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Just remember to use sunglasses and sun block skin cream. You will get more sunshine in your first week in LC than the rest of your life in Great Britain. Don’t forget to drink a huge amount of water until your body gets used to the low humidity. Other wise enjoy a spectacular section of our country.
Well it seems that we will be arriving in Las Cruces around the 23rd of May (driving from California). Are there any suggestions of "must see" while we tour around LC for a few days?
Well it seems that we will be arriving in Las Cruces around the 23rd of May (driving from California). Are there any suggestions of "must see" while we tour around LC for a few days?
I'd suggest the following:
1. Aguirre Springs in the nearby Organ Mountains (pronounced ah-GEAR-eh)
2. White Sands National Monument
3. Gila Wilderness (HEE-la)
4. Cloudcroft
Numbers 1, 3, and 4 will help ease your transition from the humid green setting of Britain into the arid brown setting of Las Cruces. The desert is somewhat of an acquired taste. Knowing that there are comparitively lush, forested areas nearby can soften the contrast. The American southwest is very much a 3-dimensional environment, with climate being closely related to elevation. Areas below about 6000 ft are arid. At about 6000 ft, there's a transition to juniper trees and slightly less aridity. Another thousand feet or so and pines take over. Las Cruces sits at about 4000 ft and will be hot in the summer, but with the dry air, taking refuge under any available shade makes the heat tolerable. But be aware that the combination of high elevation and desert sun makes the solar radiation intense. Sunglasses, a hat, bottled water (or cold beer), and sunscreen are not nice to have for any outdoor summer activities - they're must-haves. Summer evenings are a delight, though. As soon as the sun dips below the horizon, the air cools nicely.
You'll no doubt agree that the "anti-summer" season is heavenly, with sunshine and 60 degrees F in January. Locals call it winter. Some even say it's "cold." If you find yourself wanting snow, just make a return to the forrested areas mentioned above and you'll normally find enough to satisfy the urge. There's a decent ski area in nearby Ruidoso, NM that may be of interest if you're so inclined.
One of the joys of the southwest is the infinite variety of uses for chile in the local cooking. Again, it's an acquired taste, but be forewarned that it's highly addictive. Make the short trip to El Paso to sample the world's best Mexican cuisine. There are hundreds of good places to find it, by my favorite is Carnitas Queretaro on N Mesa.
Visit Old Mesilla, try the food at Double Eagle (or Peppers which is in the same building) or La Posta. A drive south down Rt 28 is also very nice - the acres of Pecan trees are pretty amazing.
By all means, wander Old Mesilla...a great place...and have a nice big Margarita in the bar at Double Eagle. But save yourself some grief and skip the meal at La P. Lot of atmosphere but substandard (I'm sorry to say) chow.
Instead, do the TigerLily drive down 28...it'll be beautiful when you get here...and stop in La Mesa (don't blink or you'll miss it and have your dinner at Chope's. It's simple, unadorned, honest New Mexican food at it's best. Nice crowd scene at opening too!
By all means, wander Old Mesilla...a great place...and have a nice big Margarita in the bar at Double Eagle. But save yourself some grief and skip the meal at La P. Lot of atmosphere but substandard (I'm sorry to say) chow.
Instead, do the TigerLily drive down 28...it'll be beautiful when you get here...and stop in La Mesa (don't blink or you'll miss it and have your dinner at Chope's. It's simple, unadorned, honest New Mexican food at it's best. Nice crowd scene at opening too!
Most of the crime that occurs in Las Cruces is between thugs who know each other. For the most part there is not random acts of crime although there are some random acts of theft and such.
Pompy? As in Portsmouth? There's no place in LC to watch Premier League or Champions League, so you better get used to lousy Liga Mexicana football.
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and have your dinner at Chope's. It's simple, unadorned, honest New Mexican food at it's best. Nice crowd scene at opening too!
