Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

4 Places to Regain Your Sense of Beauty in New Mexico

We've all had those times when the earth seems to be spinning a little slower on its axis. When the wind kicks you around just a bit too much. It could be family issues, people issues or just really lousy traffic on your way to the grocery store.

When I have those sort of days/weeks/months I start thinking about putting some wheels to good use to get me away from it all for an hour or for a day. These are the places in New Mexico I turn to at those times. They are all within a day trip of Albuquerque. Some are right here. Tell me about your own if you have them.

In no particular order:

Hyder Park
What is it about Hyder Park? Is it the tall old elm trees that shed limbs in the high spring winds? Is it the green grass that looks tempting enough to nap on? The benches where you can watch the world roll by with nothing but polite greetings and nods from passersby?

No. It's the dogs. The chihuahuas and the little fluffy white things and the German shepherd that carries the gigantic stick around. The dog owners trotting around the outer circle path or running through the green bowl with their dachshunds. The dogs aren't worrying about anything other than having a good time and breathing the air. Take a lesson from them.

The Plains of St. Agustin
Try to come here in a rain storm when you can see the heavy grey thunderheads moving across the plains to share their burden with the wild grasses. Mountain ranges ring the Plains of St. Agustin and you can still see the ghosts of a past where the grasses ran waist high and miners filled the streets of Magdalena. For a move into the more modern, stop by the Very Large Array, preferably when the satellite dishes are stretched out across the landscape on their railroad tracks.

Salinas Mission Ruins
The drive down through the mountains south to Mountainair is as important as getting to the Salinas Pueblo Mission Ruins. There are three different locations within short drives of each other and Mountainair. Marvel at the tall walls of Quarai or the sheer expanse of Gran Quivira. They may be the most impressive, but small and lovely Abó is my favorite. Like John Prine at the banks of Lake Marie, sometimes the quietest place is the most moving.

El Malpais
There's nothing quite like ropey swaths of lava and sharp stone bluffs to bring you back into perspective with your place in time. The scrub brush barely hangs on in El Malpais. Fissures in the black lava beds let you peer into the darkness and wonder what may be down below. Go far enough back and the landscape will swallow your sense of direction. Maybe just the thing you need at a time like this. Wear sturdy shoes, follow the stacked rock trail signs and take a moment to climb up the bluffs for a wider view on the world.

Tags: hyder_park, magdalena, mission, plains, salinas

Comment by Ricky on April 16, 2009 at 6:01pm: I recently went to the Tent Rocks recently after years of just passing by to go to Cochiti lake. And it's really a beautiful landscape and a nice little hike too.

Comment by chantal on April 16, 2009 at 7:15pm: Ahh... Hyder Park makes me breathe deeply as well and like you, Abó seems the most lovely of the Salinas missions to me. In fact, I finally made it down to Abó for the first time last month, recalling an earlier and enthusiastic story you wrote about the missions.

Other spots for me include the volcanoes and the place along theQuebrada Backcountry Byway where the ocotillo grow.

Comment by cathyray on April 17, 2009 at 8:30am: great ideas & post. I am itching to get out & about. Plus you quoted John Prine! amen

Comment by Dianne P. on April 17, 2009 at 9:02pm: I grew up in Hyder Park. Every time I see it, I'm taken back to my childhood.

Comment by Ben Moffett on April 18, 2009 at 8:08am: El Morro, but not necessarily the front face, which is the Inscription Rock, You have to move behind the cliff face to a small, natural area, surrounded by peace and quiet (when I was there), songbirds, scenery.

Comment by Sarahjmd on April 18, 2009 at 11:18am: Thanks for that post, Edith. I have GOT to get out to Abo and need constant reminding. Sometimes I trot down to the Rio Grande Nature Center to just take a walk in the bosque. I can forget I am in the middle of the city when I am there.

Comment by dolores on April 18, 2009 at 1:45pm: Not sure but I think that Hyder Park is the one I call Richmond park...the one with houses in a circle all the way around and huge majestic elms. Thats my favorite place to take a blanket, sandwich ,book and block the world out.
Abo is wonderful. It's tucked away in the most beautiful place. Dont forget to take a picnic lunch. There are tables under some shade trees. Also walk all the way to the back behind the main ruins to see the old village area.

Comment by dolores on April 18, 2009 at 1:47pm: Also some wonderful nooks,crannies,and grassy spots over at the Botanical Gardens. Perfect for the book, sandwich, blanket scenario. Even better if you can bike over.

Comment by Doug R on April 19, 2009 at 8:17pm: Edith - excellent post. My four favorites as well. I live a few blocks from Hyder and love walking around it. During our big March rain storm I made a trip through the Plains and it was spectacular. The Salinas Missions and driving to them through the old country is one of my favorite adventures. Plus I'm hooked on Carrizozo Cider from that store in Torreon! The El Malpais (every side - east, west and north) is one of my sacred places. In fact you may want to pick up a book called "El Malpais, Mt. Taylor and the Zuni Mountains - A Hiking Guide and History" by Sherry Robinson. It's definitely helping me plan my future escapes to that region.

Call me crazy but there is something special about getting off of I-40 around Laguna and visiting that old church on the hill. I don't know if I'm just picking up some extra mojo for the trip or protection on the road. It doesn't matter anyway. It just works. Then I take the side roads into the badlands from there. Try it some time. You might like it.