#Albuquerque is the largest city in #NewMexico. Famous for world-class hot air ballooning and unique Southwestern cuisine. The city has a high-desert climate, boasting around 310 days of sunshine a year. The community flanks the Rio Grande, with the Sandia Mountains east. #travel #roadtrip

Murals, downtown Albuquerque 🤩 #streetart #NewMexico #artofvisuals #inspiredbyart

The Cabezon Volcanic Field features over 50 "volcanic necks" or plugs, the eroded remains of ancient volcanoes. Cabezon Peak is the most well known, rising 2,000 feet above the Rio Puerco Valley floor. The pillars were formed about 2.5 to 3 million years ago. #hiking #geology #NewMexico #volcano

Baylor Canyon road sunset, Las Cruces 😍 #NewMexico #travel #sunset #daytrip #cow #LasCruces

Nestled high in the Sacramento Mountains at 8,676 feet, Cloudcroft, New Mexico, is an idyllic alpine escape. Famous for its motto, "9,000 Feet Above Stress Level," the village combines a rich 125-year-old Old West heritage with cool, pine-scented mountain air and year-round outdoor adventure.

The Catwalk National Recreation Trail is a unique #hiking experience in the Gila National Forest. Suspended metal bridges wind through Whitewater Canyon, a narrow, steep-walled gorge above Whitewater Creek. 5 miles from Glenwood, #NewMexico. #travel #daytrip #roadtrip #nature #OptOutside #scenic

The 31-mile stretch of the Rio Chama before Abiquiu Lake is spectacular. Towering, multi-colored sandstone cliffs, vibrant riverside cottonwoods, and abundant wildlife makes this a popular area for rafting, kayaking, canoeing, fly-fishing & remote, permit-only camping. #nature #daytrip #NewMexico

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire was established in 1971 by Dr. Victor "Doc" and Jeanne Westphall following the death of their son, 1st Lt. David Westphall, in Vietnam. One of the first national sites dedicated to Vietnam #Veterans. More Info: bit.ly/4vj1U1l#Veterans #travel #NewMexico

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire was established in 1971 by Dr. Victor "Doc" and Jeanne Westphall following the death of their son, 1st Lt. David Westphall, in Vietnam. It was one of the first national sites dedicated to Veterans of the Vietnam War. More Info: bit.ly/4vj1U1l

With striking landscapes, ranging from high desert mesas and badlands to alpine mountains and meadows, New Mexico invites people to explore and appreciate unique landscapes. #travel #roadtrip #weekendgetaway #offthebeatenpath #OptOutside #geology #history #landscape

Española was the "First Capital," established by the Spanish in 1598. The area thrived on agriculture, fed by the Rio Grande. Originally named "San Juan de los Caballeros" (now Ohkay Owingeh), the region has been home to Tewa-speaking Puebloans since (at least) the 1200s. #Espanola #NewMexico

Road to the horizon (near City of Rocks) 🤩 #travel #roadtrip #daytrip #vacation #openroad #hittheroad #NewMexico

"Named the Nation’s Best Scenic Train Ride in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest, the Cumbres &Toltec Scenic Railroad runs 64 miles between Chama, #NewMexico & Antonito, #Colorado, crossing the border 11 times." #travel #bucketlist #daytrip #weekendgetaway #offthebeathpath

Kenny Bowekaty discussing findings from an archaeological dig at the Middle Village in Zuni Pueblo. #history #archaeology #ZuniPueblo #Ashiwi #NativeAmerican #heritage #culture #Native #NewMexico

Lunar occultation of Venus will be visible in New Mexico on Wednesday

The beauty of Taos 😍 #travel #NewMexico #roadtrip #vacation #weekendgetaway

Gallup started as a stagecoach stop back in the 1860s. The railroad chose Gallup as a stop on the western transcontinental route, establishing an office prior in 1881. This pulled workers to town to collect their pay from David Gallup, the paymaster. Hence, "going to Gallup." #VisitGallup #travel

For 40+ years, Gathering of Nations brought together representatives from 500+ tribes across the U.S. & Canada to share songs, dances & traditions. From the Grand Entry and the Horse & Rider Parade to the crowning of Miss Indian World, the annual event attracted thousands of visitors to Albuquerque.

Corrales lies within the Rio Grande flood plain. Access to water and sandy loam soil make it rare agricultural land in an arid region. #travel #NewMexico #roadtrip #daytrip #vacation #OptOutside

The #Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Oct 3 - 11, 2026) started as a gathering of 13 balloons in 1972. 13 countries took part in 1973's “First World Hot Air Balloon Championship”, held at the NM Fairgrounds. The number of balloons steadily increased, w/ 600 in 1988 and 903 balloons in 1999.

Three prospectors found placer gold while stopping for a drink at Bear Creek on May 18, 1860. As word of the discovery spread, 100s of miners flocked to the area. Placer gold was initially plentiful. As the output waned, miners shifted to mining the stone to extract veins of gold, silver & copper.

