The tiny town of Mesilla, New Mexico started off with big dreams. It was a major stop along the stage coach route called The Butterfield Trail that moved people from Missouri, Texas and points East — to California. And it might have kept growing were it not for the train tracks that were diverted a few miles north — to the sleepy village of Las Cruces — these days the state’s second largest city. Now Mesilla is the sleepy one — and people are just fine with that. The town — near the banks of the Rio Grande River — surrounds a classic old square.

Here you find The Basilica of San Albino — galleries, a history lesson on Billy the Kid, and a world class restaurant. La Posta De Mesilla is considered one of the top restaurants in the country — and comes with a lot of history. This was the stage coach stop back in the day — the original building still stands — made out of adobe. A Small Town Americana community that attracts a big following.