Episode 10 | TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES + ELEPHANT BUTTE
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES + ELEPHANT BUTTE | May 17th to May 18th, 2021
Welcome back to TheMillennialGuide.To! Thanks so much for joining us đ€©
This is post #11 of our Cross-Country Road Trip. If you havenât yet, check out the beginning of the story at âTHE PROLOGUEâ here.
Long Story Short
After our photoshoot at White Sands we headed towards Las Cruces then straight up I-25 to the town of Truth or Consequences, NM. Itâs located near Elephant Butte State Park which is where we camped for the night.
Short Story Long
The fastest way from White Sands to Albuquerque is via route 54. The most fun way is via I-25 past Truth or Consequences.
Elephant Butte State Park
Camping in Elephant Butte State Park is between $8 - $14 a night. You can check in at the front gate and pay cash or card during business hours or pick up a yellow slip when theyâre closed and pay cash. There are a few different campgrounds but the ranger told us the best one was Lions Beach that time of year because the water level was so low at the others. There are tiers of camping that overlook the beach with spots available for tents, RVs, whatever youâve got.
The lake seems like a great place for kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, sunbathing, and all kinds of other water sports. It has the vibe of a mini-lake powell (though we havenât been there yet - just going off the description)
The main butte itself is named Elephant Butte because people say it looks like an ElephantâŠand it totally does!
Can you spot the elephant?
Downtown Truth or Consequences
After dipping in our toes we set up camp and headed into town to try to buy a t-shirt that says âTruth or Consequencesâ cause, câmon, how cool is that? We searched a few shops and there were a couple but the main one we wanted was in the front window of âMarthaâsâ and they were closed đ. Morning Star Outfitters might be another place to find them - though the styles they had werenât what we were looking for exactly. Up to you!
On the main street (N Broadway street) are all these stores and, our favorite, the Truth or Consequences Brewing Company! It was a delicious place with many hops and the amazing bartender Tara who gave us the lowdown on how to book a dip in the hot springs even if youâre not staying at the spa. The website is confusing and says you need a reservation but if you just call the people at https://riverbendhotsprings.com (which is the best spring according to everyone in town) they can still slot you in.
Riverbend Hot Springs
There are private pools avail but itâs a bit misnamed we feel because the public area is full of private pools -> theyâre just all in one area overlooking the Rio Grande. Itâs a magical place so you canât go wrong with either. The pools are all different temperatures so try them all. Make sure to drink lots of water and take breaks. We found 45min to an hour was perfect. Any more than that and it mightâve gotten uncomfortable from the heat honestly.
After our soak we went back to the campground and cooked potatoes in foil. How do you make potatoes in foil? You wrap potatoes in foil and throw them into your campfire. Thatâs how you make potatoes in foil. Then after 20-30 minutes you eat them. Nom nom nom.
A deep nightâs sleep later (hot water springs knock us out) we packed up camp and headed back to downtown TorC.
Downtown Truth or Consequences (again)
We were really excited to check out the galleries, tchotchke shops, and museums but they were all closed cause it was Tuesday and everything was closed đ So just be aware of that. The Spaceport America Visitors Center was open so once Richard Bransonâs allowed to fly again (the FAA grounded Virgin Galactic for ignoring safety protocols) thatâs the place to sign upâŠkind ofâŠor if aliens invade theyâll have a landing strip here? We didnât do too much research cause we didnât know it existed until right before it closed.
Anyway! Next up is Albuquerque then Santa Fe! But if youâre in White Sands, Las Cruces, or El Paso even Truth or Consequences is a great place to get away and check out a cool artsy town.
See you next time!