New Mexico
On the Road in Southern New Mexico: Rugged Beauty and the Final Frontier
Program No. 22614RJ
Southern New Mexico is known for its natural beauty and unique role in the history of space exploration. Explore both on this journey to Carlsbad Caverns, and more!
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8 days
7 nights
19 meals
7B 5L 7D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Albuquerque, New Mexico
2
Anderson Art Museum & UFO Museum and Research Center
Roswell, New Mexico
3
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Roswell, New Mexico
4
Lincoln, Billy the Kid, Three Rivers Petroglyphs
Alamogordo,NM
5
White Sands National Park, Museum of Space History
Alamogordo,NM
6
Pistachio Farm, Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge
Albuquerque, New Mexico
7
Nuclear Science Museum and Old Town Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
8
Program Concludes
Albuquerque, New Mexico
At a Glance
On this unique learning adventure, discover two wildly different sides of Southern New Mexico: the high-tech, spacefaring Southern New Mexico, with its gaze fixed on the Final Frontier and the primal, stunningly beautiful Southern New Mexico with a natural history that stretches back in time for eons. Journey across the state to survey its spacefaring history at Roswell, state-of-the-art research facilities and the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Then, explore the spectacular Carlsbad Caverns and witness Southern New Mexico’s diverse wildlife and pristine landscapes. This is your chance to learn why the “Land of Enchantment” is no exaggeration.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles over uneven, sometimes slippery terrain. Elevations of 3,000-5,500 feet.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Descend into the stunning Carlsbad Caverns, a vast underground network of intriguing caves and enormous chambers.
- Learn about the wonders of space at the UFO Museum in Roswell and the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
- Explore the mystical beauty and alluring dunes of White Sands National Park with a local expert.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Richard Friedman
Richard Friedman is an archaeologist with decades of experience researching Chacoan culture, who has done extensive work using state-of-the-art technology for cultural and archeological resource documentation, management, and research. He has participated in projects with the National Park Service, the Navajo Nation, the Bureau of Land Management, NASA, the Solstice Project and the University of Colorado, and has co-authored several papers on Chacoan archaeology and the use of remote sensing technology.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Richard Friedman
View biography
Richard Friedman is an archaeologist with decades of experience researching Chacoan culture, who has done extensive work using state-of-the-art technology for cultural and archeological resource documentation, management, and research. He has participated in projects with the National Park Service, the Navajo Nation, the Bureau of Land Management, NASA, the Solstice Project and the University of Colorado, and has co-authored several papers on Chacoan archaeology and the use of remote sensing technology.
Matthew Mitchell
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Matthew Mitchell is a native New Mexican who has nurtured an interest in wildlife and wild places his entire life. He has a degree in biology and has pursued the art of falconry for 48 years. He is involved in many environmental efforts in the middle Rio Grande valley and currently serves on the board of the Friends of the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Sherry Moon
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Sherry Moon is a certified interpreter for the profession of heritage interpretation and an experienced group leader. She has a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications and has taught communication and art. For nearly 20 years, she has been a group leader specializing in the Southwest and Alaska/Yukon. As president of the Rocky Mountain Guides Association, she is regarded as a local expert. Her interests include the arts, history, heritage, geology, reading, outdoor activities, and socializing with friends.
Laureen Lerch
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Laureen Lerch received her B.S. in tourism geography with a minor in anthropology and Indigenous studies. She moved to New Mexico with the AmeriCorps VISTA project to increase eco, cultural, and adventure tourism, now residing in Albuquerque. Laureen holds U.S. and Irish citizenship. She leads Road Scholar programs in New Mexico and her native Chicago, and has led groups since 2004 in the U.S., UK, Ireland, France, and Italy. She can often be found hiking the Sandia Mountains with her partner, son, and two dogs.
Suggested Reading List
(9 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
On the Road in Southern New Mexico: Rugged Beauty and the Final Frontier
Program Number: 22614
Dreamland: Travels Inside the Secret World of Roswell and Area 51
Recounts the history, creation, intelligence and counter-intelligence of Area 51, a section of the American southwestern desert where top-secret aircraft is tested and where some believe the Pentagon is harboring UFOs and extraterrestrials.
A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians
The definitive field guide, with a special section on Baja's endemic species.
New Mexico Wildlife, An Introduction to Familiar Species
A handy fold-up card featuring color illustrations of common plants, animals and reptiles of New Mexico.
Dark Beauty, Photographs of New Mexico
Southwest photographer Parsons presents the rugged landscapes and the people of New Mexico, exploring religious iconography, far-flung ranches, small towns and wide open spaces in this full-color coffee table book.
The Last Cheater's Waltz, Beauty and Violence in the Desert Southwest
A naturalist's travels through the desert Southwest of her youth, reflecting on native peoples, landscape and ecology. Meloy explores Los Alamos, Trinity National Historic Landmark, and White Sands Missile Range -- including the impact of the laboratory and bomb testing on the environment.
Great River, The Rio Grande in North American History
First published in 1954, this classic book won both the Bancroft and the Pulitzer Prizes for history.
Out of This World: New Mexico's Contributions to Space Travel
Beginning with Robert Goddard’s efforts in Roswell, Hall covers 80 years of innovative rocket science research in New Mexico, including the Manhattan Project, the White Sands Missile Range and the Holloman Air Force Base.
New Mexico, A History
This cooperative effort between three native New Mexicans is the first complete history of New Mexico. It charts the state’s development from 16th-century Spanish colony to frontier province, from its 1912 American statehood to a hub of (often classified) scientific research. A vital source for anyone seeking to understand the complex history of the West.
The Spell of New Mexico
A selection of 12 thoughtful essays on the New Mexico state of mind by great writers, including C.G. Jung, Mary Austin, D.H. Lawrence and Lawrence Clark Powell. Hillerman succeeds in communicating the lure of the desert Southwest in this wonderful, literate introduction to the state.