Alamogordo – Less than 15 miles from Alamogordo visitors traveling southwest on US Hwy 70 catch their first glimpse of the amazing dunes of the White Sands National Monument.
“Its snow,” exclaims Grandpa. “Naw, it can’t be, can it?”<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/whitesandsinsert.gif align=left border=1 hspace=2 vspace=2>
Even if the family has only an hour, they will find much to see and do at White Sands. Just 15 minutes spent viewing the orientation video at the Visitor’s Center will provide fascinating answers to many questions. There’s even a Jr. Ranger Activity which takes only an hour.
Travelers with little ones or one’s up in years may enjoy the wheelchair-accessible Interdune Board- walk. Strollers here may view early morning tracks of a bleached earless lizard or even those of passing kit fox.<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/whspics3.jpg align=right border=1 hspace=2>
Whether energetically sand surfing the dunes or letting lightweight broken selenite crystals gently sift through one’s fingers or enjoying discoveries on the ranger-guided Sunset Stroll, vacationers at the White Sands will likely agree with one youth’s assessment: Awesome.
It’s a one-of-a-kind experience. But it’s not the only one in the area. Alamogordo has other unique resources that should be on everyone’s travel list.
Once in town, visit the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center for all the latest in events and maps and information on the town.
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/museum-orangeflowers.jpg align=left border=1 hspace=2>High above Alamogordo the intrepid can travel the Indian Wells Walking Trail enjoying remarkable views of the Tularosa Basin, the famous White Sands gypsum dunes, and the distant San Andreas peaks. You can access the 0.7 mile trail from the upper parking lot behind the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
Exciting but more sedentary are the offerings at New Mexico’s only IMAX® dome theater and Planetarium. Seven days a week starting at 11 am, shows are offered every hour including one showing at 5 PM. At 6pm on Friday and Saturday nights a Planetarium Show is included.
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/alamogordo.jpg align=right border=1 hspace=2>Visitors are invited to discover the mystery of Mars through the spectacular new Walt Disney Pictures giant screen adventure “Roving Mars” which opened this fall. Visit the moon as the guests of narrator/producer Tom Hanks in the IMAX film “Magnificent Desolation,” the story of the 12 men who walked on the moon.
Those wishing to stay closer to home are invited to dive deep into IMAX’s “Deep Sea”, narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. “Viewers are taken beneath the waters at nine different locations to discover the secrets of exotic creatures including the giant Pacific Octopus measuring up to 25 feet across and a scary encounter with tiger sharks who actually prey on humans,” reveals Cathy Harper from her Marketing Director’s office deep within the IMAX theater building. Cathy cautions, “Movies and times are subject to change, so give us a call at (505) 437-2840 or visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org (http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/).”
While in Alamogordo be sure to stroll through the city’s historic downtown section and visit the Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts, 1110 NY Ave. (505-437-2202). The center, which is due for renovations in the near future, is a haven for cultural arts in the county.
Among their offerings in the near future are:
Wednesday, Dec. 5. “An Evening with Groucho” Time: 7:30 pm presented by Burt Broadcasting
Friday, Dec. 8: Flying J Wranglers. A benefit for the Opportunity Center.
Saturday, Dec. 9, Father B Hay Holiday Show 7:30
Friday and Saturday Dec. 15-16: Academy of Ballet presents The Nutcracker. T 730 pm, A fund raiser for the Flickinger Center, Tuesday, Dec. 19: HS Choir Time: 7:30
Jan. 20, 2007 Dr. Donald Ham presents: “Quartetto Gelato” Time: 7:30 pm Italian Chamber Music
Jan. 26 Carol Kessler as Emily Dickinson, a Chautauqua Literary Series event, Free, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3. Alamogordo Daily News presents: Viver Brasil Dance Company”, Brazilian dance and music, a 7:30 pm
Feb. 14: Cowboy Cabaret and Chocolate Buffet” featuring Junior Daugherty and Thelma Pearl with Daybreak Express. Time: 7:30 pm A fund raiser for the Flickinger Center;
Feb. 21-24 White Sands Film Festival
By Nancy Patterson - Steppin’ Out Regional Rep
© 2006 Nancy Patterson - Permission To Reprint Granted
Alamogordo – Less than 15 miles from Alamogordo visitors traveling southwest on US Hwy 70 catch their first glimpse of the amazing dunes of the White Sands National Monument.
