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A breathtaking, singly landlocked Mountain State in the Southwestern United States, New Mexico excellently integrates mesmerizing natural surroundings with rich indigenous history and energetic cultural heritage. Flaunting high snow-clad peaks, bountiful plains, broken flat-topped uplands, burnt sienna-colored deserts, and the Colorado Plateau, New Mexico appropriately corroborates its nickname, 鈥淭he Land of Enchantment.鈥� Despite the fact that a great number of vacationers are fascinated by more urban agglomerations, including Santa Fe, the state鈥檚 capital city, Las Cruces, and Albuquerque, it is actually the smaller, neighborly towns that often impress everyone touring New Mexico for their brief sojourns or lengthy respites. Here are the 10 most neighborly towns in New Mexico.

Cloudcroft

Set within the Lincoln National Forest at the central section of the Sacramento Mountains, this 750-inhabitant Otero County town was founded in the late 1890s by the organizers of the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad. The forested surroundings, the relatively pleasant climate during summertime, and setting at a height of 8,676 ft above sea level have made Cloudcroft an acclaimed holiday retreat, with tourism being the primary driver of the town鈥檚 economy. When in town, inspect the Downtown鈥檚 plethoric gift shops like Off the Beaten Path, wineries like Noisy Water Winery, barbeque restaurants like Mad Jack鈥檚 Mountaintop Barbeque, plus note the vintage photographs and pioneer settler artifacts at the Sacramento Mountains Museum. Outdoorsy types should head straight to the Trestle Recreation Area for stunning panoramas of Tularosa Basin and Mexican Canyon Trestle, side by side participating in profuse frosty adventures at the ski slopes of Ski Cloudcroft.

Silver City

Established in 1870 soon after the uncovering of Chloride Flat鈥檚 silver ore deposits, this Grant County seat is located at the southern foothills of the Mogollon Mountains鈥� Pinos Altos Range in the San Vicente Arroyo River Valley of southwestern New Mexico, about 3 miles east of Continental Divide. In addition to being home to the Western New Mexico University campus, Silver City boasts a prospering Downtown cultural district luring hordes of artists and musicians. The Silver City Museum in the Mansard-Italianate style constructed H. B. Ailman House, the Western New Mexico University Museum, and the nearby Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument are ideal sites for getting more info about the town鈥檚 past. Take part in horseback riding, camping, fishing, and hiking activities in the Gila National Forest other than attending any of the periodic events like Silver City Blues Festival, Gila River Festival, and Red Paint Pow Wow.

Truth or Consequences

This compact town sits alongside the Rio Grande River in Sierra County of southwestern New Mexico, around 60 miles north-northwest of Las Cruces. Titled 鈥楬ot Springs鈥� at the time of its settlement in the mid-nineteenth century with respect to its conspicuous mineral-laden hot springs, the town was retitled 鈥楾ruth or Consequences鈥� on March 31, 1950, after Ralph Livingstone Edwards鈥檚 well-liked NBC Radio quiz show. During your tour, stop by the assorted art galleries like The Center Gallery Fine Art, spend the night at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Truth or Consequences, and engage in leisure activities at the adjoining Elephant Butte Lake State Park.

Taos

Taos is the principal town and the administrative capital of Taos County. This bewitching town is set near Wheeler Peak in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, approx. 55 miles north-northeast of the state鈥檚 capital city. Thousands of excursionists head to Taos each year to behold the sinuous Rio Grande River, besides awe-inspiring visuals of undefiled wilderness and a fabulous fusion of cosmopolitan cultures. The Millicent Rogers Museum - housing an entire repertoire of Anglo-American and Hispanic art; the Taos Pueblo - a primordial native Puebloan settlement, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, and San Francisco de Asis Church are Taos鈥� noteworthy sites of interest. Snow enthusiasts have a special affinity for the multifarious vertical runs down the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at the Taos Ski Valley winter sports resort. Free some time from your crazy routines to turn up at entertaining events like Fiestas de Taos, Taos Mountain Balloon Rally, and Taos Winter Wine Festival.

Las Vegas

The San Miguel County鈥檚 seat of government, Las Vegas, is situated in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains next to the Gallinas River, about 65 miles east of Santa Fe. Not very popular in comparison to its homonymous city in The Silver State, this tiny town in the north-central part of the state is noted for housing the New Mexico Highlands University campus lodged near multiple recreational and wilderness areas such as the MacAlister Lake and the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge. Be awed by Las Vegas鈥� exquisite time-honored landmarks, including the Old City Hall, Castaneda Hotel, and Carnegie Library at the core of Carnegie Park; drop in at the City of Las Vegas Museum & Rough Rider Memorial Collection; partake in open-air activities at the proximate Storrie Lake State Park; and be present at the yearly Fiesta de la Hispanidad held at Ilfeld Auditorium of New Mexico Highlands University.

