These 3 nights and 2 days in Las Cruces have been the most beautiful of our 3-week cross-country journey. Our KOA campground is on the side of a mountain overlooking the city revealing beautiful sunrises and mountain views not to mention the lights of the city at night. We can watch it all out of the rear picture window in Diggs.

Las Cruces is surrounded by mountains and many points of interest. On the first night we had a delicious Mexican dinner at La Posta, a 175-year-old stagecoach stop on the Butterfield Trail that once sheltered Billy the Kid, Kit Carson, and Pancho Villa.

Today we ventured over the San Augustin pass (elevation 5627 ft) through the Organ Mountains to the Army’s White Sands Missle Test Range.

Unfortunately, the base was closed due to COVID-19. We then headed to White Sands National Monument and were amazed by the 275 square miles of bright white gypsum sand dunes. The colorful contrast between the white sand, the distant purple mountains and the blue sky was absolutely beautiful!

Not being able to get enough of the great Mexican food here we headed into Alamagordo to Rizzo’s for street tacos. The entire state of New Mexico has a no inside dining rule right now. Restaurant food must be taken to go or some offer outside dining on patios or in heated tents.

Las Cruces’ high desert designation (3900 ft) yields lots of bright blue skies and sunshine. The famous Rio Grande river that follows much of the border between the U.S. and Mexico cuts right through the city but due to decreased snowmelt in more northern states, it has been a dry riverbed for the last few years.

Nearby are space museums including Virgin America’s Spaceport where passengers will soon embark on tours into outer space. So much to see and do in New Mexico. We shall return.

She & Me will reach Arizona tomorrow. The Desert Southwest certainly has its charms!