Sacred and secular, old and new, desert and
hills – New Mexico is a state of contrasts, making it rich in its diversity of
food, culture, terrain and attractions.
The varied offerings of three of the
cardinal directions that make perfect day trips from Albuquerque have already
been discovered, leaving the western part of the state as the final frontier to
explore in this Land Of Enchantment.
For an experience that will bring you back
1000 years in time, drive an hour west of Albuquerque on I-40 to the Acoma
Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America. Built
upon a 367-foot sandstone bluff, the Pueblo is home to 4800 people and 250
dwellings, none of which has running water, sewer systems, or electricity. Also
within the Pueblo you will find the San Esteban del Rey Mission, a Catholic
mission constructed in 1629.
Educational tours and cultural exhibits are
offered at the Sky City Cultural Center and Haaku Museum. Pottery making
demonstrations are provided, and a visit to the gift shop is an absolute must
for anyone desiring to purchase authentic Native American art and jewelry. To take
the 90-minute tour of the Pueblo, you must buy tickets at the Center, and
photography and dress code rules apply.
If you’re in the mood for extremes, then a
trip just under two hours west of Albuquerque to the Ice Caves and Bandera
Volcano is in order. Located in the west central Zuni Mountain range along the
Continental Divide, these natural landmarks can both be reached within an
hour’s walk of each other along an ancient lava trail lined with twisted
Juniper, Fir, and Ponderosa Pine trees. There is even gemstone mining for the
younger members of the family, and a trading post with a shaded picnic area provide
opportunities for souvenir shopping and a relaxing outdoor lunch.
Continuing your education and appreciation
of nature’s gifts drive thirty miles west of the caves and volcano to the Wild
Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, a refuge for displaced, unwanted and un-releasable
wolves and wolf-dogs. You can watch, meet, and even feed these majestic
creatures by booking a tour in advance, with your visit supporting the rescue
and lifetime sanctuary and care of these animals.
For a day trip that will whet your
archeological thirst, head 180 miles northwest of Albuquerque
to the Aztec Ruins National Monument. A preserve of the 11th-century
Ancestral Puebloan structures in New Mexico, this monument allows visitors to
step back in time and take a self-guided tour of this three-story archeological
site. You can walk through the Great House and original rooms, admiring the
stone masonry and wooden roofing still intact. You even get to enter the
ceremonial Great Kiva, used for religious and purification purposes. There is
also a museum, a garden, native plants walk, and interpretive programs.
