Exploring New Mexico: A Christmas Adventure

Exploring New Mexico: A Christmas Adventure 🎄

This Christmas, we made a spontaneous decision to spend five days in beautiful New Mexico. As we planned our trip, our leisurely travel turned into an action-packed adventure with so many fantastic places to explore! 🗺️ With a plethora of stunning moments to share, let’s recap our incredible journey!

Day 1: Arrival and First Impressions ✈️

We arrived in Albuquerque (ABQ) in the afternoon. Our first destination was Sandia Crest. Despite the heavy fog that kept the views hidden, we were delighted to encounter unexpectedly large snowfall on our descent. ❄️ What a surprise!

For dinner, we headed to the only restaurant open on Christmas Day, 川湘园, where the stir-fried beef was a delightful treat. After a three-hour drive, we reached Farmington for the night.

Day 2: Adventure in the Badlands 🏜️

The next day, we explored Bisti Badland Trail, where we marveled at nature’s sculptural wonders in a desolate landscape. Walking among strangely shaped stone formations, we were in awe of nature’s artistry, especially at the breathtaking cracked eggs formation! 🤩

After a delicious lunch at MMM Que Rico, we embarked on a 3.5-hour journey to Bandelier National Monument. Here, we marveled at ancient Indian ruins, with some intriguing petroglyphs that resembled aliens! 👽 Dinner followed at La Boca in Santa Fe, where the paella and steak were quite tasty, although the cocktails fell a bit short.

Day 3: Santa Fe and White Sands 🌄

Day three took us to Santa Fe! Our surroundings were draped in the earthy hues of adobe buildings adorned with vibrant chili peppers, reminiscent of rural Shaanxi in China. While exploring the charming local shops, we came across many unique items, even though most stores were still closed for the holiday.

Hoping to indulge in tacos at El Chile, we discovered they were on an extended holiday break. Fortunately, we found ourselves at Lotus Dumpling House where the pork buns and cold dish were quite satisfying, albeit the pancakes were different from what we expected.

On our way to White Sands National Park, we stopped by Pistachioland for some delightful pistachio ice cream and the refreshing Margarita Lime flavor. At White Sands, we enjoyed some thrilling sandboarding activities. A tip: buy a sled for just $10 at Big5! The sunset view over the white sands against a pastel sky was simply breathtaking, although the wind was quite challenging! 🌅 Dinner at DH Lescombes was fantastic, accompanied by a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

Day 4: Carlsbad Caverns and Culinary Delights 🍽️

On our fourth day, we embarked on a 3.5-hour drive to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, famous for its colossal underground caves filled with stunning formations. The sight of unique stalactites and stalagmites left us speechless! 😮

Lunch at El Charro featured delicious beef and tripe tacos paired perfectly with Mexican Coke—a match made in heaven. We continued our journey to Socorro for our overnight stay. Although it was dark when we arrived, we missed the opportunity to visit Roswell, the famous alien town. 😔

Conclusion: A Memorable Christmas Trip 🎉

Our whirlwind trip through New Mexico was more than just a holiday outing—it was a captivating adventure filled with remarkable landscapes, delicious food, and unforgettable experiences! With so much to offer, we can’t wait to return and continue exploring this incredible state. Until next time, New Mexico! 🌟