (a common New Mexican dish) but different in that sopaipillas are pillowy and filled with air (and thus often stuffed with other ingredients) while frybread is thick and flatter. It can be served as a sweet dish with honey or powdered sugar added on top, or as an Indian taco with beans, ground beef, shredded cheese, and vegetables added on top.
 * Cornbread is a traditional staple among the Pueblo people, and cornmeal has always played a significant role in Pueblo life.
 * Posole is another staple of Pueblo cuisine. It is soup or stew made from hominy, often with pork, chili, corn, beans, and squash added.

Drink
Given how remote many of the pueblos are, you won't be able to find a significant amount of nightlife without traveling to Albuquerque or Santa Fe. However, nearly all of the casinos listed above serve drinks, and several of them bring in name-brand entertainment (primarily the large ones immediately surrounding Albuquerque and Santa Fe).

Beware: small-town bars here are not always good places for the out-of-state visitor to hang out. For one thing, northern New Mexico has significant problems with drunk driving, and the concentration of intoxicated drivers is high close to small-town bars. For another, there have been ethnic tensions intermittently in this part of the state that have led to serious bar fights, some of which have involved visitors. Tread carefully.

Sleep
Ohkay Owingeh, Pojoaque, Santa Ana, Sandia, Isleta, Laguna, and Acoma Pueblos have hotels on-site, and nearly all of them are attached to their large casinos. However, accommodations at these hotels, which are usually full-on resorts with golf courses and such, are usually not cheap. A larger selection of accommodations can be found in Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Gallup.

Connect
Some of these pueblos are quite remote. While you should do okay maintaining a cell phone signal in these parts, don't be surprised if you do lose it. Wi-fi is almost non-existent in the pueblos (except perhaps at some hotels), so it's not even worth the trouble to try.

Go next
The pueblos are just one of the many things to experience in New Mexico. However, if you're hankering for more Indian culture, head out to the Navajo or Apache reservations in the state. The Navajo Nation in northwest New Mexico is vast and has a lot to offer, as do the Jicarilla Apache Nation between Chama and Farmington in northwest New Mexico and the Mescalero Apache Reservation near Ruidoso in southeast New Mexico.

Another good activity for those interested in Pueblo culture is to visit the sites where the ancestors of today's pueblo people lived. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument north of Farmington, Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque, and Bandelier National Monument are all fantastic places to see the remnants of the Ancient Pueblo peoples. For slightly more recent ruins, Coronado State Monument in Bernalillo, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in Mountainair, and Pecos National Historical Park on I-25 west of Santa Fe in the town of Pecos, offer a glimpse at pueblo life just after the Spanish arrived in New Mexico.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: New Mexico Pueblos


text:
New Milford

New Milford is a historic New England town on the western side of Connecticut. It is the largest town in the state (62 square miles) and is just under 2 hours away from New York City.

Understand
New Milford is a welcoming town of around 28,000 people and the locals like to meet people from out of town. Much of the downtown area still has authentic looking building fronts from the early 1900s & mid to late 1800s which adds a nice touch of history in your experiences you have during your visit.

The town center consists of small shops and boutiques that are all very affordable. There are also a large variety of restaurants including Mexican, American, and Italian. The town green is a nice place to walk around and enjoy the outdoors especially in the summertime. If you are visiting during the summer, make sure to check the green to see if the village fair is being held.

The town is very safe area and there is generally a good amount of locals enjoying the nightlife. Bars in this area have a relaxed feel to them and are very affordable as well. Being in the center of Candlewood Valley, the rolling hills that surround the town are very pleasant to look at during any season of the year. Several parks in the area provide a place where you can enjoy views of the area as well as places to hike or have a picnic.

The prosperity of this town relies a lot upon its locally owned businesses and restaurants so it is a nice place to get away from chain businesses. This also means that each place that you decide to visit, you will be having a unique experience that will leave you satisfied.

By Car
The recommended way to get into New Milford. Coming from the east, I-84 to route 7 will lead you straight to the center of town. Also an alternate route through Southbury on route 67 is a faster choice especially during rush hour. This route will take you through the back roads of surrounding towns and gives a nice view of the hills that surround New Milford. Coming from the north, route 7 or 202 will lead you directly to the town center as well

