Take me to Taos!

Despite its proximity to Texas, I have never spent any quality time in New Mexico. I have big dreams of an epic Wild West Road Trip, but I wanted to start this crazy nomadic adventure with a trip to Marfa, New Mexico, and Colorado. I just had to figure out the best way to get myself there.

My sweet friend Leah has been a digital nomad for a few years, and I followed her adventures while working up the courage to change directions and be as fearlessly free as she is. She was my first call when I needed a pep talk to stop applying for media jobs and start streamlining my life . Upon her suggestion, I joined Trusted Housesitters, an agency of vetted pet and house sitters that barter their services for a place to stay. (Use my link for a discount on your membership.) I immediately started looking up options in New Mexico and Colorado, and was thrilled to find three adorable cats in need of some company in a great adobe house in Taos, New Mexico. I wrote my application letter, video chatted with the home owner, and ta da! My first house sit gig was booked. I was hoping to hold off starting my new job until after this first gig, but an opportunity popped up that I couldn’t turn down. So I started my new part-time virtual assistant job and I hit the road, reserving some time each day to support a medical practice serving special needs kids.

I left a couple days before my sit so I could check out Marfa, and then started exploring New Mexico in earnest.

The Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon festival is on my bucket list, so someday I’ll return and do the Breaking Bad RV tour. I focused my explorations en route everywhere BUT Albuquerque and worked my way north. I had several friends suggest the White Sand Dunes National Monument outside Las Cruces. The drive is beautiful, and you pass the missile testing range and museum going in.

I had terrible luck with cell service all over New Mexico. Having just started my new job, I didn’t want to be out of pocket too long, so I kept my sand dune shenanigans pretty brief. I’d love to go back and sled on the dunes, drive the back half of the park, and check out the missile museum. The gypsum sand is even more sugar white perfection than it is inTurks and Caicos, which I didn’t think could be beat. The park is like your wildest beach fantasy brought to life- but with no water in sight. It is beautiful, and the amount of instagram fashion shows and photo shoots I saw on a random Friday afternoon were priceless. If you find yourself within a couple hours of Las Cruces, make this trip. Bring your own water, something to sled on, sun protection, and be ready to have a great time.

It was a little too early for the Hatch New Mexico Chile Festival , but I had an incredible Hatch Chile Cheeseburger and Chile Chocolate Shake at Sparky’s on my way up. The amount of quirky weird yard art and Antique Archaeology- worthy signage and collectables were worth a stop on their own. The great food was an added bonus.

You’ll also pass Truth or Consequences, a tiny town famous for their hot springs, and a gorgeous lake at Elephant Butte , which I couldn’t stop giggling at due to a ridiculous story involving an old co-worker. The scenery changes really quickly in this part of New Mexico and it is a BEAUTIFUL drive.

New Mexico is a relatively poor state, and they were not messing around with COVID restrictions. Masks are required everywhere, hand sanitizer was present at every entrance, and social distancing is pretty strictly enforced. I felt really comfortable everywhere I went. That said, the Pueblos were all closed to visitors, and so were several state parks. Many of the stores and galleries didn’t recover from the COVID shut down, or were only operating on weekends- so keep that in mind if you are planning to visit anytime soon. Sandia Peak Tramway requires reservations pretty far in advance, but the views from the mountains are stunning and totally worth the trek, even if you can’t take the ride.

If you find yourself craving a vodka martini in the greater Albuquerque area, request locally made and female owned Nikle Vodka. It was spectacular, and Vintage423 made some of the best martini(s) of my life.

My hotel lobby had a flyer for the Turquoise Trail, and it was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. I decided to scrap my plan for an alternate route home and went right back the way I came so I could spend more time exploring the funky communities along the way.

I have a soft spot for absurd roadside attractions. If you aren’t using the Roadtrippers app, you are probably going to miss ridiculous gems like the Tinkertown Museum. It is full of unique dioramas and displays from a lifetime of collecting. It was funky and strange and inspiring, and I could have spent several more hours checking out this junkers paradise. It feels a lot like Austin’s 37th Street Lights and Alabama’s Ave Maria Grotto. It’s only 20 minutes from Albuquerque with the added bonus of a brief ride on historic Route 66.

Fans of the Tim Allen movie, Wild Hogs, will recognize the adorable artist community of Madrid, New Mexico. I loved it so much. Most of the stores were closed on Friday when I drove up, so I made sure to hit it on my way back on a Saturday. New Mexico has no shortage of boutiques, galleries, and tourist traps- but Madrid is so adorable you can’t help but be charmed.

A girl who loves the color turquoise was bound to fall down some rabbit holes investigating the mothership for Turquoise jewelry. Most of it comes from old mines in Arizona, but Cerrillos is a postage stamp sized mining town with some really adorable stops. This church, gallery, opera house, petting zoo, mining museum, and main street were picture perfect. I can’t recommend a road trip through New Mexico highly enough, and the Turquoise Trail is a must!

Erin Duvall recommended the most incredible field trip to Mesilla just outside of Las Cruces. La Posta is the most adorable Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to. It had fish tanks, parrots, live music, very socially distanced tables, and delicious food. Be sure to try a Tostada Compuesta, the house specialty is fantastic. The Bean is an adorable little coffee shop with local art, hatch chile baked goods, and incredible lattes. The accommodations were far cheaper on this side of Las Cruces, so it’s completely worth the overnight.

Stay tuned for blogs from Taos and Sante Fe, and my treasures from both will go live on the store next week!