UFO Tourism: An Alien IdeaIf it’s true that you can attract more bees with honey, then can you attract more tourists with… aliens? That’s the crux of a controversy in the state of New Mexico right now, where they are considering the further release of a round of ads starring aliens to ratchet up tourism to the Land of Enchantment. No doubt, there’s an interest out there for UFOs and other unexplained mysteries--just ask Dennis Kucinich and Shirley MacLaine.
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member jurko.
A few years ago, a Chilean mayor dubbed the region of Maipo River an “official UFO tourism zone” due to a rash of sightings reported by a wide range of visitors. In Nevada, there’s an “Extraterrestrial Highway,” so named for its proximity to the ever-enigmatic Area 51. According to Jaunted.com, aliens recently lit fires in Sicily, and have been making frequent appearances in Australia’s Queensland region.
Despite these UFO tourism-related precedents, some New Mexico state officials are worried that the aliens, umm, might not be such an enticement after all. In fact, they’re worried they might scare otherwise potential tourists away. You can decide for yourself by watching the ad here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=WyZGwhZceKA.
I learned about all this while researching a New Mexico getaway that I’d like to take next month. I’ve never been there before, and since a friend of mine is spending the winter in Santa Fe working on a film, it’s the perfect excuse for me to make a visit. I pictured it being a vacation filled with long hikes along pastel mountain paths, visits to sage-scented art galleries, and desserts made out of chili-pepper chocolate. Now, I might have to amend my trip plans to include, say, hanging out in Roswell with a group of little green men.
Would you call UFOs an attraction or a deterrent when it comes to assessing a potential vacation destination? Oh, and any good tips for me on what to do in/around Santa Fe in January?
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Comments
It will be cold but you must visit Bandelier National Monument. It is infused with spirituality from those who dwelled there - not from UFOs.
Isn't it weird how the people who are most interested in UFOs are also the people who you could kind of see actually being aliens? I mean, I don't believe in UFOs, but if you told me Dennis Kucinich and Shirley MacLaine were aliens I don't think I'd be very surprised.
You have to try the chocolate elixirs at Kakawa Chocolates (http://www.kakawachocolates.com/)-especially the chili chocolate. You can visit the Bradbury museum in nearby Los Alamos to learn about the Manhattan Project-while there, check out the Black Hole (http://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/sets/72157594342200167/).
Also, get a burger at Dave's Not Here (http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1390) in Santa Fe. It's a great burger and the atmosphere is...interesting ;-)
Finally a tip, wherever you eat, if you want chilies on something, always ask how hot they are. Chili heat is not all that consistent sometimes so a type you had before might be hotter than you can handle the next day. If you want more info, feel free to e-mail me.
Okay, at this point, I'm pratically writing a travel book called, Everywhere I Ever Wanted to Visit, I Learned About on House Hunters.
They did a House Hunters in Santa Fe, the self-dubbed "City Different" and I thought I MUST GO!
As to the aliens...I think they're definitely an attraction. A destination without kitsch, is a destination without soul.
You heard it here first.