Albuquerque has the attractions that draw visitors and the expertise to help people enjoy a memorable stay. Professional tour groups and agencies offer trips of all types, including hot air balloon rides. A good place to start would be the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau (tel: 1 800 733 9918; website: www.itsatrip.org), which has a listing of tours and tour groups, plus free information and free tours. Choose from the American Indian Cultural Tour, which follows the development of the American Indian culture in the Rio Grande Valley; the Route 66 Tour, which shows how the West was won along the Mother Road, or the Sandia Mountain Tour, which reveals the stunning peaks and valleys of the Sandias. A knowledgeable and friendly staff at the CVB can help set up self-guided tours, walking tours and scenic day trips. Most of the New Mexico's 19 pueblos are within an hour's drive of Albuquerque.

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th Street NW (tel: (505) 843 7270 or 724 3550; website: www.indianpueblo.org) has recently launched several Pueblo-owned and operated guided bus tours which offer a comprehensive Native American cultural experience for visitors, led by local pueblo residents.

Several companies offers hot air balloon rides, including Skyspan Adventures (tel: (505) 250 2300 or 1 877 759 7726/SKYSPAN; website: www.skyspanadventures.com), which provides complimentary shuttle service, homemade breakfast, local sparkling wine, flight certificate and a pin.

A walking tour of Old Town Albuquerque by New Mexico's Ghost Tours (tel: (505) 249 7828; website: www.toursofoldtown.com) details stories of vengeful lovers, murdered soldiers and mysterious spectres.

The Arts Crawl (tel: (505) 244 0362; website: www.artscrawlabq.org) is a self-guided tour of local galleries held twice a month.