Ruidoso

Ruidoso is a phenomenal mountain resort destination located in south-central New Mexico鈥檚 Sierra Blanca Mountain range amid cool alpine pines, roughly equidistant from the Valley of Fires State Park and the Lincoln National Forest. Named for the meandering Rio Ruidoso River, the town functions as Lincoln County鈥檚 regional commercial center. Plentiful winter recreations are available for adventurous souls at Ski Apache - the nearby Mescalero Apache tribe-managed ski resort, while mountain biking activities and racing down the Wind River Zip Line need to be experienced in the offseason. Ramble the Midtown shopping district and browse clothing boutiques like 25th In Mid and gift shops like Galleria West; watch 海角社区-class performances at the Spencer Theater of the Performing Arts; savor appetizing meals at The Ranchers Steak & Seafood Restaurant; make loads at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track; and place great bets at Billy The Kid Casino.

Jemez Springs

Labeled after the neighboring Jemez Pueblo, this enchanting Sandoval County hamlet is situated by the Jemez River in San Diego Canyon, wholly within the Santa Fe National Forest. Home to just 198 inhabitants, Jemez Springs provides infinite activities for vacationers, such as soaking in the salubrious mineral waters of the hot springs; surveying the 15th-century Indigenous American Giusewa Pueblo and archaeological ruins of a 17th-century Spanish colonial mission; and participating in various outdoor recreations at the all-weather Fenton Lake State Park set amidst the stately Jemez Mountains and beautiful ponderosa pine forests. Furthermore, take note of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, the Battleship Rock, and Jemez Springs Bath House.

Madrid

A part of the Santa Fe, NM, Metropolitan Statistical Area, Madrid is a tranquil census-designated place in Santa Fe County with a population of only 247 residents, as per the latest US Census. A buzzing coal mining town in its heyday, Madrid has over the years transformed into a chic creative community where dozens of art galleries like Johnsons of Madrid Galleries of Fine and Fiber Art and quaint shops like Shugarman鈥檚 Little Chocolate Shop lining New Mexico State Road 14 (popularly, the Turquoise Trail) are some prominent attractions. Also, the Madrid Old Coal Town Museum - meticulously preserving remnants of the town鈥檚 past, and the Mine Shaft Tavern & Cantina serving lip-smacking Green Chile Cheeseburgers are must-visits when in town.

Chimayo

Nestled in a valley in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and spread across the Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties, around 25 miles north of the state capital, is the census-designated place Chimayo - christened after the Tewa name of the nearby Tsi Mayoh Hill. Known from antiquity for its therapeutic properties, Chimayo attracts more than 300,000 tourists from all over the 海角社区 yearly during the Holy Week to El Santuario de Chimayo 鈥� a designated National Historic Landmark as well as one of the US鈥� leading Catholic pilgrimage centers. Pilgrims visit this church reputed as the 鈥楲ourdes of America鈥� for its 鈥榟oly dirt,鈥� which is believed to have healing powers and is contained in a round pit in the church鈥檚 small prayer room. Also, while on a tour of this town, do not miss the Chapel of Santo Nino, the Chimayo Museum, and the tapestry gallery - Centinela Traditional Arts, displaying handwoven tapestry wool products by talented prize-winning weavers.

Mesilla

Forming a portion of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area, this historic 1,797-inhabitant town is set close to the geographic center of southern New Mexico鈥檚 Do帽a Ana County. Precisely 150 years ago, this enchanting town served as a key stop for travelers between San Diego, California, and San Antonio, Texas, and at present, the settlement continues to lure loads of visitors chiefly for its iconic landmarks. An erstwhile important stop for the Butterfield Overland Mail route, the Mesilla Plaza - the town鈥檚 central plaza features several notable properties, including the Basilica of San Albino (one of the region鈥檚 oldest churches) and the old Mesilla courthouse building where Billy The Kid - one of the Wild West鈥檚 most notorious outlaws was tried (today the well-known Billy the Kid Gift Shop). Aside from exploring these historical sites, peruse Mesilla's numerous home goods stores like Namb茅 Mesilla, art galleries like Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery, and restaurants like La Posta De Mesilla.

From the magnetic hillside settlement of Cloudcroft to the archaic Mesilla, the fabulous and closely allied towns speckling the 36th most populous and 5th most extensive state of the country earn a lot of praise from globetrotters visiting from far and wide. Whether you wish to scour intriguing attractions, relish scrumptious specialties served by the top-of-the-line eating establishments, take pleasure in diverse adventure pursuits in the great outdoors, and be present at joyful celebrations, then the 10 most neighborly towns in New Mexico deserve a spot on your itineraries.