“Its snow,” exclaims Grandpa. “Naw, it can’t be, can it?”<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/whitesandsinsert.gif align=left border=1 hspace=2 vspace=2>
Even if the family has only an hour, they will find much to see and do at White Sands. Just 15 minutes spent viewing the orientation video at the Visitor’s Center will provide fascinating answers to many questions. There’s even a Jr. Ranger Activity which takes only an hour.
Travelers with little ones or one’s up in years may enjoy the wheelchair-accessible Interdune Board- walk. Strollers here may view early morning tracks of a bleached earless lizard or even those of passing kit fox.<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/whspics3.jpg align=right border=1 hspace=2>
Whether energetically sand surfing the dunes or letting lightweight broken selenite crystals gently sift through one’s fingers or enjoying discoveries on the ranger-guided Sunset Stroll, vacationers at the White Sands will likely agree with one youth’s assessment: Awesome.
It’s a one-of-a-kind experience. But it’s not the only one in the area. Alamogordo has other unique resources that should be on everyone’s travel list.
Once in town, visit the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center for all the latest in events and maps and information on the town.
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/museum-orangeflowers.jpg align=left border=1 hspace=2>High above Alamogordo the intrepid can travel the Indian Wells Walking Trail enjoying remarkable views of the Tularosa Basin, the famous White Sands gypsum dunes, and the distant San Andreas peaks. You can access the 0.7 mile trail from the upper parking lot behind the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
Exciting but more sedentary are the offerings at New Mexico’s only IMAX® dome theater and Planetarium. Seven days a week starting at 11 am, shows are offered every hour including one showing at 5 PM. At 6pm on Friday and Saturday nights a Planetarium Show is included.
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/alamogordo.jpg align=right border=1 hspace=2>Visitors are invited to discover the mystery of Mars through the spectacular new Walt Disney Pictures giant screen adventure “Roving Mars” which opened this fall. Visit the moon as the guests of narrator/producer Tom Hanks in the IMAX film “Magnificent Desolation,” the story of the 12 men who walked on the moon.
Those wishing to stay closer to home are invited to dive deep into IMAX’s “Deep Sea”, narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. “Viewers are taken beneath the waters at nine different locations to discover the secrets of exotic creatures including the giant Pacific Octopus measuring up to 25 feet across and a scary encounter with tiger sharks who actually prey on humans,” reveals Cathy Harper from her Marketing Director’s office deep within the IMAX theater building. Cathy cautions, “Movies and times are subject to change, so give us a call at (505) 437-2840 or visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org (http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/).”
While in Alamogordo be sure to stroll through the city’s historic downtown section and visit the Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts, 1110 NY Ave. (505-437-2202). The center, which is due for renovations in the near future, is a haven for cultural arts in the county.
Among their offerings in the near future are:
Wednesday, Dec. 5. “An Evening with Groucho” Time: 7:30 pm presented by Burt Broadcasting
Friday, Dec. 8: Flying J Wranglers. A benefit for the Opportunity Center.
Saturday, Dec. 9, Father B Hay Holiday Show 7:30
Friday and Saturday Dec. 15-16: Academy of Ballet presents The Nutcracker. T 730 pm, A fund raiser for the Flickinger Center, Tuesday, Dec. 19: HS Choir Time: 7:30
Jan. 20, 2007 Dr. Donald Ham presents: “Quartetto Gelato” Time: 7:30 pm Italian Chamber Music
Jan. 26 Carol Kessler as Emily Dickinson, a Chautauqua Literary Series event, Free, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3. Alamogordo Daily News presents: Viver Brasil Dance Company”, Brazilian dance and music, a 7:30 pm
Feb. 14: Cowboy Cabaret and Chocolate Buffet” featuring Junior Daugherty and Thelma Pearl with Daybreak Express. Time: 7:30 pm A fund raiser for the Flickinger Center;
Feb. 21-24 White Sands Film Festival