RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of New Mexico >> Taos County >> Sunshine >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).

When in Sunshine, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Sunshine and the surrounding area.

  • Weather ...
  • Astronomy & Satellites ...
    • Whether using binoculars, a small telescope or the naked-eye, the Heavens-Above website can help you to find your way around the night-time sky. In addition to detailed sky charts, their website will help you find planets, asteriods, comets, satellites and their tracks across the sky.
    • To give accurate results, Heavens-Above requires the latitude and longitude of your location. As a starting point, when we link to Heavens-Above, we pass this GPS location for Sunshine:
    • 36.843911, -105.640008
    • Once you're on the Heavens-Above website, you can improve its accuracy by giving a more precise longitude and latitude as your actual position.
    • Open the Heavens-Above website centered on Sunshine
  • Bird Watching ...
    • We enjoy finding new spots for bird watching and we use the eBird website for local sighting reports and to help identify hotspots.
    • The eBird website is organized on a county-by-county basis. We have selected Taos County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Taos County
    • Since Sunshine is near Costilla County and also Colfax County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Costilla County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Colfax County
  • Waymarking ...
    • Looking for somewhere out of the ordinary? Find a unique place and want to share it with others? Then it's time to visit Waymarking.com:
    • Open the Waymark.com report for Sunshine

Communities Also Named Sunshine ...

We found 44 communities that are also named Sunshine.

There are two communities within New Mexico that are also named Sunshine.

Beyond New Mexico, we know of 42 communities that are located in the United States and Canada. Of these 42 communities, 42 are located in the United States and three are in Canada.

  • Communities Located In New Mexico ...
    • Luna County
      • This community is historic<1> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the New Mexico community of Sunshine [Luna County].
    • Roosevelt County
      • This community is historic<1> and although located in Roosevelt County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Roosevelt County community of Sunshine.
  • Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
    • Alabama
      • Hale County
      • This Sunshine is located in Hale County and lies 1,066 miles [1,715.6 km]<2> to the east of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hale County community of Sunshine.
    • Alaska
      • This Sunshine lies 2,565 miles [4,128 km]<2> to the north northwest of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
    • Arizona
      • Coconino County
      • This Sunshine is located in Coconino County and lies 323 miles [519.8 km]<2> to the west southwest of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Coconino County community of Sunshine.
    • Arkansas
      • Ashley County
      • This Sunshine is located in Ashley County and lies 836 miles [1,345.4 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Ashley County community of Sunshine.
      • Garland County
      • This Sunshine is located in Garland County and lies 714 miles [1,149.1 km] to the east of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Garland County community of Sunshine.
      • Howard County
      • This community is historic<1> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Arkansas community of Sunshine [Howard County].
    • British Columbia
      • This Sunshine lies 1,221 miles [1,965 km]<2> to the northwest of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
    • Colorado
      • Boulder County
      • This Sunshine is located in Boulder County and lies 222 miles [357.3 km]<2> to the north of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boulder County community of Sunshine.
      • Garfield County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Colorado community of Sunshine [Garfield County].
    • Florida
      • Hillsborough County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Florida community of Sunshine [Hillsborough County].
    • Georgia
      • Hancock County
      • This community is historic<1> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Georgia community of Sunshine [Hancock County].
    • Iowa
      • Appanoose County
      • This Sunshine is located in Appanoose County and lies 734 miles [1,181.3 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Appanoose County community of Sunshine.
    • Kansas
      • Ford County
      • This community is historic<1> and although located in Ford County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Ford County community of Sunshine.
      • Meade County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Sunshine [Meade County].
    • Kentucky
      • Greenup County
      • This Sunshine is located in Greenup County and lies 1,241 miles [1,997.2 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Greenup County community of Sunshine.
      • Harlan County
      • This Sunshine is located in Harlan County and lies 1,230 miles [1,979.5 km] to the east of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Harlan County community of Sunshine.
    • Louisiana
      • Iberville Parish
      • This Sunshine is located in Iberville Parish and lies 948 miles [1,525.7 km]<2> to the east southeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Iberville Parish community of Sunshine.
      • Terrebonne Parish
      • This Sunshine is located in Terrebonne Parish and lies 996 miles [1,602.9 km] to the east southeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Terrebonne Parish community of Sunshine.
    • Maine
      • Hancock County
      • This Sunshine is located in Hancock County and lies 1,992 miles [3,205.8 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hancock County community of Sunshine.
    • Maryland
      • Montgomery County
      • This Sunshine is located in Montgomery County and lies 1,556 miles [2,504.1 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Montgomery County community of Sunshine.
    • Missouri
      • Randolph County
      • This community is historic<1> and although located in Randolph County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Randolph County community of Sunshine.
      • Ray County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Missouri community of Sunshine [Ray County].
    • Nebraska
      • Lincoln County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Nebraska community of Sunshine [Lincoln County].
    • North Carolina
      • Rutherford County
      • This Sunshine is located in Rutherford County and lies 1,328 miles [2,137.2 km]<2> to the east of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Rutherford County community of Sunshine.
    • Ohio
      • Adams County
      • This Sunshine is located in Adams County and lies 1,222 miles [1,966.6 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Adams County community of Sunshine.
      • Brown County
      • This community is historic<1> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Ohio community of Sunshine [Brown County].
    • Ontario
      • This Sunshine lies 1,360 miles [2,188.7 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
    • Pennsylvania
      • Berks County
      • This Sunshine is located in Berks County and lies 1,618 miles [2,603.9 km]<2> to the east northeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Berks County community of Sunshine.
      • Fayette County
      • This Sunshine is located in Fayette County and lies 1,403 miles [2,257.9 km] to the east northeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Fayette County community of Sunshine.
      • Luzerne County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Pennsylvania community of Sunshine [Luzerne County].
      • Wayne County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Pennsylvania community of Sunshine [Wayne County].
    • South Carolina
      • Newberry County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the South Carolina community of Sunshine [Newberry County].
    • Tennessee
      • Blount County
      • This Sunshine is located in Blount County and lies 1,216 miles [1,957 km]<2> to the east of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Blount County community of Sunshine.
    • Texas
      • El Paso County
      • This Sunshine is located in El Paso County and lies 359 miles [577.8 km]<2> to the south of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the El Paso County community of Sunshine.
      • Hamilton County
      • This Sunshine is located in Hamilton County and lies 548 miles [881.9 km] to the southeast of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hamilton County community of Sunshine.
    • Utah
      • Davis County
      • This Sunshine is located in Davis County and lies 435 miles [700.1 km]<2> to the northwest of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Davis County community of Sunshine.
      • Tooele County
      • This community is historic<1> and although located in Tooele County, we don't know where within the county.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tooele County community of Sunshine.
    • Washington
      • Pacific County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Washington community of Sunshine [Pacific County].
      • Whitman County
      • This Sunshine is located in Whitman County and lies 899 miles [1,446.8 km]<2> to the northwest of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Whitman County community of Sunshine.
    • West Virginia
      • Marion County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the West Virginia community of Sunshine [Marion County].
    • Wyoming
      • Big Horn County
      • We found mention of this community, but have little information.<3> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Wyoming community of Sunshine [Big Horn County].
      • Park County
      • This Sunshine is located in Park County and lies 526 miles [846.5 km]<2> to the north northwest of the Sunshine that is located in Taos County.
      • For more information, please visit our profile page for the Park County community of Sunshine.

