As we raced down the steep, sandy mountain…no. As we sped down…no. Ok, as we scooted down the steep sandy incline, expecting a scene similar to Clark Griswold rocketing through the woods and buildings in the movie Christmas Vacation, we were sorely disillusioned by the amount of manual force involved with sledding in sand. To be fair, we did not purchase the wax offered to us at the gift store that was supposed to turn our otherwise sluggish “sled” into a lightning fast, land speed record setting, Olympic winning machine. Instead, we scooted, but our day was filled with laughter, sunburn and awe at the beauty of the mountainous gypsum landscape. Oh, and we found a Yeti/Bigfoot print.

White Sands National Monument in New Mexico is one of the world’s great natural wonders. Encompassing 275 square miles of desert, these great dunes of glistening white gypsum create a great big playground. While Lindsay and I mainly hiked and sledded down the hills, there are numerous other activities including back-country camping, photography, and activities that need either a permit or reservation like weddings, ranger programs and commercial photography and video.

We had a blast at White Sands National Monument and hope you add it to your bucket list. We’re glad we did!

Operating hours vary by season, so it’s best to call the visitor center when planning your trip. Their number is 575-479-6124