Top 5 Places to Visit in New Mexico
1. Taos – Located near the Rio Grande, in a picture-worthy valley of the Rocky Mountains, Taos is a small pueblo community that will impress you with its charm and beauty as it does for hundreds of years, drawing artists to admire, enjoy, and get inspired by its quirky atmosphere. Just a few of the artists that consider Taos a great source of inspiration are the novelist D.H Lawrence, the painter Georgia O’Keeffe, the photographer Dorothea Lange and many more. In fact, this community that was a home to the Tiwa tribe of Pueblo Indians knows how to turn inspiration and art into its main crafting. The town also serves as a base for exploring the beauty of the surrounding region. A few kilometres north of the town is where you can visit Taos Pueblo, which is an ancient American Indian community, or Ranchos de Taos that will invite you to experience the authentic Pueblo culture and atmosphere and admire its well-photographed church.
2. Santa Fe – Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in the USA, established by Spanish explorers back in 1610. In fact, this jam-packed with history and culture place is also considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in America and a top tourist destination. Santa Fe is the capital city of the state of New Mexico and boasts a very unique and specific style of pueblo architecture, picturesque views from every corner, the Palace of the Governors museum with the nation’s oldest public building, the New Mexico Museum of Art that houses more than 20 000 valuable pieces of art, and more.
3. Carlsbad Caverns – A part of a vast and interesting cave complex, the Carlsbad Caverns is situated in the southeastern part of the state near the town of Carlsbad and is one of the most popular natural attractions and landmarks in New Mexico. The main attraction you should definitely visit when heading to this part of the state is the Big Cave containing one of the world’s largest underground chambers, which are known as the Big Room. In case you want to visit the Big Cave simply take the elevator from the visitor centre or choose the more interesting and adventurous walking trail.
4. Chaco Canyon – Chaco Canyon National Historic Park is located in the northeastern part of the state and boasts the most interesting and exciting collection of ancient pueblo ruins in the country. Back in the centuries, a major stretch of the canyon used to be the centre of the ancestral Puebloan civilization known as the Anasazi. What is even more impressive about the ruins is the fact that the sandstone blocks and timber were hauled from great distances to build the structures that are assumed to be built for aligning with solar and lunar cycles. Tours, maps, and camping permits are available to all visitors willing to spend a bit of time in this unique place.
5. Albuquerque – Albuquerque is the New Mexico’s city with the highest population number and also one of the state’s oldest municipalities. Albuquerque was established in 1706 on the banks of the Rio Grande and nowadays is mostly popular because of the International Balloon Fiesta held annually in October. When visiting the city you can enjoy the new Balloon Museum, which features exhibits about the exciting history of ballooning. Another highlight of the city is the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, which allows you exploring the region’s history and cultural past. Make sure to hop on the Sandia Peak Tramway that will take you on a 15-minute ride up to the Sandia Mountains.