Scenes From New Mexico

Texas/New Mexico Border

Mountains East of Las Cruces, NM

Tall Cacti at the welcome center.

White Sands National Monument

Dunes

Where's the ocean?????

White Sands flora.

Plants holding on to this dune

Chihuahua Desert

White Sands flora

Beautiful flowering cactus in the middle of the desert.

Winding road into the mountains

We made our way 286 mi from Ft Stockton, TX to Las Cruces, NM on Tuesday. Arrived at the campground early enough (got another free hour and found something useful to do with it) to explore a little town called Mesilla just south of Las Cruces. Mesilla was a stop on the Butterfield stagecoach route and is the town in which Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to hang in 1881. Mesilla is now home to quaint little shops offering area significant items, souvenirs, and wines from New Mexican wineries. We sampled and purchased some wine and then made our way to St. Clair Winery and Bistro for dinner. Didn't buy any wine there but did sample some. The dinners were outstanding and the ambiance spectacular. Outside seating looking up at the mountains to the east. Very enjoyable.  We took off this morning for the farmers market in downtown Las Cruces. It was a little disappointing but did have local artists displaying their wares. Went east from there through the mountains to White Sands National Monument. Don't know why its called a monument and not a national park but it isn't. Strange seeing all that white sand out in the middle of a dessert. Pretty scenery though. Hope you enjoy some of the photos. Off to Arizona in the morning.