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Nightlife     Outdoors     Attractions       Gambling     Culture     Resources

Nightlife

Native American Culture
For cultural tourism, don't miss the Pueblo Indian Cultural Center. They can best tell you which Pueblos and reservations welcome tourists and at what times. The Albuquerque Journal has a nice collection of links on Native American sites in New Mexico. The major yearly event is the Gathering of Nations pow-wow.

Gambling
Bingo and casino gaming are a popular attraction. Casino Sandia and Isleta Gaming Palace offer video gaming, Poker, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Keno, slots, and bingo. Free limousine service and courtesy shuttles are available by prior arrangement for transportation to and from the casinos. Many other Indian Casinos around the state.

Attractions

Carlsbad Caverns
Although it is quite a trip from Albuquerque, the Caverns are rather impressive. Call ahead and reserve a place in the off-trail tours.

Bosque Del Apache
A wildlife refuge and bird sanctuary of incredible beauty.

Route 66
Historic Route 66, America's Highway runs through New Mexico, and was the main strip in many towns including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Gallup, Grants, and Tucumcari. Inspiring many songs, a TV show, and backdrop to enough movies to make an annual movie festival possible, Route 66 remains a strong cultural symbol despite deteriorating unused sections of road.

White Sands National Monument

Very Large Array

Roadside America's Off-Beat Attractions

Albuquerque Biological Park

The Albuquerque Biological Park, includes a zoo, an aquarium and arboretum.

Rio Grande Zoo
The Rio Grande Zoo is the largest zoo in New Mexico and features many naturalized habitats including an African savanna, tropical rain forest, primate island, lobo woods, "night watch" and a birds of prey aviary. The zoo is open 9 am to 4:30 pm daily. The Zoo is located at 903 Tenth Street, SW. For more information, call 764-6200, and ask for the Zoo.

Aquarium
The Aquarium is located at 2601 Central Avenue, SW, near Old Town. The Aquarium's hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 764-6200, and ask for the Aquarium.

Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden is located at 2601 Central Avenue, SW, near Old Town. The Botanic Garden's hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 764-6200, and ask for the Botanic Garden.

Shopping

There are three major shopping malls in Albuquerque, Coronado Center, Winrock Mall and Cottonwood Mall. More shopping in Nob Hill and Downtown.

Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway

Albuquerque is home to the world's longest single span tramway. It is 2.7 miles long and traverses above deep canyons rising to an altitude of 10,378 feet to an observation deck. It provides a panoramic view of 11,000 square miles of the land of enchantment.

Rio Grande Nature Center

This park contains 270 acres, including a 3-acre pond and marsh and 2 miles of nature trails winding through woods to open sand lots along the Rio Grande.

Museums

Near Old Town are two Museums. The Albuquerque Museum houses traditional and contemporary art and history of the region and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, an innovative and "hands-on" educational museum, includes an active volcano, an Ice Age cave, dinosaurs, and the larger-than-life Dynamax theater.

On the UNM campus are 3 excellent museums - the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, the Jonson Gallery of Contemporary Art, and the Fine Arts Museum. Downtown in the Galleria is the !Explora! Science Center, with interactive exhibits and live demonstrations integrating art and science.

Trolley

For your fun and convenience, the bus system offers a trolley ride that will take you from the Hyatt Regency to the zoo, the Albuquerque Museum, and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History as well as other nearby attractions.

Amusements

Cliff's Amusement Park - Popular with kids. Several rides.

Block Party - video arcade, adult-sized tube maze, virtual reality games, simulators, and restaurants.

Other resources
There is a great deal of activity in the state of New Mexico. It would take far too much work to list it all here. But please check the listing of Gay New Mexico Calendar for lesbian and gay events.

When visiting the state look for the state's lesbian and gay magazine: OUT! Magazine for additional information. In Albuquerque they can be found at Sisters and Brothers Bookstore and Full Circle Books as well as all the bars; in Santa Fe at Dana's After Dark or the Drama Club; and in Taos at the Ruby Slipper.

• Albuquerque Journal's Day Trips.
• New Mexico State Tourism Guide
• New Mexico Viva Visitors Guide
• New Mexico's Cultural Treasures