1. Catch World-Class Performances Under the Stars at the Santa Fe Opera House
Seven miles north of Santa Fe in the desert, hiding in plain sight and looking directly at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rockies, the Santa Fe Opera House is found. Built in 1956 in a newly purchased guest ranch, founder John Crosby created the opera house as a place to teach young American singers new repertoires, in a relaxed atmosphere, away from everything, providing enough time and space to rehearse and prepare.
The shows became popular for offering a perfect spot to dine and watch the sunset, while enjoying an open air theatre. Since its inception, every season has presented five operas including a world premiere or rarity, a Mozart, and a Richard Strauss, as well as other titles by composers like Handel, Verdi, Puccini, Britten, and Janacek.
301 Opera Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87506, Phone: 505-986-5900
2. Learn at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Founded in 1986, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science exists to tell the story of the Earth, from the Big Bang to the Ice Age, in its permanent exhibits: Origins, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Jurassic Super Giants, New Mexico Seacoast, Age of Volcanoes, Evolving Grasslands, Cave Experience, and New Mexico’s Ice Age. The museum is one of the top New Mexico tourist attractions.
They also have a planetarium and two galleries dedicated to space exploration and astronomy. Some of its most outstanding features are the complete skeletons of four dinosaurs, including one of the biggest T-Rex ever to be found. Another enlightening exhibit is STARTUP, which tells the story of the personal computer, based on the story of Microsoft, which was founded in Albuquerque.
1801 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, Phone: 505-841-2800
3. Step Into Southwestern Elegance at the Millicent Rogers Museum
Located in Taos, New Mexico, the Millicent Rogers Museum was founded in 1956 by the Millicent Rogers family, and holds a large collection of Hispanic, Anglo-American, and Native American art, including pottery, paintings, photography, graphics, arts, crafts, and jewelry.
It became known in 1980 for being the first to house Hispanic and Native American art collections, including more than 1,200 pieces of jewelry and more than 50 textiles. It also features work from Taos Pueblo potters and painters, portraying the lives of the Pueblo people.
1504 Millicent Rogers Rd, El Prado, NM 87529, Phone: 575-758-2462
4. Experience Pueblo Life at Sky City Cultural Center & Haak’u Museum
Acoma Pueblo, 60 miles west of Albuqerque, New Mexico, is made out of three villages: Sky City, Acomita, and Mcartys, that make up the Acoma Indian Reservation. The Acoma Pueblo, a federally recognized tribal entity, is made up of 4,989 individuals according to the 2010 United States Census, which have been there for more than 2,000 years.
In 2008, they opened the Sky City Cultural Center & Haak'u Museum, in order to share their culture and gain income through tourism. It is without a doubt one of the best places to connect with indigenous cultures, due to the fact that they are still there, and manage the place.
Haaku Rd, Acoma Pueblo, NM 87034, Phone: 505-552-7861
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
5. Hike and Reflect in the Spirit of Georgia O’Keeffe at Ghost Ranch
The first thing you must wonder about Ghost Ranch is the origin of its name. As it turns out, in order to keep people from digging into their stolen stuff, cattle thieves spread the rumors of evil spirits haunting the land. Thus, it became known as Ghost Ranch. It is a beautiful, vast, natural place, formed by miles of dessert, cliffs, mesas, vistas, cottonwood trees, and mountains.
Its landscape, made famous by Georgia O’Keeffe, englobes 21,000 acres of rock walls, and people come from all over the world for spiritual development, writing, painting, hiking, horseback riding, completing fossil or archeological research, visiting the museums, or just resting and enjoying the views.
Ghost Ranch 280 Private Drive 1708, Abiquiu, NM 87510, Phone: 877-804-4678
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
6. Dive into Meow Wolf Santa Fe
Meow Wolf in Santa Fe is not just your standard art exhibit. Meow Wolf is a hands-on experience for all ages. When author George R.R. Martin purchased the building he had a vision of an interactive exhibit where patrons could choose what they wanted to see and how it makes them feel.
The House of Eternal Return lets visitors experience art through senses of touch, sight, and sound through different dimensions. Meow Wolf also hosts concerts, events, and workshops for all ages.
1352 Rufina Cir, Santa Fe, NM 87507, Phone: 505-395-6369
7. Take the Carlsbad Caverns Tour
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is one of the most popular of the national parks in the southwest region of the United States. 250 million years ago, the Caverns used to be a shoreline for an inland sea, so when the sea evaporated, it left sediments that created caves.
At the entrance, there is a 1.25 mile trail where visitors can walk and explore different "rooms" (open areas in the caverns). There are stalagmites, stalactites, and giant boulders that make the caverns look like something from an Indiana Jones movie. If they look closely, visitors can even see the bats who call the caverns home. The tour offers a glimpse into the ways the world was millions of years ago.
Carlsbad Caverns Natural Entrance Tour, 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM, Phone: 575-785-2232
8. ABQ Trolley Co., New Mexico
ABQ Trolley Co. offers one of the most unique ways to tour the beautiful city of Albuquerque, originally founded in 2009 by tourism professionals Mike Silva and Jesse Heron. As Albuquerque's first city touring service in nearly a decade, the company specializes in open-air trolley excursions showcasing the best of the city's sights, sounds, and landmarks. Guests embark on 85-minute tours spanning more than 18 miles throughout the city's neighborhoods, exploring areas such as Nob Hill and Old Town. Friendly and enthusiastic tour guides elaborate on the city's history and landmarks, providing the most comprehensive overview of the city possible. Children are welcome aboard the company's tours, though guests traveling with young ones in tow are asked to be mindful of other tour guests.
800 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, Phone: 505-200-2642
9. Celebrate Creativity at the Museum of International Folk Art
Home of the largest collection of international folk art in the world, the Museum of International Folk Art is a must-see when in New Mexico. Founded by Florence Dibell, this state-run institution in Santa Fe opened its doors to the public in 1953. It now has over 130,000 objects on display, from more than 100 countries, and it is based on the belief of its founder, that folk art would generate “an appreciation of the culture and craft of other countries.”
She also believed that the museum would serve as “one avenue for a closer understanding between men,” since traditional folk arts from all over the world was a way of demonstrating a common bond. The different galleries represent cultures from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Oceania, and North America, with a deeper focus on Contemporary Hispano and Latino Art, Spanish Colonial Art, and Textiles and Dress.
706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505, Phone: 505-476-1200
10. The Santa Fe Botanical Garden, New Mexico
The Santa Fe Botanical Garden was originally established in 1987 by a group of local gardeners and botanists as a sanctuary and learning landscape for growing and showcasing native and non-native plants to the Santa Fe region. Today, the garden offers two campuses throughout the Santa Fe area, including locations at Museum Hill and the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve. The garden's original location at the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve spans 35 acres and showcases dry upland, transitional, and riparian plants, while its new location at Museum Hill, which was developed by landscape architect W. Gary Smith, features plantings designed to showcase flora that can thrive in sparse water conditions. A garden shop is offered at the Museum Hill location, selling garden decor, jewelry, books, and home goods from local artisans. Annual programming presented by the garden includes gardening classes and workshops, nature walks, lectures, and Yoga in the Garden courses.
715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505, Phone: 505-471-9103
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