Albuquerque, New Mexico- 8 Fun Things To Do in Duke City

Hi there everyone.  In a couple of weeks, Gene and I will be heading to Albuquerque so I did some more research on the area and check out some of the things we wanted to do while in New Mexico. We have actually been to Albuquerque quite a few times and have fond memories of the Balloon Fiesta, and our Breaking Bad tour. However, there are always more things to see and do, or explore in a different city.  Thus I did some research (so you don’t have to) and found 8 must-see attractions in the area. These are in no particular order.:

Petroglyph National Monument

#Mus

Featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago, Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America. These images are a valuable record of cultural expression and hold profound spiritual significance for contemporary Native Americans and for the descendants of the early Spanish settlers.

Turquoise Museum

The Turquoise Museum is something that sounds very interesting but is not something we have done on any previous trip. They state that when you visit you will uncover the mystery of turquoise, delve into its’ rich history, and learn about the different mines, specimens, and stories of colorful characters and its collection of turquoise.  The museum has been used as a source of information and pictures for over 50 years. Authors of books, magazines, articles, and research papers have all used the museum as a source of information. Its rich repository of turquoise specimens from over one hundred mines, educations, and histories make it a must-see while in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

We love visiting places like this and hope to visit this one on our upcoming trip. While in the museum visitors get to explore the origins and geological history of the American Southwest through vivid displays including dinosaur models, ice-age cave replicas, a naturalist center, and a walk-through volcano. Sounds like a great place to visit.

Sandia Peak Tramway

The Sandia Peak Tram takes visitors 2.7 miles or 10,378 feet up into the Sandia Mountains. As such, it is also the longest aerial tram ride in North America. And I thought the Palm Springs Tramway was cool. J While up on top, breathe in the fresh mountain air and enjoy some breathtaking views of over 11,000 square miles of New Mexico. This looks so amazing and I hope to do it on our upcoming trip.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Located in the historic Albuquerque Indian School District the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a world-class museum and cultural center created to be a place where the Pueblo people, can tell their story. This is the only place in North America to host traditional Native American dances every weekend year round and also offers an exciting schedule of cultural and community activities, including rotating museum exhibits, events with Native American artists, hands-on children’s programs & art festivals

Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum

Explora is a science center and children’s museum located in the heart of Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico. We specialize in creating opportunities for inspirational discovery and the joy of lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Albuquerque Museum

Located in the heart of Old Town, the Museum is a division of the Department of Arts & Culture, City of Albuquerque. The city’s rich heritage is the focus of this museum, which features exhibits depicting the art, history, and culture of the Southwest.

American International Rattlesnake Museum

This museum houses the world’s largest collection of different species of live rattlesnakes and aims to correct common reptilian misconceptions. I grew up in a family where we had ALL types of animals at one point in time, including many snakes. However, none of them were rattlesnakes. Not sure how I feel about this museum, but still wanted to share some information in case you were interested.

Things to Do in Albuquerque, NM

As you can see there are many things to do in Albuquerque, and we have done a few, but look forward to visiting some on this list that we haven’t been able to do yet. I will come back and update you on our visit and share more information about the ones we do visit. In the meantime, please enjoy this list and let me know if there is anything else I need to add. Here is a link to the city of Albuquerque’s website if you want a more robust list. Happy travels and enjoy the city which is also often called Duke City.