Snowbirds heading home—Part V
Venturing north from Texas
Winter Texans have a number of routes north to choose from. San Antonio is an excellent place to begin your sightseeing. Two or three nights here would only scratch the surface. There are many RV parks near Sea World and Fiesta, Texas. Stroll along the River Walk or sit at an outdoor café and watch the world float by. Go over to the Alamo, the Shrine of Texas independence. Be sure to take your hat off. This is a shrine and Texans take this site seriously.
Head west on I-10 to Fort Stockton, which was a favourite rest stop on the Comanche Trail to Chihuahua, San Antonio and El Paso. The Butterfield Mail Express went this way. The fort was garrisoned by Buffalo soldiers from 1867 to 1886. It was a tough life for these troops. The visitor centre and museum bring you back to that time.
Back on I-10 to El Paso and a glimpse of life on a border town. El Paso is the home of Fort Bliss and is a huge US Army training base, the northern boundary of which stretches well into New Mexico. The Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens are well worth the stop here.
Winter Texans can avoid El Paso and head north into New Mexico on TX54 at Van Horn through Guadalupe Mountains National Park. In New Mexico, take the US180/62 to Carlsbad Caverns. These underground caves are an exhilarating experience.
Mystery and history
Continue on US285 to Roswell to investigate the Roswell UFO incident that occurred in July of 1947. Was it a UFO from outer space, like the locals say, or was it the debris from a high altitude surveillance balloon as the government claims? It is still a mystery.
Continue north on NM20 to Old Fort Sumner. The fort was established 1863 for the internment of Apache Indians and was closed in 1868. Nearby is the Bosque Redondo Memorial, dedicated to the thousands of Native Americans who died during the “Long Walk” in 1860. It was here at Fort Sumner in 1881, that the notorious outlaw, Billy the Kid, was killed. His grave is located in the old fort. Fort Sumner is also the spring and fall home of the Columbia Scientific Balloon facility.
NM20 will take you to I-40 West and back to US285 North to US25, and on to Sante Fe, which is a pretty city with a number of beautiful campgrounds and spectacular views from the high ground surrounding the city.
When you finally arrive home, you should feel good about knowing you have added to your knowledge of history and nature.
Author's note:
There are many roads that will take you to these attractions, depending on your exact starting location and the type of road you prefer to use. The routes we chose were suitable for a 34-foot fifth wheel RV. In all cases, given the time of year, it is recommended that you call ahead to ensure that the roads are passable.
