la morena walking tours

Basilica of San Albino

On the north end of the Plaza, originally built of adobe in 1855, the church was rebuilt to its present structure in 1906. It became a basilica on November 1, 2008. Visiting hours vary during the year, see website for accurate dates.

Address: 2070 Calle de Santiago Las Cruces, NM 88005

FRONTIER ADVENTURES

Relive the enchantment of the old west. Your authentic stagecoach is ready for that special occasion. An assortment of horse-drawn vehicles provide you and your group with an exclusive day or evening. Fronter Adventures can accommodate any size group at our location or yours. Delight and enjoy the experience, while we provide delicious food and premier entertainment to your specifications…an unforgettable adventure for the exceptional group of family outing!

Address: 11213 N. Dona Ana Rd. Las Cruces, NM 88007

LA MORENA WALKING TOURS

Walking Tours of Historic Mesilla. Dressed in the style of a Mexican Revolutionary woman of the 1800’s, Preciliana Sandoval, a fifth-generation native historian invites you to take a walking tour of Mesilla. Visit historic battle sites. Hear romantic ghost stories and feel the centuries old grace of Mesilla. Call today to book a tour!

Phone: (575) 647-2639

SOUTHWEST EXPEDITION’S

Offering custom, FUN tours with professional guides, that always have your safety and well being in mind. Southwest Expeditions can organize your tour from 4 to 30 guests. Transportation is included. Major activities and overnight accomodations from outdoor camping, quaint bed and breakfast lodging to luxury hotels, can be part of your adventure getaway with Southwest Expeditions.

Phone: 1-800-434-7047

E-mail: [email protected]

Billy the Kid Tour

(Outlaw Rock at Stolen Horse Canyon, Mesilla Jail at Billy the Kid Gift Shop, Historic Fort Selden). This tour follows Billy the Kid’s trail past his most notorious hideouts, one at the Old Mesilla plaza and the other at Outlaw Rock in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Outlaw Rock is in Faulkner Canyon (also known as Stolen Horse Canyon) where Billy and his gang left their mark, then back to Old Mesilla where Billy escaped from jail on the historic plaza. Western history and cultural flair meet natural beauty in Faulkner Canyon and the Robledo Mountains Wilderness.

© Town of Mesilla. Web Development and Design by TMG

Awards and  Recognitions

Local Tours in South Central New Mexico

Here you’ll find New Mexico tours for every adventure. Let an expert guide show you our main attractions and hidden treasures! Raft this Rio Grande or climb our desert peaks. This comprehensive listing of local tours has something for everyone.

General Tours

La morena walking tours.

Preciliana Sandoval, a fifth-generation native historian, conducts walking tours of historic Old Mesilla. Experience adobe buildings dating back to the days of Billy the Kid.

Southwest Expeditions

A variety of tours in the Las Cruces area are available. Take epic hikes and camping trips in the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument,  experience the paranormal, travel down El Camino Real, and more.

Ted Turner Reserves

Are you looking for an Eco Tour? Visit Ted Turner’s Armendaris and Ladder Ranches and experience the flora and fauna of the desert Southwest.

White Sands National Park

Monthly moonlight hikes through the gypsum sand dunes are led by park rangers. Moonlight hikes are offered March through November on nights surrounding the full moon. Tickets are required.

Science & Technology Tours

Botany tours.

Join Kirsten Romig of the Jornada Experimental Range on bimonthly botany tours exploring the flora of the Chihuahuan Desert. Tours will take place in the Las Cruces, New Mexico area.

Insights Science Center provides tours of these 97 million-year-old dinosaur tracks near the US-Mexico border.

Magdalena Ridge Observatory

The MRO is a closed facility. Sign up for an official tour during the yearly open houses in the spring and fall.

Prehistoric Trackways National Monument

Join the Bureau of Land Management’s monthly guided hikes to see world-renowned track fossils!

Spaceport America

Spaceport America is a closed facility. Sign up for an official tour. Tours leave from Truth or Consequences and Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Very Large Array

The Very Large Array is open daily. Guided tours are available on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

Rafting the Rio Grande

Summertime is for rafting the Rio Grande! Winding your way through our rugged desert landscape with your family and friends is something you don’t want to miss.

Southwest Expeditions provides rafting trips in the greater Las Cruces area. Short trips and longer trips are available during the summer months.

