We all have preconceived ideas about places we’ve never visited. Sometimes our assumptions are fairly accurate but other times we’re way off base. That’s certainly the case with the Land of Enchantment. People expect the whole state to be a flat swath of desert. Here are 16 things we want the rest of the country to know about New Mexico:
- While there are sections of the state that are flat, the Rocky Mountains extend into Northern New Mexico.
Flickr/Dave Hensley In fact, there are more than 80 different mountain ranges scattered across the Land of Enchantment.
- The land here is varied and includes many different types of scenery.
Flickr/Larry Lamsa Did you know that New Mexico has 16.68 million acres of forest?
- New Mexico is a skiing destination.
Flickr/Paul Sableman The town of Red River averages a total annual snowfall of 151.1 inches.
- Santa Fe is the highest state capital in the nation.
Flickr/MortAuPat See Denver, way way down there?
- Don’t overlook Southern New Mexico.
Flickr/Tony Hoffarth Here are 18 reasons why this part of the state is awesome.
- This is not a porch…
Flickr/Terence Faircloth …It’s a portal.
- Dust is part of life here…
Flickr/Peter …especially in spring when the winds blow it everywhere.
- You’ll encounter the word “arroyo” in New Mexico. It’s another word for “wash” or a creek bed that fills with water when it rains.
Flickr/Earl Ray Saathoff You don’t want to be near one of these during a rainstorm because of the danger of flash flooding.
- An arroyo is not the same as an acequia.
Flickr/AFSC Photos An acequia is a planned irrigation canal. They were first used in New Mexico when it was under Spanish rule and you’ll still see them today.
- Water is a big deal here so when you’re visiting please do your part to conserve it.
Flickr/Tim Reed
- There isn’t a consensus on how to spell certain words but we all agree that these foods are delicious.
Flickr/Greg Holland Sopaipillas, sopapillas, sopaipas…
Biscochitos, bizcochitos..
Flickr/Quick fix These are all plural forms of the word because you’re going to eat more than one.
- You won’t regret buying New Mexican.
Flickr/flicktoast You can pick up many local products here, from El Pinto salsa to raspberry sauce from Salman Ranch.
- New Mexico is the oldest wine-producing state in the country.
Flickr/Christopher Rose The first vines were planted here in 1629. Folks in North Carolina used wild grapes to make wine, but New Mexico was the first state to make wine from cultivated vines.
- There is a fifth season in the year: chile season.
Flickr/Krissa Corbett Cavouras In August and September, parking lots are filled with roasters like these.
- We are so serious about chile peppers that we have a Chile Pepper Institute that is part of New Mexico State University.
Flickr/Sharon Sperry Bloom It is located in Las Cruces.
- Just in case you have any remaining doubts, New Mexico is one of the 50 states.
Flickr/Dave Winer We became a state in 1912.
See that yellow boxy area next to Texas? Yep, that’s us. Come visit and see what it’s like here for yourself.
What would you add to this list?
Flickr/Dave Hensley
In fact, there are more than 80 different mountain ranges scattered across the Land of Enchantment.
Flickr/Larry Lamsa
Did you know that New Mexico has 16.68 million acres of forest?
Flickr/Paul Sableman
The town of Red River averages a total annual snowfall of 151.1 inches.
Flickr/MortAuPat
See Denver, way way down there?
Flickr/Tony Hoffarth
Here are 18 reasons why this part of the state is awesome.
Flickr/Terence Faircloth
…It’s a portal.
Flickr/Peter
…especially in spring when the winds blow it everywhere.
Flickr/Earl Ray Saathoff
You don’t want to be near one of these during a rainstorm because of the danger of flash flooding.
Flickr/AFSC Photos
An acequia is a planned irrigation canal. They were first used in New Mexico when it was under Spanish rule and you’ll still see them today.
Flickr/Tim Reed
Flickr/Greg Holland
Sopaipillas, sopapillas, sopaipas…
Flickr/Quick fix
These are all plural forms of the word because you’re going to eat more than one.
Flickr/flicktoast
You can pick up many local products here, from El Pinto salsa to raspberry sauce from Salman Ranch.
Flickr/Christopher Rose
The first vines were planted here in 1629. Folks in North Carolina used wild grapes to make wine, but New Mexico was the first state to make wine from cultivated vines.
Flickr/Krissa Corbett Cavouras
In August and September, parking lots are filled with roasters like these.
Flickr/Sharon Sperry Bloom
It is located in Las Cruces.
Flickr/Dave Winer
We became a state in 1912.
See that yellow boxy area next to Texas? Yep, that’s us. Come visit and see what it’s like here for yourself.
To get a better idea of what the Land of Enchantment actually looks like, check out this footage that a drone captured over New Mexico.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
