Fun Friday
Good Morning Another Fun Friday is here and guess where we are going today, none other than another beautiful state of New Mexico full of some of the most friendly people I have ever met.
1.) Sandia Peak Tramway( Albuquerque)- Ride to new heights on North America's longest aerial tram ride. Sandia Peak Tram takes visitors 2.7 miles or 10,378 ft up the Sandia Mountains. Breath in the fresh mountain air and enjoy breathtaking views of over 11,000 square miles of New Mexico.
2.) White Sands National Monument- Ride to new heights on North America's longest aerial tram ride. Sandia Peak Tram takes visitors 2.7 miles or 10,378 ft up the Sandia Mountains. Breath in the fresh mountain air and enjoy breathtaking views of over 11,000 square miles of New Mexico.
3.) Bandelier National Monument located in Los Alamos- Bandelier National Monument is 50 square miles of the Pajarito Plateau, on the slopes of the Jemez Volcanic field in the Jemez Mountains. Over 70% of the Monument is Wilderness, with over 1 mile elevation change, from about 5000' along the Rio Grande to over 10,000' at the rim of the Valles Caldera, providing for a wide range of life zones and wildlife habitat. There are only 3 miles of road, but over 70 miles of hiking trails. The Monument, founded in 1916, protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, a beautiful landscape, and the country's largest Civilian Conservation Corps National Landmark District.
4.) Canyon Rd- Over 100 art studios and galleries line the western end of this charming Santa Fe street. Make sure you set aside a few hours of your stay in the city to walk down the mile-long Canyon Road and view the world-class art on display here, which ranges in style from Native American to contemporary avant-garde. Shop for high-value handicrafts and jewelry, and don’t forget to visit the restaurants along the street when hungry.
5. Albuquerque Old Town- Founded in 1706 by Spanish Settlers, Old Town Albuquerque is a historical site in the city of Albuquerque. Built in a traditional Spanish colonial way, its quaint Plaza is anchored by the San Felipe de Neri Church. Today, the historic homes and buildings have been renovated into shops, art galleries, and cafes. You can stroll the district’s streets to discover stunning hidden patios and visit both the impressive Rattlesnake Museum and the history-laden Albuquerque Museum. Don't miss the Portal Market where local artisans sell handmade jewelry too.
Join a food, historic, or ghost tour to dive into the city’s rich culture.
6.) Museum of International Folk Art located in Sante Fe- Open 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Easter & Thanksgiving holidays. Current exhibitions include Cartoneria Mexicana / The art of Paper and Paste, Yōkai: Ghosts & Demons of Japan, Lloyd's Treasure Chest: Folk Art in Focus, plus more than 120,000 objects are on display in the long term exhibition Multiple Visions, A Common Bond by architect and designer Alexander Girard. This international folk art collection includes miniature buildings, streets and village scenes from more than 100 different countries. There are no text panels in this exhibition, the cases are numbered. If you miss the Docent walk-in tour, pick up a multimedia tour at the front desk or grab a printed gallery guide at either entrance. Kids 16 and under and Museum of New Mexico Foundation Members are always free!
7.) Indian Pueblo Cultural Center- IPCC was founded in 1976 and is jointly owned and operated by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. Located in the historic Albuquerque Indian School District just minutes from Downtown and Old Town Albuquerque, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a world-class museum and cultural center created to be a place where we, Pueblo people, can tell our story. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is the only place in North America to host traditional Native American dances every weekend year round and also offers an exciting schedule of cultural and community activities, including rotating museum exhibits, events with Native American artists, hands-on children’s programs & art festivals. Visitors can also experience the award-winning Native Sourced, Pueblo Inspired cuisine of Pueblo Harvest and shop at the Indian Pueblo Store, a trusted destination for authentic handcrafted Native American art.
8.) The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History- The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is New Mexico’s only congressionally chartered museum in its field and a Smithsonian affiliate. Visitors can explore how nuclear science continues to influence our world. The museum strives to present, through permanent and changing exhibits and displays, the diverse applications of nuclear energy in the past, present, and future along with the stories of the field’s pioneers. Originally known as the National Atomic Museum, it was established in 1969 as an intriguing place to learn the story of the Atomic Age, from early research of nuclear development through today’s peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
9.)Petroglyph National Monument- Up to 15,000 petroglyphs or prehistoric rock art images have been found on the West Mesa volcanic escarpment, located along a 17-mile canyon outside of Albuquerque.
10.) Meow Wolf Santa Fe- Hours of Operation are 10am-6pm Unique & immersive art installations with multimedia elements and a mysterious narrative throughout.
11.) Carlsbad Caverns National Park- If you love caverns as much as I do this is one of the largest I have ever been to. The visitors center is amazing, the staff is always helpful and tons of gifts to mark your trip.
12.) Taos Pueblo- Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. We welcome you to visit our village when you travel to northern New Mexico.Taos Pueblo Hours: Monday - Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm and Sunday 8:30am-4:00pm.Guided Tours available daily starting at 9:00 am.Pueblo Shops open daily.Taos Pueblo is expected to be open for the winter season. Any closures would be due to unexpected events within the community and will be posted on our official website.
13.) The New Mexico History Museum Hours of operation are 10am-5pm The New Mexico History Museum is a statewide educational resource, local landmark, and destination for anyone who wants to understand the diverse experiences of the people of New Mexico, the dynamics that have shaped our state, and the relationships that connect our region with the rest of the world. The New Mexico History Museum offers a welcoming place for exploration of multifaceted views on history, dialog that bridges social and cultural divides, and reflection on the conditions needed for a more resilient, just, and sustainable future. The New Mexico History Museum highlights include the historic Palace of the Governors built in 1610, the Fray Angelico Chavez Library (1907), the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives and the Pete V. Domenici Building (2009) which houses three levels of gallery exhibits .