Curious and Interesting Names Near Sunshine ...

As we travel, we always see a community with a name that gives pause. While there are names which are interesting or familiar, some catch our attention or strike our fancy. We always wonder about such a name. If time permits and the community is not too far, we'll usually try to make a side-trip.

  • Anchor ‑ Historic
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Anchor is located in Taos County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor
  • Hematite ‑ Historic
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hematite is located in Colfax County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hematite
  • Kiowa Village
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Kiowa Village is located in Taos County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiowa Village
  • Lobo ‑ Historic
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Lobo is located in Taos County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lobo
  • Midnight ‑ Historic
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Midnight is located in Taos County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midnight
  • Red River
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Sunshine Valley
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Sunshine Valley is located in Taos County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Valley
  • Twining ‑ Historic
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Twining is located in Taos County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twining

How Far From Sunshine to ...

We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers & Almanacs that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a community such as Sunshine to various places of note, such as the White House.

With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Sunshine and extending to:

  • Taos, which is the Seat of Taos County, lies 30 miles [48.3 km]<2> to the south. If you could walk a straight line from Sunshine to Taos, with an average speed<5> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take most of two days to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take just over a day.
  • Santa Fe, which is the State Capital of New Mexico, lies 82 miles [132 km] to the south southwest (SSW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take less than two hours, a buggy would take most of three days and walking would take 5 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 1,559 miles [2,509 km] to the east northeast (ENE). Driving would take most of three days, a buggy would take 61 days and walking would take 89 days.
  • The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 7,059 miles [11,360.4 km] and it lies to the north northeast (NNE).<7>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,819 miles [12,583.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,738 miles [9,234.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>'

Footnotes ...

<1>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Sunshine, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sunshine) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>If we encounter the name of what might be a community, our methodology is to add that name to our Gazetteer as a placeholder. As we find more information about that community, it will be added to our Gazetteer.

Just as a reminder: Our definition of a community is rather broad and includes those places (or areas) where several families lived and had a name which identified that place. For example, you might hear somebody say that they are going over to Mile's to see Pete ... Mile's is just a gas station and a couple of homes at the crossroads. While it might not be on the map, everybody in the area knows it by that name.

Places of interest include buildings at a crossroad, several families clustered in a hollow or maybe the location of a way station. It also includes places like mines, lumber camps, ferry crossings, etc. The community might still exist, is now gone or only existed for just a short period of time.

Also keep in mind that Sunshine could have been on the original document by mistake, misspelled, the original/alternate name of a community that we've listed elsewhere or was placed in the wrong county. Sometimes a post office or train station would have a different name than the community where it's located, so two names might be referring to the same community - we're working to straighten it all out.
<4>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<5>While we have tried to pick reasonable speeds, the rate of travel is very theoretical - obstacles like fences, hills, lakes, river crossings and rest stops have been ignored. When we say 'Days' of travel, we're assuming 8 hours of travel per day.
<6>The shortest line can be visualized by stretching a string on a Globe from Point A to Point B - this is known as a Great Circle Route. Where you might expect the shortest route from Sunshine to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Sunshine. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 36.8439, Longitude: -105.6400       In this case, the coordinates for Sunshine have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 326.709 degrees.
<8>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 324.945 degrees.
<9>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 318.595 degrees.