Explore the Natural Wonders of New Mexico

From a world-famous hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque to mesmerizing sand dunes and incredible rock formations in the desert, New Mexico is one destination that will leave you wanting more.

Albuquerque enjoys blue skies and sunshine about 310 days out of the year. So, it’s no wonder that New Mexico’s largest city is also the Hot Air Ballooning Capital of the World. If you come during the first week in October, you’ll be around for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, when hundreds of hot air balloons take over the skies. Can’t make it that week? With over 300 resident ballooners in Albuquerque, there’s plenty of chances to see them throughout the year. You can also, visit the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, or head over to Rainbow Ryders to go up in a hot air balloon yourself.

Had enough hot air? Spend a day at The Sprouting Kitchen, where you’ll get to hang out in nature, learn to cook, and sit down to share a farm-fresh meal with friends. Next, head about an hour down the road to Santa Fe, for an art-lovers dream day. Get transported to otherworldly realms at renowned interactive art space, Meow Wolf, then hit up the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum or SITE Santa Fe for contemporary art.

New Mexico is home to 23 American Indian tribes, and Albuquerque is the perfect starting point from which to learn about the area’s tribal heritage and culture. Get an overview of the indian pueblos of New Mexico at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. There, you can visit the museum, and then dine at Indian Pueblo Kitchen, a restaurant highlighting Native American culinary artistry and pairing traditional pueblo flavors with contemporary cooking. For a deeper immersion, go to Acoma Pueblo, also known as Sky City. It’s considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America, dating back to 15 AD.

Some of the country’s most beautiful natural landscapes can be found in New Mexico. Travel to San Juan County, New Mexico to get a glimpse of Shiprock, a 482 meter high winged rock formation governed by the Navajo Nation, and a significant feature of Navajo history and religion. Next, visit the Tularosa Basin to see New Mexico’s famed White Sands National Monument. Covering 700-square kilometers of desert, the glistening, wavey dunes make up the world’s largest gypsum dunefield and are quite magical to behold.

Stay

• Marriott Albuquerque
• Courtyard by Marriott - Albuquerque
• La Posada de Santa Fe

Play

• Rainbow Ryders
• Meow Wolf
• White Sands National Monument

Eat & Drink

• The Sprouting Kitchen
• Indian Pueblo Kitchen
• Paloma Restaurant - Santa Fe