NEW: Three New Mexico communities are in contention for a Top Honor: USA Today has just launched a search for the "10 Best Southwestern Small Towns," and three New Mexico towns are in consideration. As of today, Taos and Madrid are both in the Top 10, with Cloudcroft in the No. 11 spot about to break into the Top 10. New Mexicans can visit this link to vote for their favorite New Mexico small town here.

NEW: Nationwide Barnes & Noble locations to feature New Mexico True Adventure Guide: The department has recently released a revamped version of the New Mexico True Adventure Guide (NMTAG), an annual vacation guide designed to provide inspiration and information for consumers interested in travel to New Mexico. What's new this year? Using research and consumer insights, the 2017 NMTAG takes a sharp turn away from the traditional travel guide and replaces business listings with editorial content proven to pique traveler interests: chefs of Santa Fe, craft beer in ABQ, nostalgic Route 66, and more. Even better, the New Mexico True Adventure Guide will be featured front and center at Barnes and Noble locations across the country for the first two weeks of April, and will be available for purchase in the Travel section through July 4.

NEW: Keep New Mexico True: One of the department's four strategic planks is to increase resident pride and advocacy, and this spring we're doing that with the Keep New Mexico True initiative. Through an in-state ad campaign filled with images of pristine public spaces and sentimental messaging, we're encouraging New Mexicans to "Take the Pledge to Keep New Mexico True." The initiative gives residents a place to put their pride into action via local cleanup events happening across the state in April. These cleanup events are affiliated with New Mexico Clean & Beautiful, a grant program administered by the Tourism Department with funding generated by license plate renewals.