Author: charlene.selbee

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Top 10 New Mexico Attractions

The most crucial suggestion I can offer visitors to New Mexico is to get off the Interstate, stay awhile, and explore. New Mexico is rich with natural and man-made attractions, a wealth of history and culture, palate-pleasing cuisine, and art and more art that should not be overlooked by travelers extending their stay or residents looking for a staycation.

Sky City/Pueblo of Acoma

Acoma Pottery

Sky City is touted as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States by the Pueblo people of Acoma. Sky City holds a special place in my heart as I worked for Acoma Business Enterprises (ABE) and was welcomed with open arms by the tribal members. Sky City will always be on my list of must-visit places. Sky City is a village that sits on a rock and has a wealth of history, which the Acoma people openly share. I love Acoma pottery have a small collection of pottery for my oldest granddaughter. I am honored to have a couple of pieces to remind me of this sacred place and my friends.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Looking for a place to walk? Check out the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument located north of Albuquerque on NM 16. It will feel like you just landed on Mars as you walk around massive cone-shaped tent rock formations formed volcanic pumice, ash, and tuff. The tent rock formations range in height from a few feet up to 90 feet, and boulder caps protect the softer pumice and tuff below. The park offers many opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, geologic observation, and plant identification. Be prepared to take selfies.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (woods of the Apache) suggests birds, birds, and more birds as well as cameras with unbelievable long lens, and peace and calm. Watching the migration of the Sandhill cranes in the fall is a favorite activity. A twelve-mile-look loop allows visitors to drive around the wetlands and farm fields, offering views of wetland wildlife and raptors. There are several short walking trails. In the fall, the Friends of the Refuge host an educational and fun event when birds fill the skies above.

El Rancho de las Golondrinas

El Rancho de las Golondrinas (The Ranch of the Swallows), an outdoor living history museum located on 200 acres south of Santa Fe along the famous El Camino Real. What an enjoyable and fun way to experience and learn about life in New Mexico during the 18th and 19th century! The museum offers several festivals throughout the year. One of my favorite festivals at Las Golondrinas is the Santa Fe Wine Festival held on the Fourth of July weekend. Did you know New Mexico is the oldest wine-growing region in the United States?

Sitting Bull Falls

Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area is one of the least talked about attractions in New Mexico when it should be one of the most publicized natural resources in New Mexico. The story goes that Sitting Bull, a Sioux medicine man, and his band were riding across the harsh desert landscape in southern New Mexico and needed water when they came across an oasis in the middle of the desert. Water cascades over the edge of the canyon walls down into pools of cool water, with lush greenery lining the canyon walls—a great place for hiking, bird watching, picnics, and getting drench.

Chaco Canyon National Historic Park

Chaco Culture National Historic Park

Chaco Culture National Historical Park, the economic development center for the ancestral Puebloan culture. There are a museum and visitor center to answer questions and interpret the life of the Anasazi (Ancient Ones) forebearers of the Pueblo people. You can also camp at the park.

Loretto Chapel

I first learned about Loretto Chapel before I even called New Mexico home. I first learned about Loretto Chapel from a television show and visited it after moving to the Land of Enchantment. To this day, I am still in awe of the spiral staircase and wonder how it was built without nails. We will never know if the mystery carpenter was Jesus.

Chimayo

New Mexico’s landscape in Northern New Mexico is spiritual, as is the town of Chimayo and the delicious red chile. El Santuario de Chimayo, built in 1816, is seen in many photos and paintings. The church welcomes many visitors each year searching for a miracle. During Holy Week, up to 30,000 faithful flocks to Chimayo were referred to as “the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States.” Chimayo is known for its delicious red chile and its weaving.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is owned and operated by New Mexico’s nineteen pueblos. A world-class attraction that tells the story of the Pueblo people from ancient to the present time. The Center is comprised of a museum, restaurant, meeting facility, outstanding restaurant, and plaza for dances.

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument is glistening white for miles and miles. The dunes are not only marvelous to look they are fun to slide on with a piece of cardboard.

This is the most challenging article I have ever written because New Mexico is rich in outstanding attractions. I have been fortunate to have visited most of them at least once and many of them numerous times. Therefore, I broke up the topic, and the following article will cover my top 10 events allowing me to share more about my ‘other home.

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Top 5 New Mexico Restaurants

Recognized for outstanding cuisine, visitors can find New Mexican, Native American, American, Vegetarian/Vegan, Greek, Chinese, Vietnam, and other cultural restaurants in New Mexico. Selecting my top five favorite New Mexico restaurants is not only difficult; it has made me ponder what makes them my favorite restaurant.

Without any doubt, I favor mom-and-pop restaurants over chain restaurants. According to the New Mexico Restaurant Association, an estimated 71% of restaurants in New Mexico are independently owned.

