These 11 Towns In New Mexico Have The Best Main Streets You Gotta Visit
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Juliet White
Author
Main Street used to be the heart of the American town and, in a few places, that is still the case. Some of these main drags have different names, but they all act as their town or city’s central hub. Our state has recognized the value of these roads and is attempting to revitalize them through the New Mexico MainStreet program. Here are 11 of the most charming main streets in New Mexico.
Roswell's central artery is actually called Main Street. In addition to being lit by alien-themed street lights, some of the city's best restaurants - such as Big D's Downtown Dive - are located on this drag.
Historic buildings like Hotel Eklund line Main Street in downtown Clayton.
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Arroyo Seco is anchored by one main road - State Route 150. Most of the village's businesses can be found here, including the small but innovative restaurant Aceq, the ice cream shop Taos Cow, and several galleries.
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Pine Street is one of the main thoroughfares in Deming. You can spend a couple of indulgent days eating your way down the row of restaurants on this street!
No walk through this Colorado border city is complete without a stroll down 1st Street to admire the facades of the historic buildings there.
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Central Avenue (Old Route 66) cuts through Nob Hill, a funky Albuquerque neighborhood that is celebrating its 100-year birthday in 2016. This street retains buildings from the Route 66 era, including ones like Jones Motor Company, which has since been converted into a brew pub. Whether you're hankering for a comic from Astro-Zombies or hunting for vintage clothes, Nob Hill is the place to do it.
Silver City is filled with appealing architecture, art galleries, and adorable stores. Bullard Street, the town's main commercial strip, is a relaxing place to browse for art and more.
The Turquoise Trail (State Road 14) bisects Madrid and most of the town's businesses can be found on this one strip, including a surprising number of excellent restaurants. Dine at The Hollar or Mama Lisa's Ghost Town Kitchen then grab a beer at the Mine Shaft Tavern.
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If you're in the mood for retro diners, an auto museum, and old signs that you'll want to Instagram, the portion of Route 66 in Santa Rosa should satisfy. Although I-40 has diverted traffic, this road was clearly once the main artery of Santa Rosa.
Gallup is another city that built up around Route 66. This stretch of the Mother Road has vestiges of kitsch that will make you look back - or Google back if you're too young - to a simpler time.
This mountain town's Main Street is peppered with restaurants and saloons that evoke the Old West in particular and days gone by in general. For a quick trip back in time, stop in at Yesterday's Diner, Shotgun Willie's or the Motherlode Saloon.
We know this is a partial list. What New Mexico main streets did we overlook?
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