Route 66 New Mexico And Texas Side Trips

Side trips during this leg of your Mother Road Adventure include Aliens at Roswell and Southwestern culture in Santa Fe. Not only will you be intrigued by the UFO Museum and its extensive Area 51 evidence and artifacts. Driving through oil and cattle country, you'll be charmed by magical little towns like Artesia, Texas, the enchanting sunsets in rugged New Mexico, and of course the entertaining roadside souvenir shops that dot the I-40 through New Mexico's Old 66 route.

More than just kitschy displays, the UFO Museum in Roswell has an extensive collection of evidence and documentation of the Area 51 incidents and other UFO sightings. With movie theatre screening U.F.O.-themed movies and documentaries and a gift shop, there are plenty of reasons why the Automobile Club calls this stop in Roswell a "gem".

Just as mysterious as Area 51, Roswell seems just like any other town as you enter it on from the highway, but there are plenty of unique gift shops and small attractions unlike any other that you've seen. The U.F.O. Museum And Research Center is an unassuming, but massive, collection of physical evidence, photographs, newspaper clippings and other documentation from the Area 51 incident and other U.F.O. sightings and encounters. Before getting back up to the I-40, and more Route 66 adventures, stop at Peppers Bar & Grill for a bite to eat.

Albuquerque is a historic, enchanting city of artists, adobes and artifacts. It has an old Mexican-style zocalo, or main square with shops and beautiful Southwest historic buildings. There are some great Old 66 roadside motel signs on this stretch of the Mother Road. When in Albuquerque, make time for a trip up to Sandia Peak on the Sandia Peak Tramway. You'll love the view and the meal from High Finance Restaurant at the top of Sandia Peak.