Simply put, the food must challenge all 10,000 of my taste buds, be eye-appealing, and taste delicious. I do not consider myself picky as I enjoy a broad spectrum of food, but I know what I like. Guess that makes me particular!

Restaurants with a noticeable attitude rank high on my list and a unique and unexpected décor appeal to me. Exceptional customer service and sparkling clean, spacious bathrooms are a must. Oh, yes! The menus must also be clean. I appreciate it when the owner or chef stops by to say hi and see how everything is going; lastly, but equally important are clean uniforms.

El Pinto

El Pinto Restaurant has always been a favorite restaurant because of the ambiance and the delicious New Mexican food paired with a perfectly blended margarita. It wasn’t until I moved back to Iowa and returned to New Mexico for a visit that I tried their pork ribs smothered in red chile. The ribs are rated #3 Ribs in America by the Food Network. Oh, my! They are mouth-watering delicious. I enjoy BBQ ribs, but they fall short when compared to El Pinto’s ribs.

Owl Cafe

The Owl Café, located in the small village of San Antonio, is the locals’ favorite place to stop for a green chile cheeseburger when heading south on I25. The burger is all I need because it is so good and filling. The chile is always the perfect temperature.

Vinegrette

Having eaten at Vinegrette, an American Restaurant located on historic Rt. 66 in Albuquerque only once it still made my top five list. My daughter, Crissy, introduced me to this restaurant. Vinegrette, with its modern décor, offers a relaxing atmosphere for catching up with my daughter. I ordered the mushroom stew described as a hearty miso-based vegan stew with a blend of forest, button, and porcini mushrooms. Crissy encouraged me to try her, The Beet Goes On, described as fresh baby greens and arugula tossed with tangy goat cheese, chopped pistachios, balsamic roasted beets, and honey-balsamic vinaigrette. I will be back!

Blake’s Lotaburger

For the last 30 plus years, I have been enjoying a Blake’s Lotaburger breakfast burrito, a New Mexico tradition. I like mine with green chile, bacon, and hash browns. They are huge, filling, and tasty. My favorite time to enjoy a Lotaburger breakfast burrito is at Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta or any other outdoor event early in the morning. A breakfast burrito can’t be beaten!

Range Cafe

Another restaurant that I have frequented too many times to count is the Range Café in Bernalillo. I have been going there with friends, family, and colleagues for years. The restaurant has called three different locations in Bernalillo home, and I can proudly say I have eaten at all three. The atmosphere is comfortable and the décor unique, plus the staff is always friendly. I have not tried everything on the menu because I tend never to switch once I have a favorite dish. My favorites are the Blue Corn Relleno Plate and Tom’s Meatloaf. I rarely order dessert as I am not a fan of desserts, but when I break my routine, I will share a dessert, and it is always the Chocolate Roadhouse Cake. Oh, so moist and chocolate!

Happy Eating to You

New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, offers a diverse variety of world-class cuisine. I suggest veering off Interstate 25 and 40 and stepping outside your comfort zone to discover a restaurant or two that the locals enjoy.

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A Visit to the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption

Traveling back from my annual trek to New Mexico, I took a sudden detour and headed north from Des Moines to West Bend. Getting off the interstate and traveling the back roads is my preference. The weather was beautiful and not too hot, which aided in my decision to stop at The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption. When friends mentioned that they would be stopping at the Grotto on their way home to North Dakota from NE Iowa, it was the first time I heard of the Grotto and immediately knew I had to visit.  From the moment I arrived, I knew I made the right decision. I wished I had more time.

Due to time constraints, the plan was to relax after a full day on the road while strolling the grounds, take a few pictures, and absorb the spirituality that can be felt before getting back on the road.

After visiting the museum and looking at the exhibits, I stopped at the gift shop to pick up a couple of gifts before heading outside to see the Grotto.

According to the attraction’s website, the Shrine is the largest man-made Grotto in the world. The website goes on to state, “Home to one of the largest collections of precious stones and gems found anywhere in one location.” I was in awe as I looked at the massive structure and wondered how one person could build an architectural masterpiece?

Walking through and around the Grotto is enjoyable, learning about the 9 stages of Christ’s life was deeply moving. I am still in awe of the vision and talent required to make this work of life happen.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

If you are in the area, make sure to stop at the Grotto of Redemption.

The Grotto is located at 208 1st Ave NW, West Bend, IA 50597. Normally the Grotto is open 24 hours a day, but due to COVID-19 the hours and services may differ. Call 515-887-2371 before heading to West Bend for a visit to confirm that they are open.

According to Grotto’s Google Business Page, people typically spend up to one hour here. My visit lasted a couple of hours and could have been longer if I did not have two more hours before I got home.

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On the Search for Bald Eagles

WC3 Blog

The snow is almost gone. The sun is shining, and the first day of Spring is just days away. Criteria required for the first Sunday drive of 2021. With so many choices in the Driftless Region, the question became, where do we go?

