RV Lifestyle Not only is New Mexico State University a vibrant educational centre with a plethora of ongoing cultural, social and athletic events, it is the home of the Zuhl Collection, which is part art gallery and part natural history museum. It’s sponsored by Herb and Joan Zuhl, New York business people who made their living collecting fossils, minerals and rocks and who retired to New Mexico and donatedmore than 2,000 of their best exhibits to the university. The weekly Farmers &Crafts Market has been rated one of the best outdoor markets in the U.S. Held every Saturday and Wednesday mornings on Main Street in downtown Las Cruces, the market has more than 300 vendors who gather to offer fresh local produce, honey, herbs, spices, arts and crafts and much more. While wandering historic downtown Las Cruces, be sure to visit the Amaro Winery. Established just a few years ago, it has become a favourite stop among wine connoisseurs. All of the grapes are grown in the fertile lands of southern New Mexico. The same soil that produces mouth-watering chilis also nurtures fine wine. The downtown area is also home to the Branigan Cultural Center, the Las Cruces Art Museum, theMuseumof Nature and Science, and the Las Cruces RailroadMuseum. All are part of the City of Las Cruces museum system and are free to the public. Las Cruces’ neighbour to the south, historic El Paso, Texas is just 45 minutes south and features its own assortment of fun activities, including a casino, museums, historic monuments and zoo. It’s a scenic day trip, especially the route that goes around the southernmost tip of the RockyMountains for fabulous views of El Paso and neighbouring Juarez, Mexico. Another scenic route is the Woodrow Bean Transmountain Road that connects east El Paso to the west. In nearby Franklin Mountains State Park, visitors can enjoy breathtaking scenic views aboard the Wyler Aerial Tramway, an enclosed gondola that makes a four-minute trip to Ranger Peak. There, you’ll have an eagle’s view of 650 square metres of land that encompasses three states and two nations. Visitors can experience the city’s culture, heritage and hospitality through events such as the annual Las Cruces Country Music Festival, which is a multi-day celebration of country music, or Salsa Fest, a three-day celebration of everything salsa in the fall. Some of the most authentic Mexican food north of the border can be found in Las Cruces. Visitors can explore the Salsa Trail or the Green ChileWalk of Flame and sample authentic, unique cuisine only found here. The Salsa Trail includes 26 restaurants whose salsa was recommended by locals and the Walk of Flame features 28 stops where explorers can try everything from a green chili sundae, to green chili wontons, to green chili sushi and margaritas. The roadrunner is the official state bird of NewMexico. A giant recycled roadrunner − six metres tall and 12 metres long − has been an icon of Las Cruces ever since artist Olin Calk built it in 1993. It was made exclusively of items salvaged from the landfill. In early 2001, Olin stripped off the old junk, replaced it with new junk and moved the roadrunner to a rest area along Interstate 10, just west of the city. Signs around the sculpture warn of rattlesnakes but, when we stopped by to visit, people were blissfully trudging out to the big bird anyway, to pose for snapshots or examine the junk (we did, too). Don’t just take our word for how great Las Cruces is. Las Cruces has received several awards, including rankings by Money Magazine, Forbes, AARP, Sunset and many others, as one of the best places to visit. You’ll find numerous RV parks and campgrounds in the area, including a nearby state park and a BLMcampground. We have stayed at Hacienda RV Resort and Sunny Acres RV Park, both excellent. Worth Pondering… I think New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I ever had. It certainly changed me forever. In the magnificent fierce morning of New Mexico, one sprang awake, a new part of the soul woke up suddenly, and the world gave way to the new. − D.H. Lawrence CSANews | SPRING 2020 | 25
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