If you love to visit places with rich cultural heritage and stunning natural landscapes, New Mexico should definitely be on your list! Here are our 7 favorite things to do during your trip.
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Carlsbad Caverns
No visit to New Mexico is complete without visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This is one of the most extensive and famous cave systems in the world. It features more than 119 caves full of incredible limestone stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and draperies. You can take a guided tour of a portion of the cave, or you can rent an audio guide and explore on your own.
The land above the caves have a variety of hiking trails to enjoy. View the Guadalupe Mountains and Chihuahua Desert on trails ranging from a short jaunt from the parking lot to a 100 mile trek.
You will want your visit to extend into the evening to watch thousands of bats emerge from the caverns in search of dinner. The Bat Flight Program runs late May through October. Then stick around for a Night Sky Program scheduled periodically. There’s the Star Party where you will see the night sky with powerful telescope and the 1.5 mile Night Hike along an unimproved trail. More of a morning person? Then time your visit for the third Saturday in July to join the annual Dawn of the Bats celebration to watch the bats return to the caverns.
There are many great places to stay near the park. And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the United States and is renowned for it vibrant arts scene. Your visit should begin by exploring the historic Plaza in the heart of the city. This historic gathering place contains adobe buildings, art galleries, shops and restaurants. The Plaza is the home of the Palace of the Governors. Dating from 1610, this building was built for colonial administration but today houses the New Mexico History Museum. Also visit the the 17th century Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, the oldest church in the U.S. This working cathedral offers opportunities to attend services or simply visit the church to admire the interior.
Santa Fe has no shortage of art museums, including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of International Folk Art, and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. After you admire this curated art, make your way to Canyon Road where you visit art galleries and studios of local artists. This is your chance to buy a one of a kind souvenir!
Santa Fe is surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Santa Fe National Forest offering plenty of opportunities for hiking and biking on scenic trails. After you exercise, relax with a spa treatment at one of the city’s world-class spas. Then enjoy a dinner inspired by Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo culinary influences. No matter what you are craving, you will find it!
There are great places to stay in Santa Fe. There are also several other fun things to see and do while in the area.
White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is unlike anything you have ever seen before. It contains 275 square miles of white gypsum sand dunes creating a surreal desert landscape. Start your visit with the 16 mile round-trip Dunes Drive scenic drive from the Visitor’s Center into the gypsum dunefield. Then take part in the top activity at White Sands, dune sledding! There’s nothing quite like sledding down a hill of soft white sand. You can bring your own sled or rent one at the park.
There are also five scenic hiking trails. The Interdune Boardwalk trail is wheelchair accessible and takes only about 15-30 minutes to reach a glorious scenic view of the park. If you are up for a bit more of a hike, take the Dune Life Nature Trail. This one-mile loop trail is one of the best ways to explore the park.
If you are into photography, you will love visiting White Sands during sunrise and sunset. The shifting patterns of light and shadows on the sand create stunning photographs. Evening is a great time to visit not only for photographs, but to take the Ranger-led Sunset Stroll to learn more about the geology, plants and animals of the park. There are also Moonlight Hikes and Full Moon Night events on nights with full moons.
Backcountry camping is available in the park. Or there are many great places to stay nearby. There are other fun things to see and do while in the area as well.
Albuquerque
One of my favorite cities to visit in New Mexico is Albuquerque. Located in the heart of the city, explore Old Town Albuquerque. Here you will find adobe buildings, cobblestone streets, galleries, shops and plenty of restaurants. It’s a charming place to start your visit.
There are great museums to visit in the city. At the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, you can learn about the Pueblo people’s crafts, art, and history. Learn about the city’s history at the Albuquerque Museum. And enjoy the interactive exhibits at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
My son’s favorite place to visit in New Mexico is Petroglyph National Monument. Here you will find thousands of petroglyphs created by the Pueblo people and early Spanish settlers. If you want more of the outdoors, visit Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. Better yet, take the Ariel Tramway and enjoy the many hiking trails at the top of Sandia Peak.
If you happen to be visiting in October, you will revel in seeing hundreds of colorful hot air balloons participating in the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. The world’s largest hot air balloon festival, the event also features live entertainment and special events.
There are many great places to stay in Albuquerque. And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Taos Pueblo
As one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in North America (over 1,000 years!), it’s easy to understand why Taos Pueblo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a guided tour to learn more about the pueblo’s history from tribe members. Then explore the narrow streets on your own to admire the adobe architecture. Shop for handmade crafts, jewelry, and artwork created by local artisans in the central plaza. And make sure to schedule time to see any special event that is taking place.
After exploring the pueblo, make your way into the city of Taos. Here you can enjoy the many art galleries, shops, and restaurants as well as live entertainment in Taos Plaza. Feast on green chile stew, enchiladas, and carne adovada at local restaurants, or visit the Taos Famers Market to select your own farm-fresh produce and artisanal foods. Outside the city, enjoy outdoor pursuits such as scenic trails in the mountains, whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande, the scenic drive along the Enchanted Circle Byway, and skiing at Taos Ski Valley.
There are several great places to stay in Taos. There are also other fun things to see and do in the area.
Grants
I suspect that Grants, New Mexico, won’t be on many people’s top “must-visit in New Mexico” lists! But it is on mine, and here’s why. There’s a ton of things to do near Grants, including two of my all-time experiences in the state.
Located in the western part of the state, Grants has several natural wonders to visit. The El Malpais National Monument offers scenic trails through ancient lava flows, lava tubes, and caves. There’s also the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, Here you will find a lava tube cave which contains ice formations year-round as well as volcano offering panoramic views of the surrounding area.
There are cultural wonders, too. The El Morro National Monument showcases carvings of more than 2,000 signatures, dates, and petroglyphs created by ancestral Puebloans, Spanish, and American visitors. And my favorite site in all of New Mexico is Acoma Sky City. This 2,000 year old Pueblo is perched on top of a 367 foot high sandstone mesa and is home to the Acoma people renowned for their pottery. Take a guided tour of the Pueblo to learn about its history, art, and culture.
Another favorite of mine is the New Mexico Mining Museum. Descend into a simulated uranium mine to learn about the history of mining, see equipment and artifacts, and learn about the impact of mining on the local community. If you are lucky, your tour will be given by a retired miner who will enthrall you with stories of working there.
There are great places to stay in Grants. And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area as well.
Bandelier National Monument
Completing our list of sensational sites in New Mexico is Bandelier National Monument. This 10,000 year old site features ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and ruins of the Pueblo people.
Take the Pueblo Loop Trail to see the main features of the monument. You will pass by ancient dwellings and kivas and see stunning views of the Frijoles Canyon. You can also take the more challenging Alcove House Trail which ascends 1.2 miles to a ceremonial cave in the cliffs. The Falls Trail offers you a view of a waterfall. There are also longer hiking trails available.
During the summer, cultural demonstrations and living history programs offer a glimpse into the Pueblo culture. You can learn about traditional crafts, cooking techniques, artistic expression, and more from members of the local community.
Camping is available on-site. There are many great places to stay in Los Alamos. There are also several other fun things to see and do while in the area.
What’s on your New Mexico itinerary?
These are just 7 of the sensational sites to see in New Mexico. But the state is full of many more incredible destinations that are worth exploring. Tell us below where you plan to visit!
We hope you have enjoyed this installment on our 7 Sensational Sites in Each State of the USA series. Tell us what you think in the comments below. You can also contact us and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest so you never miss a post.
