THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT, 121,000 SQUARE MILES OF DIVERSE LANDSCAPE AND UNSURPASSED BEAUTY, A MELTING POT OF CULTURE AND TRADITION FOUND NOWHERE ELSE, AND FOOD. WE ALL LOVE ALL YEAR LONG. HIT THE ROAD. FINDING THOSE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE UNIQUE IN NEW MEXICO, BRINGING YOU TO PLACES THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE AND SHARING THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE WE’VE MET ALONG THIS TO CELEBRATE NEW MEXICO. HI, I’M TODD KURTZ. ALL YEAR WE’VE BEEN CELEBRATING OUR STATE’S 110TH BIRTHDAY. TRAVELING TO EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE OVER 15,000 MILES IN THE CAR. THAT’S LIKE DRIVING FROM L.A. TO NEW YORK. FIVE TIMES IN SEARCH OF NEW MEXICO’S BEST STORIES. FROM THE BIG EVENTS TO THE SMALL TOWNS AND REALLY EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. TONIGHT, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY ACROSS NEW MEXICO. SHARING SOME OF OUR FAVORITES. THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE TO START OUR ADVENTURE THAN IN THE CAPITAL CITY, SANTA FE AND ROYAL DE. I KNOW YOU LOVE TO GO UP TO THE CAPITAL. I DO. MOST OF MY FAMILY IS FROM SANTA FE, SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THAT PART OF NEW MEXICO. IT’S SUCH A UNIQUE PLACE. IN FACT, IT’S ACTUALLY NICKNAMED THE CITY DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE COMBINATION OF CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE. IT’S THE OLDEST CAPITAL CITY IN THE COUNTRY. IT WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1607, AND IT HAS THE UNIQUE DISTINCTION OF BEING NAMED THE VERY FIRST CREATIVE CITY IN THE COUNTRY. ONE IN TEN JOBS IN SANTA FE IS TIED TO ART, AND IT HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF WRITERS AND AUTHORS IN THE U.S. THERE’S A LOT OF HISTORY IN SANTA FE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PLAZA IS THE PALACE OF THE GOVERNORS. IT’S THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OCCUPIED PUBLIC BUILDING IN THE COUNTRY, DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1610. IT’S BEEN HOME TO SPANISH, MEXICAN, AMERICAN AND PUEBLO INDIAN LEADERS. IN 1909, IT WAS DESIGNATED AS THE HOME FOR THE MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO. A LOT OF NEW MEXICO HISTORY IS PRESERVED THROUGH PHOTOS INSIDE, AND I THINK PHOTOS REALLY GIVE YOU A SENSE OF CONNECTION WITH THE PAST. THERE’S AN IMMEDIACY. SEE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A PHOTO THAT IS REALLY POWERFUL. IT’S ESTIMATED AT THE MUSEUM HAS 1 MILLION HISTORIC PHOTOS, BUT NO ONE’S REALLY COUNTED THEM ALL. ONLY ABOUT 3 TO 5% OF THE COLLECTION IS DIGITIZED. BUT THE PHOTO HISTORIANS ARE WORKING TO SAFELY STORE MORE OF THEM ONLINE, IMMORTALIZING THEM FOR YEARS TO COME. TODAY, THE PALACE OF THE GOVERNORS IS KNOWN FOR ITS LONG PORTAL WHERE NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS SELL JEWELRY AND OTHER WORKS OF ART AND NOT FAR FROM THERE YOU CAN SEE THE FAMOUS LORETTO CHAPEL. IT HAS A STAIRCASE THAT WILL LEAVE YOU PUZZLED. SOME EVEN CALL IT MIRACULOUS. MAINLY BECAUSE OF ANSWERED PRAYERS AND THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STAIRCASE BUILT IN THE 1800S ARE STILL UNANSWERED. THE MYSTERY BEGAN WHEN THE FRENCH ARCHITECT BEHIND THE CHAPEL DIED IN 1878, BEFORE STAIRCASE TO THE CHOIR LOFT WAS BUILT. SO THE SISTERS OF LORETTO TURNED TO PRAYER AND THEY SET A NINE DAY PRAYER IN CATHOLIC TRADITIONS KNOWN AS AN ARENA, ASKING SAINT JOSEPH TO PRAY FOR THEM TO JESUS, TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR PROBLEM. ON THE LAST DAY, THEIR NOVENA, THIS MAN RIDES IN OFF THE DESERT ON A DONKEY, KNELT THE MAN WITH A GREAT BEARD, AS THEY DESCRIBED HIM, AND TOLD THEM HE HAD COME TO BUILD THE STAIRCASE. HE SAYS THE MAN WORKED ON THE STAIRCASE FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEN VANISHED WITHOUT GETTING PAID. AND THE LUMBER YARD TOLD THEM THE MAN DIDN’T GET ANY MATERIALS FROM THEM. SO THAT’S WHY THE SISTERS, BECAUSE OF THEIR PRAYERS, IS DESCRIPTION AND THE USUAL EVENT ABOUT THE WOOD CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT OUR LORD JESUS SENT SAINT JOSEPH FROM HEAVEN TO BUILD A STAIRCASE. AND THAT’S WHY ORIGINALLY WAS KNOWN AS THE MIRACULOUS STAIRCASE. AND THERE’S STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CHAPEL TO THIS DAY. FIRST, WHERE DID THE WOOD COME FROM? LINDSLEY SAYS HE GAVE A SAMPLE OF THE WOOD TO A NAVAL SCIENTIST IN 1995 WHO SAID THE CLOSE, AS HE FOUND TO IT, WAS A TREE THAT GROWS ONLY IN ALASKA. BUT IT WASN’T THE SAME. SECONDLY, HOW DOES THE STAIRCASE STAND? IT’S NOT SUPPORTED FROM BELOW, AND THERE ARE NO NAILS. IT’S HELD TOGETHER WITH WOODEN PEGS. LINDSLEY SAYS HE MET WITH MORE THAN 100 EXPERTS WHO’VE BUILT CIRCULAR STAIRCASES. NOT ONE OF THESE HUNDRED AND 20 AMERICAN COMPANIES SAID THEY COULD REPRODUCE THE STAIRCASE THE WAY IT WAS BUILT. NO CIVIL ENGINEER ON THE PLANET HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. LASTLY, WHO BUILT THE STAIRCASE? HE SAYS ALL CLAIMS HAVE BEEN DEBUNKED AND SO WE’RE BACK AT SQUARE ONE. SO WHY DOES IT STAND? NOBODY KNOWS WHERE THIS WOULD COME FROM. NOBODY KNOWS. AND WHO BUILT IT? AND THAT’S WHY IT’S STILL KNOWN EVEN TO THIS DAY AS THE MIRACULOUS STAIRCASE. THAT STAIRCASE IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL. AND SANTA FE IS KNOWN FOR ART, BUT ONE PLACE IS TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH A 3D ARCTIC EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CAN TOUCH, FEEL AND EVEN SMELL. I’M TALKING ABOUT MEOW WOLF. IT STARTED IN SANTA FE AS A COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS BACK IN 2008. MADE OF YOUNG ARTISTS WHO WOULD SOMETIMES DUMPSTER DIVE TO SOURCE MATERIALS, THEY COULD TURN INTO ART. BUT IT WAS A BUNCH OF, LIKE, YOUNGER KIDS WHO WERE LOOKING AROUND THE ART SCENE IN SANTA FE AND SAYING, LIKE, I DON’T FIT IN HERE. LIKE, I’M NOT A CLASSICAL LANSKY PAINTER. THE SANTA FE LOCATION OPENED IN 2016 AND THEY HAVE ADDED SEVERAL NEW ROOMS SINCE THEN. IT’S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THEY’VE EXPANDED TO LAS VEGAS AND DENVER WITH PLANS TO OPEN ANOTHER EXHIBIT IN TEXAS NEXT YEAR. FROM SANTA FE, YOU CAN TAKE THE SKY RAILWAY TO LADY NEW MEXICO. SOME PROMINENT SANTA FE INNS REVIVE THE 141 YEAR OLD RAILROAD AND TODAY THE TRAIN HAS EVERYTHING FROM STAR GAZING RIDES TO HOLIDAY THEMED ADVENTURES. AND WHEN YOU REACH THE LAMY DEPOT, YOU’LL FIND THE LEGAL TENDER SALOON. IT’S BEEN THERE SINCE THE LATE 1800S. IT’S ONE OF THE MOST WARM AND WELCOMING BUILDINGS I’VE EVER STEPPED FOOT INTO. AND I’VE NEVER REALLY EXPERIENCED. YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOOR AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, THEY JUST THEY’RE IN OR THEY’RE IN SHOCK. IT’S IT’S THERE’S NOT VERY MANY BUILDINGS LIKE THIS AROUND. THE DECOR AND AMBIANCE BRING YOU BACK TO THE OLD WEST. MAKING THIS DESTINATION DINNER WORTH THE STOP. AND JUST NORTH OF SANTA FE, ONE OF THE RICHEST PLACES IN RELIGIOUS HISTORY IN THE WORLD, IS NESTLED IN THE SONGWRITER CRYSTAL MOUNTAINS, CHEZ MAYO. THE AREA HAS BEEN INHABITED BY PUEBLO INDIANS SINCE THE 12TH CENTURY. THEY BELIEVE THE LAND WAS SHARED WITH SUPERNATURAL BEINGS AND HEALING. SPIRITS WERE IN HOT SPRINGS. THEY SAY THOSE SPRINGS DRIED UP, LEAVING BEHIND HEALING EARTH. NOW, DURING HOLY WEEK, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MAKE