New Mexico's Southwest region attractions, cities, towns, and activities.

New Mexico's Southwest Region
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Overview
Cities/Towns & Counties in this Region

Overview
  Home of the "Chile capital of the world", Hatch, where both red and green chiles are grown, the southwest region boasts the annual harvest and chile-eating contest every Labor Day weekend. It is also home to Las Cruces, the second largest city in the state and the gateway to the heavens, due to it's proximity to the Spaceport, future launch site for commercial spaceflights. The states second largest body of water, Elephant Butte Lake, rests here, providing boating, fishing and swimming. The El Camino Real, known as the Jornada del Muerto or " journey of the dead man", was once the royal trading route from Mexico City to Santa Fe. Spring and Fall brings thousands of migrating Arctic snow geese, dabbler ducks, and sandhill cranes to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and the Gila Forest Wilderness is a sanctuary for wildlife and a former home of cliff dwelling Mogollón Indians. Silver City, selected as one of the '100 Best Small Towns in America', offers a burgeoning art village as well as early-days-tales about characters like Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Judge Roy Bean, "Dangerous" Dan Tucker, and the Hearst family.
  Attractions include the Bosque del Apache, the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum, El Camino Real International Heritage Center, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, Shakespeare and  Steins Ghost Towns, Silver City Museum, Truth of Consequences' Historic Hot Mineral Springs, Baths and Spas, Historic Tomé, San Miguel Mission, Geronimo Springs, Museum, historic Mesilla Plaza, Gila Wilderness, Whitewater Canyon and "the Catwalk". State parks include Caballo Lake, City of Rocks, Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Leasburg Dam, Mesilla Valley Bosque, Pancho Ville State Park, Percha Dam and Rockhound State Park.
  Activities include birding, biking, boating, fishing, camping and hiking, and golfing.
  Scenic drives include the Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway, the Quebradas Backcountry Byway, the El Camino Real National Scenic Byway, the Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway, the Lake Valley Backcountry Byway, and the Socorro Historic District Byway.