I'm not sure why the City of Rocks State Park isn't more popular or well-known. Even some people who have lived in New Mexico all their lives have never heard of it. That's a shame, because it's a wonderful place and should be seen and enjoyed by everyone.

• COUNTY:  Grant
• LOCATION:  Approximately 33 miles southeast of Silver City
• NAME ORIGIN: Placement of rocks resembles an arrangement of structures 
• GNIS Info & Map

     I'm not much for rocks. In high school and college, I came dangerously close to flunking my geology classes, mostly because I couldn't properly identify the rocks. But that's because the indicators were ambiguous criteria like "it tastes salty when licked." To the extent that I'm even willing to lick a rock, I'm hard pressed to find one that doesn't just taste like dirt and mud, much less a common condiment. Maybe I'm not licking hard enough. But since when does our society base identification on taste anyway? We shake hands, not lick them. And when was the last time you saw someone in a museum licking a painting and saying, "Oh, it's a Monet"?

     But for those of you into rock-licking, this site is a wonderland. Formed many years ago by a volcanic eruption and I think some erosion or something (like I said, geology isn't my strong point), the City of Rocks rises up out of the surrounding plains as if its the earth's crown. Comparisons with Stonehenge are hard to resist. It's a real kick to walk around inside the rock-formed hallways and tunnels. Also a great place to play hide-and-seek, if you're so inclined.