New Mexico - The Cactus State

State Capital: Santa Fe
Admission to the union:
January 6th, 1912 as 47th state

Once part of the Spanish Vice-Royalty of New Spain and then Mexico, the border state of New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanic Americans in the nation and the third highest proportion of Indian Americans. The cultural mix is inescapable and gives the state its rich flavour and colour that people come to experience. Most of the state is hot and arid making it the home to the nation’s widest variety of cactus which flourish in the harsh conditions. New Englanders often regard New Mexico as a Fly Over State.

Things to do in New Mexico:

Fort Union Ruins, may look like a Hollywood Wild West movie set, but is the real McCoy and a definite must for history enthusiasts.

The Chaco Canyon Cultural Monument is an amazing archaeological site of the ancient Pueblo Indians, abandoned around 1150.

Make sure you bring a good camera to the White Springs National Monument as the colourful dunes are amazingly photogenic.

Roswell, home to the famous ET incident and ‘Alien Autopsy’ is a great place to find out who is really out there at the UFO Museum.

New Mexico has its own cuisine greatly influenced by its namesake, Mexico, and highly spiced with chilli. Enjoy!