The Turquoise Trail: The Turquoise Trail (website: www.turquoisetrail.org) runs from Albuquerque to Santa Fe through the majestic Sandia Mountains and past revived ghost towns. A state-designed scenic and history route, the trail begins on NM 14 about 26km (16 miles) east of central Albuquerque and covers about 98km (61 miles) before reaching Santa Fe. En route is the Cibola National Forest, mining towns filled with art and crafts, Tinkertown Museum, Museum of Archaeology, Old Coal Mine Museum and Turquoise Mining Museum.

Wildlife West Nature Park: Wildlife West Nature Park (tel: (505) 281 7655 or 1 877 981 9453; website. www.wildlifewest.org) is 28km (19 miles) miles east of Albuquerque in Edgewood, on the I-40. The 122-acre park features trails through constructed natural habitats. Wildlife includes whitetail deer, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, raptor's mountain lions and wolves.