To make it easier to find older blog posts, here is an index of all my blog posts to date, grouped by geography.
New Mexico
Food
- Exploring the Flavors of New Mexico: An Interview with Art Pollard, author of “Enchantment: A New Mexican Cookbook” (2024)
- Get Ready to Feel the Heat: The 2025 National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show in Albuquerque. Feeling the burn as the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue show returns to Albuquerque, New Mexico from February 28 – March 2, 2025.
- La Matanza in Belen, New Mexico: Where Tradition Sizzles, Chicharrónes Crackle, and Pants Get Tight. From Chicharrónes to Community Spirit: Everything you need to know about the Belen Matanza Experience.
New Mexico Wildlife
- Rattled in New Mexico? 7 Rattlesnake Myths (and What to Do if You Spot One). From fangs to facts: Debunking Rattlesnake Myths and Learning the Art of Rattlesnake Relocation
Central New Mexico
Albuquerque
- Albuquerque’s Top 3 Hikes—and Why Tree Spring Trail Keeps Me Coming Back: Looking for the best hikes in Albuquerque? Here’s a local’s take on three top trails—including the under-the-radar favorite I keep coming back to: Tree Spring Trail in the East Mountains.
- Polar Bear Plunge, New Mexico Style, at the ABQ BioPark
- The Breaking Bad Statue: Albuquerque’s Tribute to Television’s Antiheroes: Everything you need to know about visiting the Breaking Bad statue in Albuquerque, and a few surprises from the statue unveiling day!
- River of Lights at the ABQ BioPark in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Celebrating Japanese Culture in New Mexico: The Obon and Aki Matsuri Festivals
- Get Ready to Feel the Heat: The 2025 National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show in Albuquerque: Feeling the burn as the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue show returns to Albuquerque, New Mexico from February 28 – March 2, 2025.
- Experience Albuquerque from Above: The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway: Take the Sandia Peak Aerial Tram to one of New Mexico’s best views. From dramatic landscapes to hiking adventures, it’s the perfect Albuquerque escape.
Belen
- La Matanza in Belen, New Mexico: Where Tradition Sizzles, Chicharrónes Crackle, and Pants Get Tight. From Chicharrónes to Community Spirit: Everything you need to know about the Belen Matanza Experience.
Golden
San Antonio
- San Antonio, New Mexico: Birds, Burgers, and the Festival of Cranes: Plan your visit to San Antonio, NM—home to Bosque del Apache’s world-class birding, the Festival of the Cranes, and some of New Mexico’s best green chile cheeseburgers.
San Antonito
- San Antonito Catholic Mission Church and Cemetery in San Antonito, New Mexico: History of San Antonito, New Mexico and its historical church: San Antonito Catholic Mission Church and Cemetery (aka Nuestro Señor de Mapimi Church)
Sandia Park
- Birding Sandia Crest in Albuquerque’s East Mountains: Searching for rosy-finches, three-toed woodpeckers, and other alpine birds
- Tree Spring Trail: One of the top three hiking trails near Albuquerque
Santa Fe
Tijeras
Northeast New Mexico
Maxwell
Raton
Northwest New Mexico
Candy Kitchen
- Discover Candy Kitchen, New Mexico, Where It’s All Wolves and No Candy: Your ultimate guide to visiting Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in Candy Kitchen, New Mexico
Southeast New Mexico
Carrizozo
Glencoe
Hondo
Lincoln
Ruidoso Downs
- A Day at the Races, Beginner’s Luck, and “Free Spirits at Noisy Water”. Discover Ruidoso Downs Race Track and the Free Spirits at Noisy Water—an impressive bronze horse sculpture display and unique roadside stop in southern New Mexico.
San Patricio
Tinnie
White Oaks
Southwest New Mexico
Faywood
Magdalena
- Listening to the Universe: A Visit to New Mexico’s Very Large Array: Discover New Mexico’s Very Large Array (VLA)—a world-class radio telescope where science meets silence. Learn how to visit, what to expect, and why this cosmic listening post is worth the detour.