Rio Grande River Trips

Whitewater Weekends provides rafting trips in the Truth or Consequences area. Six mile trips are offered to groups both large and small. Rafts, kayaks, and float tubes are available.

Raft the Rio

If you like rafting the Rio Grande as much as we do, sign up for the annual Raft the Rio event. The Kiwanis Club of Las Cruces hosts this event each year. Groups and individuals build and decorate rafts using a variety of innovative materials according to each year’s theme. Others join in and float down the river in traditional watercraft too!

Fishing & Hunting

South Central New Mexico is home to Elephant Butte Lake – New Mexico’s largest lake! The lake is known for record-breaking bass, walleye, catfish, crappie, white and black bass, and stripers. Fishing opportunities abound!

Fishing Guides

Fishing guides are available in Elephant Butte for all of your fishing adventure needs.

Big Game Hunting

South Central New Mexico is also an excellent location for your next big game hunt! Big game include antelope, bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk, mountain lion, and oryx. The oryx  is a popular trophy hunt. These majestic animals were first brought to New Mexico from Africa in the 1960s.

A list of hunting outfitters in Sierra County can be found here . Hunting outfitters in the rest of our region include  Big Rim Outfitters , LOH Outfitters , NM Arrowhead Outfitters LLC , S.O. Hunts , South Peak Guide Service , and Tierra Encantada Outfitters/Guides .

Adventures on Horseback

Acacia riding adventures.

Tour canyons, mesas, petrified sand dunes, ghost towns, and the banks of the Rio Grande near Socorro, New Mexico. Visit San Lorenzo Canyon on horseback. Full moon riding tours are available.

Concho Hills Guest Ranch

The Concho Hills Guest Ranch is located in the foothills of the San Mateo Mountains near historic Magdalena, New Mexico. A stay at this dude ranch includes horseback riding, western ranch activities, and historical tours.

Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch

This dude ranch is located in the heart of the Gila National Forest. Stay in cabins nestled among the ponderosa pines and explore the area on horseback, including the most picturesque canyons.

Miller Horse Farm & Riding Academy

Located in La Union, this family-owned and operated business offers several riding options for all levels of riding experience. Enjoy a ‘ride and wine’ tour to nearby La Vina Winery, New Mexico’s oldest winery.

Birding Tours

Bosque del apache.

The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, New Mexico is a birding hot spot. It is renowned for the tens of thousands of cranes, geese, and ducks who winter at the Bosque each year. Free, naturalist-led tours of the birds, reptiles, and mammals are available year-round. The annual Festival of the Cranes is held each year and features guided tours, hikes, and photography classes.

Mesilla Valley Audubon Society

Bird walks are hosted throughout the year at the Mesilla Bosque State Park, Tellbrook Park, and Leasburg Dam State Park in the greater Las Cruces area. Field trips to additional locations in the region are also available.

La Morena Walking Tours of Mesilla

• United States

Absolutely the best hour you'll spend in Mesilla! Hear romantic ghost stories, walk in a century old village and even a guaranteed scare at the end!

Tags : #ArtsEntertainment, #TourGuide, #Arts&Entertainment

• (575) 647-2639

Popular Places in the Area

Casa de tres lunas/house of three moons.

West Winds Lodge

Tristar Inn Xpress

Rate & Write Reviews

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Worth Every Last Drop

Get stories straight to your inbox.

 Stay up-to-date with what's happening in New Mexico through our weekly newsletter. 

Get Early Access – Subscribe to Digital

Historic Las Cruces

New Mexico’s second-largest city is home to elegant architectural gems steeped in lore and preserved by their stewards’ devotion.

Even knowledgeable fans of the Land of Enchantment may not be familiar with the rich history of the Mesilla Valley, and are often surprised to learn that Las Cruces, with a population of over 100,000, is New Mexico’s second-largest city. The 1854 Gadsden Purchase made Mesilla, once Mexican territory, part of the United States; now it’s a town in the Las Cruces metropolitan area. The historic houses of the region endure as private living-history museums. The owners and caretakers of the diverse homes featured here all share a desire to preserve Las Cruces’ cultural legacy and share what they’ve learned with others.

Literary Salons

Casa camino real.

The modest adobe in Las Cruces’ original homestead area has hosted some amazingly diverse soirées, from book signings, banquets, and Día de los Muertos crafts workshops to a recent reunion of relatives of one of its former residents, Lula Y. Grimes.

