A trip back to New Mexico was not on my Bingo card for this week, but this morning at 5am, that’s what I found myself doing! John had to work at a job in Roswell, so off we went!
As we left Mansfield I made the mistake of remarking that leaving so early, at least we’d have little traffic, but as soon as we came to I-20 the road was backed up for miles with construction!
After getting around the traffic, we did make great time! Our route took us West on I-20 to Hwy 84 west of Sweetwater, then north on 84 to Post. In Post, we took U.S. 380 West to Roswell. About 8 hours!
After John finished working, we headed to the International UFO Museum and Research Center and gift shop. Parking was free and there was plenty of it! Inside there was a lot of history about the 1947 event, in which locals claimed a fiery crash during a lightening storm was an alien spaceship, which is what gave Roswell the alien reputation! There some fun photo ops and lots of theories about what brought the aliens to Roswell, including the 1945 Atomic bomb testing in nearby Alamogordo. Last, we of course hit the gift shop and picked up some fun souvenirs for the kids.
Next we walked up and down Main Street for a couple of blocks to see all the cute Alien-themed shops. The street lights even are decorated like aliens! I loved UFO-fizz, a neat candy and drink shop!
We then headed to the Alien-themed restaurant, Farley’s. There are UFOs on the ceiling and lots of pictures on the walls. We ate some “jackrabbit droppings”, which sound terrible but are chicken and pepper jack cheese bites, and split a respectable chicken-fried steak.
Back in the car, we headed to see the huge alien at Dunkin Donuts and the UFO-inspired McDonald’s, with a great play area and silver aliens in the drive thru line. It’s so fun!
We missed the Alien Carwash, and there are tours of the supposed crash sight and so many cute places to shop and eat! Next time!
At one of the stores we visited, they suggested checking out the Bottomless Lake State Park, just outside of town. The park rents kayaks and pedal boats on the sinkhole lakes, which can be up to 90’ deep and thanks to an aquatic plants appear a deep green-blue. The park also has camping, hiking and bike trails. I definitely want to come back and camp!
Headed home, we also passed the Mescalero Sands Recreation Area, and while we didn’t stop, I made a point to look it up at home, and as I hoped, there are UTV trails! The website says it’s about 600 acres, and 90’ sand dunes! I’ll definitely have to plan a return trip!
Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!
Michelle