Pie Town
- Pie Town, New Mexico: Tasty Traditions since the 1920’s: A sweet journey through Pie Town’s rich history and the best places to sample their legendary pie
Rodeo
- Off the Grid and Into the Wild: Exploring Rodeo, NM and Portal, AZ: Chasing birds, solitude, and desert magic in Rodeo, New Mexico and Portal, Arizona — where cell service fades, the trogons get elegant, and the Chiricahua Mountains steal the show.
… and Beyond
Africa
Canada
- Road trip to PEI: Green Gables, Lobster Rolls, Live Music, and a Long Bridge
- Half A Day in Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Puffins, Hiking, Live Music, and Getting Screeched: Things to do in St. John’s Newfoundland, Part 1 of 2
- Puffins, Hiking, Live Music, and Getting Screeched: Things to do in St. John’s Newfoundland, Part 2 of 2
- Visiting the French Island of Saint Pierre and Miquelon as a side-trip from Newfoundland
Europe
Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania)
- A road trip through the Baltics – the journey you didn’t know was on your bucket list (Part 1 of 5): Overview. From Tallinn to Kraków, this Baltic road trip hits small towns, capitals, and stunning landscapes. Part 1: An introduction to the Baltics.
- A road trip through the Baltics – the journey you didn’t know was on your bucket list (Part 2 of 5): Estonia. Part 2: Your Estonia Road Trip Playlist – Tallinn, Soomaa National Park, and Pärnu.
- A road trip through the Baltics – the journey you didn’t know was on your bucket list (Part 3 of 5): Latvia. Part 3: Your Latvia Road Trip Playlist: Gauja National Park, Sigulda Bobsleigh and Luge Track, and the capital city of Riga.
- A road trip through the Baltics – the journey you didn’t know was on your bucket list (Part 4 of 5): Lithuania. Part 4: Discover Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses and Vilnius – A journey through faith, resilience, and history in the heart of the Baltics.
- A Road Trip through the Baltics – The Journey You Didn’t Know Was on Your Bucket List (Part 5 of 5): Poland. Part 5: Wrap up your Baltic road trip with a journey through Poland. Explore The Wolf’s Lair, Wrocław, Toruń, Auschwitz, Ojców National Park, and Kraków
Monaco
South America
Argentina
- A whirlwind tour of Buenos Aires, Argentina: Airport transfers (EZE – AEP), a visit to the Japanese garden, and dining at one of the top steakhouses in the world
- Driving from El Calafate, Argentina to Torres del Paine, Chile (Patagonia)
- San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina: Chocolate, Craft Beer, Condors, and Jaw-Dropping Views (Patagonia)
- Travel Tips for Exploring El Calafate, Argentina (Patagonia)
Chile
- Driving from El Calafate, Argentina to Torres del Paine, Chile (Patagonia) – The New Mexico Travel Guy
- Best day hike to Mirador Base las Torres in Torres del Paine, Chile (Patagonia)
Ecuador / Galapagos
- Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos: Where Giant Tortoises Rule and Wildlife Lovers Drool
- Isabela Island, Galapagos: Giant Sea Turtles, Blue-Footed Boobies, and the Laid-Back Town of Puerto Villamil
Peru / Amazon
- Iquitos, Peru: Tuk-Tuks, the Jungle Market of Belén, and Amazing Animal Encounters
- Searching for Snakes in the Peruvian Amazon Jungle: A Trip to the Otorongo Amazon River Lodge
United States
- Off the Grid and Into the Wild: Exploring Rodeo, NM and Portal, AZ: Chasing birds, solitude, and desert magic in Rodeo, New Mexico and Portal, Arizona — where cell service fades, the trogons get elegant, and the Chiricahua Mountains steal the show.
- How to Meet Dave Ramsey: Visiting Ramsey Studios in Franklin Tennessee
- In Memory of My Amazing Dad, Erkki Bjorn Wilhelm Aspelin (June 27, 1941 – April 10, 2023)