New Mexico

Paid Stay // Campground | Cost // $47 per night | Our Stay // March 10, 2024

Bring on the Aliens!

Michael and I were fully prepared to be immersed in the most over-the-top, alien-obsessed, corniest tourist attraction that was sure to be Rosewell. But we were left a little disappointed. While there were a handful of museums and attractions, the town itself looked like any other small town America. There weren’t nearly as many alien-themed features as we had anticipated. That said, we enjoyed riding our bikes downtown, visiting a museum, thrift shopping, and a delicious Italian meal.

About The Town

Roswell, New Mexico, famed for its intriguing history, is best known for the mysterious incident in 1947, often referred to as the Roswell UFO incident. This event sparked widespread speculation and fascination with extraterrestrial life, leading to Roswell's reputation as a hub for UFO enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists. Beyond its UFO lore, Roswell boasts a rich cultural heritage, vibrant art scene, and welcoming community. Visitors can explore museums dedicated to the UFO phenomenon, enjoy local cuisine, and immerse themselves in the unique charm of this iconic Southwestern city.

Where We Stayed

Trailer Village RV Park // Unfortunately, there weren’t any Boondockers Welcome or Harvest Hosts sites in the vicinity, so we only had campgrounds to choose from. This campground was a quick 5-minute bike ride from downtown Roswell. They had a pretty nice setup with a clubhouse, bathhouse, laundry facilities, and playground.

Attractions

Internation UFO Museum & Research Center seemed like the most interesting museum based on the pamphlets we received from the campground. It was $7 for adult entry and was a lot smaller than it appeared on the outside. The place was packed to the gills with people. Children were running around everywhere so it was distracting to try and read the various exhibits. In my personal opinion, it was interesting, but a bit lame. But, when you’re touring, you have to do tourist things occasionally.

Stardust Antiques Arts Artifacts // This was a lovely thrift store organized by an assortment of vendors with unique setups and items. We got a couple of stickers and a green coffee mug.

Moon Man Printing // Michael got a shirt and more stickers from Moon Man Printing. They had some excellent designs all around.

Food & Drink

Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro was one of the best, all-around restaurant experiences we had on our Winter Getaway Trip. The food, the service, the price, all phenomenal. Our server, Brianna, nailed it with each recommendation. Cavicchioli Lambrusco was a sweet, chilled alternative to a sangria. Her special chicken Alfredo was the perfect amount of spicy. Plus, our bill with two entrees, an appetizer, and several glasses of wine were incredibly reasonable. We would come back just to eat here again!

What Did We Miss?

Have you ever been to Roswell? What did you think?

Are we wrong in our assessment that this popular tourist attraction town was a bit of a dud? Let us know your favorite thing. Either way, we’d visit again just for Pasta Cafe. 😛