NRAO Very Large Array

What an experience!! We went for their open house day. Every one was so welcoming and enjoyed showing us around. The presenters were great! Really amazing the size of everything and the work they are doing out here! It was a lovely drive out to the facilities. We took some time to explore the area when we were done.

Really cool to see one array up close. When you first get there, you do go in at the visitor center and pay and sign in each person in your family or group visiting. The "Walk trail" itself is mostly gravel and not stroller friendly unless your stroller has the fat wheels or you stroll on the side of the road, which isn't recommended. They have railroad ties all along the trail about toddler height with signs that say not to get on them. I would say this visit is more for adults and older kids. The trail does take you to only one array, but it is a great sight, and out in the distance, you get to see all the arrays lined up. You also get to see that driving in, which is really cool. There is a balcony on the side of one of the buildings that lets you view everything from a higher level. I didn't see that part accessible for wheelchairs. Come to think of it, the trail to the array doesn't seem wheelchair friendly either. They do have a small museum and gift shop inside and clean bathrooms. No snacks or water or anything like that is sold inside, so make sure you go prepared. Overall, the arrays are super amazing to see. The drive there from Soccoro is gorgeous. The tiny town of Magdalena is charming. Go check it out!

It's amazing to see the array stretching across the valley as far as you can see. We read about the options and decided to drive by the array. I can't walk very far and it was the best option for us. I can imagine a spaceship exploring the desert and deciding to stop by for "first contact" with the people who built this VLA. Remember to get your tickets in advance. Enjoy a very different experience...

Great video and cool tour of the site. However, no more than about an hour's worth of things to do here and most of it is outdoors, so plan accordingly. It's about an hour drive from Socorro with not many amenities on the road.

Absolutely fascinating place to visit. Highly recommend joining the guided tour if you can for the wonderful presentation and information, but if you can’t make the tour you can see the same things on the self guided walk. Guided tour took about an hour and a half with many opportunities to ask questions. Amazing place in a beautiful area of the country. Seriously the drive to get here is half of the experience. Would absolutely recommend to ANYONE!

This is very out of the way for most but if you love space its a must see. The science being completed here is amazing and the walking trail has many interesting and interactive exhibits to see. Its definitely a spot for nerds but extemley cool.

I visited years ago (early 2000), and was blown away by the sheer size. When you crest the hill and start to see them they just keep getting bigger and bigger until you get to the welcome center. I work in the satellite industry and was still amazed. The array has 27(plus a spare) 25 meter dishes that are movable via three rail lines, depending on the mission at hand. It was also featured in the movie "Contact" with Jodie Foster. If you are ever in the area definitely stop by and see it in person.

Thought it was so interesting and over my head, but Bob, our tour guide, made it easier. So much to experience and explore, I highly recommend going.