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.
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 non-profit community theater company combines a staff of professionals and local talent who volunteer their time to produce comedies, musicals, dramas and mysteries. The 1000-plus seat building was designed by famed Southwestern architect John Gaw Meen and built in 1936, giving this theater a rich historical feel, but modern acoustics and lighting provide a quality night of entertainment. The theater is easy to find on the historic Route 66 in the Old Town area.
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.
If you're growing tired of those stuffy, high-end live performances that you are obliged to applaud whether you liked them or not, here's an alternative. This is a small, intimate auditorium that operates through member support and box office revenue. Despite the small budget, this organization is able to book awesome talent from across the state for performances that range from jazz, classical and Native American music, to theater, poetry, and children's programs. The house is normally packed with a casual, and sometimes formal, audience. Check their website for schedules.
Northrup Hall at the University of New Mexico is better known as the Earth and Planetary Sciences Building. For years, this branch of the university has dedicated itself to researching and teaching about space and its wonders. On the first floor, a wonderful little museum documents the discovery of meteorites that have been found worldwide. The brochure provided for each visitor explains each specimen that is on display, and someone is always available to answer any questions you may have. There is no admission fee.
With more than 10 million curated items, this museum on the University of New Mexico campus offers a large collection regarding human history and culture. The museum houses two permanent exhibits. "Ancestors" showcases the four million year history of the evolution of humankind. "People of the Southwest" is an in-depth record of 11,000 years of Southwestern culture. Other dynamic exhibits and a lecture series offer interpretations of man's history across the globe.
The Museum of Southwestern Biology in Albuquerque, New Mexico is one of the region's most accomplished biology museums, offering in depth analysis, theories and proven facts regarding thousands of species of flora and fauna that are native to the land. The museum is divided into different sectors, with each one of them dedicated to various sub categories within the animal kingdom, offering visitors a truly systematic educational experience.
It is believed that the University Art Museum has the biggest compilation of fine art works in the state. Established in 1963, the museum has about 30,000 items including photographs, prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other works of contemporary art. Art works by Jerome Bowers Peterson, Beaumont Newhall, Theodore J. Labhard, Clinton and Mary Adams, and Raymond Jonson are housed in the museum. Located at the University of New Mexico, the museum is a haven for art lovers.