The New Mexico Museum of Space History. Cool beans! Photo by Tom Battles.
I heard about plans for Spaceport America over dinner one night in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (at the very excellent Cafe Bella Luca). It’s the kind of thing you hear about and think, “Yeah, right … that will never happen. Well, smack my head and call me clueless … looks like it really is going to happen. Some day, you might be able to board a commercial spaceship in New Mexico for a little getaway in outer space.
Truthfully, my interest in outer space pretty much began and ended with Lost in Space and I mostly liked Mr. Smith, pissy old queen. But New Mexico’s outer space element is kinda fun, you could make a whole theme trip out of it even before Spaceport opens.
Fly into Albuquerque and drive to Truth or Consequences for a night or two in the Jetson’s Room at Blackstone Hotsprings. Visit the spacey landscape of White Sands National Monument en route to Alamogordo and the New Mexico Museum of Space History, which has a lot of cool stuff. (Sputnik!) Then, of course, a pilgrimage to Area 51 and the International UFO Museum. (The 2010 Amazing Roswell UFO Festival is July 1-4.) Finally, en route back to Albuquerque, you’ll pass the White Sands Missile Range and, after a thorough screening , (license, registration, and proof of insurance, please) can visit the White Sands Missile Range Museum.
Someday, your theme holiday can culminate with a little jaunt to, oh, I don’t know … Jupiter? But until then, a green chile cheeseburger at the Owl Cafe in San Antonio. Why? ‘Cause they’re out of this world, of course. (Rimshot.)
I’ve hit a few of these, but not all of them yet. I’m enough of a space cadet for both of us!
We hit a couple of these on our Great Road Trip of 2003. Also, the green chili burger reminded me of the most excellent New Mexican Apple Pie at the Daily Pie Cafe in Pie Town — featuring pine nuts and green chilis. Mmmm.
Ohhh … I will not rest until I taste that…
Want!
Hey! Dr. Smith was not a pissy old Queen! He was just uninhibited!
OK … he was an uninhibited pissy old queen.