When actress Jessica Alba was working on a film near the White Sands National Monument, she related that the highlight of her stay was visiting a Wal-mart in nearby Alamogordo. It is unknown if she actually visited the Monument itself. Well the White Sands region is definitely worth a weekend trip, and there are more ways to spend time than visiting than Wal-mart.
In addition to the Monument, there’s also a White Sands Missile Range and it is important for the jetsetter not to confuse the two. White Sands National Monument is located on US 70 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is also a short drive from El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico. Admission is a mere three dollars a person. The towering dunes formed of gypsum crystals have created one of the most spectacular places on Earth. There are several picnic areas and a boardwalk.
If you are a film maker, White Sands is the perfect location to inspire creativity. You’ve seen the sands in music videos (Boys II Men filmed one there), films like the Transformers, as well as a million slide shows of family vacations. The National Park Service actually has a list of all the film projects made in the area.
Walking over the dunes makes you forget you are in New Mexico, especially after you leave one of the picnic areas and head off on one of the park’s marked trails. I recommend the Alkali trail to the north. Make sure you pack enough water, especially in summer. At the more accessible picnic areas, tourists from all over the world often create homemade sleds or snowboards from cafeteria trays. Watching the sun set over the dunes, seeing the sand turn from white to pink is an incredible experience, especially during a full moon.
White Sands is clearly worth a day trip, but what happens when the sun goes down?
There is no lodging at the monument which creates its rustic charm. Many of the usual chains have hotel venues in Alamogordo which is less than fifteen minutes from the park entrance. Most of the hotels are located on the south end of the main drag, the aptly named White Sands Boulevard. Occasionally, sand blows in from the Monument onto the streets of town, so drive carefully.
As for dining, Alamogordo boasts several good restaurants. More are on their way. Check tripadvisor.com for the latest openings.
For the truly adventurous, the Inn of the Mountain Gods, up near Ruidoso New Mexico is about an hour away. The Inn is located at the base of Sierra Blanca Mountains, lushly nestled in an Alpine environment. You can actually see White Sands from the 11,000 foot summit of the local ski area. In the summer, there are fantastic golfing opportunities.
In the other direction, there’s the Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces, which is the home hotel of Richard Branson’s Spaceport America. The city of Las Cruces has several cultural sites, such as the ancient Mesilla Plaza.
To the south, El Paso, Texas has more high-end lodging choices and a more varied night life. It also has several luxury malls. El Paso is the closest major airport as well. It is still not recommended to go across the border to Juarez, Mexico.
Perhaps Ms. Alba should give the area another chance.
For more information:
White Sands National Park: http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm
Author: Jonathan Miller