“Lula used to sit in this window and read her Bible. She and her husband, Alonzo, came in 1914 and raised their eight children here,” said Denise Chávez, an award-winning author. She’s also the founder of the Border Book Festival Inc. (BBF), a nonprofit group that holds an annual festival in April and periodic workshops and special events focusing on borderland culture.

In 2012, Chávez and her husband, artist and photographer Daniel Zolinsky, moved the headquarters from Mesilla to the 1850s adobe owned by Daniel Sosa Jr.

“He’s a former New Mexico Supreme Court justice, and his family has been here for seven generations. They have been dear friends,” Chávez said.

The home is near the site of Phillips Chapel, New Mexico’s oldest African American church, which is being restored.

“When an adobe gets destroyed, we grieve,” said Chávez, who still lives in the nearby adobe where she was born on a wooden table.

“I still write on that table,” she said. Heritage is important to her, and that’s evident in the décor of the old home, which has original wooden ceiling beams, thick adobe walls, and pine floors, with some carefully restored patches.

“It’s beautiful old wood. One of the people who helped us with the floors said the texture was like stroking the skin of a beautiful woman,” Chávez said.

The kitchen is painted in bright colors that evoke Frida Kahlo’s home and art. Rooms devoted to collections of books and eclectic art are named for Lula Grimes and departed BBF volunteers.

Vintage bookcases and armoires hold carefully arranged first editions and curiosities. Chávez said a book that shows the trail and death of an actual bookworm is a big crowd-pleaser for classes of elementary school kids who visit to learn more about their city’s history.

Making Beautiful Peace with the Past

Reynolds-chávez-fountain house.

The elegant Reynolds-Chávez-Fountain home, in Mesilla, unexpectedly captured the hearts of Len Gambrell and his wife, Lori Miller, when they were making plans to build their modern dream home in Las Cruces’ Talavera area.

“We’d do it all over again, but sometimes I wish it was a little smaller,” Gambrell said. The two-story Territorial adobe, built in the 1860s by Mesilla merchant Joseph Reynolds, has lured generations of industrious residents dedicated to its preservation.

“Many people think it was the legendary Colonel Albert Fountain who lived here, but it was really his grandson, Albert J. Fountain,” explained Gambrell, a University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire political science professor emeritus.

The 5,000-square-foot home has two-foot-thick adobe walls, seven chimneys, five working fireplaces, and 13 screen doors, along with a formal dining room and a separate eating area near the kitchen, an office/den, and several ground-floor porches and patio sitting areas.

Both love their home’s special features, like an atrium room with a skylight, “once used for wintering over geraniums and other plants,” said Miller, the family gardener.

“Landscaping can be a challenge, taking on Mother Nature. Sometimes I wish we’d gone with cactus,” said Miller, who established an orchard of fruit trees (pear, peach, fig, apricot, apple, and pecan) that includes transplants from other sites on the one-acre property.

The thick walls maintain temperatures well, but getting to optimum levels in summer or winter is difficult. Gambrell said the recent addition of solar panels has dramatically cut energy bills.

They’ve added their own touches, including a game room with a vintage pool table and a bar showcasing their favorite beers. The Midwestern transplants said their collection of antique furnishings fit well into the home, and they’ve learned to seek out artistic but pragmatic necessities like vintage trunks and armoires. “There are no closets or storage spaces in these old houses, so you learn to be creative,” Miller said.

Small bathrooms have been enhanced with space-saving tankless water heaters and compact built-ins and nichos. Len and Lori refinished wood floors and added a tin ceiling to their kitchen.

They found inventive ways to repurpose the home’s vintage plumbing fixtures and cabinetry. An old sink now graces an outdoor patio kitchen. A claw-foot bathtub has a new home in the second-floor guest suite.

A hand-carved, punched-tin-ornamented bed and a large armoire created by Hector Telles was carefully built in pieces to allow transport up a narrow, winding staircase. An old adobe barn has become a two-car garage and Len’s workshop.

The couple praised knowledgeable experts, including Les Williamson, of B.W.D. Construction, who helped with adobe restoration work, and Hopper Shannon, a blacksmith artisan, who created the wrought-iron gate for the stone-wall entrance and pulls and handles for new kitchen cabinetry.

