Summer Information For Albuquerque In New Mexico






Jul 5, 08

Albuquerque
New Mexico

A Unique Mix of Cultures and Landscapes

Albuquerque, the largest city in the state, is located in the heart of New Mexico. Here at the crossroads of the state's main thoroughfares, Interstate 25 running north-south and Interstate 40 running east-west, Albuquerque offers a unique mix of cultures and landscapes. American Indian, Spanish and Anglo cultures all converge yet retain their own characteristics.

The rich history of the area can be seen at several museums. The Archaeology and Material Culture Museum lets visitors experience a 12,000-year time line, and artifacts take them from the earliest inhabitants all the way to 1890 and the Battle of Wounded Knee. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center tells the history of the state's 19 Indian Pueblos and includes dance and craft demonstrations on the weekends.

A Wilderness Paradise

The Sandia Mountain Wilderness and the Cibola National Forest are located just west of Albuquerque. The national forest encompasses 1,630,221 acres and four wilderness areas in all. Terrain ranges from desert to mountains. Sandia Crest is one of the best-known areas here. It rises to an elevation of 10,678 feet and includes an observation deck with breathtaking panoramas. More than 80 miles of hiking trails run through the area.

And hikers and mountain bikers will find plenty of terrain on which to explore the beautiful landscapes of central New Mexico. Mountain bikers will especially enjoy Sandia Peak Ski Area's mountain biking trail system. More than 15 miles of trails network the mountain. The chairlift takes bikers up to the top to ride their way down. Scenic lift rides also are available.

If you don't want to cover the terrain on a bicycle, give trekking with a llama or touring the area on horseback a try.

Several companies offer rafting trips for those wishing to get a unique look at this historical land. Take a calm, relaxing float trip with the family, or experience white water rapids running through breathtaking canyons. Kayaking also is available.

Golfers will find a variety of courses to enjoy, both public and private. Some of the area's courses include Arroyo del Oso, the Championship Golf Course at the University of New Mexico and Isleta Eagle Golf Course.

Several events give visitors a taste of the area's cultures. Magnifico Festival of the Arts, the New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair and the State Fair are just a few of Albuquerque's exciting happenings.

October brings the talked about Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This nine-day event shows why this is the perfect city for hot-air ballooning.