Cibola is a National Forest with separate sections extending over the states of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Diverse wildlife inhabits the forest. Hiking is a popular activity as are camping, mountain biking and horseback riding.Home to four National Grasslands namely the Black Kettle, McClellan Creek, Kiowa, and Rita Blanca, Cibola is a massive national forest playing a vital role in preserving the ecology of the state.
This tramway lifts you from the Sandia foothills through five natural life zones to the top of the Sandia Mountains, more than 10,000 feet (3048 meters) above sea level. Time and terrain seem to move in harmony as passengers scout the rugged canyons and lush forests for bighorn sheep and deer. The tram docks alongside the High Finance Restaurant. With 2.7 miles (4.34 kilometers) of sky-view travel, be sure to visit this spot while in Albuquerque.
For anyone who appreciates the natural beauty of flowers and plant life, this is the perfect destination. The Desert Pavilion features an ultra modern glass conservatory which produces heat filtered, ultra violet rays to allow Xeric species to bloom year round. The Mediterranean Pavilion is home to fragrant plant life and lush walled gardens. The PNM Butterfly Pavilion and butterfly-hummingbird garden are majestic. Exhibits explore the phenomenal process of photosynthesis, providing a fascinating kaleidoscope of color.
Learn and play at a center that challenges people of all ages and backgrounds to explore, learn and critically think. Explore art, science, technology, culture and fun. The museum contains a collection of over 250 interactive science, technology and art exhibits such as an experiment bar and a high-wire bike and robotics lab. Demonstrations, theater performances and a variety of programs and activities are also offered. The museum store provides a wide array of bilingual and educational items.
San Felipe de Neri is the visual, geographical and spiritual heart of Old Town. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the original Pueblo-style building was constructed in 1793; the distinctive Gothic wooden steeples were added in 1861. Rose gardens welcome the visitor to the church's front courtyard. Stepping into the cool interior you will discover beautiful tin work, vigas (wooden beams) and five feet thick adobe walls.
This place is known as America's official museum of nuclear science and history. A short movie shown every hour features Albert Einstein and the people involved with the development of nuclear science. The world's largest public collection of nuclear weapons is displayed here. Also on display are military air crafts, robotics and nuclear medicine exhibits.
Known for its perfect ballooning weather, Albuquerque offers no better way to see the city than from aloft. This is a thrilling experience you will remember all of your life, and the people at World Balloon work hard to make it enjoyable. The little extras, like picking you up from your motel, champagne lift off and a flight certificate, are only a part of the adventure. This company has been in operation since 1961, and has an impeccable safety record. Other services include the Sunrise Wedding Service, balloon sales and service and collectors memorabilia.
You will never forget the hospitality of the Pueblo People who are very proud of their ancient heritage. The history of the pueblo dates back hundreds of years, and there are many landmarks that still exist from this earlier time. One of these is St. Augustine Mission. Ancient rites and dances, such as feast day, and harvest festivals are still practiced and some are open to be shared with the public. There are many modern things for you to do like visit the Isleta Gaming Palace, a game of golf on the Isleta Eagle championship course, or fishing at Isleta Lakes.
Housed in the first public school building in Albuquerque (1881) this co-op gallery in Old Town is an outlet for some exceptional local talent. Joy Easton creates watercolors of almost touchable terrain. Mary Madsen uses oil and watercolor to take Southwestern scenery a step beyond the usual. It is well worth a visit to Yucca Art Gallery, just to view the colorful stoneware of Pat Stolgren or the oil miniatures of New Mexico's ancient churches by George Hight.
A team of the finest actors in town joined forces to found the Mother Road Theatre Company, which opened its doors in 2007. It is housed a" The Filling Station, a 1930's gas station in Barelas that has been renovated as an arts space. In addition to producing four major pieces a season, Mother Road hosts touring productions and conducts workshops and community education programs ("InRoads" for adults and the literacy-based "Avenues" for schoolchildren). The participation of Academy Award-winning actor Alan Arkin, who serves on their Artistic Advisory Council and conducts workshops and fundraisers, attests to the quality of the work you will see from this innovative Company. Admission is USD15-20 for adults, and USD10-15 for students and seniors.
Salón Ortega is a banquet facility in the National Hispanic Cultural Center, located within the History and Literary Arts building. It's perfectly suitable for buffets, receptions, lectures and parties. During spring and summer months, the room can be extended to the central courtyard as well. Wooden-columned ceiling and wooden floor with chandeliers make the space spectacularly different from the other venues in the Center.
Set amid inspiring scenery characterized by pink-veined Sandia Mountains and the high desert landscape that unfolds at its foothills, Albuquerque is a stunning southwestern gem. From a tiny Spanish settlement founded at the mouth of the Rio Grande river, to a booming railroad town that shaped up to be a diamond in the rough, Albuquerque has come a long way from its modest origins. Albuquerque boasts a mesh of historic Spanish grandeur and striking natural beauty, both of which are accommodated within its desert-dominated urban sprawl. In the shadows of its dust-colored terrain, a vast network of serpentine hiking trails wind their way along the New Mexico landscape. The Paseo del Bosque Trail is especially scenic, curving its way along the length of the Rio Grande in uninhibited riverside beauty, while another paved trail leads to the base of the Sandia Mountains. Its Old Town, a district frozen in time, is dominated by splendid 18th Century Pueblo-Spanish style landmarks set along brick-paved paths, from the sand-colored splendor of the San Felipe de Neri Church, to a host of other buildings that skirt the Plaza Vieja Gazebo. Albuquerque's enchanting desert vistas come alive at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, an annual festival where more than 500 balloons soar high above the landscape, and offer sweeping views of the surrounding panoramas.