Despite the spare environment of New Mexico it is actually quite beautiful and offers a strong cultural heritage for visitors. No matter where you travel in New Mexico you will find attractions to meet any visitor need. In everything between the local food and art you will find an interwoven tapestry of the state American Indian and Mexican culture. As a result of the states excellent climate there is plenty of year round activities that you can take advantage of when visiting New Mexico. The Las Cruces area offers outdoor activities such as golfing and skiing in the Taos Mountains while the capital of Santa Fe offers indoor activities such as art galleries.
New Mexico's most popular city for visitors is Albuquerque. The central plaza of the city is Spanish style while the rest of the city was built around it. You can get a good look at the history and art of New Mexico at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Another option for the history buffs is the Petroglyph National Monument towards the west of the city which has an impressive collection of Indian and Hispanic petroglyphs. For the adventurous traveler Albuquerque is a year round air ballooning destination and each October there is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta which has over a thousand different balloons from fifty different countries. In addition the nearby Sandia Mountains offer outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, mountain biking and camping.
The exceptional scenery of Santa Fe is praised by all who travel to the state capital. The best time to visit is around the second week of September when the aspens are starting to turn yellow on the mountains for an excellent view. The city isn't that highly populated and it is known for its high number of art galleries, festivals and restaurants. The city has over 250 art galleries and showcase art from a wide variety of mediums.
When you are visiting Santa Fe an excellent place to stay is the La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa which is designed to look like an adobe village. A recent renovation added a spa and pool with many spa rooms. Many of the hotels rooms don't have view, but rather have outdoor patios in a quite compound. If you are visiting the Taos mountain area then you should consider staying at the El Monte Sagrado. This is an eco-resort that features details from waterfalls to a chemical free pool and hot tub with each room containing authentic dcor. The last accommodation option that is top on the list is the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana. This large resort features three swimming pools, a sixteen thousand square foot spa and fitness center and a championship golf course.