Jaunted

What to see
Once you've grown tied of looking for aliens, hop in your car and make the trek to another location used in the film, White Sands National Monument, located in central new Mexico, about 4 hours west of Roswell. The sands at White Sands aren't actually sand at all, but rather dunes of gypsum that stretch as far as the eye can see. The gypsum looks like snow, the roads are even plowed every few hours to pick up any blowing "sand", but make no mistake, it is very hot at the park most of the year and there is no shade with the exception of a few covered picnic tables. When you arrive, you can rent or purchase plastic disks to slide down the dunes, which is a must and totally makes the drive worthwhile. The park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM but because it is located adjacent to an active missile range, they do occasionally close the park when their testing going on. Admission is $3 per person.

Where to eat
Since no stop in Roswell is complete with a walk through the UFO Museum, we found a restaurant just three blocks away with out-of-this-world (pun intended) Mexican food. Peppers, at Sixth and Main St serves up Mexican staples like Chimichangas and Enchiladas at reasonable prices, most dishes are under $10. They also have local favorites like Smothered Indian Fry Bread and Navajo Catfish. No one would consider Peppers fine dining but it's perfect for a casual dinner and drinks after a long day of sightseeing.

Where to sleep
Roswell's newest hotel is a Candlewood Suites, located at 4 Military Heights Drive. Candlewood is designed for families or business travelers who need accommodations for a week or more. Each room has a fully equipped kitchen, there is a laundry facility on site, a "cupboard" where you can purchase last minute groceries and even gas grills for guests to use on their outdoor patio. For all of the amenities you get, the price is quite reasonable. Rates start at $107 a night. One thing to keep in mind though is that because the hotel is designed for longer stays there is no daily maid service.

Related Stories:
· The Men Who Stare At Goats [Official Site]
· George Gets heated At White Sands [Jaunted]
· George Clooney's Mustache Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Insider]