From UFOs to Nuts: Exploring the Peculiar Gems of New mexico
If you’re a fan of the strange and unexpected, New Mexico has a few surprises waiting for you. On our recent trip, we visited two unforgettable spots — the World’s Largest Pistachio in Alamogordo and the alien-filled town of Roswell. Both places were quirky, fun, and totally worth the detour!
Our first stop was McGinn’s PistachioLand in Alamogordo, home of the World’s Largest Pistachio — a 30-foot tall nut sculpture standing proudly beside the road. (See the picture above!) Built in memory of the farm’s founder, it’s become a quirky and fun roadside attraction that’s hard to miss.
Inside the shop, we saw the shelves full of pistachio products — and the best part? We could try samples of almost every flavor before buying. There were so many options, from spicy to sweet, and we enjoyed tasting them all. It was honestly hard to decide which one to take home!
After a lot of tasting and wondering, we finally chose the classic Roasted & Salted Pistachios. Simple, flavorful, and perfectly crunchy — it was our favorite, and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting.
McGinn’s PistachioLand is also just a short drive from White Sands National Park — only about 20 minutes (approximately 16 miles / 26 km) away. So it’s a perfect stop before or after enjoying the stunning white sand dunes. Grab some snacks, take a photo with the giant pistachio, and enjoy a fun and relaxing break at this unique spot!
Roswell – You may be able to see Alien ?
Roswell is best known for the mysterious UFO incident of 1947, and the town has fully embraced its extraterrestrial fame. Everywhere you go, you’ll spot alien-themed decorations — from street signs to gift shops, and even fast-food restaurants.
We visited the McDonald’s in Roswell, and it was unlike any McDonald’s we’ve seen before — the building is shaped like a UFO! Around the restaurant, you’ll find lots of alien statues, and the interior was filled with space and alien-themed decorations. It was fun to see how creatively the theme was carried throughout the store. Everyone, including us, seemed to be having a great time just looking around.
Next door was Dunkin’ Donuts, which had a giant alien statue standing proudly in front of the store. It was such a unique and funny sight — definitely photo-worthy!
After enjoying dinner at McDonald’s, we stopped by a small souvenir shop called Invasion Station. This little store was packed with a wide variety of alien-themed goods and quirky souvenirs. We had a lovely chat with the friendly lady at the cashier, who was very kind and warm. She shared that her husband used to live in Japan while serving at a military base, so she was excited to talk about Japan. She also gave us a brief history of Roswell — according to her, a UFO actually did crash here! We were surprised and amused to hear this directly from a local.
Roswell was definitely strange, but in the best way possible. The alien theme is everywhere, and it gave us such a fun and memorable experience.
This road trip was full of surprises — from giant pistachios to alien… Both PistachioLand and Roswell offer something fun, local, and memorable. If you’re driving through southern New Mexico, we definitely recommend adding these unique spots to your list!
