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Carlsbad Caverns National Park -

Delve underground and discover the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Comprised of around 120 known caves, this amazing subterranean UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico.

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Inside Carlsbad Caverns National Park -

Carved from limestone deposited in an ancient sea, the underground chambers form one of the state's most famous visitor attractions—and one of the largest cave systems in the world! The Temple of the Sun formation in the Big Room (pictured) is one of the extraordinary geological highlights of this hidden marvel.

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Chaco Culture National Historical Park -

If you only have time to tick off one archaeological site in New Mexico, make sure it's the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. This centuries-old settlement is one of the most important pre-Columbian cultural and historical areas in the United States, and deserving of its World Heritage status.

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Fajada Butte -

Set within sight of the ruins and standing 135 m (442 ft) above the canyon floor is Fajada Butte. Built into the higher regions of this natural wonder are simple cliff dwellings that have no apparent utilitarian purpose. Instead, archaeologists believe the butte was of considerable ceremonial importance for the Chacoan people.

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White Sands National Monument -

Carpeting the south of New Mexico is the White Sands National Monument. It's a vast park of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals, and is the largest of its kind on Earth.

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Sledding the park -

The unworldly environment features dunes up to 18 m (60 ft) high that appear like enormous snowdrifts. The undulating landscape is constantly displaced by the wind, and, besides trekking on foot, the most rewarding way of enjoying the park is by sledding the shifting slopes.

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Taos Pueblo -

New Mexico is home to the oldest continuously-inhabited dwellings in the United States, the adobe structures of Taos Pueblo. The buildings date back to between 1000 and 1450, and the entire community is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Taos Pow Wow -

The annual summer event at Taos Pueblo is the colorful Taos Pow Wow. This is one of the country's largest gathering of Indian Nations and features authentic Native American dancing and drumming contests.

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Ranchos de Taos -

Nearby Ranchos de Taos is worth a detour for its beautiful San Francisco de Asís Mission Church. Built between 1772 and 1816, its stands as a fine example of a New Mexico Spanish colonial place of worship.

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Bandelier National Monument -

The Bandelier National Monument preserves the homes of the territory of the Ancestral Puebloans, an area likely occupied from 1150 to 1600. It's possible to explore these indigenous habitats, which offer a glimpse into Pueblo culture and daily life.

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Tsankawi Trail -

Detached from the Bandelier National Park but still very much accessible is the Tsankawi Trail. Following this looped footpath provides access to numerous unexcavated ruins, caves, and a series of petroglyphs (pictured), a form of rock art.

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Petroglyph National Monument -

The most stunning collection of petroglyphs, however, make up the Petroglyph National Monument. Approximately 20,000 petroglyphs are carved into basalt rock, created centuries ago by indigenous peoples and early Spanish settlers. A series of hiking trails run past these ancient canvasses.

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Pecos National Historical Park -

New Mexico's archaeological treasures include the Pecos National Historical Park. This is the site of what was once one of the largest Native American pueblos in the state, inhabited from the early 14th century until 1838. The impressive ruins of the mission church (pictured) serve as a focal point. The park also encompasses the Glorieta Pass Battlefield, scene of an 1862 American Civil War battle that ended Confederate ambitions to cut off the West from the Union.

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Sante Fe -

Santa Fe is the state capital, and in fact the oldest state capital in the United States, having been founded in 1610 as the capital of Nuevo México. It's certainly worth considering the city as a base from which to explore further, but not before you've discovered its own unique visitor attractions.

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Georgia O'Keeffe Museum -

Santa Fe has an international reputation as a great art city. To find out why, head over to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum downtown. Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986) is internationally recognized as the "Mother of American Modernism." and a collection of her best work is held in this excellent cultural facility.

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Notable artworks -

The museum has previously exhibited this work, 'Jimson Weed/White Flower No.1,' painted in 1932. In November 2014, it was sold for US$44.4 million at a Sotheby's auction, making Georgia O'Keeffe the highest-selling woman in art.

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San Miguel Mission -

Built in 1610, the San Miguel Mission in Sante Fe is the oldest church in the United States. What you see today is as a result of careful refurbishment over the centuries, with the foundations being the only part of the building from the early 17th century. Nonetheless, it's still a National Historic Landmark.

