Travel the highways and byways of New Mexico and you ride the trails of history. It was over the rolling plains of sand, around rock formations and yucca, and amid the rolling hills that Spanish conquistadors once trekked. New Mexico is also a land of contrast. While its roots go back to Indian and Spanish cultures, their remnants coexist with oil wells and other phases of 20th-century life. For those who appreciate the wilds, New Mexico has 16 wilderness areas and five national forests. It's a thrill to drive to the top of Mount Withington (at 10,115 feet), west of Socorro. (Courtesy of Rand McNally http://www.randmcnally.com)