14.) Explora science center and children's museum Hours of operation are 9am-5pm Explora is a science center and children's museum located in the heart of Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico. We specialize in creating opportunities for inspirational discovery and the joy of lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
15.) Chaco Culture National Historical Park is located in Nageezi- Chaco Canyon holds one of the largest collections of prehistoric buildings on the continent.
16.)Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta- Imagine over 500 colorful hot air balloons rising up at dawn over the New Mexico landscape… there's truly nothing like it, and the place to experience it is each October at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Spectators and balloon pilots from all over the world gather (some even camping in their RVs) to watch mass ascensions held in the mornings and night events like a 'glowdeo' held in the evening. Music stages are set up during the day and performers stroll through the festival crowds. Every year the Balloon Fiesta kicks off on the first Saturday of October and continues for nine days.
17.) Ghost Ranch located in Abiquiu- located about 60mi from Santa Fe sits Painter Georgia O’Keeffe’s former studio and home is now a top-notch education center and retreat. The 21,000-acre estate offers a variety of activities, workshops, and tours. You can also marvel at the estate's natural beauty, with towering and multi-colored cliffs and canyons all around. It is also a great place for hiking—you can even find dinosaur fossils from the Triassic period in the dinosaur quarry on the way to the Kitchen Mesa trail.
18.) The Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque admission price is $21 but I loved it. The Turquoise Museum and its collection of turquoise have been used as a source of information and pictures for over 50 years. Uncover the mystery of turquoise, delve into its rich history, learn about the different mines, specimens, and stories of colorful characters at The Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Authors of books, magazines, articles, and research papers have all used the museum as a source of information. Its rich repository of turquoise specimens from over one hundred mines, educations, and histories make it a must see in its travel exhibits and permanent location in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The museum is still privately owned and operated to this day. The Museum is closed Sundays, Holidays and Special days please call for before you come.
19.) New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science-located in Albuquerque Visitors explore the origins and geological history of the American Southwest through vivid displays including dinosaur models, ice-age cave replicas, a naturalist center and a walk-through volcano.
20.) International UFO Museum and Research Center located in Roswell- for my alien lover friends this is the place as this museum contains a diorama and a film of the "official" autopsy of the alien bodies after the 1947 crash as well as so many other cool things.
21.) Riverbend Hot Springs- Located in the historic town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and near Spaceport America, Riverbend is an affordable, smoke free, hot springs spa and resort, where guests can relax in a beautiful, laid back environment. It is one of the best hot springs in the southwest for its clean, comfortable pools and its unmatched views of the Rio Grande River and Turtleback Mountain.Guests choose from various public and private pools ranging in temperature from 101 to 108 degrees. They can soak in the mineral-rich, therapeutic waters by the hour, day, or stay the night and soak for free. From newly renovated and smoke free suites, family rooms or cottages, Riverbend has accommodations for most tastes and budgets and is dog friendly.Riverbend is walking distance to eclectic downtown T or C and its historic attractions, shopping, restaurants and art galleries. Outdoor recreation is found at the nearby Gila National Forest and Elephant Butte and Caballo Lakes. Riverbend is located on I-25 between Las Cruces and Albuquerque and is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day of the year.
22.) Bradbury Science Museum located in Los Alamos- Approximately 60 interactive exhibits trace the history of the WWII Manhattan Project, highlight Los Alamos National Laboratory's current and historic research projects related to defense and technology, and focus on Laboratory research related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and global security concerns. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 1- 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. Admission is FREE.
23.) Roswell Museum- hours of operation are 9am-6pm- Founded in 1937, the Roswell Museum and Art Center is home to an extensive collection of southwestern art, the equipment and workshop of pioneering rocketeer Robert H. Goddard, and the Rogers Aston Collection of the American West, which encompasses historical southwestern artifacts spanning from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries, and the Goddard Planetarium. The museum presents new work by contemporary artists and traveling exhibitions, as well as a variety of educational and cultural programming.
24.) New Mexico Museum of Space History located in Alamogordo- Hours of operation are 10am-5pm This museum complex includes the space museum, Planetarium, IMAX® dome theater, Hubbard Space Science Education Facility, and the International Space Hall of Fame.
25.) New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society hours of operation are 9am-2pm. New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society, an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit, is preserving New Mexico's railway history. After over 20 years of effort, the society's volunteers have thoroughly restored the former Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe (AT&SF) No. 2926, a 4-8-4 “Northern,” built in 1944. The Santa Fe 2926 locomotive is the only operating 2900-class in the United States, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized by the state's legislature as the Official Steam Locomotive of New Mexico. Come to 1833 8th St NW in Albuquerque to experience this magnificent piece of history! The NMSL&RHS restoration site is open to the public for free 'hard hat' tours (weather permitting) Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Group tours can be arranged on any day by appointment (505-246-2926). Parking is free and donations are important to keep the restoration moving forward. Merchandise is available for purchase from the gift shop.
With hundreds of amazing things to do in this state I hope that you take some time and go visit. I hope that you have enjoyed this trip through the state and join me next Friday for another adventure until then remember to be kind. It costs nothing and can totally change a person's life. Always share a smile as they are contagious.
Written by: Beautifulchaos318