The couple said their home has again become a favorite place for entertaining, from gatherings with their family and friends to holiday events, home tours, and chats with frequent visitors who share information about the house’s history.

Love’s Legacy

Lalo natividad house.

Their artistic home and hospitality and their passion for sharing borderland culture put Lalo Natividad and Richard Weeks on a first-name basis with the world.

“People would address mail to ‘Lalo and Dick in Mesilla,’ and it always got to us,” said Natividad.

Natividad, a retired El Paso firefighter, and Weeks, a former Silver City copper miner who died in 2008, fell in love with Mesilla in the 1960s.

“We found an old adobe that was being used as an automotive repair shop and decided we could do something with it,” Natividad said. They created a showplace that has been featured in numerous books and magazines and became a popular site for benefit events they hosted for several regional charities. They filled their home with folk art from Mexico and artistic collectibles from travels to Europe and Central and South America.

“When we traveled, I learned to look at architecture and building techniques and stop and ask questions, and then come back and make things here at home,” Natividad said.

Several rooms, including an interior grotto filled with plants and a parlor with an ornate fireplace, were added to the original structure, dating to the early 1900s. They also built a two-story studio apartment and created a lushly landscaped backyard with a gazebo, pillars topped with angel statuary, a shrine to La Virgen de Guadalupe, and the region’s most elegant doghouse, covered with colorful handmade tile. “It started out as a double horno oven, but the dogs liked it,” said Nativadad.

His circular, freestanding adobe tower has become a Mesilla landmark. Evoking Moroccan retreats, the tile tower is ornamented with arches, artwork, and statues. “Little kids in the neighborhood call it a temple,” said Natividad. It’s an outdoor bathroom, with full plumbing, he revealed.

If his home has become an attraction for visitors, he feels it’s a fair exchange: He considers the nearby Mesilla Plaza an extension of his backyard.

In 1994, Natividad and Weeks founded El Grupo Cultural de Mesilla, credited with reviving several traditional borderland celebrations on the Mesilla Plaza, from Christmas Eve caroling with luminarias to Cinco de Mayo and Diez y Seis de Septiembre. They were also great supporters of mariachi music and Mesilla’s Día de los Muertos commemorations, which have grown to become the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the region.

“Those events have grown to become regional celebrations attracting thousands of visitors and highlighting Mexican American/ Latin culture and tradition,” said Irene Oliver-Lewis, who presented Natividad and Weeks with Court Youth Center Legacy Awards. She also praised their warm hospitality and style.

Natividad has often hauled truckloads of plantings from his yard to enhance Plaza events. He said he picked up gardening in El Paso when he was raising his two daughters and needed extra jobs. “It all just fell into place when we moved here.”

Lalo continues his contributions as Mesilla’s unofficial ambassador, leading informal tours to show visitors interesting outdoor shrines and tile nichos hidden in Mesilla’s yards and patios, including his own, of course.

Enduring Whimsy

The frenger- schlothauer house.

At first glance, the Frenger-Schlothauer House might be mistaken for a venerable old beauty on Santa Fe’s Canyon Road. And that impression would have pleased Clara Frenger. It’s what she was going for in an ambitious, and very possibly unprecedented, metamorphosis.

The complex started out as a classic Victorian home, built on four city lots in 1887. Judge Numa and Clara Frenger purchased the house in 1902. Three decades later, Clara, inspired by visits to Santa Fe, embarked on an imaginative—some say eccentric—quest to create what locals still refer to as “La Fantacia.”

She recruited generations of craftsmen from Mexico and the borderlands, who spent more than 20 years helping her realize her vision. The result is a wonderland of surprises, adroitly blending New Mexican traditions: kiva fireplaces, patios with lush plantings, 40-foot porch beams, graceful curved parapets, hand-painted corbels, and a charming casita.

Janet and Gary Schlothauer bought the property in 1997. Ever since, they’ve been enjoying (and are still discovering) Clara’s artistic inspirations.

“It was love at first sight for Janet. I knew we had to make it work,” said Gary, who specializes in restoring vintage properties.

As a teen, he remembers visiting the home during its incarnation as Vonnie Lee’s, a gourmet restaurant known for its “cave bathroom,” inspired by the Carlsbad Caverns. The cave is still a hit on home tours, along with the choir loft where choral and orchestral groups performed for soirées in the main living area.