By Plane

 * Westchester County Airport is a medium-sized airport in Westchester County, with flights coming and going nationwide. It is about 60 minutes away.
 * Stewart International Airport is a small airport in Newburgh (New York)Newburgh, NY, with flights going to Philadelphia, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, and Detroit. It is about 80 minutes away
 * Tweed New Haven Regional Airport is a small airport in New Haven, with a flight going to Philadelphia. It is about 80 minutes away
 * Bradley International Airport is located outside Hartford and is just over an hour drive from the center of New Milford. Flights arrive from places all over the world so you shouldn't have a hard time finding the right flight for you.  The airport has a wide range of car rental services as well as shuttles that take you to their locations.  Among these services are Enterprise, Hertz, and Thrifty.  To reserve a car in advance, you can either call their 800 number that is provided on Bradley airport's website (www.bradlyairport.com/Transport/rental.aspx) or on the website of the rental service that you choose.
 * LaGuardia Airport is a major airport in Queens, NYC, with dozens of flights going worldwide. It is about 90 minutes away
 * JFK Airport is a major airport in Queens, NYC, with dozens of flights going worldwide. It is about 100 minutes away
 * Newark International Airport is a major airport in Newark, NJ, with dozens of flights going worldwide. It is about 2 hours away

By car
The main way to get around is by car. Most businesses are on Route 7/Danbury Rd, or in the town center. Car rental places include:
 * Enterprise -40 Danbury Rd, (860) 350-3855
 * Top Hat Auto Rental -372 Danbury Rd, (860)-350-3705
 * Ugly Duckling Rent A Car -91 Park Lane Rd, (860)-354-9351

By bus

 * HARTransit provides bus service throughout the Southwestern Connecticut area. The HART 7 Route and the Loop New Milford route provide transportation to Walmart, New Milford Hospital, New Milford High School, and Route 7.

By foot
The center of New Milford is a very walkable place. However, it is harder to walk anywhere else in New Milford, due to the vast size of the town, and lack of sidewalks.

See

 * The Village Green is the center of town and is the location of various events that go on throughout the year. During the summer, the Village Fair Days is held for 3 days and vendors and businesses from New Milford and surrounding areas set up tents and display their products.  This is a very kid friendly atmosphere because there are activities set up throughout the day ranging from bingo to live music.  Also a great time to try out some local food from the fire departments and local restaurants.  The fair generally runs from 9AM-9PM.  Along with the fair, the New Milford Farmers Market goes on throughout the year every Saturday. During the winter, the Christmas trees that stretch down the entire middle of the green have a lighting ceremony and caroling is held in the iconic gazebo which is on New Milford's flag.
 * Bank Street is off of the Village Green and contains various shops and restaurants. Film location for the movie Mr. Deeds starring Adam Sandler.
 * Lovers Leap State Park is located off of Grove St. and is a great place to hike. Contains ruins from an old factory and a burnt down castle as well as a historic Memorial Bridge.  Hike the trails and get a view of neighboring town Bridgewater, you can see for miles.
 * TheatreWorks is the local stage, with good prices and great acting.

Do

 * The main thing to do in New Milford is to browse stores. New Milford has hundreds and hundreds of stores to look through.
 * Visit the Bank Street Theater and catch a movie. It has four theaters inside and plays a variety of new releases.
 * The Elephants Trunk Flea Market is an outdoor flea market that is held every Sunday. Hundreds of vendors from the area and surrounding towns come and set up a tent to sell their items.  It is on the corner of Candlewood Lake Road S and Danbury Rd. (Route 7) just past the high school.
 * Swim in Candlewood Lake at Lynn Deming Park or lounge in the soft sand and catch a tan.
 * Visit Youngs Field on Youngfield Rd, which includes a tennis court, a softball field, skate park, and a playground overlooking the Housatonic River
 * Hike at Clatter Valley, a park with a large field and forest area great for hiking. This is a good place for gatherings.
 * Play golf at the Candlewood Valley Country Club. For Tee times, call +1 860 354-9359 ext. 12.
 * The Bridgewater Fair is held at the end of every summer. Just a short drive from the center of town, it is held behind the fire station in Bridgewater.  Here vendors set up and sell everything ranging from beef jerky to custom handbags.  Also, the food is great here especially if you are a fan of roast beef, BBQ, or just a classic hot dog and fries.  There is different live entertainment every day that the fair is held.  Pig races, tractor pulls, dirt bike jumping, and of course live music are among some of the live events.  If you are visiting in August, look out for the Bridgewater fair bumper stickers to see if you are there on the right weekend.
 * Bowl at Lore's Lanes. Great activity to do with kids during the day.  Friday and Saturday appeals to an older crowd because it is “glow bowl” night.  At 9pm the lights go down in the alley and black lights and disco balls are turned on along with the popular music of today.  $17 a person plus shoe rental.  Open until 1AM.  (860) 350-2695
 * Skin Deep Ink Tattoo is one of the best tattoo shop in New Milford. Owner Mark Duhan and tattoo artist John Kang provide a friendly environment and top quality work.  Specializing in new school and realism, the creativity and talent of both artists will leave you more than satisfied with their work. 60 Park Lane Road (Route 202 near Park Lane East)  (860)-350-8282.

