New Mexico is a great place to visit. It has a beautiful climate, fantastic people and a unique culture. However in order to get the most out of your trip to this fair state, do the following steps:

1. Eat the local food. Go to either a Mexican or New Mexican restaurant when you are here.
2. Understand our state's official question "red or green?" This means "do you wish to have red or green chile on your food?" I suggest that you have green chile - it's usually the most flavorful.
3. Visit a Catholic church. Many of the Catholic churches in this state are hundreds of years old. Catholicism was and still is very important to native Hispanic New Mexicans.
4. Visit an Indian Pueblo. However, please respect their privacy and traditions.
5. Visit Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Ruidoso, Gallup and Taos. These cities, among others, give you a good sense of what New Mexico is about.
6. Go off the beaten path. Check out Chaco Canyon, the Very Large Array, and the many little towns, villages, and ghost towns in the state.


If you live in the United States, you don't need a passport to visit New Mexico. New Mexico is the 47th state of the United States.You usually can drink the water! Wear sunscreen! New Mexico is sunny, and much of it is high elevation. You may get sunburns that may lead to skin cancer if you don't take care of yourself. Be prepared for cold and/or inclement weather. Not all of New Mexico is desert, some places are cooler than others. Also, it can get fairly cold in the desert during the winter. Be wary of tourist traps! Remember, one person's treasure is another person's trash.