Facing one of the home’s patios is another entertaining feature, the sunken, tiled mariachi pit, where mariachi bands played for Clara’s parties, a tradition the Schlothauers have perpetuated.

There are compromises involved in making a home within Clara’s fantasy. The kitchen is small. “Clara didn’t have to cook for herself,” said Janet. They pointed out areas where they have filled in the ceiling of what was once the home’s aviary, where Clara would open panels and admit birds to feed inside.

They put on a new roof, added adobe walls surrounding the property—along with an entrance gate and 200-year-old doors found in Mexico—and made extensive renovation repairs in keeping with the home’s Pueblo Revival style. They hired noted California artist Antoinette Cox to restore an expanse of painted window motifs. They also researched old-style plasters and looked for what hints they could find of Clara’s original color choices. In the process, they came to admire what their son Cliff calls Clara’s “excessive artistry,” like subtle painted turquoise patinas on wooden surfaces, and pencil marks on corbels for designs she was unable to finish. (Read about his restored Las Cruces house at mynm.us/nmm-csh .) ✜

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Follow Us to Stay Connected

Visitor guide, signup for our, powerhouse women driving las cruces, nm's tourism industry.

By Kirsten Rodgers

There’s no doubt that Las Cruces has many things to offer and explore. From the history and the outdoors, to the food,  striking desert beauty and compelling feelings of home. Four women have been pioneers in the realm of tourism, and have had a hand in enhancing the visitor experience to Las Cruces helped make a way for people to experience all that Las Cruces has to offer.

Priscilla Bloomquist

Priscilla Bloomquist has been a driving force in tourism and hospitality in Las Cruces. She was a board member for several associations, such as the Tourism Association of New Mexico, and a member of The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education, and The International Society for Travel & Tourism Educators.

Her influence in education is monumental. She helped start the New Mexico State University's (NMSU) Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM) program almost 35 years ago, and has been an impactful professor, mentor, and faculty member, bringing real-world experiences into the classroom.

She was the Project Director and on the Project Staff for several research and creative projects, many of which received funding for thousands of dollars. Between 2005-2012, she aided as a Co-PI in securing over $820,000 in funding from the USDA for three significant HRTM projects. The impact was great, providing funding for scholarships, converting courses for online delivery, new kitchen equipment, support for hospitality programs across the state, and more. 

For all of her hard work and accomplishments, she has received several awards including the College Distinguished Service Award, Hospitality Educator of the Year Award from the New Mexico Restaurant Association Education Foundation, and the NMSU Donald C. Roush Award for Teaching Excellence (which she received twice). S he is also a 2018 New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame inductee. Bloomquist expressed that her proudest accomplishment however, is the large number of students she's helped achieve academic and professional success. She still invests in her students at NMSU through the College of ACES (Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) Programs Office. Her devotion to tourism, and educating the future tourism professionals has not gone unnoticed, and her impact will be felt for the years to come.

For more information on Priscilla and a complete list of her awards and accomplishments, visit the NMSU Foundation or NMSU HRTM sites.

Preciliana Sandoval  

If you have ever been to Mesilla, then you've most likely seen firsthand its beauty, history, culture, and life-changing food. A rtist, historian, and storyteller Preciliana Sandoval has made a way for those from across the world to learn and experience the fullness of the historic town.

Sandoval began the La Morena Walking Tours over 20 years ago with the hope that those coming in not knowing much about Mesilla, would leave with abundant knowledge on it. She provides educational and engaging tours speaking about the history, food, cultural events, and more. During the tours, she is known for making the experience fun by dressing in a historic outfit, and thrilling the attendees. 

She has been mentioned by places like Frommer’s Travel Guides and New Mexico Magazine, and is commended and dearly loved by locals.

The care, initiation, energy, and joy that she has given back to her community is unmatched. And because of her efforts, the history, culture, and beauty of Mesilla remain alive .

To book a tour, call 575-647-2639.

She brought the Western Nationals and the State Championships for fastpitch women's softball to the area. The Western National Competitions typically consisted of 20-30 teams from different states. In 2007, the competition had 82 teams, and there was an estimated economic impact of nearly $1 million. One year, the ASA National Tournament brought in more revenue than the WAC men's basketball tournament had a few weeks prior.

