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TRIP INFORMATION

GETTING THERE

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is 305 miles south of Albuquerque and 23 miles southwest of Carlsbad town on Hwy 180/62.

DO

Bradbury Science Museum

A children’s section at this atomic-history museum features hands-on activities including computer programs. 505-667-4444; www.lanl.gov/museum; Central Ave; admission free; 10am-5pm Tue-Sat;

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

The park covers 73 sq miles and has nearly 100 caves. If you want to scramble to lesser-known areas, ask about Wild Cave tours. 800-967-2283; www.nps.gov/cave; 3225 National Parks Hwy; adult/child $6/3; 8am-5pm, to 7pm late May–mid-Aug

International UFO Museum & Research Center

The museum library claims to have the most comprehensive UFO-related materials in the world. And we have no reason to be skeptical. 575-625-9495; www.iufomrc.org; 114 N Main St; admission free; 9am-5pm

Los Alamos Historical Museum

Pick up a self-guided Los Alamos walking-tour pamphlet at this museum preserving atomic-era pop culture. 505-662-4493; www.losalamos.com/historicalsociety; 1921 Juniper St; admission free; 9:30am-4:30pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun

National Museum of Atomic Nuclear Science & History

This kid-friendly museum uses interactive activities to introduce young ones to atomic history. 505-245-2137; www.atomicmuseum.com; 1905 Mountain Rd NW; adult/child $5/4; 9am-5pm;

White Sands National Monument

The dunes, 15 miles southwest of Hwy 82/70, cover 275 sq miles and are composed of gypsum, a chalky mineral used in making plaster of Paris. 575-679-2599; www.nps.gov/whsa; admission $3; visitors center 8am-7pm Jun-Aug, to 5pm Sep-May

EAT & SLEEP

Adobe Pines B&B

In an adobe building, there are five appealing rooms with wi-fi. 505-661-8828; www.losalamoslodging.com; 1601 Loma Linda Dr, Los Alamos; s/d $78/88

Canyon Bar & Grill

The best place for a beer and basic bar grub. Live music and dancing on Friday; karaoke Thursday. 505-662-3333; 163 Central Park Sq, Los Alamos; mains $5-12; 11am-2am Mon-Sat, to midnight Sun

Los Poblanos

On an organic farm five minutes’ drive from the Old Town and within walking distance of the Rio Grande. 505-344-9297; www.lospoblanos.com; 4803 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque; r $145-250

Launch Pad

The hottest spot for local live music. 505-764-8887; www.launchpadrocks.com; 618 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque; 7pm-1am

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.atomicarchive.com

www.weirdload.com/nm-ufo.html

LINK YOUR TRIP www.lonelyplanet.com/trip-planner

TRIP

13 Big Skies & Weird Science

38 Albuquirky

49 Hiking the Jemez

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Return to beginning of chapter

Fiber Arts Trail

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WHY GO Dishing up dramatic mountain-meets-adobe scenery and 71 shopping stops, the Fiber Arts Trail is the ultimate girls’ green road trip. Go ahead, buy the soft, blue sheep-wool shawl you’re already wrapped in and the hand-loomed Navajo blanket. Shopping at these artisan-owned rural galleries is sustainable and 100% guilt free.

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TIME

3 days

DISTANCE

230 miles

BEST TIME TO GO

Aug – Oct

START

Magdalena, NM

END

Silver City, NM

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You won’t find any chain stores on the three Fiber Arts Trail loops, but you will discover numerous artist-owned galleries where the merchandise is original and always made in New Mexico. The concept behind the trail is to put fiber arts galleries in rural communities on the map. Currently, it’s not unusual for artists in poor communities to drive hundreds of miles to sell their craft. These daily long hauls aren’t just bad for the earth’s carbon footprint; they also put strain on families. The Fiber Arts Trail creators hope to eliminate this variable by bringing the market to the artist, establishing permanent sustainable arts-based tourism in the rural towns where these artisans tend to live.

It would take an entire book to cover all 71 stops and three loops on the Fiber Arts Trail (happily, an easy-to-follow tourism booklet has been written) so we’ve concentrated on our favorite portion of the Southern Loop. Our