Book stores

 * The Bent Page -a rare and used book store.

Music stores

 * New Milford Music Store -An instrument rental and sales store, 60 Bank St, +1 860 354-6481

Toys

 * Nordica -A small toy store that has started renovations after the switch of owners in 2023. Main St, +1 860 355-2034
 * Hobbytown USA -A great place for hobbyists and card collectors. 168 Danbury Rd, +1 860 355-3000
 * Play Toys and Gifts -a neat store on Bank St. 49 Bank St, +1 860 355-2134

Eat
New Milford has hundreds of local eateries, including BBQ, Family, Italian, Mexican, Seafood, and more. Most restaurants are located on Danbury Rd.

Barbecue

 * Gary's Rib House has your basic spread of barbecue cuisine. 475 Danbury Rd, +1 860 354-1234

Chinese

 * Oriental House has amazing Chinese food near the town center. 44 East St, +1 860 355-5882
 * Panda Empire is a large restaurant with good selection. 254 Danbury Rd, +1 860 350-8888
 * Royal Buffet has a buffet selection of Chinese and American food. 132 Danbury Rd, +1 860 350-6888
 * Main Moon Has good cheap Chinese food. 48 Kent Rd #2, +1 860 355-9629
 * New Main Moon is a small restaurant on the Green. 27 Main St #3, +1 860 355-2518
 * Great Wall has good Chinese food. 40 Danbury Rd #C, +1 860 354-8855

Diner and sandwich

 * The Windmill Diner is a friendly, Greek-owned diner with good, cheap food. 245 Danbury Rd +1 860 354-1218
 * Ortegas is a locally owned deli in the center of town. 38 Bridge St, +1 860 355-2257
 * Three Brothers Restaurant is a diner with good selection. 79 Danbury Rd, +1 860 355-9269

Italian and pizza

 * Marathons is a good pizza place. 475 Danbury Rd, +1 860 354-1234
 * Carmela's is an Italian restaurant in the north part of town. 354 Litchfield Rd, +1 860 355-2771
 * John's Best is a good pizza restaurant highly recommended. 129 Danbury Rd, +1 860 354-2220
 * Italia Mia is the local Italian food hotspot. Being a freestanding building off of Route 7, this restaurant tends to attract more visitors than other Italian restaurants in town.  It is a little more pricy depending on what you decide to get but it is worth the money because the food here is amazing.  223 Danbury Rd, +1 860 355-9221
 * Ristorante Lucia is conveniently located in the town center. 51 Bank St, +1 860 355-510
 * The Upper Crust is located in Northville which is about a five minute drive from the center of town. This restaurant provides an elegant atmosphere and the widest variety of gourmet pizzas.  The pizza is awesome here and the Italian dishes that are served here are also very tasty as well.  373 Litchfield Rd, +1 860 350-0006
 * All Aboard Pizza is known in New Milford for its wide range of gourmet pizzas and calzones. This business is relatively new and is right on Railroad St.  The inside is clean and has a flat screen tv that usually has a sports game on or highlights from past games on.  Great place for a large gathering or a party, also a kid friendly environment because they provide crayons and paper for them.  14 Railroad St, +1 860 354-9552
 * Ristorante Lucia is conveniently located in the town center. 51 Bank St, +1 860 355-510
 * The Upper Crust is located in Northville which is about a five minute drive from the center of town. This restaurant provides an elegant atmosphere and the widest variety of gourmet pizzas.  The pizza is awesome here and the Italian dishes that are served here are also very tasty as well.  373 Litchfield Rd, +1 860 350-0006
 * All Aboard Pizza is known in New Milford for its wide range of gourmet pizzas and calzones. This business is relatively new and is right on Railroad St.  The inside is clean and has a flat screen tv that usually has a sports game on or highlights from past games on.  Great place for a large gathering or a party, also a kid friendly environment because they provide crayons and paper for them.  14 Railroad St, +1 860 354-9552

Japanese

 * Yokohama is the only Japanese restaurant in the town, and far and away the best in the area. Good food, and a relaxed atmosphere. 131 Danbury Rd, +1 860 355-0556

Miscellaneous

 * Burgeritoville is a restaurant serving the locally created "Burgeritto. Located on the northern edge of town, in Gaylordville. 	1 South Kent Road, +1 860 799-7739
 * Adrienne's is a comfortable restaurant with a good selection of food. 218 Kent Rd, +1 860 354-6001
 * Rudy's Restaurant is a good restaurant with many suggestions. 122 Litchfield Rd, +1 860 354-7727