THE ANNUAL GOOD FRIDAY PILGRIMAGE TO EL SANTO AUDIO THAT SHE MAY MAYO FOR REFLECTION AND HEALING. PILGRIMS WILL RUB THE DIRT ON THEIR HANDS AND ARMS OR TAKE IT BACK TO THOSE WHO CAN’T MAKE THE JOURNEY. AND TOD, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO GO TO THIS VERY SPECIAL PLACE WHERE I MET DEBORAH HIGGINSON, WHO NOW I CALL A FRIEND. SHE SPENT THE PANDEMIC MAKING THESE WOODEN CHIPS WITH MESSAGES OF LOVE AND HOPE. AND THEN SHE SCATTERED THEM ALONG THE ROUTE FOR THE PILGRIMS TO FIND. IT’S DEFINITELY A SPECIAL TIME IN NEW MEXICO, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SHARE THAT WITH HER. AND IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. WELL, LET’S STAY IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, HEAD TO A TOWN THAT’S KNOWN FOR ITS ART SKIING AND HISTORIC LANDMARKS. TAOS IS ALSO HOME TO ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED PLACES IN THE STATE, AND THAT’S WHERE SASHA LENNINGER JR JOINS US. TOD, I MET THE RIO GRANDE GORGE BRIDGE, THE SITE IS SPECTACULAR. EVEN MORE SO IN PERSON FROM HIGH ABOVE THE RIVER. IT LOOKS CALM WHEN YOU’RE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE. YOU’RE 650 FEET ABOVE THE RIVER, MAKING IT THE SECOND HIGHEST HIGHWAY BRIDGE IN THE U.S. AFTER BEING BUILT IN 1965. IT WAS DEEMED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STEEL BRIDGE IN THE LONG SPAN CATEGORY. AND THAT BEAUTY LIVES ON TODAY. THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN PART OF SEVERAL MOVIES SHOT INTERSTATE, INCLUDING TERMINATOR, WILD HOGS AND PAUL, THIS BEAUTY HAS DRAWN PEOPLE HERE FOR GENERATIONS. IT WAS COLONIZED IN 1615, BUT IT WASN’T UNTIL 1795 THAT PEOPLE SETTLED IN THE AREA. THEY BUILT THE PLAZA AS A FORTIFIED ADOBE STRUCTURE FOR TRADE BETWEEN TAOS PUEBLO AND THE SPANISH. IN THE EARLY 1800S. TRAPPERS BEGAN TO MAKE TAOS THEIR HOME. IT BECAME A TOWN IN 1934, AND TODAY THE QUAINT COMMUNITY HAS A POPULATION OF 6400. THE WORD TAOS MEANS PLACE OF RED. WILLOW WOOD COMES FROM THE TI PLAGUE, WHICH SPOKEN ON THE TAOS PUEBLO. IT’S NAMED AFTER RED WILLOW CREEK, THE PUEBLO’S PRIMARY SOURCE OF WATER FOR DRINKING AND FOR CEREMONIES AS WELL. THE TAOS PUEBLO IS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE AND IT HAS A CULTURAL HISTORY THAT DATES BACK MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS. OUR ELDERS MAINTAIN THE ORAL TRADITIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR LANGUAGE IS TEA AND IT’S ALL ORAL MEANING NOTHING IS WRITTEN DOWN OR RECORDED. EACH STORY IS PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. WE’RE SO FAMILY ORIENTED AND WE HAVE ANNUAL FEAST DAYS, WHICH ARE LIKE OUR HOLIDAYS. IT’S JUST A HUGE GATHERING OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. OF COURSE, THERE’S TONS OF FOOD AND USUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE WELCOME OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY INTO THE TRADITIONAL VILLAGE. THAT’S WHERE YOU’LL FIND THE PUEBLO ENTIRELY MADE OF ADOBE, WHICH IS EARTH. THE MIX WITH WATER AND STRAW THEN POURED INTO FORMS OR MADE INTO SUN DRIED BRICKS. MULTI STORIED BUILDINGS. OUR FAMILY OWNED AND THEY ARE STILL MAINTAINED AND STILL USED. WE HAVE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE WHO STILL LIVE IN THERE YEAR ROUND. THEY DO NOT HAVE RUNNING WATER OR ELECTRICITY. THE WALLS ARE SEVERAL FEET THICK. THE ROOFS ARE SUPPORTED BY TIMBER AND COVERED WITH PACKED DIRT. ALL OF WHICH COMES FROM THE RICH LANDS, PART OF WHICH THEY LOST FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BECAUSE PUEBLO IS KNOWN FOR ITS BLUE LAKE, THAT WAS RETURNED IN 1970, WE STRUGGLED FOR 64 YEARS TO GET IT BACK FROM THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US. IT’S A RITUAL SITE WHERE TOWNSPEOPLE WOULD GO FOR CEREMONIAL REASONS AND WAS A STAPLE FOR LIFE ON THE RESERVATION. BUT IT WAS TAKEN FROM THE PUEBLO IN 1906 BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TO BECOME PART OF THE NATIONAL FOREST LANDS. OUR AGRICULTURE TRADITION WAS VERY MUCH CHALLENGED. UTILIZE WATER WAS VERY MUCH CHALLENGED. I BELIEVE THAT DURING THAT TIME IS WHEN YOU SEE OUR FIRST DEPENDANCE SEE HAPPENING ON EXTERNAL RESOURCES. HUNTING ALSO CHANGED. THE PUEBLO HAD TO FIND ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO FEED AND TAKE CARE OF ITS PEOPLE. IN 1920, THEY BEGAN CHARGING PEOPLE TO COME INTO THE VILLAGE AND IT SLOWLY OPENED UP ITS DOORS TO TOURISM. AND THEN YOU HEAR THE STORIES OF, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO WHEN WE DIDN’T HAVE THE LAND. YOU HEAR THE STORIES OF OUR MEN TAKING TRAINS OUT TO DC. MEMBERS OF THE PUEBLO FOUGHT TO GET THEIR LAND BACK. AND FINALLY, IN 1970, 64 YEARS LATER, IT WAS RETURNED BY PRESIDENT NIXON. ONLY PUEBLO MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED AT THE BLUE LAKE AND MOUNTAIN AREAS NOW WITH THE MAIN CROPS GROWN ON THE PUEBLO OR CORN SQUASH AND BEAN. THE RESERVATION ALSO WELL KNOWN FOR ITS POTTERY USING MICA. THESE CULTURES OF THE PUEBLO AND THE OLD SPANISH CULTURES THAT HAVE LIVED HERE THAT ARE QUICKLY CHANGING STILL HAVE THIS REALLY BEAUTIFUL HISTORY THAT TIES US TO THE EARTH IN A WAY THAT MAYBE BIG CITIES DON’T HAVE. ART IS A BIG PART OF WHAT MAKES TAOS SO SPECIAL. JUST OFF THE PLAZA, YOU’LL FIND MAY TOURS A STUDIO WITH FASCINATE AND WORK. SHE WAS BORN HERE AND CREATES HER ART HERE BECAUSE IT’S WHERE SHE FEELS CONNECTED TODAY. TULSA HUB FOR ARTISTS WHO THRIVE ON THE NATURAL BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS THEM. I SHARE THAT SENTIMENT BECAUSE THE BEAUTY HERE IS SPECTACULAR. AND PART OF IT’S THE SKYLINE. THE HIGHEST POINT IN NEW MEXICO IS WHEELER PEAK. IT RISES OUT OF THE SUN CALLED THE CRYSTAL MOUNTAINS AT 13,161 FEET. IT’S NAMED AFTER MAJOR GEORGE WHEELER, WHO SURVEYED THE AREA IN THE 1870S. TODAY, IT’S A POPULAR HIKING SPOT. AT THE TOP, BREATHTAKING VIEWS SPANNING HUNDREDS OF MILES. THERE’S ALSO SOME MYSTERIES HERE IN TAOS. IN THE 1990S, RESIDENTS SAID THEY COULD HEAR THIS HUM, THIS CONSTANT HUM. YOU’RE IN THE AREA. WELL, INVESTIGATORS FOUND THAT 2% OF PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY HEAR IT. BUT WHAT CAUSES THAT NOISE THAT IS STILL UNKNOWN TODAY. BUT TODD, CAN YOU ACTUALLY HEAR THAT HUM WHILE YOU’RE HERE? SARA, THANK YOU. I NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE, BUT FASCINATING. WHAT’S GOING ON UP THERE? WELL, SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO IN OUR STATE. IT’S WORKED UP MY APPETITE. COMING UP, WE’RE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR UNIQUE FOODS AND SHARE THEIR ORIGINS. AND WILL TRAVEL TO THE NORTHWESTERN CORNER OF THE STATE, HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST UNRULY, NATURAL WONDERS IN THE WORLD. HEY, WELCOME BACK. TIME TO TALK ABOUT SOME FOOD HERE AND TO HELP ME OUT, WE GOT DARLENE MELENDEZ. ABSOLUTELY. NEW MEXICO HAS SOME OF THE BEST FOOD AND IT IS SO PART OF THE CULTURE. AND THERE’S A LOT OF HISTORY TIED TO IT, TOO. LIKE THIS. WHEN THE SPANISH ARRIVED IN 1519, THEY BROUGHT LIVESTOCK BACK IN FOODS. THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. SO THINGS LIKE SHEEP, HORSE, CATTLE, PIGS AND CHICKEN, AS WELL AS MELONS, APPLES, SUGAR AND WHEAT, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE INTRODUCED THEM TO CORN, SQUASH, PEPPERS, TOMATOES, POTATOES AND BEANS. AND TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, BEFORE THIS TIME THERE WAS NO TOMATO SAUCE IN ITALY OR POTATOES IN IRELAND. SO HERE IN NEW MEXICO, THESE INGREDIENTS ALL COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A, WELL, UNIQUE FUSION OF CULTURE. ABSOLUTELY. ANGEL SALSA. THOSE SPENT SOME TIME IN THE KITCHEN WITH A LOCAL CHEF TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NEW MEXICAN FOOD. NEW MEXICO FOOD IS THE BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD BEHIND EVERY NEW MEXICAN DISH IS A NEW MEXICAN STORY. BUT WHAT MAKES A DISH NEW MEXICAN? IT’S A BLEND OF FOOD STYLES AND INGREDIENTS FROM ALL OVR THE WORLD. EVERY CITY IN YAZZIE IS A NATIVE CHEF, HE SAYS. IT’S A STORY OF CULTURE FUSION IN OUR STREETS. 19 PUEBLOS HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN NEW MEXICAN CULTURE. WE ARE JUST PRETTY MUCH LEARNING MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY ABOUT DIFFERENT CUISINES, DIFFERENT CULTURES. TO LEARN MORE, KRISTIN BROUGHT ME INTO THE KITCHEN WHEN I GRAB HER TO HELP OUT. SHE’S GOT A YEAH, I DIDN’T DO RIGHT AS MUCH AS I COULD. FIRST A FAN FAVORITE, THE ONE IN NAVAJO TACO. HOW MUCH DO I PUT ON IT? ITS ROOTS DATE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE CIVIL WAR. THEY GIVE US FLOUR, OIL AND SALT. AND THAT’S ALL WE HAVE FOR RATION WHILE WE’RE TRYING TO SURVIVE. A NAVAJO TACO IS A VERY NEW MEXICAN, AND IT’S VERY NAVAJO, BUT IT HAS THESE ELEMENTS THAT YOU’LL FIND IN A NOVEL, MEXICAN OR KITCHEN. THIS IS ON GROUND. BEEF IS ONE SCOOP IN I’LL DO THIS ONE. THIS IS A NOVEL TACO. WE USE THEM ON THIS ONE. THEY’VE TURNED A WAR RATION INTO AN INCREDIBLE CUISINE. WELL DONE. THAT’S IT. AWESOME. SPANISH CULTURE IS ALSO INFLUENCING THE FOODS WE KNOW. BLUE CORN ENCHILADAS ARE THE PERFECT EXAMPLE. YOU GET THE TASTE FROM THE CHEESE, THE CORN, THE SAFETY OF THE SQUASH, THE CORN. ALSO HERE, THIS THIS IS ALL SEASON CORN WITH A ALBAN HILLS SLANT ON TOP. WE ARE A MIXED PEOPLE, MIXED BLOOD, MIXED CULTURE. IT’S THE CULTURE THAT ARISTON HOPES TO CELEBRATE THROUGH FOOD FOR YEARS TO COME. AMERICANS ALSO INTRODUCED BAKING POWDER, GIVING RISE TO SUPPLY FOR US. HOW GOOD CAN IT GET THEIR GREEN CHILI UNIQUELY SPICY, FILLED WITH FLAVOR, OF COURSE, OFTEN ADDING A LITTLE MORE ZING TO ANYTHING FROM HAMBURGERS TO PIZZA. ABSOLUTELY. SOME CHARACTERS THERE. BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT GREEN CHILI ACTUALLY DIDN’T ORIGINATE IN NEW MEXICO? EARLY SPANISH EXPLORERS DISCOVERED THE FRUIT IN SOUTH AMERICA BEFORE BRINGING IT HERE. IN THE EARLY 1600S. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, CHILIES WERE INCONSISTENT IN FLAVOR, ARE PRONE TO DISEASE, AND NEEDED A LOT OF WATER TO GROW. SO IN THE LATE 1800S, DR. FABIAN GARCIA WORKED TO CREATE A NEW CHILI THAT WOULD BE BIGGER, TASTIER AND RESIST WILTING. AFTER NINE YEARS OF RESEARCH, HE DEVELOPED NEW MEXICO. NUMBER NINE, THE FIRST CHILI POD WITH A DEPENDABLE SIZE AND HEAT LEVEL. IT REALLY LED THE WAY TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION, WHERE FARMERS WOULD START GROWING THIS SELLING IT AMONGST THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEN THE CANNING INDUSTRY KICKED OFF. TODAY, ALL CHILI IS GROWN IN OUR STATE CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THAT PEPPER. IT TAKES ABOUT 80 DAYS FOR CHILI TO GROW, AND EACH PLANT PRODUCES A 10 TO 20 POT AND WE LOVE IT. SO MUCH. BUT IT’S NOT JUST THE SPICY FOODS EITHER. NO, NOT AT ALL. WITH 400 RESTAURANTS IN TOWN, SANTA FE BOASTS A TOP NOTCH FOOD SCENE FROM FRENCH TO CARIBBEAN TO NEW MEXICO. AND YOU CAN TRAVEL THE CULINARY WORLD IN JUST ONE SPOT. CHERYL JAMISON IS AN AWARD WINNING COOKBOOK AUTHOR. SHE RAVES ABOUT SOME OF HER FAVORITE DISHES IN SANTA FE, THE LOBSTER ROLL AT SANTA CAFE OMAKASE DINNER AT SUSHI. SUE AND THE COUNT LB CHICKEN SNIPS, ALL THE RESTAURANTS, THE QUALITY, THE NUMBER OF THEM. IT’S REALLY REMARKABLE. YOU KNOW, IT’S IT’S EQUIVALENT OF A MAJOR CITY AND SPEAKING OF CUISINES OF THE WORLD, TODD, YOU HAVE A FAVORITE FRENCH RESTAURANT. I DO CLAWFOOT TEA. IT’S CALLED IT’S THIS BEAUTIFUL FRENCH DESSERT IN THEIR ENTIRE DESSERT BAR IS JUST IT LOOKS LIKE A PIECE OF ART. SO GO CHECK THAT OUT. OH, MY GOSH. WE’RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO. AND SPEAKING ABOUT FOOD, SO MUCH IS MAKING ME THIRSTY, ESPECIALLY FOR ONE OF MY FAVORITES HERE, WHICH IS THE WINE IN NEW MEXICO IS THE OLDEST WINE PRODUCING REGION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SPANISH HAD STRICT LAWS PROHIBITING GROWING GRAPES OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY, BUT IN 1629, FOR GARCIA, THE ZUNIGA AND A MONK NAMED ANTONIA, THAT FIGURE SMUGGLED VINES FROM SPAIN AND PLANTED THEM SOUTH OF SOCORRO. SO IF YOU’RE A WINE CONNOISSEUR, BE SURE TO TASTE THE DIFFERENCE HERE. COMPARED TO THE MORE WELL-KNOWN CALIFORNIA NEW WINES IN OUR WHITE ONES, WE GET A TOUCH OF SALTINESS, WHICH COMES FROM THE SOIL. HERE WE’RE IN A VERY ALKALINE TYPE SOIL. OUR REDS ALSO KIND OF HAVE A DUSTY CHARACTER TO THEM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT’S KIND OF LIKE THE DESERT OF THE IS COMING THROUGH IN THESE WINES. AND TODAY YOU CAN FIND NEARLY 50 WINERIES ACROSS THE STATE. SO, TODD, NEW MEXICO IS ALSO ONE OF THE TOP PRODUCING STATES WHERE PECANS YOU SPEND SOME TIME DOWN IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND PECAN ORCHARD RIGHT? WE’RE ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IN PECANS BECAUSE ONE OF THE LARGEST PECAN FARMS IN THE WORLD IS RIGHT HERE IN NEW MEXICO. THE FEW MILES THROUGH THE STAMENS PECAN ORCHARD IS STUNNING. THERE ARE FEW PLACES IN OUR STATE WHERE YOU GET A CANOPY OVERHEAD LIKE THIS. AND IN 1932, THEY STARTED PLANTING THE COUNTRY’S SALLY STUFF AND OWNS THE ORCHARD. HER GRANDFATHER AND GREAT GRANDFATHER BOUGHT THE LAND IN 1925. THEN IN THE FAMILY EVER SINCE. ORIGINALLY THEY TO GROW COTTON, A TRUCKLOAD OF PECANS CAME THROUGH SOME NURSERY TREE SO MY GRANDFATHER BOTTOM THIS DAY SALLY AND HER SON RAFAEL ALL ARE SHOWING US THIS YEAR’S CROP, THE 4000 ACRE FARM PRODUCES THE MOST PECANS IN NEW MEXICO AND AS A WHOLE, OUR STATE IS A LEADER AND PICKUP PRODUCTION. IN 2021, 30% OF U.S. PECANS CAME NEW MEXICO. SECOND, JUST BARELY BEHIND GEORGIA. THE STATEMENTS PECANS ARE SHIPPED ALL OVER THE U.S. AND EUROPE. THEY TYPICALLY HARVEST IN LATE NOVEMBER WHEN THE LEAVES HAVE FALLEN. ONCE WE’VE HAD A GOOD FREEZE, THEN WE WAIT A FEW DAYS AND THEN WE SHAKE THE TREES WITH A BOOM SHAKER. I WAS HOPING THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER THEN, BUT UNDERNEATH THE PECANS FALL TO THE FLOOR. THEY’RE SWEPT INTO ROWS AND SCOOP THEM FROM THERE. IT’S ABOUT A MONTH LONG JOB AT A BIG FARM LIKE THIS. HALF OF THE TREES HERE ARE FROM THAT ORIGINAL CROP. THEY PLANTED 4000 ACRES BETWEEN 1932 AND 1939. WE DON’T REALLY KNOW HOW LONG THEY LAST. THEY COULD BE THERE COULD BE HERE ANOTHER HUNDRED YEARS. AND HOPEFULLY A LOT MORE GENERATIONS OF STAMENS GROWING PECANS IN THE MESSY VALLEY. WELL, NOW THAT MY BELLY IS FULL, WE ARE READY TO DO SOME MORE EXPLORING. HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO BE IN FOUR PLACES AT THE SAME TIME? YOU CAN DO THAT NORTHWESTERN CORNER OF THE STATE, THE FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE FOUR STATES MEET MARKS. THE QUADRUPLE POINT BETWEEN ARIZONA, COLORADO, UTAH AND NEW MEXICO. PEOPLE TRAVEL FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO POSE ON THAT LANDMARK DOUG FERNANDEZ. WITH US NOW AND DOUG, YOU TRAVELED UP TO THIS AREA EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE SURE DID. AND WE LEARNED AWFUL LOT ABOUT FARMING. AND IT IS A RICH HISTORY DATING BACK CENTURIES TO THE ANASAZI. PEOPLE. AND THE NAVAJO NATION BORDERS THE CITY. IT BECAME KNOWN AS FARMING TOWN FOR ITS SUCCESSFUL CROPS, BUT THE NAME WAS SHORTENED DECADES LATER TO FARMINGTON. BY 1901, APPLES WERE THE TOP CROP. THE FOCUS CHANGED TO MINING AND DRILLING AT TIMES, NEW MEXICO’S LEADING OIL AND GAS PRODUCING SPOT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OIL PIPELINE CAUSED A BOOM IN THE 1950S. THE POPULATION SURGED FROM ABOUT 3500 TO 35000. NOW, NOT FAR FROM THE CITY. SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE ROCK IN THE WORLD. YEAH, NO KIDDING. ESPECIALLY AT THE BEST IT IS IN WILDERNESS. SOME OF THE STUFF LOOKS TRULY OUT OF THIS WORLD AND THE HISTORY IS INCREDIBLE. THERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE ROCK FORMATIONS ON THE PLANET WITH CONSTANT CHANGES IN THE LANDSCAPE. AS YOU HIKE A TEAM OF GEOLOGY AGENTS, PALEONTOLOGISTS AND WILDERNESS EXPERTS TOOK ME ON A TWO MILE TREK. THE COOL THING ABOUT HIKING HERE, THERE FEW DEFINED TRAILS. IT’S MORE LIKE FREE ROAMING. IT’S JUST AN INCREDIBLE PLACE. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU’VE BEEN HERE, YOU ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING NEW AND IT’S KIND OF OTHERWORLDLY OUT HERE. IT’S KIND OF LIKE A MARTIAN LANDSCAPE OR SOMETHING AT TIMES. AND IF YOU DO COME TAKE A HIKE OUT HERE. ONE REALLY COOL THING JUST TO KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR IS THIS ROCK FORMATION RIGHT HERE. THEY CALL THESE HOODOOS. A HOODOO IS A FORMATION WHERE YOU HAVE A MORE RESISTANT ROCK ON TOP AND A LESS RESISTANT ROCK BELOW. THERE’S A LOT DIFFERENT SHAPES AND PEOPLE LIKE TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN NAMES FOR THEM WHEN THEY SEE THEM, BECAUSE THEY’RE JUST ALL THESE CRAZY, NEAT SHAPES. THE GROUP TOOK ME TO A VERY OLD LOG JAM. THESE ARE PETRIFIED BOGS. THEY WERE ONCE TREES STANDING HERE ABOUT 70 MILLION YEARS AGO. THEY FELL, WERE BURIED, AND THEN FOSSILIZED. THE WOOD WAS REPLACED BY MINERALS, SO THEY STILL LOOK LIKE THE TREES, BUT ARE MORE LIKE ROCKS. NOW SEE THE LITTLE SHINY CRYSTALS IN THERE THAT HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE CELLULAR MATERIAL IN THE WOOD. THE OTHER FOSSILS OVER THIS AREA ARE FROM DINOSAURS A DREAM SPOT FOR PALEONTOLOGISTS. THIS WAS A PRETTY LUSH AREA FOR DINOSAURS TO LIVE. WE’RE STILL FINDING NEW SPECIES ALL THE TIME, SO SCIENTISTS WHO’VE BEEN WORKING OUT HERE, THEY’VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO PUBLISH ON NEW TYPES OF DINOSAURS, NEW SPECIES OF DINOSAURS. ANOTHER UNIQUE ROCK FORMATION. SHIPROCK IT’S ABOUT 40 MILES WEST OF FARMINGTON RISING 1800 FEET INTO THE SKY. EARLIER, EXPLORERS NAMED IT AFTER A 19TH CENTURY CLIPPER SHIP. GEOLOGISTS BELIEVE WHAT WE SEE TODAY, ONCE PART OF A VOLCANO THAT ERUPTED, 30 MILLION YEARS AGO. IT ORIGINALLY FORMED ABOUT 3000 FEET BELOW THE EARTH’S SURFACE. BUT ROCK HAS SINCE ERODED, LEAVING THIS THE NAVAJO REFER TO IT AS SABOTAGE, MEANING ROCK WITH WINGS. IT’S TIED TO A LEGEND WHERE A MONSTER BIRD WAS ATTACK THE PEOPLE. ONE OF THE TWIN WARRIORS, A MONSTER SLAYER, DECIDED THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE IT UPON HIMSELF TO DESTROY THE BIRD SO THAT WE COULD SAVE OUR PEOPLE. IT ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE EARTH UPON ITS DEATH. AND THUS, YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION THERE. NOW, SOUTH OF FARMINGTON IS CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK. THE NAZI PEOPLE LIVED AT CHACO CANYON MORE THAN 1000 YEARS AGO. THEY SETTLED IN CLIFF DWELLINGS BEFORE BUILDING THESE ASTONISHING THREE STORY STRUCTURES. THIS PLACE WAS THE CENTER OF TRADE AND ART AMONG NATIVE CULTURES. TODAY, THE RUINS STILL STAND. OUR CLOSEST CONNECTION TO THOSE WHO WERE HERE MIGHT BE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SKY. SO WHEN YOU COME OUT HERE TO SEE THE DARK SKY, YOU’RE GETTING THE CLOSEST TO THE REALITY THAT THE PEOPLE HERE A THOUSAND YEARS AGO HAD, BECAUSE THAT’S THE PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS CHANGED THE LEAST. CHACO HAS A PERFECT COMBINATION FOR STARGAZING, VERY LITTLE LIGHT POLLUTION, A HIGH ELEVATION AT 6200 FEET AND DRY AIR. NEW MEXICO IS HOME TO 23 NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES IN 19 PUEBLOS. ONE OF THEM IS THE ZUNI PUEBLO, LOCATED ABOUT 45 MINUTES SOUTH OF GALLUP. THE SPANISH SENT MEN LOOKING FOR GOLD AND FOUND THE ZUNI. IT WAS THE FIRST EXPLORATION IN ALMOST 700 YEARS AGO INTO WHAT IS NOW NEW MEXICO. BUT THE ZUNI PEOPLE HAD ALREADY BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 1300 YEARS. AND MUCH OF THAT HISTORY IS DEPICTED IN THEIR PETROGLYPHS. THERE ARE SOME PETROGLYPHS THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY INTERPRET, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME WHERE YOU JUST, UH, LET THE MIND DO ITS OWN IMAGINATION. TODAY, THE PUEBLO WELCOMES VISITORS TO MORE ABOUT THEIR HISTORY AND TRADITIONS. SO MUCH CULTURE AND DIVERSITY IN THIS REGION OF THE STATE. AND IT’S THAT COMBINATION THAT LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF GALLUP’S ECONOMY. IN FACT, IT’S KNOWN AS AMERICA’S LARGEST COTTAGE INDUSTRY, MEANING GOODS ARE HANDMADE IN PEOPLE’S HOMES AND BROUGHT TO THE CITY FOR SALE. REPORTER GENEVIEVE GLASS VISITED A TRADING POST THAT’S BEEN SELLING THESE FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. FOUNDED IN 1913, RICHARDSON’S TRADING COMPANY FIRST SOLD FOOD SUPPLIES AND OTHER ITEMS THAT PEOPLE WOULD NEED ON THE RESERVATION SINCE IT WAS LIKE A SMALL GROCERY STORE AT THAT TIME. AND THEN THEY STARTED BRINGING IN THEIR RUGS AND THE RUGS THEY WOULD MAKE AT HOME. THE KIDS WANTED THE CANDY OR IF THEY NEEDED TO BUY SOMETHING LIKE THEIR COFFEE OR SOMETHING OF THAT SORT, THEY WOULD COME IN AND MAYBE MAKE A RUG OR MAYBE HAVE A PIECE OF JEWELRY, AND THEY WOULD TRADE. AND TRADING BECAME MORE COMMON FIVE YEARS LATER, THANKS TO THE RAILROAD AND THE COAL MINES, THEY WOULD STOP AT THE TRAIN STATION. AND THE LOT OF THE NATIVES WOULD TAKE THEIR RUGS AND JEWELRY AND SELL TO THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY GOT OFF THE TRAIN. A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TODAY, THE WOVEN RUGS, COLORFUL, INTRICATE. FILLING THE ROOM. THE WEAVERS AT PINYON ARIZONA WILL MAKE THIS STORM PATTERN. THIS IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE IN THIS STORM. AND EACH OF THE FOUR CORNERS, THERE’S A SACRED MOUNTAIN. THE GOODS AT THE TRADING POST, ALL LOCAL FROM NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. WE DO A LOT OF BUSINESS WITH THE ZUNI AND THE LAGUNA, THE HOPI AND SO MANY COME HERE. BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUSINESS IS WITH THE NAVAJO NATION. THE TOURISTS COME EVERYWHERE, ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE GET THEM FROM JAPAN, GERMANY, GALVESTON, POPULATION OF ABOUT 20,000, TRIPLES ON WEEKENDS DUE TO AN INFLUX OF ARTISANS AND PEOPLE LOOKING TO BUY THEIR GOODS. I RECENTLY SPENT TIME AT GALLUP. THIS CITY HAS A SPECIAL FEELING WHEN IT COMES TO VETERANS. THE MEMORIAL DOWNTOWN HONORS ALL WHO SERVED, INCLUDING NAVAJO TALKERS AND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT. HERSHEY, A MIRROR. THERE’S EVEN A MUSEUM IN THE HOTEL LOBBY OF THE COMFORT SUITES, SHOWCASING MORE MEMORABLE AND PICTURES. IT’S THIS CONNECTION TO MILITARY SERVICE THAT MAKES GALLUP THE MOST PATRIOTIC SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA. THE CITY EARNED THE TITLE THROUGH AN ANNUAL CONTEST PUT ON BY RAND MCNALLY, BUT IT WAS CANCELED. AND GALLUP WAS THE LAST CITY TO BE RECOGNIZED. AND DOUG OF COURSE, THERE’S SOME UNIQUE GEOLOGY OUT THERE. THAT’S RIGHT. IT BECAME THE BACKDROP FOR A LOT OF HOLLYWOOD MOVIES. THEY MADE THEM IN THE 1940. SO THIS BECAME KNOWN AS A HOME TO THE STARS IN THE EL RANCHO HOTEL, WAS BUILT TO HOUSE THE BIG NAMES. YOU EVEN RECOGNIZE JOHN WAYNE? YEP. KATHARINE HEPBURN. YEAH. AND THIS LAST. I THINK HE WAS PRESIDENT. RONALD REAGAN. THAT’S RIGHT. NOW, THE ROOMS ARE EVEN NAMED AFTER MORE THAN 150 FILMS SHOT THERE, A PERIOD KNOWN AS THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE WESTERN. NOW, COMING UP HERE, WE’RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE NEW MEXICO FROM SOME NEW HEIGHTS, BRINGING YOU UP CLOSE TO THE THRILLS AND SHARING OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS. NEW MEXICO, HOME TO LOTS OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FROM SOME OF THE BEST SKIING SPOTS IN THE WORLD TO FLYING HIGH ON ZIP LINES AND A TRAMWAY. HEY, RON, I KNOW YOU LOVE BIKING WHERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS TO GO. WELL, TODD, BY FAR MY FAVORITE SPOT TO BIKE IS THE BULL SKATE TRAIL. I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT’S RELATIVELY FLAT. IT’S A GOOD AEROBIC ACTIVITY. THERE’S A COMMUNITY OF EXERCISERS OUT THERE WHO ARE GETTING IN THERE, WALKING IN SOME CASES, THEY’RE RUNNING, ROLLERBLADING, AND OF COURSE THEY’RE BIKING AS WELL. NOW, ONE GREAT SPOT NOT ONLY FOR BIKING BUT FOR LOTS OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IS FARMING’S A JOKE. TERRY CANYON HAS 100 MILES OF OFF ROAD TRAILS, COMBINING RIVERBEDS, SAND DUNES AND SLICK ROCKS. MOUNTAIN BIKING IS ALSO POPULAR WITH EASY TRAILS FOR FAMILIES ALL THE WAY TO TOUGHER TERRAIN FOR THE MORE EXPERIENCED. OR HEAD OVER TO THE ANIMAS RIVER FOR SOME KAYAKING. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A BIT MORE RELAXING, YOU CAN SIT ON THE BANKS WITH SOME WORLD CLASS FLY FISHING OR HIT PIGEON HILLS GOLF COURSE RATED ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. NEW MEXICO IS KNOWN FOR ITS SKIING INDUSTRY. TAKE A LOOK HERE. EIGHT SKI RESORTS ARE SCATTERED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND CHAMPION EACH ONE WITH A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. SPA POOL PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING THE FIRST TO OPEN EACH SEASON. RED RIVER HAS BEEN TESTING SNOWMAKING CAPABILITY. ANGEL IS THE ONLY PLACE TO GO SKIING AT NIGHT, AND IT HAS A GREAT TUBING RUN DOWN SOUTH SKI APACHE HAS A 15 MINUTE RIDE TO THE TOP, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE ONLY CLOSED DOOR AND HEATED LIFTS IN THE STATE. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR IS HOW SKI VALLEY. IT WAS FOUNDED BACK IN 1955 BY SWISS SKI PIONEER ERNIE BLAKE. HE SPOTTED THE MOUNTAIN FROM A PLANE AND HAD A VISION FOR THE FUTURE SKI AREA, AND SOME PEOPLE DOUBTED HIM ALONG THE WAY, SAYING THE MOUNTAIN WAS TOO STEEP. BUT HE DIDN’T LET THAT STOP HIM. AND TODAY, YOU’LL FIND RESTAURANT STORES ENLARGING TAOS SKI VALLEY IS HOME TO 14 LIFTS AND 110 RUNS, MAKING IT ONE OF THE BEST SKI RESORTS IN THE WORLD. WE SAY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE INCREDIBLE TERRAIN. SO YOU HAVE ATHLETES WHO COME HERE WHO ARE USED TO SEEING COLORADO OR SKIING UP IN CANADA AND THEY’RE LIKE, WOW, I HAD NO IDEA NEW MEXICO COULD HAVE THIS TERRAIN. AND THE WAY IT EXPANDS BACKWARDS AND HOW WE HAVE THE HIKE TO TERRAIN IS ALSO REALLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER RESORTS. WHEN THE SNOW MELTS IN TAOS, THE RAFTING SEASON STARTS. IT’S BIG BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE’S LOTS OF WATER. THE RAFTING SEASON TYPICALLY RUNS FROM MARCH TO OCTOBER. SEVERAL RAFTING COMPANIES ARE BASED IN TAOS AND THERE ARE GUIDED FLOATS AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPOTS ALONG THE RIO GRANDE. THE TAOS BOXES LEGENDARY IN WHITEWATER CIRCLES FOR BEING STEEP, FAST AND FULL OF RAPIDS. IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE NEW MEXICO FROM HIGHER UP, JUST MAKE YOUR WAY TO RUIDOSO, WHERE YOU CAN FLY 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE APACHE EAGLE ZIP RIDER WHILE GETTING BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF MESCALERO LAKE. BUT BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR EYES IN THE SKY. IT’S CALLED EAGLE RIDER FOR REASON. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EAGLES, SEVERAL EAGLES THAT COME DOWN AND THEY THEY HANG OUT AROUND THE LAKE. THEY FISH AND STUFF THERE IN THE WINTERTIME. SO THAT’S WHERE WE GOT THE NAME. ZIPLINES ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO SKI RESORTS IN THE SUMMER. ANGEL FIRE AND SKI APACHE BOTH THEM. LET’S GO EVEN HIGHER. 10,300 FEET TO THE CREST OF THE SANDIA MOUNTAINS. YOU CAN RISE ABOVE ALBUQUERQUE ON THE SANDIA PEAK TRAMWAY FOR STUNNING PANORAMIC VIEWS. IT’S TWO YEARS AND MORE THAN 5000 HELICOPTER FLIGHTS TO BUILD. AND IT’S NOT ONLY A UNIQUE LANDMARK IN NEW MEXICO, BUT IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY. TRAMWAYS ARE VERY COMMON THE UNITED STATES, THERE’S THERE’S VERY HERE. WE’RE THE LONGEST AERIAL TRAMWAY IN NORTH, THE THIRD LONGEST IN THE WORLD. THE TRAM MAKES ABOUT 10,000 TRIPS A YEAR WITH AROUND 250,000 RIDERS MAKING THE 2.7 MILE JOURNEY TO THE TOP. TOD, HAVE YOU TAKEN A RIDE? OH, YEAH. I LOVE THE TRAM. I RECENTLY GOT TO RIDE ON TOP OF A TRAM CAR FOR A STORY THERE. I’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT EXPERIENCE. ANOTHER FAVORITE ADVENTURE WAS EXPLORING THE RIO GRANDE FROM RATHER UNIQUE PACIFIC ACTIVE. IT’S BEAUTIFUL. QUIET. JUST THE SOUND OF BIRDS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT I WANT TO SHARE. THE EXPERIENCE THAT I WANT TO SHARE. COREY SPORTS OWNS MSG ADVENTURES. HE RUNS KAYAKS AND PADDLEBOARDS AND DOES GUIDED TOURS. WHAT IS IT FOR YOU ABOUT GETTING OUT ON THE RIVER AND PADDLING? YEAH, I LIKE TO DO IT. REDUCE STRESS AND JUST GO OUT AND SHARE IT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. YEAH, THAT’S. THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND HE SAYS THE RIO GRANDE IS UNDERUTILIZED AS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH NATURE. MISKIN CONCEPTIONS OVER THE CLEANLINESS OR JUST PEOPLE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE RIVER AS A SPOT FOR FUN. WE DON’T SEE IT. WE ONLY SEE IT WHEN WE CROSS THE BRIDGE. RIGHT? WHEN WE CROSS THE BRIDGE WERE ANGRY BECAUSE WE’RE IN TRAFFIC IN THIS. DOES THIS FEELS MUCH DIFFERENT WHEN YOU’RE OUT IN IT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. HE RENTS EQUIPMENT YEAR ROUND SNOWSHOEING, CAMPING, BIKING, EVEN SURFING ON THE RIO CHAMA. HE EDUCATES PEOPLE TO HELP THEM SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE OUTDOORS. I THINK IT WAS ALAMEDA GOT TUNED INTO IT. I BELIEVE SO. AND EVEN THOUGH WE’RE IN TOWN, THE WILDLIFE IS GREAT OUT HERE. CORY SAID HE ONCE SAW A BOBCAT FALL IN THE RIVER. IT WAS LIKE WALKING DOWN A LOG TO GET A DRINK. PRESUMABLY. AND LIKE IT LOST ITS BALANCE IN THE WATER, OUT OF THE WATER AND GONE. I ACTUALLY ENJOYED THAT SO MUCH. I’VE DONE IT A FEW MORE TIMES SINCE DOING THAT STORY. WELL, COMING UP A CLASSIC RANCH EXPERIENCE. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL ROSWELL HAS TO OFFER. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ITS HISTORY THAT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD AND THE UFO CRASH THAT STARTED IT ALL. PLUS, WE’RE MAKING A STOP IN ALAMOGORDO TO A PLACE WHOSE BEAUTY NEEDS NO EXPLANATION. AND NOW LET’S HEAD SOUTH, WHERE RANCHING EXPLODED DURING THE WESTWARD EXPANSION IN THE 1800S. TODAY, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED. I VISITED ONE OF THEM NEAR ROSWELL. AND WE’VE TALKED ABOUT IN THIS SERIES THAT REALLY YOU CAN TAKE TRAIL RIDES IN ALL CORNERS OF THIS STATE. BUT IF YOU WANT THAT COWBOY FEELING, YOU’VE GOT TO GET AROUND SOME CATTLE. AND TODAY WE’RE DOING THAT. WE’RE HANGIN WITH THE HORSES AT BURT. WELL, GUEST RANCH, THIS IS A FULL FUNCTIONING CATTLE RANCH. SHEEP NEXT TO THE HOUSE. CATTLE IN THE PASTURE. AND SOME NEW SHOES GOING ON THE HORSES. BEST PART. YOU CAN STAY AT THE RANCH AND SEE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THIS LIFESTYLE. DO YOU WANT TO GO AND SEE SOME COWS? YEAH, I DO. OKAY, LET’S DO IT. MY GUIDE IS THE OWNER OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY, KIM CHESSER. AND YES, THE CORGI ALWAYS COMES WITH THE CHECK CATTLE. KIM WAS RAISED ON THIS RANCH. HE AND WIFE HAVE BEEN HOSTING PEOPLE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW. WE KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE SOME OTHER INCOME, RATHER THAN JUST COWS TO EVER PAY FOR IT. TWICE A YEAR, THE GUESTS GET TO HELP WITH A CATTLE DRIVE. IT’S A BUCKET LIST. EXPERI. IT’S MOVING CATTLE ACROSS PASTURES. HE SAID IT’S FOR THOSE WITH AN ADVENTURE SPIRIT. WE’VE HAD SNOW STORMS AND ICE STORMS. I JUST FED THESE COWS HERE. THIS MORNING. OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR, YOU GET TO BE PART OF THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS LIKE US CHECKING COWS. TODAY. GREAT TIME OF YEAR WITH THE CAVS, KIM SAID, OPENING HIS RANCH TO GUESTS. REALLY OPENED HIS EYES TO THE BEAUTY OUT HERE. IT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD FOR ME BECAUSE I REALIZE ALL OF THE BLESSINGS THAT I’M AROUND THAT I JUST THAT I JUST OVERLOOK BECAUSE I’VE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE. DRINK IT IN. SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE PLACE. CREATURES AT THE RANCH ARE WHEN YOU’RE NOT USED TO RIDING A HORSE, YOU’RE A LITTLE SORE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THAT RIDE. THERE ARE LOTS OF STATE PARKS IN NEW MEXICO, BUT THE VERY FIRST ONE IS IN ROSWELL, BOTTOMLESS LAKES. IT WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1933. THERE ARE MANY LAKES, BUT LEE LAKE IS THE BIGGEST ONE. YOU CAN SWIM IN PADDLEBOARD. THERE. PEOPLE IN THE AREA LOVE IT AND FOR RANGERS WHO WORK THERE, IT’S A DELIGHTFUL OFFICE. I LOVE BEING OUT HERE. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. IT’S CALLED BOTTOMLESS. BUT THERE IS A BOTTOM. THE LAKES ARE MADE FROM SINKHOLES AND. IT’S A POPULAR PLACE FOR SCUBA DIVERS. ROSWELL IS BEST KNOWN FOR ALIENS AND UFO IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE ALIENS GREET YOU AT THE FAST FOOD JOINTS. BUT ONE FAMOUS ALIEN MYSTERY HAS AN ENTIRE TOURIST INDUSTRY FOR THE CITY. IT ALL STARTED WITH WHAT’S CALLED THE ROSWELL INCIDENT, 1947, WHERE SOMETHING FELL FROM THE SKY. I’M NOT HERE TO SAY IT HAPPENED OR DIDN’T HAPPEN. WHAT I CAN SAY THE BOTTOM LINE IS SOMETHING HAPPENED HERE IN 1947 THAT STILL COVERED UP THE PLACE WHERE THE UFO WAS REPORTED TO HAVE CRASHED IS ABOUT 75 MILES FROM ROSWELL. ACTUALLY, IN 2018, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 70 YEARS, THE WAS ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHERE THE DEBRIS WAS FOUND. IT WAS FIRST CALLED THE FLYING SAUCER, THEN A WEATHER BALLOON. FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE WE ARE NOT ALONE, IT WAS A FASCINATING SPOT TO TOUR. EVERY YEAR, ROSWELL HOSTS A UFO FESTIVAL. AND THIS YEAR WAS SPECIAL BECAUSE IT MARKED 75 YEARS SINCE THE ROSWELL INCIDENT. THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL BROUGHT IN OVER $2 MILLION TO ROSWELL AND MORE THAN 40,000 VISITORS. NOW TO ANOTHER CITY IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO. THAT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD. ALAMOGORDO HAS A RICH HISTORY IN SPACE EXPLORATION, AND IT’S HOME TO NATURAL WONDERS LIKE WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK. THAT’S WHERE BREANA ALBIZU ZOO JOINS US. HE TAUGHT THEM HERE AT THE BEAUTIFUL DUNES AND WHITE SANDS RIGHT NOW. AND IT’S REALLY A TREASURE HERE IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT. WHITE SANDS IS A UNIQUE AND FASCINATING PLACE WITH MILES OF WHITE DUNES, BUT THEY’RE NOT ACTUALLY MADE OF SAND. THE DUNES ARE ACTUALLY WHITE GYPSUM THAT I’VE BEEN COLLECTING HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. AFTER ANCIENT LAKES EVAPORATED, LEFT BEHIND CRYSTALS THAT WERE CARRIED AWAY BY STRONG WINDS. THE PROCESS HAPPENS TODAY, GIVING US THE BEAUTY OF THE LARGEST GYPSUM DUNE FIELDS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. NOW, THOSE ANCIENT LAKES ALSO LEFT BEHIND SIGNS OF LIFE DATING BACK MORE THAN 23,000 YEARS. FOSSILIZED TRACKS FROM WOOLY MAMMOTH, GIANT GROUND SLOTH, DIREWOLF AND AMERICAN LION HAVE ALL BEEN FOUND AT WHITE SANDS. HUMANS, TOO. WE ALL KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING. WE KNOW THAT A MOTHER IS PROBABLY JUST PICKING UP HER CHILD AND CARRYING HER. AND FASCINATING IS YOU CAN SEE THE ADULT FOOTPRINTS. YOU CAN EVEN SEE BY HOW THEY WERE LEFT THAT THE PERSON’S SHIFTING THE CHILD FROM HIP TO HIP. THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PRESERVED FOOTPRINTS, MAKING IT THE LARGEST COLLECTION IN THE WORLD. NOW, JUST NORTH OF HERE IS THE WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, A HUB FOR SPACE AND MILITARY RESEARCH. IT ALL STARTED BACK IN THE 1930S WITH ROCKET FUEL TESTS. THEN IN 1954, DR. JOHN STAPP WROTE A SLED THAT REACHED 632 MILES PER HOUR, MAKING HIM THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE AT THE TIME. THE APOLLO ENGINE WAS TESTED HERE IN 1963 AND IN 1982, SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA TOUCHED DOWN BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER IN CALIF. THE PILOTS SAY THAT AFTER THE LANDING, WORKMEN WOULD CONTINUE TO FIND POCKETS OF SAND ON BOARD. FOR THE REST, A COLUMBIA SERVICE, THE WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, WAS ALSO WHERE THE U.S. TESTED TRINITY, THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB. THE TRINITY SITE IS OPEN JUST TWICE A YEAR TO THE PUBLIC. THE AREA IS STILL USED TODAY TEST ROCKETS AND OTHER MILITARY EQUIPMENT. ALAMOGORDO IS HISTORY WITH THE MILITARY AND SPACE RUNS DEEP. AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPACE AGE FROM A MUSEUM RIGHT HERE IN TOWN. THE DRIVE TO GO TO SPACE REALLY STARTED IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY AND IN THIS PART OF NEW MEXICO. THAT’S WHAT MANY VISITORS TAKE AWAY AT THE STATE’S MUSEUM OF SPACE HISTORY. WHAT THE MUSEUM COMMEMORATES IS A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS AND A LOT OF THAT TECHNOLOGY THAT WERE DEVELOPED A DECADE BEFORE EVER CAME ABOUT. THE MULTISTORY FACILITY OFFERS A VARIETY OF EXHIBITS HIGHLIGHTING KEY MOMENTS FROM TRAINING CHIMPANZEES TO THE FIRST MOON LANDING. THIS PRIZED POSSESSION, A MOON ROCK, JUST ONE OF MANY ITEMS SHOWING PROOF FOLKS ACTUALLY GET TO SEE THAT IT MAYBE SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL SEE VERY FEW OTHER PLACES. THE CONCEPT OF SPACE IS A BIG PASSION FOR STAFF MEMBERS LIKE MICHAEL CHINABERRY. HE STILL REMEMBERS WHEN HIS FAMILY WATCHED THE HISTORIC MISSION ON TV. HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. BRINGS YOU BACK ALMOST, IN A SENSE, YOU KNOW, TO THAT MEMORY. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE THAT? IT MAKES ME FEEL GREAT. A GREAT MEMORY. CHINABERRY NOW STANDS AS A LEADER FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHILDREN WITH HOPES OF BLASTING OFF INTO A WORLD UNKNOWN. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WE REALLY HOPE, LIKE I WAS INSPIRED TO INSPIRE THOSE FOLKS TO BECOME THE NEXT LINK THAT WILL ADVANCE OUR FUTURE. NOW, OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM, YOU’LL SEE A GRAVE FOR AN ANIMAL WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SPACE EXPLORATION. HAM WAS THE FIRST CHIMP LAUNCHED IN SPACE. HE WAS CALLED THE ASTRO CHIMP. HE WAS TRAINED AT HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE. AND IN 1961, HE DID A SUBORBITAL FLIGHT LASTING 7 MINUTES, MAKING IT BACK TO EARTH SAFELY WITH ONLY A BRUISED NOSE. A PLACE EAST OF TOWN WAS BUILT TO HELP THE MILITARY. IT’S CALLED THE SUNSPOT OBSERVATORY. PLANS STARTED DURING WORLD WAR TWO BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT FIGURED OUT THE SUN WAS IMPACTING SOME RADAR AND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. THE FIRST TELESCOPE WAS BUILT IN THE FIFTIES, AND THE ONE YOU SEE NOW WAS BUILT IN 1969. MUCH OF WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW THE SUN AFFECTS US IS ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF THE RESEARCH DONE RIGHT HERE IN NEW MEXICO. OUR EYES HAVE REALLY BEEN OPEN TO THE CRITICAL ROLE MAGNETS AS IT PLAYS IN MAKING THE SUN THE WAY IT DOES EVERY DAY. THE OBSERVATORY IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, SO BE SURE TO COME ON OUT AND SEE THE TELESCOPE OUT FOR YOURSELF. IT MAY NOT BE OUT OF THIS WORLD, BUT IT DEFINITELY GRABS YOUR TENSION. A GIANT PISTACHIO JUST NORTH OF TOWN. IT’S 30 FEET TALL AND PRETTY TOUGH TO MISS. THE WEATHER HERE IS PERFECT FOR GROWING THE NUTS. A FUN FACT HERE, 100% PISTACHIO IS GROWN IN THE U.S. COME FROM CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA AND, NEW MEXICO. YOU CAN VISIT THE ORCHARDS LIKE OUR PISTACHIO LANDS. THEY SELL ALL SORTS OF THINGS MADE FROM PISTACHIOS. AND, OF COURSE, THE RED AND GREEN CHILI FLAVORS ARE THE MOST POPULAR THAT’S WHAT’S SO FULFILLING. IS WATCHING PEOPLE COME IN AND OOH, AND AH AND ENJOY THE PRODUCTS. THEY HARVEST PISTACHIOS IN JULY, BUT YOU CAN ENJOY THEM ALL YEAR ROUND. OBVIOUSLY A LOT TO EXPERIENCE HERE. AND BY THE WAY, DID YOU KNOW THE ALAMOGORDO MEANS FAT COTTONWOOD? SO WHAT’S BEHIND THE NAME? THE EDDY BROTHERS STARTED THE TOWN AND NAMED IT ALAMOGORDO. AFTER BIG COTTONWOOD TREES, THEY SAW THE PECOS RIVER. PRETTY INTERESTING, RIGHT? THOUGHT. ALAMOGORDO, FAT COTTONWOOD. BRIANNA, THANK YOU. GLOOM IS GOING UP IN FLAMES. UNIQUE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND HOT AIR BALLOONS FILLING THE SKY WITH COLOR. WE’LL TAKE YOU TO SOME OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT. WELCOME BACK. TO CELEBRATE NEW MEXICO, THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT. IT’S HOME TO SOME UNIQUE EVENTS YOU WILL NOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE. NOW, ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE IS THE BURNING OF ZILBER AND SHELLY. WE WERE THERE AS OLD MAN. GLOOM WENT UP IN FLAMES. OH, AND DID WE HAVE FUN OR WHAT? A LITTLE TOO MUCH. I MEAN, IT WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO NOW, AND WE’RE STILL WHENEVER WE SEE EACH OTHER, WE TALK ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, THE NINETIES MUSIC. YOU LIKE THAT? NOTHING BETTER. DO YOU THINK I LIKED IT? YOU STILL HEAR SOME OF THE SONGS, RIGHT? I CAN HEAR IT IN MY VOICE. YEAH. I RUINED IT FOR YOU. YOU THE IDEA FOR THIS GIANT MONSTERS STARTED IN THE WINTER OF 1923. ARTIST WILL SISTER WAS CELEBRATING THE SALE OF A PAINTING WITH FRIENDS AT THE LA FONDA BAR. EVERYONE WAS GRUMPY AND GLOOMY, SO WE ASKED THEM TO WRITE DOWN WHAT WAS BOTHERING THEM AND HE BURNED IT ON THE TABLE. THEN ON GOOD FRIDAY, SCHUSTER MADE A TRIP TO MEXICO WHERE HE WITNESSED A UNIQUE CELEBRATION. THEY WOULD CREATE A FIVE FOOT EFFIGY OF JUDAS, THE APOSTLE THAT BETRAYED JESUS. AND THEY WOULD PARADED THROUGH THE TOWN. THEY WOULD THROW SHOES AT IT. THEY WOULD SPIT IT. AND AT THE END IN THE PLAZA, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BURN IT. SHE USED TO RETURN TO SANTA FE AND COMBINE THE IDEAS OF WRITING DOWN THOSE BLOOMS WITH THE BURNING IN A PUBLIC SPECTACLE. IT’S A COMMUNITY EFFORT GETTING OLD, VAN GLOOM STUFFED AND BUILT. KIDS AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES JOINED STAFF TO BUILD THE 50 FOOT MARY ANNETTE. AND IT’S NO EASY TASK. OLD MAN GLOOM WEIGHS MORE THAN 2,000 POUNDS. ANOTHER BIG EVENT, THOUSANDS. THE GATHERING OF NATIONS. THE SOUNDS OF DRUMMING, SINGING AND DANCING FILLED TINGLEY COLISEUM AS PERFORMERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TAKE CENTER STAGE. THE EVENT RETURNED THIS YEAR AFTER A TWO YEAR PAUSE FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND GALLUP IS HOME TO THE LONGEST RUNNING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES EVENT IN THE UNITED STATES. IT REALLY IS A UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND AUDIENCES FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD COME TO THIS EVENT AS WELL AS TRIBES FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, DIFFERENT STATES IN DIFFERENT AREAS. THE GALLUP INTERTRIBAL CEREMONIAL, JUST CELEBRATED 100 YEARS. THE COMPETITION HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. A SHOW OF HORSEMANSHIP TURNED TO MODERN DAY RODEO ART, LIKE POTTERY AND RUGS ARE NOW JUDGED. AND NOW PEOPLE FROM MORE THAN 500 INDIGENOUS GROUPS WORLDWIDE COULD COME HERE TO SHARE THEIR CULTURE. AND GALLOP IS ALSO HOME TO THE WORLD’S SECOND LARGEST BALLOON GATHERING. THE RED ROCK BALLOON RALLY. JUST. 41 YEARS, MORE THAN 150 BALLOONS PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT. BALLOON IS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE EAGER FOR AN INVITATION BECAUSE IT’S A UNIQUE BALLOONING EXPERIENCE. WE GET UP IN THE AIR AND WE CAN SEE FOR MILES AND MILES. THERE’S A LOT OF INTERESTING GEOLOGY IN THE AREA. SO WE LOOK DOWN INTO THESE CANYONS. WE FLY DOWN INTO THEM, SWOOP UP AND DOWN LIKE THE EAGLES, AND JUST HAVE FUN. BALLOONS GET VERY CLOSE TO THE FORMATIONS, SOME ENVELOPES EVEN TOUCHING THE ROCK. SPECTATORS, EVEN CLIMB THE ROCK FOR BETTER VIEWS. ONE UNIQUE THING ABOUT THE EVENT IS THAT IT EDUCATES PEOPLE ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE. AND THE OTHER BIG EVENT WE LOVE BEING A PART OF EVERY YEAR BALLOON FIESTA THAT HAPPENS RIGHT HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. IT’S AN INCREDIBLE EVENT CELEBRATING 50 YEARS THIS YEAR. ALWAYS FUN TO COVER. RIGHT. YOU WERE OUT THERE ON A WINDY. CHILLY. YEAH. BUT YOU KNOW, THE HOT COCOA AND THE BREAKFAST BURRITOS WARMING UP. OF COURSE, THERE WERE FIESTA CLASSICS. THE BURRITOS, COLLECTOR PINS AND THE SPECIAL SHAPES. WE ALL LOVE. BUT SOME NEW ADDITIONS TO IN HONOR OF THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF REENACTMENT OF THE