Location: Roswell
Top Things to do in Roswell
- 1. Roswell Museum & Art Center
- 2. Pecos Flavors Winery
- 3. Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art
- 4. Bottomless Lakes State Park
- 5. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- 6. International UFO Museum and Research Center
- 7. Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau
- 8. Downtown Historic District
- 9. Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico
- 10. Spring River Park and Zoo
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10 Things to Do in Roswell That You Shouldn't Miss
Known mostly through myths about aliens and UFOs, there's more to Roswell than mystery and innuendo. No matter what your interests: archaeological and historical sites, special and sporting events, museums, arts and culture, Roswell is a great place for a weekend jaunt. More than anything, the area offers a multitude of outdoor activities, from bird watching and fishing at the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge to swimming and boating at Bottomless Lakes State Park. Families will love the Spring River Park and Zoo, which features a special fishing lake for children, exotic animals and an antique carousel. There's plenty to do inside as well. The Roswell Museum and Art Center will appeal to anyone with an interest in Southwestern painters like Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth. History enthusiasts will enjoy the Historical Center of Southeast New Mexico, a grand house filled with area antiques, artifacts and a changing gallery of historical exhibits. Of course a visit to Roswell would not be complete without a stop at the International UFO Museum and Research Center, where you can find out what really happened when "something" crashed near Roswell in 1947 or maybe not.
Restaurants in Roswell
1. Roswell Museum & Art Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 264 reviews
Founded in 1937, the Roswell Museum and Art Center is home to an extensive collection of southwestern art, the equipment and workshop of pioneering rocketeer Robert H. Goddard, and the Rogers Aston Collection of the American West, which encompasses historical southwestern artifacts spanning from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries.
Reviewed By just1backpack - Minneapolis, Minnesota
We spent some time here at the museum and we were pleasantly surprised. A great place to spend a little time and find some motivation for my own art. A wide assortment of art, a little something for everyone. I love seeing what small towns do with art collections. Inspiration can be found anywhere. Especially loved the piece by Richard that was titled Votive Box for T.K.
2. Pecos Flavors Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 160 reviews
Featuring New Mexico wines,New Mexico beers, gourmet foods and gifts. Stop by for FREE wine tasting. Local entertainment on occasion. Tastings offered M-Sat 10AM-5PM. Wine Bar open M-Thu 10AM-7pm & Fri / Sat 10AM - 8pm.
Reviewed By CMN14 - Boise, Idaho
We were pleasantly surprised at how nice this winery is. The interior is nicely decorated, the gift shop is stocked with lots of interesting items and we enjoyed the wine as well. The seating is comfortable and we were waited on at our table by a great guy who explained our wine tasting options and even allowed us to taste a wine that wasn't on the tasting menu. Very nice experience.
3. Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By jjctraveler - Chesterfield, MO
When you think of Roswell you think about space alien visits, but they also have an excellent art museum. Anderson is incredible with nine large galleries and a huge selection of paintings and sculptures. While it bills itself as “contemporary” you won’t really find anything shocking or that obtuse here. And most of it is local artists and their artist in residence programs and they produce some of the best art. And it’s free! I would even take kids here, the large rooms are carpeted, so noise is not that big of a problem, and you can do a quick walk through or spend hours here. Just a wonderful museum, I wish there were more of these across the country.
4. Bottomless Lakes State Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 316 reviews
Reviewed By Starr S - Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Happened on this while on a trip west. Stopped for a couple hours. There are several trails for walking. Even though it was the winter, we saw several different birds. We also stopped in the visitor center and the people in there were very helpful. Is definitely worth a stop if you have some extra time.
5. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 121 reviews
Home to thousands of migratory birds, deer, bob cats and badgers, visitors to this refuge can view and photgraph wildlife from several observation platforms.
Reviewed By Sarracenia - Norman, Oklahoma
This refuge is near Rosswell NM. Natural springs and small lakes makes this an ideal place for waterfowl (Spring and Fall migrations) and dragonflies. More than 100 types of dragonflies and damselflies inhabit the refuge. September is the time for their dragonfly festival. There is a nice visitor center and shop and clean bathrooms. A very informative 20 minute film about the refuge is worth watching and so is the shorter film about dragonflies. The refuge is open from dawn to dusk. Some roads allow you to drive and look for wildlife. There are some trails as well. May need insect repellent in summer. Nice refuge.
In early September they refuge hosts the Dragonfly festival for two days. Lots of activities on Saturday. Sunday has fewer activities and no vendors, but they do offer the birding tours and the dragonfly tour. Volunteers guide you as the refuge van drives through the refuge. Stops along the way allow you to learn more about dragonflies and damselflies and volunteers catch some dragonflies to allow you to see them close up. The tour lasts 2 hours and it is free although you need to reserve. Closest town for accommodation is Rosswell, otherwise you can camp at Bottomless lakes State Park about 15 miles away.
6. International UFO Museum and Research Center
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 2 reviews
This museum contains a diorama and a film of the "official" autopsy of the alien bodies after the 1947 crash.
Reviewed By revrick33 - SC
This has been a place I have read and watched all my life and had always wanted to go see the town and mueum. Price only 3 bucks so its cheap. They did a great job setting this up to tell story of this incident.. Lots of photo options. Place was really a lot of fun and the videos were well done.If you are in the area you really need to stop by and see this place. Lots of fun. Lots of real history as well regardless of what your beliefs are it is part of our culture in US.
7. Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau
Overall Ratings
4 based on 115 reviews
Reviewed By bryonia2015 - Brisbane, Australia
We dropped into the Visitors Centre, because it was recommended online before we left Australia, and left armed with brochures, maps and a new knowledge about the history of Roswell and its surrounds. This city has a history worth learning about. The city employs several people to chat to visitors and as an extra they kindly took our photograph, with some "visitors" from further afield, which turned out to be one of our most treasured photos! Thank you ladies.
8. Downtown Historic District
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 162 reviews
Beginning in the 1830s as a mill town, Roswell's historic neighborhood features many of the original buildings that have been restored.
Reviewed By misty_bee_Wyo - Sheridan, Wyoming
It seems the whole town of Roswell has embraced the alien theme, and it's such fun when you visit. The downtown offers many attractions -UFO museum, gift shops, spacewalk, et cetera. Restaurants and coffee shops have cute alien themed dishes. If you continue driving from downtown straight onto Hwy 285, you can also see the large 3D roadside alien landing mural painted by John Cerney. It's visible on the northbound side of US Hwy 285, a mile north of its intersection with Hwy 2, and 6.5 miles south of the downtown historic district.
9. Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Roy W - Collinsville, Il
This 1912 Home of James P. White, one of the most wealthiest and influential men in that area, is a wonderful example of that era. The home is now a museum that is well-appointed with original and period furnishings throughout. Admission is free and well worth visiting.
10. Spring River Park and Zoo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 118 reviews
Reviewed By fnqfamily - Australia
Parts of this zoo are sad and depressing, while other attractions are spacious and well maintained. The zoo is free and it offers a good variety of animals. There is also a playground within the grounds.
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