Visit Las Cruces Director of Sales Albert Herrera describes Cox as very intentional about her events, and meticulous about how they opertated.

“She was a power driver,” Herrera said. “She fought really hard as a female in a male dominated industry.”

In fact, when Cox was appointed by the ASA Executive Board in the late 1980's, she was one of only three women to have been appointed nationally. To understand the magnitude of this appointment, across all 50 states more than 200 men held State Commissioner positions.

The first year that Las Cruces held the Men's Slow Pitch Tournament, the ASA had participants from all over the country, and it was the most they had ever had. The ASA also held the National Youth Tournaments which consisted of over 70 teams. Every year in the first week of June, she ran the Missy Molina Tournament; a girl’s fastpitch event that usually had over 100 teams from New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. Additionally, in 2008 she brought down the USA softball Olympic team during their “Bound 4 Beijing” tour to play against the Aggies.

“She’s definitely a New Mexico softball legend,” said Ed Carnathan, the Sports Sales Manager for Visit Las Cruces.

In 1993, her and her son Brian Cox founded the company Sports Accessories, where they provide local sports apparel and equipment. This company has continued to be a staple in providing for the needs of many sports-lovers in Las Cruces. Several people have been greatly impacted by the passion she has poured into the world of softball in Las Cruces. Her legacy continues on, and the world of sports in Las Cruces continues to thrive because of her.

Peggy Smith

Peggy Smith is an inspiration in the world of hotel management. She was the general manager of Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn for 28 years, and was involved in the New Mexico Restaurant Association, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the New Mexico Hospitality Association. Smith was awarded with two General Manager of the Year awards, and the hotel itself was recognized for the great work it did. Prior to being General Manager, she was banquet manager for Holiday Inn de Las Cruces (which is now the Ramada) where she provided catering for events, and for artists like Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Guns N' Roses.

During her time as General Manager, she hosted statewide conferences, as well as several events for local groups and organizations, such as the yearly “Dress a Child” event. Put on by the Rio Grande Rotary Club and the Salvation Army, "Dress a Child" seeks to raise money to provide clothes for children in need. Additionally, Smith expressed that the restaurant and bar within the hotel were filled with regulars, and referred to it as "The 'Cheers' Of the Southwest."

She was involved in many local groups, such as the American Southwest Theater Company and the Rio Grande Rotary Club of Las Cruces, and was on the board of the Chamber of Commerce twice.

Visit Las Cruces Director of Sales Albert Herrera expressed that Smith was also a pivotal point in his own career, and is a reason that he has worked up to where he is now.

“She was a pivotal point in Las Cruces. Everyone knew who Peggy Smith was,” Herrera said.

Smith poured her heart into those she worked with by seeing their potential, and giving them opportunities to showcase it.  Several people who worked under her have gone to do great things in the community.

Belia Alvarez, the Regional General Manager for Hotel Encanto and Hilton Garden Inn, was first introduced to hospitality and tourism by Smith.

"My career propelled quickly because of her belief and investment in me," Alvarez said .

Her hard work welcoming visitors, cheering on those she worked with, and blessing the community has contributed greatly to the field of tourism and hotel management.

Each of these women have helped pave the way for tremendous growth in Las Cruces' tourism industry, and impacted the city in ways that can't fully be explained or appreciated. Visit Las Cruces would like to thank them the personal and professional contributions to the community and tourism professionals.

Kirsten Rodgers

There’s No Better Way To Celebrate Halloween In New Mexico Than With These 6 Ghost Walks

Monica Spencer

Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at [email protected].

More by this Author

Is it just us or is the air feeling a little more chilling this time of year? Sure, the temperatures are dropping and winter weather is mere weeks away from settling in, but Halloween is also just around the corner. That might explain why the air has made us shiver as we get deeper into October.

If you want to bump up those eerie feelings and perhaps even feel a chill in your blood, then embarking on a ghost walk may do the trick. Check out these six ghost walks you can participate in for a spine-tingling good time.

Related Stories

This New Mexico Hotel Is Among The Most Haunted Places In The Nation

These 6 Easy Trails In New Mexico Are The Perfect Places To Walk Off Your Thanksgiving Wobble

Venture Out On A Terrifying Southern New Mexico Road Trip That May Haunt Your Dreams

Those certainly look opportunities for a hair-raising good time, don’t you think? Have you had a chance to embark on any of these ghost tours? We definitely want to hear about your experience! Leave us a comment below or on the Only In New Mexico Facebook page .

