Explore Things to do Today in New Mexico
New Mexico known for its vibrant culture and rich history, dating back to prehistoric times. In Santa Fe, the country’s oldest capital city. Some of the world’s premier art and history museums cluster together. Outside of the city are some of the most preserved and important natural and historical landmarks cover the rugged landscape.
Visitors to the state also enjoy touring the historic ruins of ancient peoples including pueblos and cliff dwellings. For those with an interest in the obscure, a stop by the notorious town of Roswell and its UFO museum. A visit to the captivating White Sands National Monument should be at the top of your list.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
New Mexico’s most popular attraction is this phenomenal cave system in the Guadalupe Mountains. Carlsbad Caverns, a National Historic Place. Made up of a large chamber called the Big Room which measures almost 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet high at the highest point.
The Big Room is considered the third largest chamber in North America and the seventh largest in the world. Visitors to the cave can hike in on their own via the natural entrance or take an elevator from the visitor center.
White Sands National Monument
This area, famous for its white sand dunes formed by gypsum crystals, rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world’s great natural wonders. The White Sands National Monument known for its unusual geology.
Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. Visitors to the National Monument can view sand dunes. Enjoy the opportunity for stunning photographs of this surreal landscape.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
The Gila Wilderness is the 533-acre monument made up of prehistoric cliff dwellings. The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument sit in rugged mountain sides. At 5,700 to 6,000 feet and made up of interconnected caves on five cliff alcoves.
The caves thought to have been inhabited from 1275 to 1300 AD by the Mongollon people. Visitors can reach the caves via a one-mile trail loop. Tour the museum and visitor center which display Apache and Mongollon artifacts.
International UFO Museum and Research Center
The Roswell incident of July 1947 certainly created an unusual reputation for this small town in New Mexico. Today visitors come from all around to New Mexico. To speculate and explore the history of UFOs throughout the world.
The International UFO Museum and Research Center located in Roswell, aims to educate the public about UFO phenomena. Museum exhibits include information on the Roswell Incident, crop circles, UFO sightings, Area 51, ancient astronauts and abductions. The exhibits are designed not to convince anyone to believe one way or another about their subjects.
Loretto Chapel
The Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe is a former Roman Catholic Church that is now used as a private museum operated and maintained, in part, for the preservation of the Miraculous Staircase and the Chapel itself. It is open for tours, and available to rent for weddings.
It’s known for its unusual shaped spiral staircase the Miraculous Stair. Over the years many have flocked to the Loretto Chapel to see the Miraculous Staircase. The staircase has been the subject of many articles, TV specials, and movies. The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support.
ABQ BioPark Zoo
Located along the Rio Grande River near downtown Albuquerque, the ABQ BioPark consists of: The ABQ BioPark Zoo, Botanic Garden, Aquarium and Tingley Beach. the Zoo is home to more than 900 animals from around the world.
Home to chimpanzees, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles and more, this zoo offers a schedule of events and activities. Including daily hippo feedings. Penguins are a favorite waddling around inside the Penguin Chill. Every day except Monday, a half-hourly miniature train connects the zoo with the aquarium and botanic gardens 2 miles northwest.
Sandia Peak Tramway
Near Albuquerque you’ll find Sandia Peak Tramway the world’s third longest single span tramway which crosses from the edge of the city to the Sandia Mountains. It stretches from the northeast edge of the city to Sandia Peak on the ridge line of the Sandia Mountains.
The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway transports you above deep canyons and breathtaking terrain. At sunset the desert skies produce a spectacular array of color from the observation deck atop 10,378-foot Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest.
Museum of International Folk Art
Among one of Santa Fe’s many popular art and history museums is the Museum of International Folk Art which holds the largest collection of international folk art in the world. Numbering more than 130,000 objects from more than 100 countries.
The museum’s four wings contain a variety of artifacts including popular art, toys, and textiles. In the Girard Wing, textiles, ceramics, in the Neutrogena wing, Carvings. Hispanic folk art in the Hispanic Heritage Wing, and rotating exhibits in the Bartlett Wing.
Chaco Culture National Historic Park
The southwest is known for its historic ruins. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park is one of the best places to view and learn about pueblos. With the largest and most well-preserved collection of these ancient homes in the entire southwest.
The area considered one of the United States most important cultural and historical areas. It’s one of New Mexico’s main tourist attractions. Backcountry hiking trails lead visitors to remote Chacoan sites, passing ancient roads, petroglyphs, stairways, and spectacular overlooks of the valley.
Bandelier National Monument
Another popular place to view the ruins of Ancient Pueblo People is at the Bandelier National Monument. Which stretches from the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the Jemez Mountains. Most visitors begin exploring Bandelier by walking the Main Loop Trail. This short 1.2-mile loop trail starts from the Visitor Center and leads through excavated archeological sites in Frijoles Canyon.
The Tsankawi section of the park, 12 miles from the main section, offers a 1.5-mile mesa-top walk, viewing cavates, petroglyphs, the large unexcavated Ancestral Pueblo village. Today visitors can tour ancient pueblo sites including cave dwellings.
Things to Do in New Mexico
Nicknamed the Land of Enchantment, a visit to New Mexico is sure to leave anyone thoroughly enchanted. This southwestern state is where rustic beauty, captivating history, and vibrant culture. Combine to form a truly unique travel experience.