White Sands, New Mexico
I love spontaneous and serendipitous travel; however, there are times when information and planning are invaluable. When I headed off to White Sands, I was dually motivated. First, I wanted to see this remarkable place, which my sister, Caroline, had introduced me to, through a photograph of her, which I love.
Secondly, I wanted to visit Trinity Site, at White Sands Missile Range, thus I should have done my homework, ahead of time. Trinity Site is only open day a year, and I missed it. http://www.wsmr.army.mil/PAO/Trinity/Pages/default.aspx However, White Sands did not disappoint!
On January 18, 1933, after many years of lobbying, by those who saw beauty and potential, in the largest gypsum dune field in the world, President Herbert Hoover, created White Sands National Monument.
The dunes are courtesy the wind and gravity
The Visitor Center, at any National Park, is always the best place to begin your visit; I find the rangers are always helping and informative. At White Sands National Monument you will also want to stop by to look at the architecture of the center. Constructed during the Great Depression, by the Works Progress Administration, the buildings are made from adobe, in the Pueblo-Revival style.
The sand is truly white — you may not take any with you — sorry, I know I would have loved a sample.
The Yellow Evening Primrose grows only on gypsum soil
This is both a driving and walking tour — do bring plenty of water.
