Albuquerque Situated near the center of the State, Albuquerque nestles in the Rio Grande valley below the majestic Sandia Mountains. One-third of New Mexico’s population lives in the city, but it manages to retain some small-town qualities. The cultural influences of both the Native American and Hispanic early settlers is evident in everything from food to architecture. Visitors can explore the Coronado State Monument where Spanish explorer, Coronado, and his men stayed while searching for the seven cities of gold. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center traces the history of the State’s
19 Native American Pueblos. Exhibits feature contemporary works by pueblo artists and seasonal and traditional dances are performed. The National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico is located in the historic Barelas district. The complex features a newly opened theater and amphitheater, as well as art galleries and a genealogical research center. The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway takes tourists 4.3km (2.7 miles) above the deep canyons of Albuquerque. It is the world’s longest single-span tramway and should be avoided by those who do not have a head for heights. Back on terra firma, visitors can walk through an active volcano, tour an ice-age cave and gaze up at the huge dinosaurs in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, or visit the new S&S DoubleShot ride at Cliff’s Amusement Park.
Excursions Along the popular Turquoise Trail are former mining towns such as Madrid and Golden, which were left deserted when supplies of gold, turquoise and coal mines ran dry. On Interstate 25 at Budaghers, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the Traditions festival marketplace is dedicated to selling products and services made in New Mexico. Performances and exhibitions in the outdoor plaza and gazebo showcase New Mexico culture.
Santa Fe The ‘City of the Holy Faith’ is the oldest and highest capital in the country. It boasts more than 150 art galleries, most of which are within easy walking distance of the city center. These include the Museum of New Mexico; Santa Fe Children’s Museum, with interactive exhibits; Institute of American Indian Arts Museum; Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, which includes displays of jewelry, weavings, pottery and paintings of Native American cultures; and the Museum of International Folk Art. Along the Santa Fe Trail are San Miguel Mission, one of the oldest churches in the country, and Loretto Chapel with its ‘Miraculous Stairway’. Further down the trail is the State Capitol, one of the newest capitol buildings in the country. Its unique design is modeled after the Zia sun symbol on the State flag.
Taos Visitors to Taos can see the ancient Taos Pueblo, home to the Taos people long before the arrival of Columbus. Spanish colonisers arrived 400 years ago and examples of their craft and culture can be found at Millicent Rogers Museum and the 200-year-old Martinez Hacienda. The Old West also lives on at the home of 19th-century scout, Kit Carson, and in the nearby house where Carson’s brother-in-law and governor of New Mexico Territory was murdered. The governor’s wife and children escaped by digging through the wall of their adobe home with kitchen utensils.
Northwest Region The northwest region is home to the oldest surviving Pueblo, Acoma, the newest, Laguna, and the largest, Zuni. Some Pueblos are open to the public daily, others only on feast days. The region also includes part of the country’s largest reservation – the Navajo. The Navajo are noted for their beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry, sand paintings and other crafts. Nestling on a high plateau in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Aztec stretches along the Animas River. The Aztec Ruins National Monument is the main attraction with its restored Great Kiva, which was once used for religious ceremonies. The nearby Animas and San Juan rivers provide some of the best trout fishing in the nation.
Southern New Mexico White Sands National Monument in the Tularosa Basin contains the world’s largest gypsum sand dunes. They were formed when rainwater dissolved gypsum in a nearby mountain and then collected in the basin’s Lake Lucero. As the desert weather evaporated the lake water, the gypsum crystals were left behind and eventually formed the continually growing sand dunes. Carlsbad is home to the Pecos River, Living Desert State Park and the Presidents Park Amusement Village. The world-famous Carlsbad Caverns were explored in 1922 and declared a national monument by President Calvin Coolidge a year later; they were re-designated as part of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in 1930. Visitors can descend 250m (830ft) into the caverns down a steep, slippery path, before touring the many chambers and passages. The surrounding area also features the Guadalupe Mountains, where the rugged wilderness of the American West has been preserved. Attractions in the southwest corner of the State include Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, with more than 40 stone and timber rooms carved into the cliff’s natural caves, and Silver City, a beautiful mountain retreat.
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