Hit the road
One of my besties from Indiana came to visit me in El Paso in November. We decided to ditch the desert for a day and head for the mountains of New Mexico to show him a taste of the beautiful southwest. Ruidoso is about a two hour drive from El Paso so it was a perfect getaway for a day trip. Making the most of it, we had stops in Almagordo and Cloudcroft along the way.
Almagordo, NM
Alongside Highway 54, about an hour north of El Paso, you’ll find the tiny city of Almagordo. It’s home to White Sands National Park, New Mexico Museum of Space History and Alameda Park Zoo (one of the oldest zoos in the southwest). Just north of the intersection of the Charlie Lee and White Sands you’ll find a metal sculpture of a Roadrunner. Uncle George crafted this bird from old student desks and scrap metal during his high school years. It is a quirky family tradition to stop, snap a pic, and text it to George to let him know it’s still there. One of my favorite stops is Pistachio Land, home of the world’s largest pistachio. I suggest taking advantage of their samples and find your favorite flavor. My favorites are green chile, garlic, and also the pistachio brittle.
Cloudcroft, NM
On our way to Cloudcroft we made a stop at the Old Apple Barn. Here we found the shop bountiful with country style home goods, preserves and jams, fudge, baked goods, and cherry cider. I opted for a fun mug, half gallon of cherry cider, and a cherry cider slushy to go.
