When you think of New Mexico, you probably think of Roswell, the rumored site of a UFO crash; stunning expanses of desert or tourist sites like Carlsbad Cavern. But you probably don't know about the range of festivals, the expanse of the White Sands National Monument or the towns that speak an ancient form of Spanish.
New Mexico is home of the world's largest international hot air balloon festival, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta each October. It is one of the only large ballooning events that allows guests to walk around the balloons and talk to their pilots.
If balloons aren't your thing, you can watch the world's largest enchilada be made at the Whole Enchilada Fiesta. The Fiesta is attended by approximately 50 000 people each year.
The White Sands National Monument is a breathtaking sight. The dune field encompasses 275 square miles of desert. The shining white sand is actually gypsum sand, and many animals have adapted to the unique environment by shedding their color to blend in with the sand. The White Sands Institute holds field seminars of the area.
The residents of some small North-Central New Mexico communities, like Coyote and Truchas, speak a form of Spanish from the 1500s that is not otherwise used today. These people are descended from Spanish conquistadors.
