Province guides
United States of America
Attractions
New Mexico is a sublime state for the adventurous, who'll find outstanding natural beauty in the form of desert landscapes, gorges and canyons, along with a rich ancient Native American and Hispanic heritage. There are some vibrant cities as well, so the city is wonderfully complete as a holiday destination.
The state's capital, Santa Fe, is a great place to start. Visitors can explore a rich history made tangible in its many world-class museums and galleries, including the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, and the city is also a wonderful center for shopping, craft-collecting and gourmet cuisine. Santa Fe rests at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, so a journey there should include a visit to the remains of its 2,000 year-old Pueblo civilisation along the Rio Grande, and a colonial history that dates back 400 years in the central plaza and winding alleys of the city itself.
Another city worth a visit is Albuquerque. For those with a taste for top-class New Mexican cuisine and plenty of diversions to work off the culinary over-indulgence, Albuquerque is the place to be. Apart from the food there are a variety of active pursuits, from cycling to dancing. Families are also guaranteed plenty of natural and recreational attractions. Albuquerque offers a taste of historic New Mexican life at attractions such as the Albuquerque Museum, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the exciting Museum of Natural History and Science.
The 'Land of Enchantment' is a haven for those with a love for the outdoors, of course. The likes of the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gives visitors the chance to explore cave chambers and take on paved trails. The Taos Gorge Bridge also captures the spirit of adventure; rafting under it provides excitement as does merely gasping at the views from on top. At 565 feet (172m) above the Rio Grande, it's the seventh highest bridge in the US. For avid hikers the Petroglyph National Monument is a popular choice; hikers can follow various trails and explore the Boca Negra Canyon.
Sandia Peak Tramway
An awe-inspiring view of Albuquerque can be had from nearly one mile (2km) above the city on top of Sandia Crest, the windy mountaintop where the view extends for over 1,000 miles …
Sandia Peak Tramway
An awe-inspiring view of Albuquerque can be had from nearly one mile (2km) above the city on top of Sandia Crest, the windy mountaintop where the view extends for over 1,000 miles (1,609km). Visitors should simply follow Tramway Boulevard for a few miles north of the city to board the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, the world's longest continuous jigback passenger tramway, which makes the ascent from the foothills to the summit in about 20 minutes. In winter, skiers make use of the more than 30 trails descending from the mountain crest, while in summer hikers and mountain bikers can take the tramway up and enjoy nature on their way down. Pleasure seekers simply ride to the top to enjoy the view, which is particularly spectacular at sunset.
Website www.sandiapeak.com
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is designed to give an introduction to New Mexico's rich Native American cultural heritage and the 19 individual pueblo communities of the State. …
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is designed to give an introduction to New Mexico's rich Native American cultural heritage and the 19 individual pueblo communities of the State. The centre is situated on 12th Street, about a mile northeast of the Old Town in Albuquerque. It's a recreation of Pueblo Bonito, a ruined Indian village in the Chaco Culture National Historic Park dating from the 9th century. The centre also features a museum displaying early photographs, artefacts and artworks. A restaurant serves traditional fare, and traditional dances are performed by different tribal groups. Those interested in seeing the real thing can make an excursion to Pueblo Acoma, 60 miles (96km) west of Albuquerque, the oldest inhabited village in the United States. It's situated on a 367-foot (112m) high sandstone rock.
Website www.indianpueblo.org
Roswell
The town of Roswell in south-east New Mexico has become the focus of UFO and alien hunters from all over the world. This has been the case ever since the 'Roswell Incident' in 1947…
Roswell
The town of Roswell in south-east New Mexico has become the focus of UFO and alien hunters from all over the world. This has been the case ever since the 'Roswell Incident' in 1947, when an alien craft purportedly crashed near the town, leaving surviving extra-terrestrials. Conspiracy theorists believe government authorities deliberately covered up the crash. The incident is highlighted at the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Main Street, along with a large collection of UFO memorabilia and artefacts. The museum also features a worldwide UFO sighting map and a comprehensive library. Roswell itself is just as UFO-crazy, and visitors can eat at UFO-themed cafes, and buy just about anything they can think of with an alien on it.
Website www.roswellufomuseum.com
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
Dedicated to the work of artist Georgia O'Keeffe, the museum opened in 1997, eleven years after the death of the artist, who loved the state of New Mexico. Since then the museum ha…
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
Dedicated to the work of artist Georgia O'Keeffe, the museum opened in 1997, eleven years after the death of the artist, who loved the state of New Mexico. Since then the museum has welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors, who come to view the works of one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Georgia O'Keeffe was a leading member of one of the avant-garde art movements in New York in the 1920s, creating art that expressed wideness and wonder. She featured the high deserts and dramatic cliffs of New Mexico frequently in her work. The Santa Fe museum is located in a former Baptist church and contains a permanent collection with more than 130 O'Keeffe paintings, drawings and sculptures, making it the largest concentration of her work in the world. It's also the first American museum ever devoted solely to a major female artist.
Website www.okeeffemuseum.org
Carlsbad Caverns
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a popular attraction in New Mexico, and contains the Carlsbad Cavern. Also known as the 'Big Cave', it's one of the largest underground chambers o…
Carlsbad Caverns
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a popular attraction in New Mexico, and contains the Carlsbad Cavern. Also known as the 'Big Cave', it's one of the largest underground chambers on earth. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of 80 caves around the park, but is incredibly popular for tours due to its stunning stalagmite and stalactite formations. Visitors enter the cave by descending over 600 feet (183m) in an elevator, and explore the chambers via paved trails that are mostly wheelchair accessible. There's also a natural entrance by the visitor centre that involves a longer and rougher walk.
Website www.nps.gov/cave
White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is a mesmerising expanse of gypsum dunes that stretches over 275 square miles (712 sq.km) of the Tularosa Basin. The undulating white sands, formed from g…
White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is a mesmerising expanse of gypsum dunes that stretches over 275 square miles (712 sq.km) of the Tularosa Basin. The undulating white sands, formed from gypsum crystals, create a surreal landscape that shifts with the wind, offering a unique and ever-changing vista. This spectacular natural wonder has a diverse population of desert wildlife, all of which are at home in the harsh environment. Visitors can hike through the dunes, sled down their slopes, or marvel at the stunning sunsets that paint the sands in hues of gold and pink. It's a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and photographers alike.
Website www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm