Locums for a Small World Blog

Locum where the Rough Riders rode and "Easy Rider" became a touchstone for a generation

Posted by Saralynn White

PlazaHotelNewMexicoOn the edge of the eastern plains of New Mexico, at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, sits a little town said to have been the worst of the biggest, baddest Old West Towns. A key stop on the Santa Fe Trail, the town hosted the likes of Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp; Doc Holliday kept his dental office here; and the Rough Riders first met in the saloon of the Plaza Hotel here (you can still get a shot of tequila at the saloon). This historic area is surrounded by recreation and wilderness experiences, including Hermit Peak's summit. Try the long trail hike with a strenuous series of switchbacks up the cliffs and you're rewarded by great views to the south and east. And if you prefer the movie screen to nature's background, look around - this town is the filming location for numerous movies including No Country for Old Men, Wyatt Earp and the landmark counterculture film Easy Rider. Move over, Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda. What locum tenens represents is freedom...

WhiteSandsMonumentCome to New Mexico and walk where humans have lived for at least 11,000 years, then stand at the incredible White Sands National Monument. Here, in the Tularosa Basin, you'll think you've been transported to a foreign land. Amidst its scenic desert dunes, you'll also discover dormant volcanoes, ancient lava flows, ice caves, fossil sites, and archeological digs that traverse the state's scenic byways. New Mexico is no place for the yips, either; the state has over 70 golf courses, including Twin Warriors Golf Club and the dramatic Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club - two of the nation's top 50. 

NMSpaceHistoryMuseumDespite the ghost of Billy the Kid and depictions of "hippie" societal movements, New Mexico isn't all about the past; this Land of Enchantment is a haven for anyone interested in the future of science and technology. You'll find Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, and several astronomical observatories, including the Very Large Array right here in New Mexico. Plus, the Museum of Space History (which resides in a majestic four-story golden cube) will give you an experience that's anything but terrestrial.

 

Topics: Sangre de Cristo Mountains, White Sands National Monument, Twin Warriors Golf Club, PaaKo Ridge Golf, Los Alamos, Museum of Space History, New Mexico, Locum Tenens, United States