Map view
Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- The Sandia Peak Tramway is an aerial tramway located near Albuquerque, notable for being the longest aerial tram ride in North America
- The tramway stretches approximately 2.7 miles (about 4.3 kilometers), ascending to an elevation of 10,378 feet (3,192 meters) at Sandia Peak.
- The tramway transports visitors above deep canyons, showcasing the Sandia Mountains and the city of Albuquerque
- At the peak, visitors can enjoy various outdoor activities, including hiking and dining at the on-site restaurant
Old Town Albuquerque
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- Old Town is the historic original town site of Albuquerquee, established in 1706 by New Mexico governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés
- Prior to its establishment as a city in the Santa Fe de Nuevo México province, many indigenous tribes lived there including Diné, Pueblo, Apache, Tiwa, and others
- The present-day district contains about ten blocks of historic adobe buildings surrounding Old Town Plaza
- Most of the historic buildings in Old Town were built between 1870 and 1900, though some are older
- On the plaza's north side stands San Felipe de Neri Church, a Spanish colonial church constructed in 1793
Bandelier National Monument
- Bandelier National Monument is located near Los Alamos, and is known for its rugged canyons and mesas, and rich archaeological history
- The monument preserves the ancestral and traditional lands of at least 23 tribal nations, showcasing evidence of human habitation dating back to the Paleo-Indian period
- The site contains thousands of ancestral Pueblo dwellings, with notable structures carved into the canyon walls
- There are over 70 miles of hiking trails, which lead visitors to significant archaeological sites
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Guadalupe Mountains
- It encompasses an extensive network of over 119 caves, formed primarily through the dissolution of limestone by sulfuric acid, resulting in a variety of caverns and geological formations
- The park is renowned for its underground chambers, including the Big Room, which is one of the largest cave chambers in North America
Dripping Springs Trail, Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument
Walk difficulty: easy
- Dripping Springs Trail is located in the Dripping Springs Natural Area near Las Cruces
- The area features over four miles of hiking trails that showcase the unique desert landscape, including desert scrub and low elevation pinon-juniper and oak woodlands
- The trail leads to a waterfall and offers views of the surrounding Organ Mountains
- The area includes historically preserved structures dating back to 1892
#22 in Best Easy Hikes in the USA
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, located in downtown Santa Fe, is a prominent Catholic cathedral and the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe
- It was constructed between 1869 and 1886 under the direction of Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, on the site of an earlier adobe church known as La Parroquia
- The cathedral is notable for its French Romanesque Revival architectural style, which contrasts with the surrounding adobe buildings typical of Santa Fe
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum is located in Santa Fe, and opened in 1997, eleven years after the artist's death
- The museum is dedicated to the life and artistic legacy of Georgia O'Keeffe, a prominent figure in American modernism, known for her distinctive paintings that often feature flowers, landscapes, and abstract forms inspired by the New Mexico desert
- The museum houses nearly 150 paintings and hundreds of works on paper, including drawings, pastels, and watercolors
#9 in Best Museums in the USA
Meow Wolf, Santa Fe
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- Meow Wolf is an American arts and entertainment company that specializes in creating immersive, multimedia art installations
- Founded in 2008 by a group of artists in Santa Fe, it has grown from a small collective into a significant player in the immersive art scene
- Meow Wolf installations bring visitors into different realms filled with intricate art, storytelling, and interactive elements
#41 in Best Museums in the USA
Santa Fe Plaza
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- Santa Fe Plaza is a historic central square located in downtown Santa Fe
- Established in 1610, it has served as the center of the city for nearly 400 years, reflecting the traditional Spanish-American colonial style
- Surrounding the plaza are significant landmarks, including the Palace of the Governors, which is the oldest continuously occupied public building in the United States, and various restaurants and shops
Canyon Road, Santa Fe
Best time to visit: Sept-Nov
- Canyon Road in Santa Fe, is renowned as an arts district featuring over a hundred galleries, boutiques, and restaurants along a half-mile stretch
- The historic road is celebrated for its adobe architecture, and it serves as a hub for the Santa Fe art scene
- Canyon Road is noted for having the highest density of art galleries in the United States, showcasing a diverse range of artworks, including Native American art
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Taos
- The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is a steel deck arch bridge located near Taos
- The bridge spans the Rio Grande Gorge and is situated about 650 feet (198 meters) above the river, making it one of the highest bridges in the United States
- Completed in 1965, it was designed to provide a direct route along U.S. Route 64
Taos Pueblo
- Taos Pueblo is a historic Native American community located approximately one mile north of the town of Taos
- It is inhabited by the Taos-speaking Tiwa people and is notable for its multi-storied adobe buildings, which have been continuously occupied for over 1,000 years
- The pueblo consists of traditional adobe structures that exemplify pre-Hispanic architectural styles, such as terraced buildings made from natural materials
- Taos Pueblo is recognized as a living cultural site, where traditions and customs are maintained by its residents
Taos Ski Valley
- Taos Ski Valley is a prominent alpine ski resort located in Taos County, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- It offers a variety of winter sports, including skiing and snowboarding
- The area combines outdoor activities with rich Native American and Spanish cultural influences
- While it is primarily known for winter sports, Taos Ski Valley also offers summer activities like hiking and mountain biking
#28 in Best Ski Resorts in the World
#14 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
Alkali Flat Trail, White Sands National Park
Walk difficulty: moderate
- Alkali Flat Trail is a hiking trail located in White Sands National Park
- Hikers will encounter a rugged landscape, consisting of numerous sand dunes, with elevation changes of about 60 feet (18.3 m), involving climbing up and down the dunes
- The trail offers views of the surrounding gypsum dunes and distant mountain ranges
Dune Life Nature Trail, White Sands National Park
Walk difficulty: easy
- The Dune Life Nature Trail is a scenic loop located in White Sands National Park, that offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of desert scrub and gypsum sand dune ecosystems
- The trail is equipped with various interpretive signs that provide insights into the local flora and fauna