Best Free Sites in Albuquerque

Watch as NMSL&RHS volunteers restore the impressive Baldwin 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive, AT&SF 2926. Originally built in 1944, this colossal locomotive is on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit during open hours and learn about the rebuilding process as well as take a short tour. Who knows, you might just sign up to volunteer yourself.

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.

Amid undulating hills and volcanic rocks that rise and dip along New Mexico's West Mesa, nearly 15,000 ancient rock drawings serve as testament to a rich Native American and Spanish history. This 7,100-acre (2873-hectare) monument, deemed to be one of North America's most significant petroglyph sites, contains some of the nation's largest natural displays of prehistoric artwork. The drawings date back to a time when Anasazi nomadic hunters etched various drawings and messages onto the black basalt boulders of the escarpment just west of the Rio Grande. It also includes historic etchings of Spanish settlers who roamed these lands nearly 700 years ago. Together, these priceless drawings serve as indelible vestiges of cultures that once influenced and breathed life into these landscapes. Both an adventurous and education experience, visitors to the monument can take a ranger-guided tour that can last up to two hours or explore various trails on their own.

Tingley Beach is a beautiful sandy expanse located near the West Park neighborhood. The beach is a popular local attraction and is frequented by locals and tourists alike. Grab your fishing gear and enjoy angling at the beach or pack your picnic basket with delicious home cooked meals and lay out your picnic at their picnic spots. You can also enjoy boating or take your little ones to the children's pond. There are well marked trails for those who enjoy walking and hiking. The Tingley Beach has something for everyone to enjoy.

Route 66 was commissioned in 1926 and was finished just before World War II. Although no longer a designated highway, parts of the original route still exist, with many efforts to restore and maintain sections of this historic road carried out to preserve its heritage. A number of attractions and sites along this byway are testaments to the culture and traditions which dominate America's landscape, painting an evocative picture of its history. Explore the remnants of a number of time-honored establishments and sites spanning several states, regaling visitors with their old-world charm and historic nuances.