Best Things to Do in Albuquerque

The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque Balloon Museum at the Balloon Fiesta grounds celebrates the history and future of ballooning, for which Albuquerque is so known. Artifacts from ballooning's past through recent world record breaking endeavors are displayed. Interactive activities explain the science and art of ballooning, including a balloon flight simulator. Enjoy the numerous art and photography exhibits. There's movie nights and story times for the kids. The Museumm presents a variety of fun events throughout the year for kids, adults and seniors.

Just across from the Albuquerque Museum is ¡Explora!, an interactive, science-based children's museum for kids of all ages. Learn about water dynamics, aviation, electronics, robots, physics and light through a variety of interactive exhibits that adults will enjoy as much as kids.

If you like to time travel, visit the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (1801 Mountain Road NW, 505-841-2800). The newly updated museum boasts a new permanent Start Up! Albuquerque and the Personal Computer Revolution. Albuquerque was where the first personal computer, the Altair 8800, was made and sold. This attracted a young Bill Gates and Paul Allen to Albuquerque, who worked here before moving to Seattle and starting a little company called Microsoft. Of course, the museum goes from bytes to bones and features all aspects of New Mexico's natural history, including colossal skeletons of dinosaurs that roamed here.

Slither over to the International Rattlesnake Museum in Old Town (www.rattlesnakes.com, 202 San Felipe). The museum is a herpetologist's dream, featuring our oft-misunderstood rattlesnakes, as well as other reptiles from around the world, all up close and personal in well-designed homes inches from your nose. The staff's goal is to educate its visitors about these important creatures.

The museum highlights the history of atomic energy, from its discovery to Los Alamos's Manhattan Project and atomic weapons to peaceful uses for atomic energy such as nuclear medicine. A B-52 bomber and other aircraft are displayed on the grounds.

More 1,000 animals call the Rio Grande Zoo home, including cheetahs, siamangs, elephants, seals, gators, many primates, and koalas. The reptile and amphibian house and the Tropical America buildings house all manner of snakes, frogs, tarantulas, and birds. From April-September, the zoo offers an array of special programs for both kids and adults, including lectures, animal shows, craft workshops, storytelling, and a summer concert series. For a full day of fun, visit the zoo, aquarium, and botanic gardens, all located at the Albuquerque Biological Park. There are plenty of gift shops and food vendors throughout the park. Be advised that in accordance with City of Albuquerque law, smoking is prohibited on Zoo, Aquarium and Botanic Garden property.

Examine traces of Albuquerque's past at the Petroglyph National Monument on Albuquerque's West Side, where centuries ago Native Americans meticulously pecked thousands of images into the rocks, their meanings known only to them. Jointly managed by the National Park Service and the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division, Petroglyph National Monument comprises 7,236-acres along 17 miles of Albuquerque's west escarpment. About 150,000 years ago lava seeped from an enormous fissure here, covering the landscape like a prehistoric parking lot. Over time, cooling and erosion cracked the hardened lava. In many areas the frozen ripples of once-hot lava can be seen in rock fragments, looking like poured cake batter. A National Park Service visitor center and bookstore is located off of Unser Boulevard, but otherwise the expanse of open space is undeveloped save for interpretive signs and facilities along the few developed trails at Boca Negra Canyon, Rinconada Canyon and the Volcanoes trails. Otherwise, silence and isolation are yours just minutes from the bustle of the city. (6001 Unser Blvd. NW, 505-899-0205, www.nps.gov/petr)

An excellent place for Albuquerque exploration is at the Albuquerque Museum History (2000 Mountain Road NW, 505-243-7255, www.cabq.gov/museum/). In addition to highlighting the Duke City's history from pre-Spanish contact through the Civil War, a permanent art collection contains classic works by such luminaries as Georgia O'Keeffe, as well as changing New Mexico-related exhibits.

The Albuquerque Biopark is collectively a zoo, aquarium and botanical gardens linked together by the Rio Line, a narrow-gauge railroad that travels between the facilities. The Albuquerque zoo is award winning for its natural designs, and the aquarium features a 285,000-gallon ocean aquarium where sharks and sea turtles glide past viewers (www.cabq.gov/biopark).

Sandia Peak Tramway is the world's longest aerial tram at 2.6 miles. The 20-minute journey has you gliding above the Sandia Wilderness and affords eagle views of New Mexico to the horizon. At the top, hike, snowshoe, ski, have dinner at High Finance Restaurant, or just take in the incredible view.