Carlsbad Caverns

New Mexico celebrates exploration far underneath the earth’s crust at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, located less than an hour north of the Texas border. Extending more than 1,000 feet below ground, this grand complex of caverns deserves its worldwide fame. There are over thirty miles of subterranean passages through the park, where visitors can take solo hikes, reserve guided tours to learn about the history and discovery of these 120 caverns, or even go spelunking in the unnervingly named Slaughter Canyon.

If you dare, descend one and a half miles into the abyss that over 400,000 Mexican free-tailed bats call home from April to October. Then take in other notable feats of Mother Nature, including the world’s largest intact stalagmite. Save time to venture near the famous Bottomless Pit—a dark chasm into the depths of the earth that is not for the faint of heart.

The AndersonAbruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

One of New Mexico's newest landmarks, this unique museum was founded in 2005 to honor the city's legacy of daring aeronauts, or hot-air balloon flyers. It has dozens of exhibits dedicated to the science, history, and sport of hot-air ballooning, allowing visitors to get hands-on with the artifacts that make sky exploration by balloon possible.

Though the museum is open year-round, it’s best enjoyed as the headquarters for the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. For nine days every October, New Mexico’s only large city is dwarfed by a sky alight with colorful hot-air balloons featuring classic vessels and quirky airborne art alike.