FIRST BALLOON FIESTA WHERE 13 BALLOONS TOOK TO THE SKY IN A MALL PARKING LOT. AND THERE WAS ALSO A SPECIAL DRONE SHOW. WE BOTH GOT TO SEE THIS ONE IN PERSON. IT SOUNDED COOL. I THINK IT ENDED UP BEING EVEN BETTER THAN I WAS EXPECTING. IT REALLY IS AMAZING. EVERYBODY JUST COMPLETELY STOPS WHAT THEY’RE DOING AND THE SKY LOOKS AMAZING. I MEAN, IT REALLY IS SPECTACULAR TO SEE. WAITING FOR DAWN PATROL TO POP UP. YES. TO HAVE SOMETHING TO WATCH WHILE YOU’RE WAITING. IT’S FANTASTIC. I COULD WATCH IT ALL MORNING. AND IT HONORS THE FATHER OF FIESTA, SID COTTER. AND EVEN THOUGH THE BALLOONS DIDN’T GO UP EVERY DAY THIS YEAR, AS WE KNOW, WHEN THEY DID, IT WAS A MAGNIFICENT SIGHT. WITH MORE THAN 700 BALLOONS FILLING THE ALBUQUERQUE SKY WITH SO MUCH COLOR. LOOKING AT THE VIDEO, WHAT A SPECTACULAR EVENT. EVERY TIME WE’RE OUT THERE, IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER. NO WONDER IT’S ACTUALLY THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED EVENT ON EARTH. NOT A SURPRISE. WELL, NEXT, WE HEAD TO THE STATE’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK. WE’RE GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW CARLSBAD CAVERNS WAS DISCOVERED AND TAKE YOU DEEP BELOW THE SURFACE TO SHARE ITS BEAUTY. AND IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON. NEW MEXICO IS HOME TO SOME OF THE UNIQUE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS. BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME CONTROVERSY. AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE NEW MEXICO, WE HEAD NOW TO THE PRIDE OF THE PECOS. CARLSBAD IS BEST KNOWN FOR THE CAVERNS OF COURSE, BUT IT ALSO HAS A RICH AND CULTURE. IT WAS FIRST CALLED EDDY AFTER TWO RANCHERS WHO MOVED TO THE AREA IN 1899. THE NAME CHANGED SETTLERS WITH ROOTS IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, IN IRELAND AND GERMANY MOVED TO THIS AREA. THEY WANTED TO RENAME EDDY CARLSBAD AFTER A FAMOUS TOWN THAT IS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. NOW THE COUNTY IS NAMED EDDY. THERE’S AN ICONIC BUILDING IN CARLSBAD. FIRST IT WAS A BANK. NOW IT’S A HOTEL AND RESTAURANT FILLED WITH HISTORY. IT HAS BEEN THERE MORE THAN 130 YEARS. WHEN IT WAS THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CARLSBAD HELD CASH FROM PEOPLE LIKE PAT GARRETT, THE SHERIFF WHO SHOT AND KILLED BILLY THE KID. IN FACT, SHERIFF GARRETT USED WORK OUT OF THE BANK. THE BUILDING SAT VACANT FOR DECADES UNTIL A FAMILY BROUGHT IT BACK TO LIFE AS A WINERY. BOUTIQUE HOTEL, FINE DINING RESTAURANT. BUT CARLSBAD, IT’S BEST KNOWN FOR THE CAVERNS. STEPHANIE MUNIZ SHOWS US INSIDE IN NEW MEXICO IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS. THERE’S A TRIP BELOW THE SURFACE THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE IN ANOTHER WORLD. WHEN YOU TAKE THAT JOURNEY DOWN, PUTTING YOURSELF IN A FRAME OF MIND SIMILAR TO WHAT SOME OF THOSE EARLY EXPLORERS WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED, IT’S JUST PHENOMENAL. OUR PORT GUIDE, AUBREY BROWN, IS TALKING ABOUT CARLSBAD CAVERNS. YOU CAN HIKE. BUT WE MADE JOURNEY DOWN FROM THE LOBBY TO THE CAVE VIA ELEVATOR IN THE VISITOR CENTER. THAT TOOK US MORE THAN 750 FEET OR 75 STORIES DOWN IN ABOUT 60 SECONDS. TALK ABOUT A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE. AND WE ENDED UP HERE IN THE BIG ROOM. THE BIG ROOM IS, THE LARGEST SINGLE CAVE CHAMBER ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. AND SO FOR MOST PEOPLE, THIS IS THE LARGEST CAVE CHAMBER WE WILL EVER GET TO VISIT. AND IT’S PRETTY AMAZING. JUST TAKE A LOOK AROUND. SHE SAYS, WHAT’S TO THIS CAVE IS THAT IT WAS FORMED BY SULFURIC ACID AND FROM THE STALACTITES HANGING FROM ABOVE TO THE STALAGMITES BELOW. YOU COULD SAY THIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. THE LIMESTONE THAT WE ARE STANDING IN DEATHS AROUND 260 TO 265 MILLION YEARS AGO DURING THE TIME OF PANGEA. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS CAVE IS BETWEEN FOUR AND 6 MILLION YEARS OLD. SO THE CAVE ITSELF EXISTED LONG BEFORE THE ENTRANCE WAS OPEN. SHE SAYS THIS CAVE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS BY NATIVE AMERICANS, BUT A 16 YEAR OLD COWBOY NAMED JIM WHITE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST PROMINENT AMERICAN EXPLORER TO ENTER IN THE LATE 1800S. HE FOUND THE CAVE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE SAW SMOKE ON THE HORIZON AND HE FOLLOWED IT AND TURNED OUT TO BE BATS. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BATS, WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS BOILING OUT OF THIS WHALE OF A CAVE. HE CAME BACK A FEW DAYS LATER WITH A LANTERN BY HIMSELF, MADE A HOMELY HOMEMADE LADDER OUT OF FENCE, WIRE AND STICKS FROM THE DESERT. AND HE DESCENDED INTO THE COMPLETE DARKNESS. FAST FORWARD 1925. THAT’S WHEN IT BECAME A NATIONAL MONUMENT. THEN IT EXPANDED TO A NATIONAL PARK. BY 1930, A FIRST FOR NEW MEXICO. WE ARE EXPLORING CARLSBAD CAVERNS, WHERE RIGHT AROUND, I THINK, 42 MILES OF PASSAGES LAST I HEARD, A SPECTACULAR WONDER THAT EASILY GET BIGGER IF YOU MAKE THE TRIP TO SEE THE CAVE. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLANS TO BE THERE AT DUSK. THAT’S WHEN THOUSANDS OF BATS FLY OUT LOOKING FOR FOOD. 17 DIFFERENT KINDS OF THE FLYING MAMMALS LIVE INSIDE CARLSBAD CAVERNS. IN THE WINTER, THEY MIGRATE AWAY FROM THE CAVE, BUT THEY COME BACK IN AND EACH NIGHT YOU CAN WATCH AS GIANT SWARMS FLY OUT OF THE CAVE. THERE’S ALSO A HOLIDAY TRADITION IN CARLSBAD. IT’S CALLED CHRISTMAS ON THE PECOS. FLOAT THE RIVER ON BIG PONTOON LIKE BOATS. AND ALL DOWN THE RIVER, YOU SEE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS. THAN 100 OF THEM. MANY HOMEOWNERS PUT THESE UP THEMSELVES. THE RIDE TAKES? ABOUT 45 MINUTES. AND THERE’S OF OTHER HOLIDAY TRADITIONS IN NEW MEXICO THIS TIME OF YEAR. PLAZAS, CHURCHES, HOMES AND BUSINESSES. THEY’RE LIT UP WITH LUMINARIES OR FATALITIES, AS THEY’RE KNOWN IN THE NORTHERN OF THE STATE. IN SPANISH LUMINOSITY, IT MEANS ILLUMINATION AND FATHER LITO MEANS LITTLE LANTERN. THIS IS WHERE THE NAME CONTROVERSY IN THE NORTH. FATHER LITO, THE NAME FOR THE PAPER LANTERNS AND LOOMING AIXA DIAZ ARE THE STACKS OF FIREWOOD THAT CREATE SMALL BONFIRES. SOUTH OF SANTA FE, NEW MEXICANS CALLED PAPER LANTERNS ILLUMINATE IDEAS IN CATHOLIC TRADITIONS. THEY’RE LIT ON CHRISTMAS EVE TO GUIDE THE HOLY FAMILY. AND WE CAN’T TALK THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT BISCOTTI. DOCE OFFICIAL COOKIE OF NEW MEXICO. THEY’RE MADE WITH CINNAMON SUGAR AND A NICE. THEY’RE FREQUENTLY EATEN AROUND THE HOLIDAYS. AND ANOTHER HOLIDAY STAPLE. FAMILIES. FAMILIES WORK TOGETHER TO STUFFED PORK OR CHICKEN AND A CORN DOUGH CALLED MASA INTO A CORN. THEY’LL MAKE STACKS OF THESE THINGS TO SHARE ON CHRISTMAS. THE TRADITION DATES BACK TO THE AZTECS, WHO BELIEVED EATING TAMALES IN THE WINTER WOULD BRING THEM GOOD LUCK. IT’S BEEN SO MUCH FUN. EXPLORED THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT WITH YOU TONIGHT. ARE SO MANY INTERESTING PLACES ACROSS OUR STATES. AND WE’VE ONLY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE AS WE EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING NEW MEXICO HAS TO OFFER. LEARN MORE. OUR CULTURE AND TRADITION AND MEET THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT ONE OF A KIND. WE’LL KEEP SHARING THE STORIES THAT MAKE OUR STATE SO SPECIAL AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE NEW MEXICO.