Inside New Mexico´s borders you will find ancient cultures, world-famous cuisine, diverse landscapes, renowned museums, the real Wild West Feeling and much more. The mountains, deserts, lakes, and forests offer endless recreational opportunities, the people are eager to share their ways, and the history will give you a new respect for life - all in New Mexico.

Also known as the Bisti Wilderness area, it is little visited and largely unknown. The Bisti Badlands covers 4,000 acres of an amazingly scenic and colourful expanse of undulating mounds and unusual eroded rocks, hidden away in the high desert. The word Bisti is a Navajo word meaning badlands. The natural formations seen throughout the Bisti are called “hoodoos”. Hoodoos are fragile and should not be touched or climbed. Hoodoos and the other spectacular formations in the Bisti are formed by what geologist´s term “differential erosion”.

The refuge is an ideal destination for the devoted bird watcher. Encompassing over 57,000 acres along the Rio Grande, the refuge was created in 1939 as a winter habitat for ducks, geese, sandhill cranes and wading birds. Here, tens of thousands of birds--including sandhill cranes, Arctic geese, and many kinds of ducks--gather each autumn and stay through the winter. Feeding snow geese erupt in explosions of wings when frightened by a stalking coyote, and at dusk, flight after flight of geese and cranes return to roost in the marshes.

Plaza Blanca and Dar al-Islam Mosque

An Islamic mosque might seem an unlikely place of worship in a region known for its devotion to the faith of the Spanish throne. But if you visit the Dar al Islam mosque, hidden away in the hills of the Rio Chama valley, you will find a stunning structure that seems very much at home in its high-desert environment. In the valley below sits the natural wonder known as Plaza Blanca, also immortalized as “The White Place” in a 1940 painting by O’Keeffe. The sandstone cliffs, spires, and oddly shaped rocks create an otherworldly, contemplative retreat that glows golden in the late-afternoon light. Allow yourself some time to linger as the spot gently embraces you.

Drive the Enchanted Circle Byway

The winding route of the Enchanted Circle Byway in North Central New Mexico takes you through some of the most beautiful areas of Northern New Mexico. View beautiful alpine valleys, wild flowers, clear blue lakes, evergreen forests, and historic western communities, all to explore for you. The route circles the state's highest mountain, Wheeler Peak and offers multiple breathtaking views every other second.

A trip on the world’s longest aerial tramway transports you above deep canyons and breathtaking terrain a distance of 2.7 miles. See some of nature’s more dramatic beauty unfold before you, together with wildlife such as eagles, mule deer, or even black bears. At sunset the desert skies produce a spectacular array of color, and your vantage point from the observation deck atop 10,378 foot Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest affords an 11,000 square-mile panoramic view of the Rio Grande Valley and the Land of Enchantment.

The state capital began its life as the Spanish "Kingdom of New Mexico" in 1610, making it the oldest capital city in North America. Evidence of the 400-year-old history is everywhere. Santa Fe is a world-renowned travel destination unparalleled in richness of history, heritage, arts and culture. You will be nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the foothills of the Rockies, immersed in natural beauty, with an average of 300 days of sunshine and blue sky. Come and prepare for your perfect day in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

A Hot Springs Spa Day

New Mexico is a perfect destination for a Hot Springs Spa Day. Modern-day soakers know that, exaggerated claims aside, the mineralized waters that swirl up and down the Rio Grande and other waterways provide health benefits beyond mere relaxation. Explore the riverbanks long enough and you will come across any number of natural springs. But for those who don't have the time to search, there are a handful of funky, old-style spas within easy reach of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos where you can enjoy the same invigorating experience that revived the weary travelers of yesteryear. Spend a relaxing day in New Mexico’s Hot Springs.

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment. Discover this great natural wonder in New Mexico.

The Mescalero Apache Tribe owns and operates both the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino and Ski Apache Ski Resort as well other Reservation-based enterprises. The Mescalero Apache Reservation with the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort offers a wide array of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, fishing, hunting, camping, bird watching and many more. Enjoy the endless opportunities for a great vacation in New Mexico with concerts, casino, nature and Indian culture in a perfect combination.