New Mexico
On the Road in Southern New Mexico: Rugged Beauty and the Final Frontier
Program No. 22614RJ
Southern New Mexico is known for its natural beauty and unique role in the history of space exploration. Explore both on this journey to Carlsbad Caverns, and more!
Participant Reviews
Based on 27 Reviews
SHOWING
An absolutely thrilling experience. All the places we visited were truly breathtaking. Carlsbad Caverns exceeded my expectations. Felt like on another planet All in all a fabulous trip.
— Review left May 23, 2025
I just returned from New Mexico and had a great time. I always wanted to visit Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell and was not disappointed. We also saw some really interesting museums and I learned a lot. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is comfortable walking down steep walkways (Carlsbad) and up steep steps (Petroglyph site). Bring a walking stick!
— Review left May 2, 2025
I learned so much about New Mexico. I had only driven through this state and knew very little about it. This state is sparsely populated but has such an interesting and diverse history and culture.
I enjoyed meeting others and making new friends.
Our tour guides were excellent. Because this trip required spending some time on a bus, I appreciated the videos that were shown on the bus to prepare us for the sights and museums that we would be touring.
— Review left April 23, 2025
Fascinating visits and insights into southern New Mexico's people and natural wonders!
— Review left April 17, 2025
I took this tour to see Carlsbad Caverns, but I had no idea that White Sands, the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Reserve, and the Very Large Array would be as breathtaking. I also enjoyed the Museum of Space History and the pistachio farm tour but could have done without the visit to Roswell or Lincoln. The group size was larger than I was expecting at 34, but fortunately, my tour mates were all interesting, fun, curious, and kind—a truly stellar group. Our knowledgeable guides Vannetta, Rich, and bus driver Ben took such great care of us. The hotels for the most part were fine other than the one in Socorro.
— Review left November 19, 2024
I experienced in New Mexico places and experiences that were truly unknown to me. the small old towns in NM are a glimpse into an old culture that was a true learning experience for me. The Large Array of space exploration was absolutely a trip to the future——the small towns a glimpse of the past..Go
— Review left November 17, 2024
This for me (us) was an excellent program which accommodated multiple interests. It qualified as a mini-adventure and was well worth the time and effort. I recommend it highly.
— Review left November 2, 2024
There are many wondrous sights on this trip, especially Carlsbad Cavern & White Sands. The Roswell UFO Museum was a lot of fun & the Art Museum in town was excellent. Due to the tiny little towns, the restaurant situation wasn't the best, but that's where the famous RS patience & flexibility came into play! Our tour leader, Scott A., was fabulous.
— Review left April 29, 2024
The SE New Mexico trip is a potpourri of interesting aspects of a less-visited location. Visit ranged from the heavily scientific, to the beautiful to the quirky and kept me at attention the entire time.
— Review left April 21, 2024
The Southern New Mexico trip far exceeded my expectations. The National Parks were incredible. Loved the history lesson about the town of Lincoln made famous by Billy the Kid. Enjoyed learning about space at the Space Museum. I believe aliens crashed in Roswell! Viewing petroglyphs up close was fascinating. The Very Large Array (VLA) was a reminder we are not alone in the universe and beyond. Samples at the pistachio farm as well as learning how pistachios are grown and processed was a lot of fun. What I loved most was getting to know everyone in my group and to learn so much about every place we visited. Colleen Patrick was a wonderful leader!
— Review left April 2, 2024
thanks for a fine travel experience
— Review left March 26, 2024
If your from a lush and green state, come and experience life in the desert.
— Review left March 23, 2024
A lively mixture of experiences - both educational and fun. Good accommodations and some really good dining. Our group leader, Scott Aarestad, was truly exceptional. His sense of humor, story-telling and approachability made the trip even better.
— Review left November 23, 2023
well run program to off the track sites; excellent leader and bus driver; good accommodations; congenial fellow travelers A.A.
— Review left November 20, 2023
I had a fantastic trip! Definitely a vacation that i will remember fondly for years to come.
— Review left November 19, 2023
Southern New Mexico: Rugged Beauty and Final Frontier is a good program to see different parts of New Mexico National Parks, and cities.
— Review left October 28, 2023
This is an eye opening look at a part of our county that most people fly over or drive through without much regard. I highly recommend this tour.
— Review left April 16, 2023
Great program. Vannetta Perry is an OUTSTANDING trip leader and very knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics.
— Review left April 16, 2023
I wish I had discovered Road Scholar sooner.
— Review left March 13, 2023
On the Road in Southern NM is a survey of many things in that area. I picked the trip because I had always wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands and was interested in petroglyphs, indigenous culture, aliens, and the VLA. I was surprised to find that I was fascinated by everything we saw and did, even those things I had not been particularly interested in.
— Review left March 12, 2023
This is a fantastic trip. I learned so much about New Mexico - from native Pueblo Peoples to recent space exploration. Beautiful national parks, wildlife refuges, petroglyphs, state history, and, of course, the UFO Museum in Roswell. Lots of great meals, too. Our leader, Vannetta, and driver, Jerry, were so knowledgeable, helpful, well-organized, and great fun.
— Review left October 24, 2022
On the Road in Southern New Mexico is a fantastic program and our group leader Vannetta Perry was the best as she provided us with interesting information about the area and the sights we were visiting. She also told us personal stories about the area as she has lived in the area for many years. She was very organized and handled everything even emergencies very efficiently. Thanks Vannetta for an amazing program that I highly recommend!
— Review left October 23, 2022
What a wonderful trip! Our tour leader, Scott, was very informative and personable. I saw and learned so much about New Mexico’s history from the Lincoln County War to the New Mexico Museum of Space History to the Pueblo Cultural Museum to Old Town Albuquerque. Of course the landscape was beautiful - Carlsbad Caverns, Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, White Sands National Park, etc. I would definitely recommend this program.
— Review left April 14, 2022
This was my first Road Scholar trip. If the guide and fellow travelers are any indication of typical trips I. Can't wait to go on my next one. NM was beautiful and we had so much fun. What a great group.
— Review left March 30, 2022
Great way to get back on the road again with Road Scholar. A fun week in New Mexico with a great guide and driver. Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands were stunning .
— Review left March 11, 2022
Great opportunity to explore a part of an interesting part of New Mexico, including two National Parks (including one of the newest National Parks), and lots of very fascinating science (the Very Large Array and the NM Museum of Space History), plus the history of the Lincoln County Wars and Billy The Kid In particular, the New Mexico Museum of Space History was truly outstanding, including the International Space Hall of Fame, the grave site of Ham, the first chimp in space, and one of the best museum docents (Dave Dooley) who made space history come alive. As this was an On The Road program, we spent a fair amount of time on the motor coach, however, Vanetta Perry, our group leader, was so entertaining and educational. We were a smallish group of 26, but this was a great time. At the time of the program ending, Road Scholar was cancelling many programs due to the Corona Virus; however, when traveling resumes, I would highly recommend this program as a great combination of the outdoors and science, plus Western history.
— Review left March 28, 2020
Our reason to choose this program was to visit Carlsbad Cavern and White Sand...it was a lot more. SE New Mexico has an interesting history, art and culture from petroglyphs to Billy the Kid and much more. The program had a lot of verity.
— Review left March 22, 2019