1. Knowing The Answer To “Red or Green?” Is Super Important
It will determine which delicious kind of New Mexico chile you get with your food. But, of course, you can’t really go wrong.
2. No, Nobody Means “Chili”
Chili and chile are not the same! New Mexico Hatch Valley chile is far superior, and definitely not a soup.
3. Christmas Is So Much More Than A Winter Holiday
If you’re super indecisive about the whole “red or green” question, it’s also the best way to order chiles in New Mexico if you want a little variety. If you want green and red chiles, Christmas style is the shorthand to use.
4. Speaking Of Christmas…Guess Who Outdoes Every Pinterest Pin Ever?
That’s right. Everyone from New Mexico is better at Christmas decorations than you. The gorgeous handmade farolito displays are reason enough to come to New Mexico in December.
5. If That Wasn’t Enough Of An Incentive, Bizcochitos Will Be
What are bizcochitos? Glad you asked. They’re only star-shaped, butter-based cookies flavored with cinnamon and anise, AKA the best Christmas cookie you will ever taste in your entire life.
6. One Visit To New Mexico And You’ll Want To Believe
Sure, the Roswell UFO Museum can be a little cheesy, but the first sighting of an unidentified flying object while camping under the starry New Mexico sky will turn you into a total believer…even if it was just some weird new military technology test flight.
7. You Definitely Want To Stop At That Piñon Nut Stand
If someone by the side of the road is selling roasted piñon nuts, pull over immediately and taste everything you’ve been missing in your previously sad and meaningless life.
8. And You’ll Never Go Back To Starbucks After A Hot Cup Of Piñon Coffee
Well…you might have to go back to Starbucks just to get your caffeine fix, but you won’t enjoy it.
9. New Mexico Sunsets Are Like Heaven On Earth
No words can really capture how beautiful a New Mexico sunset is, but once you see one you’ll start to realize you’ve never really seen anything like it before.
10. Don’t Knock Frito Pie Until You Try It
Does Frito pie sound kind of gross? Sure. But is it gross? No! It’s got all the basic ingredients—chile, cheese, beans, sour cream, etc.—piled on top of Fritos that automatically add up to portable food genius.
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Well, you haven’t experienced true fear until a giant tarantula has crawled out from a dark corner of your bathroom.
12. Turn Signals And Speed Limits? What Are Those?
Driving in New Mexico is more of a competitive sport than an orderly form of transportation that gets you from point A to point B. Don’t count on anyone actually obeying any traffic laws…and may a higher power help you if you try to drive in New Mexico on one of the rare days they get snow.
13. Speaking Of Snow…An Inch Shuts The Whole State Down
If you’re used to getting around in far more extreme winter weather, New Mexico snow days will completely blow your mind.
14. A “Dry Heat” Won’t Stop You From Feeling Like A Wilting Flower
Water, water, and more water is key. Even if you feel like your stomach is about to pop, keep on guzzling. New Mexico natives are made of stronger stuff, but a delicate out-of-towner must stay hydrated.
15. No, It’s Not Just Like Breaking Bad
Seriously, most people from New Mexico are not hanging out with a Walter White type of crowd, so please stop asking.
16. But They Will Hook You Up With Some Blue Rock Candy
They may not have any serious connections, but New Mexicans will gladly find some blue rock sugar candy from The Candy Lady for you. Thanks for your tourist dollars!
17. Yes…It’s Part Of The United States
This is a question that New Mexico residents are asked so often that they’ll probably just huff and groan, “Really? Has no one ever seen a map before?” if you ask.
18. Checking The Weather Report Is A Waste Of Time
It’s going to be sunny. It’s always sunny. If it’s not sunny it’s going to rain for five minutes and then be sunny.
19. You’ll See Zia Red Suns Everywhere
On flags, on clothing, tattooed on people’s bodies. Why? Because who wouldn’t be super proud of living in New Mexico and want to emblazon everything they own with a symbol of that pride.
20. Neil Patrick Harris Fans Are Always Welcome
Being from New Mexico gives someone automatic entry into the Neil Patrick Harris fan club. The Emmy nominated star was born in Albuquerque, and no one from the entire state will ever let you forget it.
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21. Roadrunners Aren’t As Cunning And Mischievous In Real Life
Nor are they quite as blue as the cartoon version. But the state bird of New Mexico is still really cute and really fast.
22. Stargazing In New Mexico Is A Space Lover’s Dream
Even if you’ve watched every episode of both the original and remake of Cosmos, stargazing in New Mexico will still leave you totally awestruck.
23. You Won’t Even Care That The Beach Doesn’t Have Water
Walking along the White Sands dunes is basically like exploring another planet. A seriously picturesque and breathtaking planet.
24. Tortillas Do Not Come In A Package
You think you’ve had tortillas, but you really haven’t until you’ve eaten freshly made tortillas hot off the cast-iron griddle. All those plastic wrapped tortillas are a lie.
25. Think Hot Air Balloons Are Boring? Think Again.
There’s nothing boring about hot air balloons when hundreds of them launch into the gorgeous turquoise New Mexico sky at once during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
26. Formal Wear Is For Cooler Climates
Shorts and a nice button up linen shirt? Totally acceptable formalwear when wearing a suit would probably cause you to spontaneously combust.
27. New Mexico Architecture Is A Work Of Art
Just walking through an ordinary New Mexico neighborhood and all the gorgeous Pueblo Revival style architecture will make your jaw drop. Cookie-cutter suburbs, these are not.
28. And The Art Doesn’t End There
The New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Spanish Colonial Arts Museum, the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, the Museum of International Folk Art…the list could go on for pages. New Mexico is full of cultural institutions celebrating the state’s rich history.
29. Not Everyone Speaks Spanish
Well…that’s not totally true. Just about everyone knows a few words or phrases if nothing else. You’d miss out on too much if you didn’t.
30. It May Be A Desert, But It’s Far From Some Barren Wasteland
When people picture desert, they picture a whole lot of nothing. But there’s plenty of diversity in New Mexico’s geography, and plenty of gorgeous plant life to boot.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about New Mexico? Tell us in the comments below!
