New Mexico Land For Sale

Winemakers take medals at state fair

New Mexico State Fair showcases best work of state’s winemakers winners were best of show awards for commercial wineries went to Tim and Tom McGinn of Arena Blanca Winery in Alamogordo and Paolo D’Andrea of Luna Rossa Winery in Deming.

In addition to best of show, wines are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals. Leading medal winner in the commercial competition was Luna Rossa Winery with four golds, seven silvers and four bronzes.

The next Southwest Regional Vine and Wine Educational Conference will be held Feb. 29-March 1 in Albuquerque.

For complete State Fair winemaking competition results, visit the New Mexico Vine & Wine Society’s Web site at www.vineandwine.org/2007Results.htm.

Spending a day in the quiet expanse of the Valles Caldera National Preserve is worth the effort of booking reservations and getting to this remote location. Hidden beyond Los Alamos in the New Mexico Jemez Mountain Range, the 360-square-kilometer (89,000-acre) preserve is a secret garden enclosed by a geologic wonder, just two and a half hours from the Albuquerque airport. From Albuquerque, the highway winds through pueblos and red rock canyons before it reaches Jemez Springs and the preserve.

Those who wish to see the interior of the Valles Caldera preserve, or to see any of the smaller valles, might want to book a spot on one of the guided excursions, which range from group hikes to geology or archaeology tours to elk hunts or fishing clinics. If you do have the time, the geology tours are frequent and inexpensive, and worth it. The preserve geologist leads walking tours through the caldera at 10 a.m. and noon every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In an effort to make the caldera more accessible, the preserve does not require reservations for the geology tours — you just show up ahead of time and pay a modest $5 fee.

If you want to get deeper into the preserve, a hiking tour is your best bet. Most of the hiking trails are about 11 kilometers long, pass over the forested resurgent domes and offer spectacular views of the grassy meadows below. You can only hike from June through September, and hikers are advised to bring extra clothing for the elevation change. The hikes take 4 to 5 hours to complete, plus 30- to 60-minute van rides to and from the trailheads. There are guided and unguided tours, both of which require reservations and a $10 to $15 fee.

For those who prefer to sleep in beds, the town of Jemez Springs several quaint hotels and is a delightful place to spend an evening. Jemez Springs is on Highway 4, about half an hour west of the main gate of the Valles Caldera. The town rests at the feet of red rock mesas, the eroded remnants of lava flows from the caldera’s volcanic field. It is also the best place to enjoy the most inviting features of the volcanic landscape — the hot springs. The Jemez Springs Bath House in the middle of town offers indoor tubs and spa-like amenities such as massages and body wraps. Giggling Springs is a privately owned outdoor pool, and the local Zen center allows anyone to use its springs when workshops are not in session. All three are walking distance from the local hotels, and are a good choice for bathers who would rather not hike or drive after a full day in the caldera. For those who like to work for their bath, there are several hot springs on U.S. Forest Service land within driving distance of Jemez Springs. Directions and GPS coordinates are available on the Jemez Springs Web site.

After your foray into the wilds of the caldera and hot springs, head into Los Alamos which is about half an hour east of the caldera’s main gate and offers some great golf, as well as local art and cuisine. As Los Alamos was the birthplace of the first atomic weapon and is now home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory research community, nuclear history buffs may want to check out the Bradbury Science Museum, which is a good place to learn about the Manhattan Project and the current research pursuits at Los Alamos (they are many and varied).

If you’re traveling through the Desert Southwest, it’s worth a quick jaunt off the main highway into the Valles Caldera, even if only to see it from the road.

author: Jenna Beck

source: http://www.geotimes.org/july07/article.html?id=Travels0707.html

To learn more about the “Land of Enchantment” you can take a trip to explore the scenic byways throughout the state of New Mexico. The “New Mexico Tourism Dept.” suggests the following routes:

“From the lush river landscapes of the Narrow Gauge Scenic Byway to the legendary Route 66 National Scenic Byway, New Mexico’s highways offer sights to satisfy everyone.”

New Mexico’s Scenic Byways:

1. Narrow Gauge Scenic Roadway -Visit the Narrow Gauge, known for its outstanding scenic, cultural, and historic qualities.

2. Wild Rivers Back Country Byway - Cutting through the high plains of northern New Mexico, the Rio Grande flows through an 800 foot deep volcanic canyon.

3. Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway - This winding route takes you through some of the most beautiful areas of North Central New Mexico.

4. Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway - A multi-state route traveling through Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

5. Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway -Traveling this trail is a journey through time in a leisurely day trip takes you past fantastic geologic formations.

6. Puye Cliffs Scenic Byway - Visit the best known landmark of the Santa Clara Pueblo.

7. Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway - Magnificent mountain scenery and cool summer temperatures lure vacationers to fish, hunt, camp, hike and backpack.

8. Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway - Explore the rich legacy of western expansion in Colorado and New Mexico.

9. Route 66 National Scenic Byway - Come travel the legendary Route 66 Urban/Rural byway.

10. Corrales Road Scenic Byway - Travel Corrales Road, shaded by cottonwoods and offering breathtaking views.

11. Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway - Leave the freeway and venture onto the Turquoise Trail, the scenic and historic area that links Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

12. Mesalands Scenic Byway - The very flat tops and steep rock walls of mesas are a unique feature of central New Mexico.

