Welcome to The Heart of The Land of Enchantment
Anchored by Albuquerque but defined by history, culture, land, and sky, Central New Mexico is truly the heart of the state.
Albuquerque is a modern city with its past close by and nature just around the corner. Here you’ll find ground-breaking research institutions like Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico, as well as plenty of quiet corners. Old Town Albuquerque is full of adobe buildings, restaurants, and galleries, and is home to the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Explora Science Center. Not far away is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and ABQ BioPark Aquarium.
The venerable Rio Grande cuts the valley in half, and on the west side you’ll find Petroglyph National Monument, where short hikes lead to thousands of rock art panels. On the other side of town, the Sandia Crest rises thousands of feet above the valley floor – a scenic drive takes you up the mountain and so does the Sandia Peak Tramway. Up in the mountains you’ll find a starkly different environment from the deserts below – pine trees sway in the breeze, and skiing is available in the winter.
Albuquerque, NM
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Encounter Prehistoric Rock Art at Petroglyph National Monument
On the edge of Albuquerque sits an area riddled with thousands of petroglyphs. Petroglyph National Monument, on West Mesa, protects rock art created by the area’s prehistoric inhabitants. Many images are recognizable as animals, people, and crosses, while others are more nebulous and complex, their meanings being only understood by the carver. The park is easy to visit – there are four major sites that visitors can access, including the Volcano Day Use trails.