It's no secret why we call New Mexico the Land of Enchantment. Our state possesses some of the nation's most beautiful natural wonders, including Carlsbad Caverns, Taos' Moreno Valley and White Sands National Monument. Having grown up in Silver City at the doorstep of the Gila National Forest, I have always felt very lucky to have come from such a special place. During my time as a Senator, I've worked to help promote New Mexico and its splendor as a tourist destination - because it's important to our people, our economy and also our sense of pride in our home state.

What do a real estate agent, nurse, graphic designer, importer, building designer, retired flight attendant, and two artists have in common? They all say they found joy in renovating historic buildings in Silver City, New Mexico for commercial and residential uses. "I think there's a stronger than ever appreciation for Silver City's original buildings now," says Smith Real Estate broker, Becky Smith, who lists the town's "last two-story brick Victorian fixer-upper" and recently restored and moved her company into a 5,000 square-foot Victorian with mission-style updates located in the downtown historic district.

In the years immediately before the outbreak of the Civil War, the Board of Indian Commissioners in Washington, D.C. had discussed a policy of removal and concentration for the Southern Apaches of New Mexico and Arizona Territories. Simply put, the policy called for the removal of the Mimbres, Central Chiracahuas, Coyoteros, Gila, and Mogollon bands from those areas where they would have potentially disruptive contact with white settlers and placement on reservations where they could become self-supporting through farming and animal husbandry.

The Best Places to Go Birding in Southern New Mexico Bosque del Apache NWR Sevilleta NWR Elephant Butte Lake State Park Caballo Lake State Park Bitter Lake NWR Roswell Mescalero Sands Carlsbad Caverns National Park Rattlesnake Springs Sitting Bull Falls

"Oh wow," was the response of a photographer taking the tour for the first time. These are natural, flowing pools. Water comes up from the bottom of each pool separately. No water intermingles from pool to pool. No water is reused. And no water goes through a treatment plant. No soaps, shampoos, or loofahs are allowed in the pools.

Built in the 1880's, the Barber Shop Café offered customers a bath, shave and haircut until about fifty years ago. The building is preserved much as it was—the original mirror still spans the width of the café with a sign stating "Baths 25 cents." Nowadays, instead of shaves, baths and haircuts, the Barber Shop Café now serves customers the best food for miles around.

The country's largest public display of thundereggs - a dazzling array of color - lies hidden in a small dirt building with a cave-like entrance and a sign that has the appeal of a high school science book. But, for the curious, to crack open the rough-hewn wooden door to the Basin Range Volcanics Geolapidary Museum and Rock Shop 10 miles southeast of Deming and two miles below Rockhound State Park is to find the pearl in the oyster, the pea in the shell game or, in this case, the rainbow hidden in the plain rock.

Grant County Guide: Information about Apaches, outlaws, prostitution, legends, cattle brands, mining history, hiking, the Gila Wilderness and more.

 

CARLSBAD, NM - Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Parks in Carlsbad, New Mexico will celebrate its 21st annual “Mescal Roast and Mountain Spirit Dance” from May 10-13. This event, which celebrates the culture and history of the Mescalero Apache people, received a Dorothy Mullins Arts and Humanities Award from the National Recreation and Parks Association. The Mescal Roast is sponsored by the Friends of Living Desert.

Each year the Food Network showcases the World's Richest Chuckwagon Cook-off in Ruidoso, New Mexico. It is a wonderful program that captures the nostalgia and culinary excitement of the Chuckwagon Cook-off and each year we here at SouthernNewMexico.com get flooded with viewers searching for more information. This year, I'm being proactive. I'm bringing the information to you.