To stay in Socorro and not at least drive through the historic downtown is to miss out on the beautiful lines of the San Miguel Mission. Kevin and I decided to spend a day, not in Bosque, where it was too windy for any serious birding, but exploring our surroundings. Socorro has a walking tour guide which sets out several historic sites and buildings. The best is the Mission. It is truly impressive adobe mission style church archietecture.

After browsing around historic Socorro, and the town square head out of Socorro on highway 60 to the Very Large Array. We spent a very pleasant but windy time browsing the Visitor's Center and gawping at the enormous astronomy towers along the self guided walking tour (25 cents.)