8 Breathtaking Places In New Mexico That Could Be Straight From A Dr. Seuss Book
By Monica Spencer|Published March 03, 2018
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Dr. Seuss is a staple of classrooms and libraries around the world and we decided we would show our appreciation by taking a look at some landscapes around New Mexico that emulate the dreamy worlds Dr. Seuss created in his picture books. While we may not have Truffula trees and rainbow-striped mountains, New Mexico certainly has some surreal landscapes that look unreal. Let’s take a look at a few examples.
Sometimes called the Valley of Dreams and we have to agree with that sentiment! The dreamy badlands sits a little north of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and south of Nageezi.
This area has to be one of the most intriguing wilderness areas home to impressive badlands. The hoodoos and other rock formations here look like mushrooms, flowers, and other plants while the limited color palette creates a stark though dramatic atmosphere.
We bet if a Dr. Seuss book took place underground, that world would look something like Carlsbad Caverns with its stalactites, stalagmites, and other cave formations. What kind of story would you imagine taking place here?
El Malpais is known for its remote location, recreation opportunities, and dramatic landscapes thanks to ancient volcanoes. The arch shown here is just one example of what you’ll find here!
Can you think of anything more Seussian than cone-shaped hoodoos protruding from the canyon? In fact, add some bright colors and you pretty much have a landscape background from any of his picture books.
This unique volcanic plug dramatically juts from the landscape in the Four Corners area and it has deep significance in Navajo creation stories. It is one of the most prominent landmarks in the area and we can imagine Dr. Seuss creating a similar feature in his picture books.
What would the landscape look like if Dr. Seuss wrote a book that took place in a volcanic area? If he were to avoid the obvious—lava flowing and smoke plumes clouding the sky—we think he might create something like the Valley of Fires. This place sits in the middle of the state on U.S. 54 and you’ll find miles and miles of basalt and ancient lava flows covered in shrubs and yucca plants, a sign that life continues even in places once deadly.
Do you remember the story about the Sneetches? The characters interact (or, in some cases, don’t) in a stark white landscape and while this design choice might have had more to do with printing costs, we like to think its real life counterpart would look something like White Sands National Monument, minus the beach.
Those were some amazing places, don’t you think? What are some other places around the state that look absolutely dreamy? Be sure to share your thoughts with us below or on our Facebook page!