A post on the Prairie du Chien Facebook page caught my try eye. Dennis Kirshbaum reported that on the morning of March 6, he saw 33 Bald Eagles congregating on the Mississippi River at the Campion Boat Landing southwest of Prairie du Chein, WI

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Kirshbaum stated, “The Bald Eagles have started migrating.

Visions of eagles surveying the situation from the top of trees to the eagles soaring through the air and swooping down to grab a fish out of the river, and a single bird proudly sitting on the remaining ice motivated me to want to head to Prairie du Chein for the day.

Our destination for the day was decided.

According to Google maps, Prairie du Chein

is located 43 miles or 52 minutes south of Decorah, Iowa, along the mighty Mississippi River.

Decorah Fish Hatchery

The first eagle we saw flew right in front of us, causing me to blink as we came into Decorah on the Locust Road. I assumed he was headed toward the Upper Iowa River because he was flying so low. My first thought was dang it, I missed a great picture. Second thought now I am not going to see along the river.

Guess it should not come as a surprise that we saw an eagle in Decorah, home of the infamous Decorah Eagle. We did not stop, but if you have time, check out the Decorah Fish Hatchery. It is a beautiful place to eagle watch and feed their dinner, fresh trout. The Hatchery is located at 2321 Siewers Spring Rd, 5 minutes west of Walmart on Trout Run Road. Eager to get to the river, we did not stop.

Northeast Iowa Vistas

My favorite route is to take State Hwy. 9 to Waukon and then follow Hwy. 76 to the Mississippi River. This route follows the ridge, offering a portfolio of stunning views and opportunities for award-winning photos and selfies. We passed by Effigy Mounds National Monument as we headed down into the valley toward Marquette, located next to the Mississippi River.  

Pike Peaks State Park

As we were driving around looking for the Campion Boat Landing on the Iowa side of the river, realizing later was the river’s wrong side, I noticed a sign for Pikes Peak State Park. Having always wanted to visit, we followed the signs to Pikes Peak State Park. I have always hesitated to visit NE Iowa’s landmark because I fear heights, but I decided we would go check it out as I swore a couple of years ago, I would not let fear get in my way. It is a paved two-lane road wide enough for RVs. There are not many drop-offs on either side of the road, which made the drive pleasant. There is excellent directional signage, so there is no fear of getting lost or parking in the wrong parking lot. Since Tony is disabled, I was happy to see that there are designated parking areas for disabled visitors and plenty of parking for RVs.

I could not wait to see the Mississippi from this height. Pikes Peak State Park is a beautiful park, and the overlook provides a stunning view of the river. Why we were there, we could hear the train passing down below.

We did see a couple of eagles flying overhead while we were at Pikes Peaks State Park. If I were not in such a hurry to see 33 eagles, we could have stayed longer. It is the perfect place to hike and have a picnic. There is also a playground for children.  

Prairie du Chien

We headed over the river to Prairie du Chien, WI, to find the Campion Boat Landing. I had visited Villa Louis in the past with tourism colleagues and drove around the park. Seeing one eagle perched in a tree, I continued driving until I saw sitting on the ice in the middle of the backwaters. I was right. I walked out on the barge and snapped picture after picture of this picturesque bird until he got bored and flew away. Getting a good image of an eagle in flight is difficult with my camera setup. I sure want a bigger lens.

I saw another eagle in the Main Channel of the river, so I parked and strolled up to the edge and was able to lean on the wall to take photos of this majestic bird, the symbol of democracy. He stood out there a long time so that I could practice shooting.

Campion Boat Landing

We thought about stopping for a late lunch. I was determined to see an aerie of Bald Eagles that I convinced Tony that we would pick up a few snacks when we stopped for gas. Poor guy! Tony wanted a meal.

It dawned on me where to go, and after filling up the gas tank, we headed out of town

toward the city-owned Campion Boat Landing, 400 W. Lockwood St.

We arrived and parked. I leaned on the truck to steady myself as it was windy, and I had trouble holding my camera still. About ten Bald Eagles, maybe 15, were sitting in the trees and flying over the river, providing me with plenty of opportunities to take photos.

The day was a relaxing trip, and even though I did not see 33 eagles, the trip was a success. The next time I head out to look for eagles, I am going to leave early in the morning in hopes of seeing 33 Bald Eagles.

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Squeaky Iowa Cheese Curds Hits the Spot

Deprived of a consistent intake of fresh cheese curds over the last 30 years, it became apparent that a Sunday drive through the Driftless Region of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin was in store.

“A cheese curd is a small chunk of cheese often identified as the freshest form of cheddar,” explains Golden Age Cheese. 

