Mother Bosque Garden

Combine history with a hike on the Rinconada Canyon Trail (15 minutes’ drive), where routes lead to petroglyphs carved by the Ancestral Pueblo People in Piedras Marcadas Canyon. Boca Negra Canyon (20 minutes) is another area rich in petroglyphs along tracks through the rugged volcanic landscapes. Further afield, trails lead to the bizarre rock formations at the Toadstool Hoodoos (an hour). Close by you can take truck tours to Snoopy Rock (90 minutes), go dune buggying at Moon Rocks (also 90 minutes) or shoot across the desert landscapes on the C-4 Dirtbike Track (50 minutes). Learn the backstory of the state’s indigenous wildlife among the animatronic dinosaur skeletons and interactive shows at New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (10 minutes), or see great art showcased in Albuquerque Museum (also 10 minutes), where ever-changing exhibitions feature big-name artists like Frieda Kahlo in futuristic surroundings.