Mexican

 * Fajitas and Margaritas is a small, high rated Mexican restaurant in the south of town.
 * Salsa is a southwest/mexican restaurant right off of Railroad St. in the center of town. All ingredients are local and bought on the same day it is cooked so every meal is as fresh as you can get.  One feature that this restaurant has is the variety of homemade salsas including chipotle, habanero, and green chilli salsas.  It is a small little restaurant but if you are going during the week you shouldn't have a problem finding a table.  If you want to be really safe, call in advance to reserve a table.  54 Railroad St, +1 860 350-0701

Seafood

 * Joe's Seafood Restaurant is a small, cozy seafood restaurant. 188 Danbury Rd, +1 860 355-2255

Drink

 * 1st and 10 Bar and Grill is one of the newer bars in New Milford located south of town off of Route 7. High definition TVs line the back of the bar along with two huge projectors that show any game that is on.  Service here is so-so and sometimes you have to wait a bit to get your drinks.  This restaurant has the longest bar in New Milford and has a wide selection of beers and liquor.  It is about a 10-15 minute drive from the center of town.  If you are willing to get out of downtown New Milford, it is worth the drive especially to watch a game.  507 Danbury Road +1 860 354-1800
 * Sole is a new southwest style restaurant and bar right off of Railroad St. in the center of town. In the same location of the old restaurant Milanos, the owners of Sole have added some flair to downtown New Milford.  Bright rope lighting lines the awning changing colors every few seconds.  On the inside is a bar and sitting area that has the same bring color changing lights underneath and behind the bar.  They usually have live entertainment every night, so this is definitely not a spot to go if you want a quiet environment.  Entertainment is either a DJ or band. 10 Railroad St   +1 203 366-3330.
 * 59 Bank is a local hotspot with its warm low lit atmosphere and comfortable leather seated lounge area. The service here is good and you generally don't have to wait long to get a drink.  Karaoke night is every Thursday, live music varies from night to night.  This bar has a very relaxing environment and is nice to sit down and have a drink with friends without having to yell to each other to talk.  59 Bank St, +1 860 350-5995
 * The Sports Page is a small sports bar tucked away along the back roads of New Milford. Off of Elm St. this bar has many high definition TVs that are set up behind the bar so you won't miss any of the games that you want to watch.  There are two bar areas, one is a bit smaller and has less TVs, the other is larger and has a lot more TVs.  There's a pool table and some arcade games if you are trying to compete with your friends in the larger bar area.  Wednesday nights are wing nights which means 25 cent wings. Try their hot barbecue wings, which are a combination of their hot sauce and barbecue.  35 Lanesville Rd,  +1 860 350-0550.

Town Center
Hotels in the bustling, walkable town center:

 * The Heritage inn off of Bridge St. Built in 1870, the Heritage inn provides spacious rooms and a quiet atmosphere.  Since it is right off of Bridge street, you are in close walking distance to the shops and restaurants of downtown New Milford.  Every morning is a continental breakfast provided for all of the guests.  1-(860) 350-3097

Northern New Milford
A list of hotels and cottages in the quieter part of New Milford

 * Cottages on Kent Road is a series of cottages which include a bedroom with queen size bed,, a sleeper and sofa, 27 inch television with cable, full kitchen with appliances, WIFI included, second person free, third for increased rate, no pets, no smoking inside. November 1 to March 31 $1,344 for 4 weeks or more.  April 1 to October 31 $1595 for 4 weeks or more.  $400 security deposit required is required.  +1-800-THE-PLAN, ext 255
 * Rocky River Inn Newly Renovated, and pet friendly. 236 Kent Rd, +1 860 355-3208

Contacts

 * The area code is (860) throughout the town, and the zip code is 06776 for most of the town, 06755 for Gaylordsville.
 * The New Milford Public Library is the main source for free internet access

Stay safe

 * New Milford has a very low crime rate, dropping significantly in crime every year, so there is little to worry about. Just make sure to follow common sense rules, and you will be safe.
 * It is best not to eat any fish out of the Housatonic River, due to the excess amounts of mercury.

Go next

 * Danbury is about 30 minutes away, with the largest shopping mall in the state
 * New Haven is about 70 minutes away, with Yale University and the New Haven Harbor
 * Hartford is about 80 minutes away, with the State Capitol and a variety of theaters
 * New York City is about 130 minutes away with thousands of attractions

title: New Milford


text:
New Norfolk

New Norfolk is on the eastern edge of the Derwent Valley in Southern Tasmania.

Get in
New Norfolk is just a half an hour drive from Hobart CBD via A10 or B10, you can choose your route depending on which side of the river you want to go through. There is also trains to Derwent Valley Railway New Norfolk Station, but the ride may not be as enjoyable as going in your own car.

title: New Norfolk