Albuquerque New Mexico Attractions

Albuquerque Attractions - Indian Arts/Crafts

Bien Mur Indian Market Center
This unique Indian market has been entertaining and dazzling Albuquerque residents and visitors for almost 30 years. Its patrons collect some the most beautifully designed and authentic handmade Indian crafts and jewelry. The center also has a 107-acre Buffalo Preserve and a casino on its premises. The preserve offers visitors an opportunity to explore vestiges from the American Indian culture. It has more than 20 buffalos. Bien Mur, which stands creatively below the Sandia Mountains, is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The year-round market is located at 100 Bien Mur Drive.

Gertrude Zachary Jewelry, Etc.
Visitors will find an assortment of handmade Indian jewelry and Southwestern pottery and artworks at Gertrude Zachary Jewelry, Etc. It located at 1501 Lomas Blvd. N.W. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

House of the Shalako (First Plaza Galeria)
Handmade Indian jewelry and crafts are among the neat creations that visitors may find at The House of Shalako, which is located at 20 First Plaza N.W., #65. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Old Town
Albuquerque's guests will feel liked they've stepped into an 18th-century Spanish settlement when they visit Old Town. The Spanish plaza, between Rio Grande Boulevard and Central Avenue, is a bustling outlet that has preserved characteristics from its past. Old Town, founded in 1709, maintains a steady flow of tourists in and out of its restaurants, arts and crafts shops, and Victorian- and adobe-style buildings. It is also the site of The Albuquerque Museum and historic San Felipe de Neri Church -the city's oldest church.

Albuquerque Attractions - Scenic

Albuquerque's Route 66
Visitors should watch their driving and try not to loose control while focusing on the flashy neon signs and eccentric buildings along this famous thoroughfare, which connects New Mexico to neighboring Texas and Arizona. Traffickers can still see a few of Route 66's first establishments and observe pieces of New Mexico's history as they cruise this eye-catching road. Part of the historic road that rolls through Albuquerque has been changed to Central Avenue.

Jemez Mountain Trail
Visitors in the mood for a half-day road trip might enjoy a journey along this scenic byway to Santa Fe. Jemez Mountain Trail, deemed a National Scenic Highway in 1998, is a gateway to American Indian culture. Drivers will spot hot springs, an authentic American Indian village (the "Walatowa" of the Jemez tribe), and many other cultural sights as they cruise the two-lane trail through the majestic Jemez Mountains. This road, which also travels through the Santa Fe National Forest, is open year-round. Drive northbound on Interstate 25 from Albuquerque and exit onto U.S. 550 West to access the Jemez Mountain Trail, which is about 50 miles from Albuquerque.

Sandia Peak Ski &Tramway
Enjoy a panoramic view of Albuquerque while soaring above scenic canyons during a tramway ride. The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, which extends 2.7 miles, is the world's longest. Passengers can focus on nature's wonders and inhale fresh, country air while breezing through Sandia Peak. The airborne cable car offers panoramic views of 11,000 square miles. The tramway's base terminal is located at No. 10 Tramway Loop N.E., which is off of Tramway Boulevard. The tramway operates daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the fall and winter (except on Wednesdays when it operates from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.). Prices vary. Call the tramway office at (505) 856-7325 for a schedule of events or for more information about rates.

Albuquerque Attractions - Museums

American International Rattlesnake Museum
Venture a stroll through a land of reptiles at the American International Rattlesnake Museum. It claims the world's largest collection of live rattlesnake species. Visitors can eyeball the slithering creatures at arm's length as they tiptoe through the snake menagerie. Reptile faddists might also want to snag some snake-branded souvenirs while visiting the museum, which is located at the 202 San Felipe N.W. in Old Town Albuquerque. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; it is closed on major holidays. Admission is $2.50 for adults, $2 for seniors, and $1.50 for children.

National Atomic Museum
Explosive exhibits at this museum honors the nuclear age. Bombers, photographs, and artillery pieces are among a number of items that the National Atomic Museum displays to educate the public about nuclear arms. It exists as the nation's only congressionally chartered museum of natural science and history. Visitors must show proof of insurance and a driver's license to enter this protected resource museum. It is located at 1905 Mountain Road. The National Atomic Museum, which is operated by Sandia National Laboratories, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, it is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and Easter. Admission is $4 for adults age 19 to 54, $3 for seniors 55 and older, $3 for youths 7 to 18, and free for children 6 years old and younger.

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Take a trip back to prehistoric times by visiting the Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. The museum offers visitors an opportunity to get face-to-face with a makeup Pentaceratops or Albertosaurus or look into a volcano. The museum, located at 1801 Mountain Road N.W., has many dinosaur exhibits and a lot of information about the extinct creatures. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Veteran's Day in November, every Sept. 11, and the first Mondays of February and March. Admission prices vary. Call the museum at (505) 841-2800 for more information about entrance fees.

The Albuquerque Museum
Learn the history of Albuquerque, the architectural phases there, and New Mexicans' weaving tradition, customs, and trading practices by visiting this museum. The Albuquerque Museum, located at 2100 Mountain Road, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for seniors 65 and older and children age 4 to 12; youths 3 years old and younger are admitted free. Guests visiting on the first Wednesday of every month are also admitted free of charge.

-Tinkertown Museum
View the handicrafts of artist Ross Wood as you browse through a collage of carved figures at the Tinkertown Museum. Wood-carved sailboats, animals, and Western memorabilia are among the unique creations that visitors may see at Tinkertown. The museum, in nearby Sandia Park, is located on the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway. Tinkertown is a 20-minute drive from Albuquerque. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2.50 for seniors 65 and older, and $1 for children age 4 to 16.