What do you think about when you think of New Mexico? How about stunning rock formations under a searing blue sky? How about quaint villages of adobe houses adorned with bright flowers?

You wouldn't be wrong if your first thought was world-class skiing. Taos has become a fashionable destination for serious skiers interested in fine powder on the slopes. And Taos is home to sophisticated art galleries and restaurants after a day on the mountain.

Let New Mexico Surprise You

The New Mexico guide would also feature... the unexpected. For example, Albuquerque has become a center for hot-air ballooning because of its superior atmospheric conditions. Albuquerque hosts the International Balloon Fiesta, an event that attracts balloonists from all over the world.

Interested in horse racing? Your New Mexico guide will take you to Ruidoso Downs, home of the biggest quarter horse race in the country. Casino? San Felipe Indian pueblo hosts a world-class gaming facility.

Archaeology Sites

Archaeology buffs will find their New Mexico guiding them to prehistoric Indian ruins and villages all over the state. Chaco Canyon, near Albuquerque, is the largest excavated prehistoric Indian site in the continental U.S., and extensive research work is on view in the museum and in tours available daily. In other ruins, such as Mesa Verde and at Bandelier National Monument, ancient cliff dwellings recreate the pueblo world.

And the New Mexico guide can take you to modern day Indian villages. At Acoma, the Sky City, at Taos, and San Ildefonso, right outside of Santa Fe, you can actually see a living, working Indian pueblo, and perhaps stay to see a ceremony or an Indian dance on a feast day. The world famous Indian Ceremonials held each August in Gallup, New Mexico, is a two day event filled with breathtaking rodeo, Indian dances, Indian arts and crafts, and family events.

New Mexico Scenery

New Mexico has some of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the U.S., and opportunities for white water rafting, mountain climbing, mountain biking, and camping abound. Many peaks in the Sangre de Christo mountains, around Santa Fe, and Mt. Taylor, near Grants, are over 10,000 feet. Hikes can be planned to view such stunning natural formations as Ship Rock, Enchanted Mesa, the Malpais Lava Flow and Ice Caves, El Morro, and Navajo Lake, to name just a few.

It's easy to forget with such beautiful scenery that New Mexico is also home to one of the most sophisticated and artistic cities in America, Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Opera is world famous, and over 100 art galleries attract tourist year-round. With its unique adobe architecture, fine restaurants, and Hispanic history, Santa Fe is a memorable experience. If you're a first-time visitor, you'll find that New Mexico truly deserves its description as the "Land of Enchantment."