Looking for another spooky way to celebrate Halloween in New Mexico this fall? We bet you will simply die for Albuquerque’s haunted trolley tour, the Trolley of Terror. Read more in This Haunted Trolley In New Mexico Will Take You Somewhere Absolutely Terrifying .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Want more New Mexico in your inbox?

Get the latest on things to see, do, and eat around New Mexico!

Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!

An error occured.

Related Articles

• A Visit To Fort Stanton Historic Site In New Mexico Just Might Send Shivers Down Your Spine
• Hiking At Holy Ghost Trail In New Mexico Is Like Entering A Fairytale
• 7 Must-Visit Airbnb Cabins That Are Ideal For A Fall Overnight Stay
• Take This Gorgeous Fall Foliage Road Trip To See The True Beauty Of New Mexico
• This Haunted Trolley In New Mexico Will Take You Somewhere Absolutely Terrifying
• You'll Feel Like You're Abroad When You Experience The Bavarian Charm Of New Mexico's Alpine Lodge
• Stay Overnight In The 138-Year-Old Painted Lady Bed & Brew, An Allegedly Haunted Spot In New Mexico
• Nothing Says Fall Is Here More Than A Visit To New Mexico’s Charming Pumpkin Farm

Explore New Mexico

Featured addresses.

Best Walking Tours in Florence

Top walking tours in florence.

Florence is easily one of the most recognizable places in Italy for tourists . The capital of the picturesque region of Tuscany , Florence has been important as early as the medieval times. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a highly touristy place with millions of visitors a year! And the throngs of tourists have a good reason, too.

At each turn, Florence offers an interesting piece of art and architecture that represents its deep history. As a haven of the arts, Florence is best explored on foot. This guide puts together some of the best walking tours in Florence you can have in the city. It’ll allow you an easy route to some of the greatest sights Florence has to offer.

Florence: Walking Tour

This tour’s unassuming name belies its perfect introduction to the tourist hive that is Florence. This takes tourists through some of the city’s most iconic sights, starting with the cathedral (Duomo) and the Baptistery of St. John. This side of Florence also includes the Sta. Maria del Fiore and its adjacent Giotto Bell Tower.

Another famous landmark (and influential art piece) the tour visits is the David sculpture by Michelangelo. Located at the Piazza della Signoria , this is also in the neighborhood of the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

The two-hour tour also takes you to the hidden side of Florence. With your professional guide giving you the lowdown on hidden places and other interesting nuggets most tourists don’t even have an idea of! The tour also includes a free scoop of traditional gelato as you pass by the La Strega Nocciola. 

Book this Florence walking tour here . 

Florence: Small Group History Walking Tour with an Aperitivo

This walking tour expands upon the idea set by the previous one. The three hour walk focuses not on the touristy places, but on the places instrumental to the birth not just of Florence of but of Italy in general. This history-buff-perfect tour starts at the Piazza della Repubblica, where Caesar first founded the city. You will also get a crash course in everything Florentian, from its architecture to its early politics.

Of course, you will also get a lot of eye candy. You will make your way to Ponte Vecchio, see part of the Vasari Corridor, stroll through the Piazzale degli Uffizi, enter the Palazzo Vecchio, and head to the Duomo, among others. You will also be treated to a cup of espresso and an aperitivo (plus a snack) during different points of the tour.

Book this Florence small group tour here .

Ultimate Uffizi: 2-Hour Priority Entrance Tour

If walking around a crowded city isn’t really your thing, this GetYourGuide Original tour will hit the spot. The Uffizi Gallery is famous for being the epicenter of Florence art, housing some of the most priceless art pieces in the world. Because of this, the queues here are often impossibly long, as hundreds of tourists clamor to get around the two-storey museum.

You can forget about the lines on this tour, though, which gives you priority access and a guide that will walk you through not just the museum’s highlights but also its secrets. Not only will you see masterpieces by da Vinci and Botticelli, but you will also know the history behind them. You can also gain access to all open exhibitions on the day you visit.

Book this Ultimate Uffizi tour here . 