Sunday Drives

Baby Boomers can attest to the fact that Sunday drives are a Midwest family tradition. Having something to devour, while driving through the rich agricultural landscape is a necessity. It was not uncommon in the Corson family to enjoy a bag or two of cheese curds on their Sunday drives.

Finally, I have a free Sunday for a drive. I headed out on the first of many drives in search of the perfect cheese curds. Heading north from Decorah, Iowa to Mabel, Minnesota, I  stopped at the local convenience store to purchase a bag of cheese curds. Half expecting to see an array of tempting flavors – (Dill, Ranch, Parmesan, or even Sour Cream and Onion), I was relieved to see a bag of traditional plain white cheddar cheese curds. The white curds are what I remember nibbling on as a little girl. Opening the bag, I grabbed the first peanut-shaped curd that my fingers touched. Closing my eyes, I slowly took that long-awaited bite, eagerly expecting to hear that familiar squeak between my teeth; I heard– nothing.

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Disappointed, I drove headed toward La Crosse, Wisconsin, snacking in silence toward Wisconsin touted as the United States’ cheese capital. According to Quora.com, Wisconsin is a cheese curd lovers’ paradise. Wisconsin is where I remember my parents going to buy cheese curds. Not able to find any curds that caused me to cringe from that signature squeak when I bit into them,

Not willing to give up, I decided to find a restaurant offering homemade fried cheese curds. They were as good as I remembered enjoying with my former mother-in-law. Still, there was only a squeak now and then. Maybe I was dreaming?  Did cheese curds not squeak as I remembered?

It was time to compare Minnesota and Wisconsin curds with those made in Iowa. I anxiously awaited my first bite of Iowa cheddar cheese curds.

Throughout my month-long journey, I became intrigued with finding out what made cheese curds squeak. After a quick internet search and chatting with cheesemakers, it became clear that an understanding of the process of making cheese curds is essential to understanding what makes curds squeak.

According to Livestrong.com, “As whey is drained from the vat during the creation of cheddar, cheese curds remain as an end product. Most cheese curds are best within a few days of production.”

WW Homestead Dairy

Just down the road from Decorah in Waukon is WW Homestead Dairy, self-proclaimed the cheese capital of Iowa. After a tour and lots of questions, I got my answer and much more. As it turns out, eating fresh warm curds is the key to the squeakiest cheese curds that you can imagine. Cheese curds that can cause one to cringe as if you’d just heard fingernails run down the face of a chalkboard.

Caring friends and colleagues suggest briefly warming up cheese curds in the microwave to force them to squeak as if fresh, but that didn’t work for me. No matter. My search is over. I have found the secret to tasty cheese curds.

Stop in at Homestead Dairy on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m. The time when you can purchase curds straight out of the vat– large, warm, tasty, and squeaky.

Where to Find Fried Cheese Curds

In my quest to find the best cheese curds, step two was to find area restaurants that serve fried cheese curds made from Homestead Dairy cheese. I checked out T-Bocks, Good Times, and Luther College in Decorah. The fried cheese curds were all made from cheddar from the WW Homestead Dairy and were delicious at all three places.

Fried Cheese Curds Recipe

Having now experienced deliciously fried local cheese curds, I thought it would be fun to learn how to make them.

After only five minutes of research on the internet, I came across the following recipe on AllRecipes.com.

Ingredients

2 quarts of corn oil for frying

¼ cup milk

1 cup all-purpose flour

¾ cup beer

½ teaspoon salt

Two eggs

2 lbs. Cheese curds, broken apart

15-minute prep 15-minute cook | Ready in 30 minutes

Directions

1. Heat corn oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)

2. Whisk together milk, flour, beer, salt, and eggs to form a  smooth, relatively thin batter.

3. Place cheese curds, about six to eight at a time, into the batter, stir to coat, and remove with wire strainer.

4. Shake curds to remove excess batter.

5. Deep fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.

6. Drain on paper towels.

7. Serve hot with Ranch dressing.

Researching information for this article produced unexpected results. When I set out on this adventure initially, it was to find the best-tasting cheese curds in the Driftless region of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The journey turned out to be much more informative than imagined. CheeseUndergroundBlogspot.com offers the following advice and facts:

“Only buy cheese curds if they are fresh – anything over a day old isn’t the same.”

“High in fat but also high in taste.”

“Squeaky fresh and fun to eat.”

“Traditionally, cheese curds were the leftover bonus from a batch of cheddar, but cheesemakers brought it home for their children to eat.”

Calories

110 calories in 1 serving | 1 serving are equal to a half a cup or 1 ounce

Knowing the number of calories in a serving and how many servings a person can eat in one sitting,

I realized that physical exertion is a requirement after enjoying cheese curds. According to CalorieKing.com, it takes 31 minutes of walking or 30 minutes of jogging or 9 minutes of swimming, or 17 minutes of cycling to burn 110 calories.

Time to Eat

It is now time for a handful of curds.

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