Adventure Outdoors Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 138

ALAMOGORDO, NM Alamogordo is your gateway to fantastic sightseeing, scenery, sand and space. Visitors will find miles of glistening white sand, the birthplace of space exploration, and a thriving performing arts center. White Sands is a spectacular landscape shaped by natural forces, it’s like no other place on earth. Located in the heart of the Tularosa Basin just 15 minutes (13 miles) west of Alamogordo, White Sands is the largest gypsum dune field in the world. Long considered one of the world’s great natural wonders, the shimmering white dunes range over 275 square miles. The park offers a wide range of programs and activities, including guided walks, full moon hikes, junior ranger programs, and the ever-popular dune sledding. After checking out the White Sands, come discover how New Mexico’s Tu- larosa Basin became the cradle of America’s space program. Visitors from across the country and around the world come to Alamogordo to learn about the history, science and technol- ogy of space travel. Permanent exhibits showcase the historical developments of rocketry and the pioneers in the field, as well as the challenges of living in space with presentations of space food, clothing, a space toilet, and more. The museum also exhibits real moon rocks! The museum is home to The Interna- tional Space Hall of Fame, which com- memorates the achievements of the men and women behind man’s explo- ration of the heavens. While you’re there, don’t forget to go to the theatre at the Museum of Space History. It’s southern New Mexico’s only theatre that features jaw-dropping presentations about the universe and space exploration. Sitting in front of the world’s largest format projection screen is immer- sive and awesome. With a variety of presentations, visitors can experi- ence what it’s like to float in space with an astronaut, or tour the solar system through spectacular photog- raphy. You can find all this and more in beautiful, enchanting Alamogordo, New Mexico. Plan your next trip today at AlamogordoNMTrue.com