Sand in My Shoes

You'd think that being a native Floridian and spending most of my life in Jacksonville Beach, I wouldn't seek out SAND. But 275 square miles of pure white gypsum sand ringed by mountains, is a bit different. We went to White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico and were awed by the tall, tall dunes (some up to 60-feet high) and the mesmerizing patterns created by the prevailing winds. This area is also home to White Sands Missile Range and is where the first atomic bomb test took place in 1945. We weren't the only ones enjoying the clear, sunny day; kids and adults alike were "sledding" down the dunes on plastic discs (similar to a garbage can lid!) available at the visitors' center.