Angel Fire, New Mexico was the coldest place in the contiguous United States on Sunday and Monday morning! #NMwx

Gambel's Quail This is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. It inhabits the desert regions of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Sonora; also New Mexico-border Chihuahua and the Colorado River region of Baja California. 📸: @nature.by.sri

Pyramid Rock is composed mainly of Late Jurassic-aged Morrison Formation sandstone that layered on top of other formations, like the Zuni Sandstone. It is the remnant of a volcanic flow, sculpted by wind and rain over millions of years. There's a 3-mile round-trip hike to the summit. #VisitGallup

The Route 66 Diner offers a menu of classic American and New Mexican comfort food, with popular items including Navajo tacos, breakfast stuffed sopapillas, green chile cheeseburgers, and chicken fried steak. Breakfast is available all day. #dining #foodie #NomNom #VisitGallup #goodfood #restaurant

The crown jewel of We the People Park is a 110-foot long, 8-foot tall, steel wall of silhouettes. The sculpture was created by Armando Alvarez to represent "free speech, pluralism, democracy, and our coexistence with the environment." #VisitGallup #art #inspiredbyart #travel #NewMexico #sculpture

Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is protected based on the abundance of Mogollon rock art. The density of petroglyphs make it one of the largest and most interesting petroglyphs sites in the Southwest, with over 21,000 petroglyphs, including masks, sunbursts, wildlife, handprints, and geometric designs.

The Zuni Mountains have big, open meadows and forested slopes with peaks up to 9,256 feet. Loads of trails, lots of camping. Not many people. The scenery is vastly different than the red sandstone visible from I-40...when there is rain, it is unexpectedly green. 😍 #VisitGallup #NewMexico #travel

So many beautiful places to explore in New Mexico... 😍 #travel #NewMexico #roadtrip #daytrip #vacation #OptOutside #weekendgetaway

El Morro National Monument is on NM-53 between Grants & Zuni. The mesa provided refuge for the Zuni in the late 1200s, w/structures on top of the cliffs. Runoff pools at the base. The rare, reliable source of water has attracted humans for 1000s of years. #NewMexico #travel #roadtrip #daytrip

Founded in 1610, Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States. It is also the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi River. The winding maze of streets and narrow alleys was created for burros and donkeys pulling carts, not cars. #travel #NewMexico #SantaFe #roadtrip

⛈️ It could be an early and active monsoon! The latest outlook from the CPC is leaning towards above average rainfall across New Mexico June through August. #NMwx

Wild horses 🐴 New Mexico

Blessing the water On May 15 across New Mexico, people gather to honor San Ysidro Day, a Catholic feast day recognizing Saint Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, agriculture, irrigators and rural communities. This year, amidst historical drought conditions ... Read more https://ow.ly/EOec50Z3iyZ

When Coronado arrived in 1540, the Tiguex population was at its peak w/ 20,000+ people living along 30 miles of the Rio Grande. Kuaua pueblo was settled in the early 1300s, occupied through 1600. It spanned 6 acres, w/ about 1,200 surface rooms/storage, 6 kivas & 3 plazas. #history #NewMexico

Getting my kicks on Route 66 (in #Gallup, of course) 😜😅😁 #roadtrip #travel #VisitGallup #Route66 #weekendgetaway #daytrip

The Valle Vidal is a 100,000-acre mountain basin in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Geologically, there are two halves: sedimentary sandstone, grassy valleys & coal resources on the east side (Raton Basin edge), with steeper, uplifted volcanic and metamorphic terrain & gold mining on the west side.

I photographed the Sandia Mountains, which dominate Albuquerque, New Mexico's eastern skyline, capturing a striking monochrome view with a rising moon.

The Rio Grande Nature Center this morning. #Albuquerque

WATCH: APD cameras captured the wall collapse at Lindy's Diner in downtown Albuquerque! This is one week after the building was forced to close after an inspection found there were structural issues with the supports. The building is a little over 100 years old, built in1906.

High Road to Taos, south of Chimayó . The High Road is a 105-mile scenic byway between Santa Fe and Taos, winding through Spanish colonial villages like Trampas and Truchas, with historic adobe churches, artisan studios, and spectacular mountain views. #NewMexico #travel #roadtrip #landscape

Rio Grande, Corrales perspective 🤩 #landscape #OptOutside #roadtrip #travel #daytrip #vacation #NewMexico #Corrales

Coronado Historic Site preserves the ruins of Kuaua. The village was inhabited from around 1300 to the late 16th century, with partially reconstructed pueblo rooms and a kiva with famous, rare pre-contact mural paintings. It was abandoned during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. #NewMexico #history #daytrip

Sandia Peak, from the bluffs of the Rio Grande. 😍 #nature #whataview #scenic #NewMexico #landscape #HighDesert #Corrales #RioRancho

Salinas Pueblo Missions protects 3 distinct pueblo sites w/ 17th-century Spanish mission ruins—Abó, Quarai & Gran Quivira. This intersection of Spanish, Jumano, #Tompiro & Tiwa cultures features stone architecture & colonial history. Abandoned due to disease, drought & raids. #history #NewMexico

Road to the Taos Junction bridge. 🤩 #landscape #OptOutside #roadtrip #travel #daytrip #nature #geology #whataview #scenic #NewMexico

Mentmore cliffs are west of Gallup, with a large variety of sport & trad climbs, with routes 40-50 feet tall. Numerous moderate routes, with easily accessible top-rope anchors. Two main areas, the "Original Side" and the "New Side." There are longer climbs on the "New Side." 🧗‍♂️ #rockclimbing

A few of Albuquerque's magnificent murals. Adobe and stucco make the perfect palette for street art. #murals #streetart #Albuquerque #NewMexico #inspiredbyart #artofvisuals #travelgram #instatravel

Cloudcroft was founded as a logging camp for the railroad built through Alamogordo, 4500-feet below in the Tularosa Basin. The cooler temps in the mountains, and beautiful forests & meadows, made the village a popular destination for people seeking a reprieve from the heat at lower elevations.

The Navajo Code Talkers were #Marines. They developed an unbreakable code using the Navajo language during World War II. The first 29 Navajo Code Talkers trained at Fort Wingate and deployed from the Gallup railroad depot. #Gallup is home to the Navajo Code Talker Museum. #VisitGallup #NewMexico