North of Albuquerque:
Santa Fe
one of the world's great travel destinations, is about 60 mi 97 km to the north. The direct route is via I-25, but if you have time and the weather forecast is good, consider taking instead the "Turquoise Trail" NM SR 14 on the east side of the Sandia Mountains. If you'd rather not drive, you can also take the Rail Runner commuter train straight into the heart of the city.If taking the Turquoise Trail, stop at Madrid, an artist community located along the way. There's a small selection of galleries, a glass blower and decent tavern for lunch. Another attraction on the route is the Tinker Town Museum (http://www.tinkertown.com/), which contains a large collection of wood carvings and Americana. Its off Hwy 536 on the Turquoise Trail about 20 minutes from Albuquerque. Its open 1 Apr-1 Nov.
Bernalillo
is 15 mi 24 km north on I-25 and is connected via the Rail Runner commuter train. The Coronado State Monument (http://www.nmmonuments.or...) is a popular attraction, as well as the Santa Ana Pueblo's casino and golf course, which are right next to Bernalillo.There are several Native American pueblos between Albuquerque and Santa Fe just off I-25. Some of them offers attractions and a chance to explore the area. If you have a few hours to kill, consider a detour to Cochiti Pueblo and the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument (http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/...). This little known monument, open for day use $5/vehicle, contains some gorgeous natural scenery and geologic formations, such as a narrow slot canyon you can hike through. To get there, get off at the Santo Domingo Pueblo exit Exit 259 and follow the signs up SR 22 and onto a gravel road to the monument.
The pretty Jemez Mountains offer pleasant hiking and fishing in the summer and can be good for skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, although snowpack varies greatly from year to year and may be insufficient for winter sports. Take I-25 north to Bernalillo, then US 550 to San Ysidro, where NM 4 502 on some maps takes off through the astonishing red rock of San Diego Canyon and into the Jemez.
Los Alamos
and Bandelier National Monument are also to the north, and about as distant from Albuquerque via the Jemez route as via the Santa Fe route.Beyond Santa Fe lies the beauty and cultural color of north central New Mexico -- Taos, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, etc.
South of Albuquerque:
Isleta Pueblo
off of I-25 just south of the city, is a small Native American village with the St. Augustine Church, a large white mission and one of the oldest in the nation. Take the Isleta Pueblo exit NM 314 and drive south until you reach the village.Belen
is located about 30 mi 48 km south and makes a good day trip.Mountainair
about a 90-min. drive southeast, is the home of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, a superb collection of pueblo and Spanish mission ruins.If traveling south during the winter, be sure to stop at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, south of Socorro and covered in that community's article...and while you are down there, consider visiting the Very Large Array, one of the worlds biggest radio telescope arrays.
