On the second leg of my North American cycle tour, I went from LA to Albuquerque (New Mexico), via White Sands National Monument. The heat was harsh, and there were too many cars for my liking, but it was all worth it for the dunes at White Sands. The almost pure white gypsum crystals entice you to walk further and further into the desert, but being situated with mountains to one side, there is no real danger of becoming majorly disoriented. I camped here for a few nights during full moon - an amazing travel experience.