Pie Town, NM

Perched along U.S. 60 in western New Mexico, Pie Town is a tiny, high-desert community known for its quirky charm and legendary baking roots. The outpost earned its name back in the 1920s when an enterprising shopkeeper started selling dried-apple pies to passing travelers. Today, local cafes still draw road-trippers and Continental Divide Trail hikers in search of a warm slice. Daily life here is quiet and deeply remote, bordered by the rugged Gila National Forest to the south and the Plains of San Agustin, home to the Very Large Array, to the east. Each September, the town gathers for its annual Pie Festival, celebrating with baking contests, games, and live music.