NM Vignettes--Beyond the Middle of Nowhere

If you want to truly get away from it all, I think you can't do better than Silver City, New Mexico, a surprisingly metropolitan gem of a town where fewer than 10,000 people make their home.The walk-friendly historic downtown has only one flashing red light to monitor traffic, no stoplights, and lots of friendly shop owners ready to welcome you to their antique shops, thrift stores, two used bookstores, artists' galleries, and bars and restaurants.


Western New Mexico University provides an intellectual note and Gila National Forest, the nation's first designated wilderness area, answers nature-lovers' needs with 3.3 million acres to explore.

This town abounds with artists!

I asked all the people I met if they enjoyed living here and, without exception, they said yes-- they loved it.

The only problem with this bit of Shangri-La, as I see it, is that folks are truly isolated. The nearest international airports are in El Paso, Texas, or Tucson, Arizona, about three or so hours drive away, and it takes a good hour and a half to reach an interstate highway. But, if you crave solitude-with-amenities there is no better place than this lovely mountain town.

The library at the Serenity House B&B

Practicalities -
Consider staying at the Serenity House B&B, just a few blocks from downtown. Rebekka will make sure you feel like family by the time you leave. Be sure to give Midnight, the resident cat, a few pets for me.