Are These Really The Most Beautiful Small Towns In New Mexico?

New Mexico is loaded with beautiful places, big and small. Here are a few to consider for your next day trip or weekend getaway.

New Mexico is a beautiful place across the board. C'mon, they don't call it the "land of enchantment" for nothing.

Sure, it's got its minuses ... small town crime rates are, in some cases, the highest ... but the plusses far outweigh them.

A list posted by worldatlas.com named the small towns they consider the states most beautiful. I admit, it's pretty hard to argue with them.

Here's their top 9 list with a few of my thoughts on them:

• Santa Rosa - I've never been there but it looks nice. Surprisingly, despite being in a completely land locked state, it's a great place to scuba dive.
• Taos - I've never been there but I love the old west look in the worldatlas photo. Turns out it's also home to one of the 10 tallest bridges in America
• Roswell - Quirky town, beautiful scenery, cool things to do and very artsy. If you have a fear of aliens though, the way some people fear clowns, stay away.

• Aztec - OK, I admit it. I've never even heard of this place. It's got some history though.
• Silver City - Don't get me started. One of my most favorite places in New Mexico. Highly recommended and an easy-peasy day trip from El Paso
• Red River - I went snow skiing there once. Once. That's how well I did.
• Los Alamos - A must see for fans of Oppenheimer and nuclear bomb buffs.

• Alamogordo - An even easier day trip from El Paso. Loaded with things to see and do, it's only about 75 miles from far northeast El Paso.
• Mesilla - Easiest day trip from EP of all. Historic buildings, including the one where Billy The Kid was sentenced to hang, beautiful & quiet plaza and you can enjoy some tasty food 'n drinks.

If you start anywhere west of central, you could be in Mesilla in under an hour. From the upper valley, 20 - 30 minutes.

My advice? Forget I-10, take Highway 28.