White Sands National Monument

Chris walked in the footsteps of an earlier traveler until we reached quite the scenic view!

We're quickly coming up on our first wedding anniversary! October 12th! Eek! When I first started this blog I had a feeling I wouldn't be updating it as much as I'd like. I never expected, however, for it to take a year to finally finish writing about our honeymoon. I should have known better, but it is what it is.

While Chris and I are adventurous types we are also the kind of folks who depend on steady jobs in order to pay our bills. Traveling isn't something we can afford to do as often as the two of us would actually prefer. Especially considering the heat of Texas summers. But we're coming to the end of the 100 degree months soon enough. Labor Day weekend will be our first excursion since the spring.

Actually, we just returned from REI where we purchased a couple of self-inflating mats to use under our sleeping bags. They're on the heavy side compared to higher priced items but man, did they feel comfortable in the store! I'm really excited about using them for our mini camping trip.

But I digress.

New Mexico! White Sands! Nowhere else have I stood foot and felt like I were on another planet. The White Sands National Monument is home to over 275 square miles of gypsum dunes. It is also home to many flora and fauna including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, which seems surprising considering how desolate the place seems to be.

In similar fashion to our visit to Bandelier, we searched along the trails and dunes for lizards and spiders but did not find any ourselves.

White and blue for as far as the eye can see.

Just lots of humans!

The park has designated camping areas and plenty of space to roam. You can even sand board with the right equipment.

Photographing the dunes can be challenging. My advice is to focus on texture rather than expanse. Take pictures of tracks, waves, and people. You can also try your hand at some sunset shots. The park offers a sunset stroll for those interested!

Accommodations can be found in Alamogordo! Other area attractions include the Museum of Space History (a post on it is upcoming). The area is also known for producing pistachios. Gift shops with large bags of the little green nuts are readily available!

You should also note that if you visit during colder months you should still expect it to be warmer at White Sands than in surrounding areas. It is a desert and the white color of the gypsum reflects light extremely well. So if you plan on spending more than a few minutes at a time on the sand, be sure to use sunscreen all over!

Gypsum dunes, traversed and otherwise.

My favorite part was definitely listening to the crunchy sound of the "sand" beneath our feet. It's actually crystals, and when the wind blows they scrape against each other. That is why it appears white in the light.

White Sands National Monument is open year-round except on Christmas and during unexpected park closures. Hours vary depending on the time of year, so it's best to consult their website prior to your visit for details specific to your trip!

There are only three more stops along our honeymoon trail! Stay tuned for our write-ups for the Museum of Space History, Carlsbad Caverns, and McDonald Observatory. Hopefully online before October 12th! Hahaha.

Take care!