The Atlas Obscura Guide To New Mexico
184 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New Mexico
Updated May 29, 2025
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10 Out-of-This-World Places You Can Reach in Your Car
The best road trips are those that seem to take you to new worlds: surreal-looking beaches, wondrous parks, and roadside oddities that make you do a double take. For instance, in Wisconsin, a local plumber has rigged a natural aquifer into a series of ice sculptures; in Utah, erosion has created a series of rock formations that look like something between an army of goblins and a series of abstract landscapes; and in New Mexico, rippling white sands stretch out to the horizon as far as the eye can see. The best part? You can reach these—and eight more—places by car (with the occasional walk from the parking lot). So pack some snacks, pull up this itinerary, and hit the road.

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wants to go to Chiricahua Desert Museum
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wants to go to Carlsbad Caverns
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has been to Chaco Culture National Historical Park
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has been to Aztec Ruins National Monument
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has been to 109 East Palace