13. Salt Missions Trail - Take a journey back in time and travel along the Salt Missions Trail.

14. Abo Pass Trail - The Abo Pass Trail is a unique route which showcases the natural beauty of the Salt Missions area.

15. Socorro Historical District Scenic Byway - The Socorro Scenic Byway winds through the Socorro Historical District.

16. Quebradas Back Country Byway - The Quebradas (kay-brah’-das) Back Country Byway crosses about 24 miles of rugged land colorful country east of Socorro.

17. Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway -The Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway beckons you to experience the beauties of southwestern New Mexico.

18. Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway -The Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway road is a picturesque and unique drive.

19. Lake Valley Back Country Byway - Meandering drive on dirt roads takes you to ruins of 1880s mining town of Lake Valley.

20. Billy The Kid National Scenic Byway - Come celebrate the history of the Wild West on Billy the Kid Trail.

21. Sunspot Scenic Byway - The majestic Sacramento Mountains offer the traveler spectacular views of the Tularosa Basin and White Sands National Monument.

22. Guadalupe Back Country Byway -The Guadalupe Back Country Byway provides a gateway for access to many recreational opportunities.

23. El Camino Real National Scenic Byway - Travel the Royal Highway of the Interior Land.

24. The High Road to Taos - Through its art, landscapes, and history, the High Road to Taos will tell a story of its past and present

25. Native Heritage Trail - The Native Heritage Trail exposes visitors to exploration routes and world-famous archeological sites.

26. La Frontera del Llano - Spend the day traveling through the grasslands and plains of New Mexico and experience the natural “Wild West”.

Source: http://nmtourism.org/go/loc/favorites/page/attractions-scenicbywaysmap.html

by Sherri Bryant

I cannot begin to describe to you what drew me here in the first place, it is all too personal to me. I can’t explain to you how the stars look here or make me feel, or that they are so close that you can reach out and take one home with you. I cannot accurately describe the crisp, clear, cold mountain water; how it tastes, how it feels. The absolute ultimate thrill of jumping in a mountain pool and losing near all feeling until your senses return and rejoice in what you have done. I cannot describe the gentle yarrow growing on top of Wheeler Peak as it stands our highest crown in all its majestic beauty. I cannot describe the feeling emanating to the soul as the sounds of Santana float across the mountaintops of the enchanted circle. Nor the smell as wood-smoke and coffee mingle in the air of Red River. I cannot describe the feeling of falling in fresh New Mexico snow. I cannot describe the sensation of the tingling hot-spring mineral waters revitalizing your body. Or the feeling of awe as one enters El Santuario de Chimayó, the shrine of healing, New Mexico’s Lourdes, nor the sight of its annual pilgrimage by the followers of faith to reach its holy ground. I cannot impart the taste of New Mexican enchiladas smothered in the famous green chili or the local sopapillas dripping with honey. Nor the sight of the beautiful red ristras hanging from roadside stands and farmers’ markets. I cannot describe the beauty of the Southwestern and Native America art forms that create the kaleidoscope of visual delight in places like Santa Fe and Taos. I cannot even begin to describe the variety of persons on the streets, dressed in all manor of attire, some sporting dogs, others political or social objections. I cannot describe the intense feeling of isolation and darkness and the question of UFOs as one is driving across NM State Highway 550 at night and the relief in the view coming over the last hill with the lights of Albuquerque on the horizon. I cannot describe landing at the Albuquerque Sunport after having caught the midnight flight in from somewhere else and the gathering of the motley groups of laid-back travelers, whom among them might be a rock star or a famous writer in route to Santa Fe. Nor the memory of the airport before it was the Sunport and getting off the plane out on the runway and walking up to the terminal like something out of an old movie. I cannot describe the incredibly beautiful cultural influence on guest rooms at places like El Monte Sagrado, The Inn of the Five Graces, and Dancing Ground of the Sun. Nor the exquisite treatments you will receive at some of the famous New Mexico spas like Ten Thousand Waves or Inn at Loretto. I cannot describe sitting on a balcony in Santa Fe, high above the sunset spraying the sky with an artist’s palette of colors as dusk comes and the twinkle of the lights from Los Alamos begin to replace the fading ecstasy while the smell of sage wafts on the evening breeze. I cannot describe the feeling of arriving in the mountains in the wee hours of the morning after a long, hot drive from Texas, and getting out of the car and needing to put on a sweater to pump that last round of gas as the smell of pine engulfs you, beckoning your senses to reel. I cannot describe the overwhelming spiraling spaces winding their way down into the depths of Carlsbad Caverns nor the odd and magical rock faces peering at you along the way nor can I describe the first breath of air and vision of sunlight after emerging from its womb of cool darkness. I cannot describe the quiet beauty of a deer walking casually across the main street in Ruidoso amidst cars and people, tourist shops and motels. I cannot describe the pure enjoyment of taking your bike to the top of mountain and riding it down, fear or no fear. I cannot describe the excitement of driving off-road in any of New Mexico’s back country such as the Gila National Forest or the road from Cuba to Los Alamos. I cannot describe the rushing waters of the Rio Grande or the Rio Grande Gorge bridge towering over the river and basalt lava flows at a height of six-hundred and fifty feet. I cannot describe looking down to the river below. I cannot describe any of these things to you because they are all too personal to me. You’ll just have to come experience New Mexico for yourself.