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What Else to Do in the Area
White Sands Visitor Center Parking Lot
Photo: Tory Davis
There is plenty to see and do in the area. Here are some suggestions:
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TRINITY SITE
Twice a year you can visit
Trinity Site where the first atomic bomb exploded in 1945.
Trinity Site explosion, .016
seconds after explosion,
July 16, 1945
Los Alamos National
Laboratory
View more Trinity Site
photos |
Trinity Site is open to the public each year the first
Saturday in April and the first Saturday in October.
Check
events schedule for the next Trinity Site Tour.
NEW MEXICO MUSEUM OF SPACE
HISTORY
The
NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo
officially celebrates the spirit of space exploration.
You can check out some basalt moon rock or pay
homage to Ham the Astrochimp and visit his grave there. In 1961,
chimpanzee Ham became the first hominid in space. HAM = an acronym
for Holloman Aero Medical.
SpaceChimp HAM
And while we're at it:
Here you can read more on
famous animals in history.
Back to the NM space history museum.
Also on display are the Little Joe II
rocket which tested the Apollo emergency capsule ejection system at
White System Missile Range, some trinitite from the world's first atomic
bomb test on July 16, 1945, at WSMR, and the moon hemisphere sculpture
that hung behind CBS newsman Walter Cronkite on July 20, 1969, when Neil
Armstrong walked on the moon.
Those were the days.
On October 5, 2008, the New Mexico Museum
of Space History celebrated its 32nd anniversary.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History is a division of the NM
Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840,
toll free 877-333-6589 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org.
Top of Hwy 2001, Alamogordo, NM 88310
 
NEW MEXICO SPACE MUSEUM 1976 AND 2007
Photo Left: Courtesy NMMSH - Photo Right: Tory Davis
ALAMOGORDO MUSEUM OF
HISTORY
You can visit the
Alamogordo Museum of History 7 days a
week, admission is free.
ALAMEDA PARK ZOO
Then there is
Alameda Park Zoo in Alamogordo, NM.
The Alameda Park Zoo recently
added the White Sands Pupfish to their list of hosted animals.
You can study about 30 animated pupfish in a 75 gallon tank.
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I know you care about the White Sands Pupfish, and so
do I. Luckily, the Department of Game & Fish provides us with a White
Sands Pupfish info sheet. Knock yourselves out with the following pupfish
links: |
What's the big deal about the White
Sands Pupfish? It's the only fish species native to the Tularosa Basin. In
other words, these little guys know how to live in tiny bodies of water
that are salty as all get out.
DESERT
LAKES GOLF COURSE
Desert Lakes is a quality public facility that is located at the base of
the Sacramento Mountain range. The course features four sets of tees to
cater to all levels of play.
DESERT LAKES GOLF COURSE - ALAMOGORDO - NEW MEXICO
Photo: Desert Lakes Golf Course
The front nine is a tree-lined,
parkland-style layout that highlights large greens with subtle
undulations. The back nine, "the desert nine", is cut out of the
southern New Mexico desert. The course also features numerous water
hazards that come into play on eleven of the eighteen holes.
Alamogordo delights in year-round golf, with summer highs in the 90's
and moderate winter temperatures.
More here.
DESERT LAKES GOLF COURSE - CLUBHOUSE - ALAMOGORDO - NEW MEXICO
Photo: Allen
OLIVER LEE MEMORIAL STATE PARK
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is
located 8 miles south of Alamogordo on U.S. Highway 54 and 4 miles east
on Dog Canyon Road.
For more information about Oliver Lee Memorial State
Park call 437-8284.
And here you can make your
reservations for RV camping etc.
OLIVER LEE MEMORIAL STATE PARK - ALAMOGORDO - NEW MEXICO
Photo: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park
NATIONAL SOLAR OBSERVATORY
National
Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, is located 36 miles from
Alamogordo. A shuttle service is available, see
visitor information.
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HIKING |
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The Alamogordo Daily News gives
you in their
March 24, 2007 issue the directions
to the Grand View Trail that offers spectacular Basin views.
We quote: |
When trails at higher
elevations are still icy and snow-covered, hikers may find the Grand
View portion of the Cloud Climbing Rail Trail to be particularly
inviting.
Here the old railroad bed winds through piņon and juniper to Grand
View Curve, which offers spectacular views of the Tularosa Basin,
the White Sands and the San Andres Mountains.
At this overlook New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association members have
erected a shelter, and a sign that identifies such landmarks as Lake
Lucero, Trinity site, and 8958 foot high Salinas Peak, the highest
point in the San Andres Mountains. Other signs on the trail show
birds and animals of the region, including the greater roadrunner
and the bobcat.
To reach the Grand View Trail from Highway 82, turn north on Cherry
Way in High Rolls, left on Cottage Row, and right on Fresnal Canyon
Road.
The upper end of the trail is on the left at half a mile, the lower
end on the left at 0.9 mile.
Park at the lower end and climb a stile over a fence; when you reach
the upper end of the trail return to your car by way of Fresnal
Canyon Road for an easy stroll of 1.7 miles.
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MEXICAN
CANYON TRESTLE
And this from the Lincoln National Forest Service:
The Mexican Canyon Trestle
located just north-west of the Village of Cloudcroft is one the
areas historical gems.
Reaching back to days when horse
and carriage ruled the roads and steam engines whistled up the
mountain, this community treasure is being restored and preserved
for future generations.
Mexican Canyon Trestle
Lincoln National Forest Service
Go here for more about the Mexican Canyon Trestle
And here is the NM Rails-to-Trails Association
IS THERE
MORE?
Absolutely!
Check out our
nightlife tips and
Otero County's main
attractions.
If you are still searching for
more, you will find more local attractions
via the
Chamber of Commerce site.
To the best of our knowledge all information is current. If you should
discover any errors, however, please let us know. Thanks!
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