New Mexico’s Sand Dunes and Giant Cavern
New Mexico is a beautiful state with two of our top favorite natural attractions in the Southwest.
White Sands National Park
Lose yourself among the rolling white sand dunes of a true American treasure and descend into the depths of an ancient cavern with more than 300 stunning limestone caves.
Welcome to White Sands National Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park, two of the Southwest’s more remarkable natural wonders. Covering 275 square miles, the gypsum dune field at White Sands is the largest of its kind in the world.
Hike, bike, or ride horseback through this unique landscape, or follow the 16-mile Driving Dunes Drive to take in the scenery from your car. You can even camp among the dunes in one of the primitive backcountry campsites. Stay the night and you’ll wake up to a view that few get to enjoy.
For some time out of the sun, find your way into the subterranean wonderland that is Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Called “the Grand Canyon with a roof over it” by actor and comedian Will Rogers, the park has two trails you can meander along by yourself.
The 1.25-mile Big Room Trail is a flat path that yields amazing views of formations large and small, as well as a rope ladder used by early explorers in the 1920’s.
There’s also the Natural Entrance Trail, a winding 1.25-mile path that descends a quad-burning 750 feet, a journey that passes notable formations like the Devil’s Spring and Iceberg Rock.
Back on the surface, you’ll find 11 hiking trails like the 100-mile-long Guadalupe Ridge Trail, a pathway ideal for backcountry hikers looking to get away from it all.
Tucked away in the farthest reaches of southeast New Mexico, White Sands National Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are two of the country’s top natural wonders. As remote as they are, both parks are about two hours away from El Paso, making them ideal daytrip destinations from the Sun City.
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Texans Jack & Dodie View All →
Raised in San Antonio, Jack Dennis’ early experiences were as a newspaper reporter and private investigator. With a Texas State University bachelor’s degree, Jack studied journalism, education and psychology. He was the founding vice-president of Sigma Delta Chi, the Association of Professional Journalists at the University. Jack has received numerous awards, including Investigative Reporter of the Year from Rocky Mountain Press Association, David Ashworth Community Award, and Leadership in Management.
Some of the people and groups Jack has interviewed include:
Music
Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, George Strait, Roy Orbison, Justin Timberlake, Steven Tyler, Freddie Mercury, Kenny Rogers, Kenny Loggins, Jackson Browne, Steve Wariner, Tanya Tucker, Scotty Moore, Fats Domino, Patty Page, Tommy Roe, Emmy Lou Harris, Johnny Rivers, Charly McClain, Kinky Friedman, John McFee, Guy Allison & Patrick Simmons (Doobie Brothers) , Randy Bachman (BTO), Jim Messina, Todd Rundgren, Alvin Lee, Gary Puckett, The Ventures, Freddy Cannon, Augie Meyer, Christopher Cross, Whiskey Myers, Sha Na Na (John “Bowzer” Baumann), Flash Cadillac, Jerry Scheff, John Wilkinson, Darrell McCall, and more.
Politicians & News
George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Lady Bird Johnson, Greg Abbott, Rudolph Giuliani, Larry King, Jack Anderson, Tom Bradley, Connie Mack, and more.
Actors
Clint Eastwood, Mike Myers, Taylor Lautner, Cameron Diaz, Jerry Lewis, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Selena Gomez, Tippi Hedren, James Earl Jones, James Woods, Jim Nabors, Martha Raye, Rosalind Russell, June Lockhart, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Howie Mandel, Meg Ryan, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, James Drury, Melanie Griffith, Nathan Lane, Alan Thicke, Lou Diamond Phillips, Clint Howard, Tony Sirico, Cesar Romero, Michael Berryman, Tracy Scoggins, William Windom, Warren Stevens and more.
Space Explorers
Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Wally Schirra, Dave Scott, Gene Cernan, Walt Cunningham, Scott Carpenter, Gene Kranz (NASA Flight Director), Ed Mitchell, Richard Gordon, Bruce McCandless, Vanentina Treshkova (first woman in space, Russia), Alex Leonov (first man to walk in space, Russian), Al Worden, Dee O’Hara (nurse to astronauts) and more.
Sports: Joe Torre, Roger Staubach, Bob Hayes, Billie Jean King, Manuela Maleeva, Drew Pearson, Bob Lilly, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, George Gervin, Tony Parker, Shannon Miller, Cathy Rigby, Bruce Bowen, Wade Boggs, Fernando Valenzuela, Bernie Kosar, Dale Murphy, Jim Abbott, Dick Bartell, Mike Schmidt, Dan Pastorini and more.
Notables
May Pang, Bob Eubanks, Vernon Presley, Vester Presley, Charlie Hodge, Joe Esposito, Rick Stanley (Elvis’ step-brother, Harold Lloyd (Elvis’ first cousin), Doyle Brunson, Kara Peller, Hank Meijer, Norman Brinkler, Stanley Marcus, Jerry King, Mac King, Nathan Burton, Zach Anner, Louie Anderson, Owen Benjamin, Steve Byrne and more.
As head of Facilities for a major retailer (H-E-B Food/Drugs) for 20 years, Jack co-founded Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association (PRSM) and was elected President to establish PRSM magazine. Jack is a writer, speaker, golf-concierge and happiness coach. He has researched and studied happiness for over 40 years.
Jack was a prolific writer for Examiner.com, with over 1,900 articles written in six years. His articles and stories have appeared in AXS Entertainment, The ROWDY Country Music, Memphis Flash, and numerous magazines.
He is author of “Miracles of Justice,” a true courtroom drama novel about social injustice and miracles.
Wow, wow, and wow. So stunningly beautiful.
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All that white sand is deceptive – you’d think it was cool since it looks like snow. But it’s not – it’s verrry hot, but very pristine and beautiful!
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