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Santa Fe National Cemetery -

The graves of military veterans at the Santa Fe National Cemetery include the resting place of this combatant, one of 32 unknown Confederate soldiers killed at the aforementioned Battle of Glorieta Pass.

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Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad -

A rewarding way to sightsee the region is as a passenger on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Steam Train. The heritage railroad runs between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado. The locomotive chugs over the Cumbres Pass at an elevation of 3,054 m (10,022 ft), affording breathtaking views of the mountainous landscape.

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Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument -

Silver City, once the haunt of Wild West outlaws Butch Cassidy and Billy the Kid, is where to head north from for the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Set in the Gila Wilderness, designated the world's first wilderness area in June 1924, these rock-hewn residences were carved out the cliff face by Mogollon Native Americans around the year 1300.

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The Very Large Array -

The rather vague sounding Very Large Array refers to the Karl G Jansky Very Large Array (VLA)—a radio astronomy observatory located on the Plains of San Agustin. The VLA comprises 28 monumental telescopes used to observe black holes and other astronomical phenomena. Budding astronomers can follow a number of self-guided walking routes through the premises, but it's best to check ahead on the VLA website for times.

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Billy the Kid Museum -

Infamous Old West gunslinger Billy the Kid (1859–1881) was shot and killed in Fort Sumner by Sheriff Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881. The town, set on the eastern plains of New Mexico, has since become synonymous with the outlaw. There's even a museum dedicated to him, the exhibits of which include his rifle, horse-riding equipment, and an original "Wanted" poster.

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Billy the Kid gravesite -

Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty but also known as William H. Bonney, is buried at Fort Sumner. The gravesite is protected by bars to prevent theft of the headstone by souvenir hunters.

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Wheeler Peak Wilderness -

New Mexico is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains. As such, it's a favored destination for hiking enthusiasts. The Wheeler Peak Wilderness is ideal walking territory, not least because it features the state's highest point, Wheeler Peak, which summits at 4,011 m (13,161 ft). Pictured is the mirror-like Williams Lake, a local beauty spot.

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International UFO Museum and Research Center -

Roswell is forever associated with the 1947 event known as the "Roswell incident," when the military supposedly recovered a crashed alien spacecraft. In fact, it was an errant weather balloon, but that hasn't stopped the destination cashing in on its reputation as an extraterrestrial hotspot. The International UFO Museum and Research Center helps dispel much of the myth surrounding the incident and instead focuses on genuine scientific research in the search for life beyond Earth. That said, the museum does play up to the supposed existence of little green men with exhibits like this, a captured "alien" preserved in a tank of liquid.

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Albuquerque -

New Mexico's largest city is Albuquerque. While not as picturesque as Santa Fe, Albuquerque has plenty going for it, including several excellent museums and a thriving live music scene. It's also the setting for one of the most spectacular outdoor extravaganzas on the planet.

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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta -

Each autumn, Albuquerque hosts the world's largest hot air balloon festival. During the nine-day event, which attracts upwards of 80,000 people, over 500 colorful balloons take to the air, with the breathtaking "mass ascension" (pictured) being the main highlight.

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Kimo Theatre -

Albuquerque's Kimo Theatre on Central Avenue is a fantastic example of extravagant Art Deco-Pueblo Revival Style architecture. Opened in 1927, the venue overlooks the famous Route 66, the legendary "Mother Road" that arrows through the city on its way to the West Coast.

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Sandia Peak Tramway -

If hiking isn't your thing, no worries. Sandia Peak Tramway adjacent to Albuquerque stretches from the northeast edge of the city to Sandia Peak on the ridge line of the Sandia Mountains. This is one of the world's longest passenger aerial tramways, and the longest in the Americas.

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Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge -

Covering the Rio Grande floodplain in southern New Mexico, the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a birder's paradise. Over 374 different species have been recorded here, making it one of the state's most important wetlands. Nearby San Antonio serves as the gateway to this pristine and fragile habitat. Pictured is a huge flock of wintering snow geese taking flight over the water.

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Taos Ski Valley -

Winter sports enthusiasts are rewarded with excellent skiing conditions in the Taos Ski Valley, a resort set high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers, the valley area is considered one of New Mexico's premier resorts.

Sources: (History) (Biography)

See also: Celebrities hitting the slopes

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