Spring Guide 2007: Dirt Flirt

Get out of town and off the beaten track.

According to Greek mythology, Persephone is the harbinger of spring. Upon her annual yet temporary departure from the Underworld, Nature rejoices. For months we have been trapped indoors, bracing for another endless snowstorm, but finally-allergies be damned-we can roll up our sleeves and bask in the sun. And what better way to appreciate the season than to get in the car and go? Sure, you've been to Abiquiu, Ojo Caliente and Bandelier, but maybe it's time to check out some less-traveled, but still hot, spots. As Margaret Atwood once said, "In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." So fill your gas tank and grab your water bottle, a camera and some good music. It's time to hit the road and get a little dirty.

Hot spot: The Lightning Field

Location:

Near Quemado; about four and a half hours' drive

Cost:

$100-$250 per person, reservations required

The scoop:

In 1977, a well-regarded American sculptor and land artist chose the remote Southwestern desert as the location for his project The Lightning Field. Walter De Maria had created multiple pieces that received great acclaim, but none quite like The Lightning Field. The sculpture consists of 400 polished stainless steel poles, each about 2 inches thick and 20 feet tall, spaced exactly 220 feet apart. When thunderstorms roll through, the effects of nearby lighting are amazing, but even during calm weather it's a treat. The Lightning Field can be visited between May 1 and Oct. 1, seven days a week. A cozy cabin is available and must be reserved in advance. The stay includes a simple vegetarian dinner and breakfast in the morning.

For more info:

Hot spot: VLA Telescope

Location:

West of Socorro; about two hours' drive

Cost:

Free

The scoop: New Mexico's Very Large Array radio telescope consists of more than 27 huge reflecting dishes, each measuring 82 feet across and weighing 230 tons. Together, they form a telescope used to study galaxies and quasars up to 10 billion light years away. A visitors' center is open from 8:30 am until sunset, providing a nine-minute video presentation on astronomy and the VLA itself. Spring is the perfect time to visit the VLA, as only two guided tour days are offered annually, one of which falls on Saturday, April 7. Reservations are not required. If your road trip choice includes White Sands National Monument, be sure to take advantage of visiting the Very Large Array as well.

For more info:

Hot spot: Tinkertown Museum

Location:

In Sandia Park; about one and a half hours' drive

Cost:

$1-$3

The scoop: Over the course of 40 years, Ross Ward carved countless miniature figures out of wood. One of Ward's handmade signs proudly exclaims, "I did all this while you were watching TV." These pieces were first introduced in traveling exhibits, county fairs and carnivals during the 1960s and 1970s. Today, all the figures are maintained in a 22-room museum known as Tinkertown. The labyrinthine museum holds more than 50,000 glass bottles and, in addition to the funky western memorabilia, visitors can pay to see the coin-operated Esmeralda, the fortune teller, or Otto, the one-man band. Although Ross Ward passed away in 2002, his family continues to keep this quirky project alive. Tinkering at Tinkertown is a rare and memorable experience, surely a great story for the grandchildren.

For more info:

Hot spot: Sitting Bull Falls

Location:

Near Carlsbad; about five and a half hours' drive

Cost:

Free

The scoop:

A 130-foot waterfall in the desert? Believe it or not, it's true, and makes for a perfect spring road trip. Located within Lincoln National Forest, Sitting Bull Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in New Mexico (yes, there are more!). The waterfall also hides a cave that contains several small pools and a crystal-clear lake 20 feet in diameter and 15 feet deep. To explore the cave, you must get a permit for entry or use a guide, but the view from behind the falls is worth it. If you hike upstream, you'll pass more pools and find a natural spring; you could easily spend a day or two exploring Lincoln National Forest. Nearby Ski Apache is usually open through late March or early April, so you might include a last taste of winter in your spring fling.

For more info:

Hot spot: White Sands National Monument

Location:

Near Alamogordo; about five hours' drive

Cost:

$3

The scoop:

Two hundred million years ago, White Sands National Monument was a vast wetland of bays and lagoons. Today, rippled white dunes cover 275 square miles, making it the world's largest gypsum field. Despite a frequently windy spring season, this park offers four marked trails to meander during the day and ranger-led hikes at sunset. Frequent special events include moonlit bicycle tours and tours to Lake Lucero, the source of the gypsum beds. The White Sands Missile Range surrounds the National Monument, which means the park must close for occasional weapon and missile testing, so call the day before your visit and make sure they'll be open. The Missile Range is home to the Trinity Site, where the first atomic bomb was exploded in 1945. The Trinity Site is open for self-guided tours just two days each year; the next one is April 7.

For more info on White Sands:

For more info on the Trinity Site:

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