Sunday, September 22, 2013

New Mexico Get Away

This weekend the bf and I made a quick trip to Southern New Mexico to spend some time outdoors.  (This city girl usually counts brunch on a patio as an outdoor activity.)  We left early Saturday morning and flew to El Paso, Texas, picked up our rental car, and made an hour drive to Las Cruces, New Mexico.  We stopped for breakfast in a cute little cafe called Josefina's Old Gate in the town square of Old Mesilla.  I was so hungry, I didn't even photograph my food.  For your viewing pleasure, here is a pic of the place, courtesy of the interwebs.

With our stomachs full (the "bowl of papas" is divine) we were ready for a hike, so we drove another half hour to Dripping Springs.  I read some good reviews on Trip Advisor about this place, but my boyfriend and I were both blown away by the beauty of it.

We hiked about six miles at close to 6,000 feet.

About two-thirds of the way through the hike we got a nice little break and ate our beef jerky and trail mix on a huge boulder near a waterfall.

By this time it was mid-afternoon and we were only half-way through the day's agenda.  Next we drove another hour to White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo.  Bye bye Dripping Springs!

The drive to White Sands is on the longest, straightest road ever.  The only exciting part was when we had to drive through a security checkpoint.  There is a lot of missile testing that goes on in these parts.

Visiting White Sands is a lot like going to a beach that's missing an ocean.  You can make a day of it if you bring your sand sled (not sure where to get one, but apparently a plastic trash can lid will work just fine) and food for a cook out.

Like the ocean, there's something about the endless view of sand that draws you in.    In fact, 30 million years ago, this place was the ocean.

When nightfall was upon us, and we were ready to relax, so we left the sand dunes and headed to our hotel in Las Cruces.

Hotel Encanto was a great place to clean up, rest, and have some fantastic New Mexican cuisine.

There's a nice bar in the hotel as well, but we were too tired for a nightcap.  This morning we made the hour drive back to El Paso and were home in time for lunch.  Until next time, you stay enchanting, New Mexico! (Read: in Ron Burgundy voice.)

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