A Weekend Trip to Roswell
When my boyfriend and I first started dating, we began asking each other many questions to get to know one another. One of my favorites is, “What destinations are on your bucket list?” He named several locations, but one particular piqued my interest, Roswell, N.M.
“Why would you want to go to Roswell,” I asked.
“Aliens,” he replied.
Searching for aliens is not exactly my cup of tea, but people tell me relationships are all about compromising. In January, I was itching to get away for a weekend, and Roswell was within driving distance.
Before we left, I remembered a friend of mine happened to live in Roswell. I asked her for some recommendations of places to see and restaurants to visit. Here are her recommendations:
• The UFO Museum
• Cowboy Café (Try the Hummingbird Cake and Chicken Fried Bacon)
• Stellar Coffee
• Pecos Flavors Winery (Try the Green Chili Spread)
• Antigua’s Mexican Restaurant
• Cerritos Mexican Restaurant
• Black Cock Brewery
• Pepper’s
• Sippy & Opal’s Ice Cream
• Shopping on Main Street
With her suggestions in mind, I booked an Airbnb that allowed dogs, loaded up, and headed west. It took us about 7 hours to get to our Airbnb after work on Friday. It was the most charming little 19thcentury adobe. Our hosts, Tom and Janet, filled the home with cute little vintage furniture that gave the home a cozy feel.
Our first stop on Saturday was to grab breakfast at the Cowboy Café. It’s a hole-in-the-wall café, and the fact that it was busy was a good sign. I ordered a stuffed burrito, which was absolutely delightful. I also ordered the hummingbird cake to-go.
Then I met my friend for coffee at Stellar Coffee. I’m all about trying local coffee wherever I go, and this place was located right on Main Street. It had such a fun, eclectic vibe. While I was having coffee, the boyfriend was checking out the souvenir shops for quirky t-shirts.
Our next stop was the UFO Museum. The museum showcased everything you need to know about the UFO sightings in the 1950s near Roswell. They even had a short documentary with interviews of the locals involved in the UFO investigation. The museum also had information regarding other UFO sightings and pop culture references.
We decided to do a little wine tasting at Pecos Flavors. I ordered a chardonnay along with the Green Chile Spread over cream cheese served with crackers. The spread was a showstopper. We even purchased a bottle to take home.
We then decided to check out a few of the antique stores around town. Our first stop was Stardust Antiques on Main Street. They had many booths with a wide variety of antiques. I found some rolling pins and crocks that were reasonably priced, but I ended up purchasing this old wooden egg box that said Otto H. Reichardt’s on the lid. I was in love!
We also checked out a thrift store called Treasure Chest, where I found some cheap wicker baskets. We also found some beautiful antique furniture when we went, but we didn’t have the room.
By then, we were ready for some ice cream. Sippy & Opal’s Ice Cream & Sweet Treats recently opened when we went, and the town could not get enough. We had to wait for our ice cream, but it gave me time to be inspired by the old Main Street building. The light fixtures were old milk buckets with holes drilled for additional light. It was such a sweet establishment.
We shopped at a few mainstream places *cough* Target *cough*. We don’t have a Target in my town, so I can’t miss the opportunity to walk up and down those aisles.
We dined at Antigua’s Mexican Restaurant for dinner, which was a high-end Mexican restaurant. We highly recommend if you are looking for a nicer establishment for dinner.
The next morning, we took a few more photos and chatted with our host before heading home. While I still don’t believe in aliens, I enjoyed the memories and the antique finds that are now proudly displayed in my home.
Your friend,
Laci