Florence Dome Climb: 1-Hour Priority Entrance Tour

Another GetYourGuide Original, this takes you behind the scenes of one of the most famous cupolas in the world. Skip the lines and the crowds, and reward yourself with a breath-taking view of Florence as you reach the top! This is perfect for those who wish to have a rare bird’s eye view of the city.

Of course, the tour isn’t just about the climb. Hear the remarkable story behind the dome which took two centuries to complete. Marvel at both the artwork on the ceiling and the richness of materials used for the floors and pillars. The tour comes with a ticket to the rest of the Duomo, so you can explore the museum, the cathedral itself, the crypt, and the baptistry. It’s valid for three days, so if you have other plans you can skip and come back later!

Book this Dome Climb tour here .

Academia Gallery: Reserved Entrance and Guided Tour

The beauty of Florence art and culture is that it’s just as interesting whether you choose a widespread or a focused approach. The Academia Gallery tour is an example of the latter, with the famous David statue being the focal point.

The tour gives you an in-depth look at the life and times of Michelangelo, the immortal artist of the Renaissance. The 1-hour tour unfolds as you visit the collection of his masterpieces, along with that of other illustrious painters of the time. And if you think that museum tours are boring academic sessions (the museum’s name can be misleading, after all), the tour’s licensed and professional guides will prove you wrong!

Book Academia Gallery tour here .

Florence: Private Customized Walking Tour with a Local Guide

This is another way to look at Florence, and perhaps this is the one that will have the most impact. Anyone can look at the sights and absorb all the trivia, but only a few will be able to truly look at Florence with the eyes of a local! This guide gets one of Florence’s passionate locals as your tour guide, and shows you their way of life which is just as interesting (or even more so) than the tourist attractions.

The tour can last anywhere from two to six hours and takes you around the neighborhood of your choice. This is perfect if you’ll be staying in Florence for an extended vacation. Know all the ins and outs, like the best places to dine in or to shop from. Get insider tips and tricks, and a complete picture of Florentian life!

All the walking tour itineraries mentioned here are just snapshots of the infinite wonder that Florence has to offer. Don’t be afraid to take a sudden turn, to look close or to stand back, to veer off from the beaten path. That’s the surest way to find something new!

Book this Private Tour here .

Florence Food Tours

Italy is known for its delicious food and people often try to remake it at home. However, while in Italy it’s best to get the real thing to experience those amazing flavors in person. What better way to do that than to go on a food tour in the lovely Florence, Italy. 

Florence Italy Sunset Food Tour  

When you’re spending your time in this town, you want to do as much as you can in your allotted time. During the day, you can take a culture tour and soak in the history. When the sun starts to set, I recommend this food tour. You are led around the city to the best restaurants and bars in town. For 3 and a half hours, you’re in a food and wine paradise. Not only do you get to taste the expertly cured meat straight from the local deli, you also get to see a live demonstration at the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina. This is a tour you won’t soon forget. 

Book this food tour here .

The Other Side of Florence  

This morning tour varies with the type of tour you want. If you bring along your family, there’s a tour for all ages. If it’s just you and your partner, the adult tour is for you. This 4 hour tour takes you behind the scenes of the well-known desserts and lets you sample Italian delicacies like fennel-spiced salami and the infamous Chianti wine. You really explore the other side of Florence on this awesome tours.

Book this eccentric food tour here .

Authentic Florence Home-Cooking Class

We all want to be able to show off our cooking skills at parties and holiday get-togethers. What’s even better is to be able to show off the cooking skills and recipes you picked up in Italy. Not only do you visit the local markets to pick up ingredients, you make an array of pastas and sauces from scratch while sipping on wine and making life long friends. In this 4 hour class, you cook, wine, and dine in a beautiful Florence home complete with a rooftop terrace. It’ll be a life enhancing experience.

Book this cooking class here .

Best Walking Tours in Tuscany was written by Karina Angela Ramos. She is a former preschool teacher turned travel blogger/ travel consultant and social media manager. She writes at Karla Around the World  and  Hungry Travel Duo . People call her an energizer bunny, a never-ending source of energy and laughter, who is a lover of adventure. She was bitten by the travel bug early on and enjoys talking about my action packed and adrenaline filled experience. While traveling, Karla loves to experience local culture, trying out local cuisine, meeting new people, most of all adventure. Follow her Instagram  karlaroundtheworld and Facebook  karlaroundtheworld .

Top Walking Tours in Tuscany – Pin for Later