White Sands, New Mexico

In southcentral New Mexico, west of Alamagordo, are the world's largest dune fields of gypsum sand. The brilliant white dunes cover an area of nearly 230 square miles, with many dunes rising to over 60 feet. The best time to visit the dunes is on a warm winter day; there will be few tourists compared to the large numbers during the summer, and the winter light is beautiful on the shimmering sands. Wander far out upon the dunes and spend hours playing and lying in the sand. The spirit here offers an expansive sense of calmness and a childlike joy in the heart. The dunes also seem to attract visitors from very far away. While National Park and government officials will resolutely deny their existence, hundreds of UFOs have been sighted at White Sands during the past 30 years. The dunes were a fabled site for the vision quests of Indians from southwest and northern Mexico.