New Mexico Vacation Ideas
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a natural wonder found in the Chihuahuan Desert, 300 miles from Albuquerque. The park is home to more than 100 caves, including the deepest in the nation at 1,567 feet. Formation of the caves began about 250 million years ago. The area is one of the world's biggest underground chambers, consisting of miles of caves, rock and unique rock formations. The national park is located on more than 46,000 acres and is home to more than one million bats. Guided tours can last more than four hours.
- The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque is a fascinating place to learn the account of the Atomic Age, from early nuclear research growth to modern nuclear technology. Guests can discover how nuclear science continues to play a role in the world. The museum offers permanent exhibitions and artifacts that demonstrate the wide range of uses of nuclear energy in the past and modern day, along with stories of pioneers in the field.
- The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe is dedicated to Native American art and culture. The museum holds more than 75,000 artifacts and also offers lectures, exhibitions and other educational programs. Visitors can see collections of some of the earliest-known pottery and Navajo textiles that date back to the 1700s. Through stories and songs, visitors will be introduced to the rich history of Native Americans of the Southwest. The museum also offers one-day archaeology excursions. Each year, more than 60,000 people visit the museum.
- A national park established in 1933, the White Sands National Monument contains thousands of gypsum dunes known as white sands that extend more than 20 miles. Visitors can hike along any of the four trails or an 8-mile scenic Dunes Drive that is accessible by vehicles and allows visitors to pull over and walk along the white sands. Exhibits along the way detail the park's history. Recreational opportunities also include bicycling, picnicking and sledding. The park also offers astronomy programs using the dark skies of the monument as a perfect backdrop for stargazing.
- The International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell is a place for those who are curious about the possibility of alien life. In 1947, a mysterious wreckage was found near Roswell that was believed by many to be an alien spaceship. The museum includes a vast collection of periodicals, pictures, books and other displays that detail the circumstances around the crash of an unidentified flying object in 1947. The museum was voted a top tourist destination by the Tourism Association of New Mexico.