Where to stay

Albuquerque's culture is built on the traditions and artifacts of Native American and Spanish people who occupied the region in earlier times. Book a hotel in Downtown Albuquerque to learn about Native Americans at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Downtown is also a great place to stay to tour Old Town, where art and history are on display at the Albuquerque Museum. The neighborhood is filled with shops selling local craft items and often features cultural events. Stay just east in central Albuquerque to attend some of the 700 annual events at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, ranging from dance to art happy hours. The KiMo Theatre here is both a Pueblo Deco architectural treasure and a working theater with exciting performances. Stay in the Westside area, where the Albuquerque Little Theatre offers live performances of familiar plays and musicals.

With over 300 sunny days a year, Albuquerque is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Stay in Bernalillo to get a fantastic visual overview of the region with a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway. Not far away, hotels in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque are convenient for hiking along the Paseo del Bosque Trail. Book accommodations in West Mesa to explore the Petroglyph National Monument, where Native Americans and Spaniards carved symbols 400 to 700 years ago. Stay in Santa Ana Pueblo to make a daytrip to the Valles Caldera National Preserve, about a 1.5-hour drive away. Explore the meadows, streams, and wildlife habitats within this volcanic depression. For easy access to golf, book a hotel near the airport, Albuquerque International Sunport. From a hotel anywhere in Albuquerque, arrange to explore town on rented bikes, or go kayaking on the Rio Grande.

Along with numerous Southwestern cultural spots, Albuquerque has many museums dedicated to other specific interests. Book a hotel in Downtown Albuquerque to explore the Rattlesnake Museum. Nearby at the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society see the work in progress of renovating a 1944 locomotive. Stay in La Cuesta or Uptown to visit the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is a great place to stay to wander through the Unser Racing Museum for automotive racing history and visit the Balloon Museum. In the Los Ranchos neighborhood you can also arrange a ride in a basket beneath one of the colorful giants. While staying in Albuquerque anywhere from Downtown to Nob Hill, follow Historic Route 66 along Central Avenue to see the neon signs, motor lodges, and vintage items from nearly 100 years of this famous highway's history.

In addition to the great cultural and outdoor attractions in Albuquerque, find numerous other destinations that are especially suited for families. Stay in the Westside neighborhood for the ABQ Park, which has a zoo, aquarium, and botanic garden. Downtown Albuquerque hotels are perfect for visiting Explora, a science center and children's museum with interactive exhibits in areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Book a hotel near the Albuquerque International Sunport for an exciting afternoon or evening watching the Albuquerque Isotopes play minor league baseball. Rio Rancho is an especially good place to stay for families with younger kids, who can enjoy playgrounds in A Park Above and easy strolls on the Willow Creek Trail.