Whether you are visiting New Mexico for the first time or you are a long-time resident, you need to check out Silver City in the southwestern part of the state.
As we walked through the actual cliff dwellings, it was easy to imagine what it was like to live hundreds of years ago in this isolated canyon. The trail to the is about one mile and does have some steep and narrow sections, though there are benches provided so you can take a break and enjoy the view.
Silver City is the gateway to the Gila National Forest, 3.3 million acres of forests, range, and wilderness. Don't miss the Gila Cliff Dwellings where you can go inside the ancient houses. Ancestors of the Puebloan people abandoned the structures approximately A.D.1150. The buildings
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Participate as an amateur or enjoy the experience as a spectator as the race winds through the spectacular wilderness. If you can’t make it in April, you can still enjoy driving the 93-mile Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway which winds through this part of the state.
Add Historical Perspective at the Silver City Museum
After enjoying the natural wonders of the area, stop at the Silver City Museum housed in the restored Mansard/Italianate H. B. Ailman House, built in 1881. Climb the narrow stairs to the third floor and enjoy the view of the valley from the old sewing room.
The museum displays over 20,000 objects. professionally arranged to tell the history of the area. I was surprised to learn the Native Americans who lived here were the first miners of the local copper deposits which came to define the economy. I wished I had more than a couple of hours to absorb the culture and stories told here.
We finished our visit with lunch at the Tapas Tree Grill in downtown Silver City. I loved the friendly service, bright space, and the creatively prepared super-fresh food. Five stars from