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New Mexico TRUE: Dark Skies
New Mexico TRUE: Dark Skies
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Tantalizing Cuisine

A trip to New Mexico isn’t complete without quite literally getting a taste of New Mexico. Enjoy the official state crop – the chile pepper – baked, spread, topped, smothered and infused in flavorful stews, atop fresh enchiladas, alongside roasted vegetables and more. Dine at Indian Pueblo Kitchen at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, which specializes in traditional meals prepared by the state’s 23 tribes of Native and Indigenous people since long before European settlers arrived. Locals also claim that New Mexico is the origin of the breakfast burrito: Legend has it that Tia Sophia’s restaurant in Santa Fe first started serving breakfast foods wrapped up in a burrito in the 1970s.

 

Off the Beaten Path

New Mexico is home to a significant stretch of Historic Route 66, with 860 kilometers of the Mother Road running through its heart. Enjoy a dose of Americana and nostalgia in curio shops, historic sites and national monuments from Tucumcari to Gallup – it’s just the beginning of your cultural journey. Visit Santa Fe to explore its expansive art districts and enjoy its distinct Southwestern flair. The city has a diverse heritage, and you’ll feel the influences of Spanish, Mexican and Indigenous Pueblo and Navajo cultures as you admire its Pueblo revival-style architecture. Spend some more time soaking in the eclectic vibes of artsy towns such as Taos, Silver City and Madrid. Go hiking, biking, horseback riding, off-roading and more in mountain communities like Ruidoso, Red River and Angel Fire, which combine incredible scenery with classic small-town charm.

 

Enrichment, Enlightenment and Exploration

New Mexico’s diverse cities and towns offer plenty of opportunities to relax and rejuvenate, expand your horizons or experience new scenery. Find inner peace in a plethora of natural hot springs, as well as at wellness retreats like Ojo Caliente. Next, dive into New Mexico’s history of scientific discovery. Astronomical practices of the Ancestral Pueblo people are on display at Chaco Culture National Historical Park, while visitors can uncover the origins of the atomic era in Los Alamos, just north of Santa Fe. Visit Albuquerque during October to take part in the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta to discover why the state is nicknamed the Hot Air Balloon Capital of the World. Year-round, you can schedule a ride with a local tour operator like Rainbow Ryders to soar high above New Mexico’s mountains, plateaus and plains on a private hot air balloon ride.

New Mexico TRUE: Dark Skies
New Mexico TRUE: Dark Skies
View more