Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
OTHER PARK ACTIVITIES
Aside from the caves, the park offers a 10-mile one-way scenic loop drive through the
Chihuahuan Desert to view Rattlesnake and Upper Walnut canyons. Picnickers can head
for Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area, on C.R. 418 near Slaughter Canyon Cave, a water
source for hundreds of years for the Native Americans, and a primo birding spot. Back-
country hikers must register at the visitor center before going out on any of the trails in
the park's 46,766 acres.
DINING
A cafe at the base of the caverns serves refreshments. Otherwise, your best bet is to eat in
Carlsbad. If you are hungry while in the area, head to the Velvet Garter Saloon & Res-
taurant and Jack's, 26 Carlsbad Cavern Hwy. ( & 575/785-2291 ). Both are part of
White's City. The food is decent, with the Velvet Garter serving steaks and pasta in the
evenings, and Jack's offering basic breakfasts and lunches. Dinner reservations are recom-
mended in summer. The saloon is unmistakable, with longhorns mounted over the door.
Main courses are $10 to $21 (Velvet Garter); $5.50 to $10 breakfast or lunch (Jack's).
Velvet Garter is open daily 4 to 9pm (8:30pm in winter); Jack's daily 7am to 4pm.
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8 SOCORRO
11
62 miles NE of Truth or Consequences; 69 miles S of Albuquerque; 112 miles N of Las Cruces
Socorro, a quiet, pleasant town of about 9,000 residents, is an unusual mix of the 19th,
20th, and 21st centuries. Established as a mining settlement and ranching center,
Socorro has a downtown area dominated by numerous mid-1800s buildings and the
17th-century San Miguel Mission. The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technol-
ogy (New Mexico Tech) is a major research center. Socorro is also the gateway to a vast
and varied two-county region that includes the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife
Refuge, the Very Large Array National Radio Astronomy Observatory (VLA), and
three national forests.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE From Albuquerque, take I-25 south (1 1 / 4 hr.). From Las Cruces,
take I-25 north (2 3 / 4 hr.).
VISITOR INFORMATION The Socorro County Chamber of Commerce, which is
also the visitor information headquarters, is at 101 Plaza (P.O. Box 743), Socorro, NM
87801 ( & 575/835-0424; www.socorro-nm.com).
EXPLORING SOCORRO
The best introduction to Socorro is a walking tour of the historic district. A brochure
with a map and guidebook, available at the chamber of commerce on the plaza, where
the tour begins, points out several historic buildings, many on the National Register of
Historic Places.
You'll definitely want to check out the old Val Verde Hotel. The horseshoe-shaped Val
Verde, a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1919 in California Mission style. It's
been converted to apartments. Another interesting spot is the Fullingim-Isenhour-
Leard Gallery, 113-C W. Abeyta St., just off the plaza ( & 575/835-4487; www.figalleries.
com). In a historic building, four artists share their bronze-work, paintings, and etchings.
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