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Petroglyphs National Monument

Hiking Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque, New Mexico

They say that the petroglyphs at Petroglyph National Monument may be hard to see at certain times of the day because of the glare from the sun. But Pueblo elders believe it’s more than that. They believe the petroglyphs choose when and to whom they will reveal themselves. Visiting Petroglyph National Monument When visiting Petroglyph National Monument, GPS will take you to the visitor’s center, but there isn’t anything to see there. The center sits in between the two main...

Roadtrip: Santa Fe to Taos, New Mexico

Driving into Santa Fe, New Mexico for my first time, I couldn’t help but compare it to Sedona, Arizona – it’s that magical. If you’ve never been to either place Stop. What. You’re. Doing. AND GO NOW. There aren’t that many places on this Earth that have the unique, powerful and pleasant energy vibrations as these places do. I would say it’s in the water, but clearly, it’s the dirt. I approached Santa Fe from the southeast. There were a...

Kayaks on the Rio River gorge

Kayaking the Rio River Gorge in New Mexico

Whitewater kayaking in the Rio River Gorge in New Mexico is a favorite pastime for locals and visitors to the state. However, due to low water levels, the amount of “whitewater” is less each year. Still, it was among the most challenging and scenic kayaking I’ve ever done. I took a rambling early afternoon drive through the mountains along the Rio Grande Gorge. The 50-mile gorge runs from northwest to southeast of Taos, New Mexico. It is about 800 feet...

10 Things to Explore in Alpine and Marathon Texas

If you’ve ever visited Big Bend or drove through west Texas, you’ll come across Alpine, Texas. I spent a week there hiking and kayaking at Big Bend. While there, I explored a few other things. It’s a good place central to many different locations you’ll want to see while you’re in that part of the country. Alpine, Texas The city is one of a few small frontier towns remaining from the glory day of the western mining and expansive cattle...

two kayaks on the rio grande river in between two tall granite walls

Experiencing the Wonders of Big Bend National Park on land and water

Big Bend National Park stands alone in a nation of parks. Its remote desolation makes it one of the least visited parks in the United States. That also makes it one of the rarest experiences you can have in nature – solitude, you, and the Earth. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a red snake slither by, a roadrunner dash across your path, and a coyote prowl the landscape. Wild horses and free-roaming longhorn cattle might amble past. You’ll find cactus...

Roswell aliens sign

One Night Alone on a Hill in Roswell, New Mexico

As I drove up the hill in Roswell, New Mexico, its dirt was the color of red velvet cake. After I was done marveling at that I looked up. What I saw in front of me stopped me in my tracks. It had been raining as I drove from Carlsbad to Roswell, an impressive feat for New Mexico, which had been desperate for water. The roof vent in my van ceiling was leaking. Despite more than a month on the...

Terlingua wood sign

Road trip: Terlingua, the Texas Ghost Town by Big Bend

There are “ghost towns,” and then there is Terlingua ghost town. One is for tourists and the other is an abandoned old mining town filled with ghosts. You’ll notice the difference immediately. See, I’m a city girl, so you’ll understand when I tell you that I expected there to be cafes and gift shops in Terlingua. They call it a “ghost town,” but I’ve been to ghost towns before. They’re usually tourist traps. Tarted up little towns that attract people...

Get Your Hat We’re Hittin’ Up the Texas Rodeo

Texas rodeo is authentic western heritage at its finest, and this first-timer was glad to experience an event I’d heard so much about. Here’s what it was like. I drove to a little tucked-away spot just north of San Antonio in a corner called Bulverde. There, the Tejas Rodeo Company keeps Western heritage rodeo alive and kickin’. The sun was setting as I pulled into the rodeo grounds and parked on the grass in a field like we used to...

the author stands in a Cave with stalagmite and stalagtites

How to Explore the Famous Texas Cave Without a Name

There is a cave in the Texas Hill Country so pretty they couldn’t find a name good enough, so they didn’t name it. Now it’s called “Cave Without a Name.” Texas may not be great at naming caves, but they sure are great at having them. They report having over 7,000 caves throughout the state. You know Texas, go big or go home. I was skeptical but intrigued when I heard about the cave too pretty to name. Since it...