Life + Culture

Stargazing in New Mexico

Explore the cosmos Article by Keri Bridgwater | Photography by Kialo Williams, New Mexico True, Micah Gallegos Daylight fades slowly in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. Hoodoos and cracked badlands soften into shadow as silence settles across the high desert. Then the stars begin to appear — first a handful, then thousands. “What often stays with people is the silence,” shares Kialo Winters, a Diné (Navajo) and Zia (Pueblo) tour guide, photographer, and founder of Navajo Tours USA. “Bisti is...

Life + Culture

Rafting

Explore the river Article by Regan Bervar | Photography by courtesy New Mexico River Adventures River rafting in New Mexico is more than an outdoor activity; it’s a new way to experience the land itself and chase the thrill of adventure. From the winding waters of the Rio Grande to dramatic canyons carved through centuries of desert landscape, rafting reveals a side of New Mexico only visible by boat. Beyond the outskirts of town lies a rugged, untamed world best experienced from the river...

Travel

Alaska Cruises

Summer is a good time to head North Article by Jill Robbins | Photography by courtesy Solstice Alaska Cruising to Alaska checks a lot of the boxes travelers look for in an adventure vacation, even if it doesn’t always look like traditional adventure travel. The scenery feels bigger, wilder, and more unpredictable than most destinations people visit on a typical cruise. One day might include whale sightings from the ship’s deck and the next could involve glacier trekking, kayaking through icy...

Sports + Recreation

Trailing Off into the Sunset

Explore the county Article by Rudy Carrillo | Photography by TrailLink, Parmetrix, The Daily Lobo, Leila Chapa   Out here in the West, we have a thing about trails, a love of winding passages and natural destinations. Whether via Route 66, El Camino Real, or the Santa Fe Trail, many of the people from Albuquerque’s past and present made their way here on some sort of trail or another. So it’s no wonder that citizens of this town have woven the well-trodden tale of trails into their lives...

Life + Culture

The Land of Enchantment

Explore New Mexico Photography by Autumn Oglesby Our photographer, Autumn Oglesby, has a gift for capturing the natural beauty of our state. Explore!

Life + Culture

The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway

Explore the Summit Article by Richard Lakin | Photography by courtesy Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway and Minh Quan If you live in Albuquerque and have visitors from out of state, there are two things that you’re likely to show them... New Mexico ballooning and the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway. The 2.7-mile ascent on the tramway to the 10,378-foot peak of the Sandia Mountains is a thrilling, scenic experience. This year, the tramway is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The tram has transported about...

Life + Culture

Cody Johnson

Telling New Mexico's Story Article by Keri Bridgwater | Photography by photos courtesy New Mexico Tourism Cody Johnson’s New Mexico roots run deep. Born and raised in Albuquerque, his understanding of the state is less about any one place and more about how they connect—from Truth or Consequences, where his grandfather has owned property for decades and childhood summers were spent at Elephant Butte, to college years in Las Cruces. That experience shapes his work as Communications Director...

Shopping

The Man's Hat Shop

Quality Western Headwear Article and Photography by Richard Lakin If you live in New Mexico, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to purchase a Western-style hat at some point. In fact, you’re probably going to own several for different occasions. Going to a music venue in Albuquerque or strolling along Canyon Road in Santa Fe, a cowboy (or cowgirl) hat is practically de riguer.   A good hat is generally not cheap, so you want to buy it from a quality place where the salespeople are...

Life + Culture

Joshua Jackson

A dream deferred Article by Richard Lakin | Photography by Courtesy of the Jackson Family Losing your life’s dream is hard, but as educator and Morehouse College president Benjamin Elijah once wrote, “The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.” Such is the case with a young Albuquerque man named Joshua Jackson, who dreamt of being a race car...

Travel

Scottsdale in Summer? Yes, Really!

Off season adventures in the Southwest Article by Jill Robbins | Photography by courtesy Experience Scottsdale Scottsdale is known for outdoor adventure set against the dramatic Sonoran Desert landscape, swoony wellness-focused resorts, and top-tier shopping. It’s also known for hot, arid summers, with highs spiking to 105 and beyond. While winter peak season is generally considered the best time to visit, Scottsdale in summer still has a lot going for it: killer resort deals, sparkling pools...