Albuquerque Sights

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• Albuquerque Biological Park, +1 505 768-2000, www.cabq.gov/biopark, which includes the Albuquerque Aquarium, the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, the Rio Grande Zoo, and Tingley Beach (see below under Do). Combo tickets for the Biological Park can be purchased, and include the price of train rides on a small narrow-gauge train running between the Aquarium/Botanical Gardens and the Zoo. The train runs Tu-Su from around 10AM-4PM at 30 min. intervals.
  • Rio Grande Zoo, 903 Tenth St SW (just SW of downtown). 9AM-5PM daily, except major holidays. It may not be as big as the zoos you see in a big city, but this zoo has most of the "popular" species you can expect at any good zoo: polar bears, lions, zebras, tigers, giraffes, elephants, gorillas, etc. The animals are in nice exhibits with trees, grasses, water and rockwork. The best exhibit areas are the seals, the polar bears, a large Africa area, and the "Catwalk". Every day there are scheduled feedings of the seals and the polar bears; during the warmer months more feeding times, activities, and shows are scheduled. A small narrow-gauge train runs through the zoo (Tu-Su 10AM-3:30PM at 20 min. intervals), with a conductor pointing out some of the animals and explaining what goes on behind-the-scenes. A separate train line runs to the Aquarium/Botanical Gardens. During the warmer months there are frequent outdoor concerts, activities, more feeding times, and other events at the Zoo. $7, $3 seniors, $3 children, under age 3 free (train rides require separate admission, unless you have a combo ticket).
  • Albuquerque Aquarium / Rio Grande Botanical Garden, 2601 Central Ave NW (just east of the Rio Grande). 9AM-5PM daily, except major holidays. Albuquerque's small but pleasant Aquarium is focused on saltwater species from the Gulf of Mexico. You'll see jellyfish, seahorses, eels, and plenty of reef fish. The highlight is a huge shark tank with other ocean species like sea turtles and rays. Divers enter the big tank every day from 2-3PM to feed the fish. The Botanical Garden has plenty of gardens to explore, with an emphasis on desert plants. The highlights are a glass conservatory with plants from desert and Mediterranean climate zones, an indoor butterfly garden that is open in the summer, a Japanese garden, a recreated early 20th century farm with a barnyard petting zoo, a model railroad, and a fantastic children's "Fantasy Garden" with giant pretend vegetables, garden tools and bugs. $7, $3 seniors, $3 children, under age 3 free (train rides require separate admission, unless you have a combo ticket).
• Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE (on the grounds of the Balloon Fiesta), +1 505 768-6020, www.cabq.gov/balloon. Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. A very interesting museum dedicated to the science and history of ballooning, with exhibits on balloons and other lighter-than-air craft, collections and memorabilia from famous balloonists, and extensive exhibits on ballooning in Albuquerque. $4 adults, $2 seniors, $1 children, age 3 and under free (Sunday mornings free).
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St NW (just north of I-40), +1 505 843-7270, www.indianpueblo.org. 9AM-4:30PM daily, closed on major holidays. Operated by the 19 Indian Pueblos of New Mexico, this complex has a small museum with a collection of artifacts of the culture and history of the pueblo people. The center also has an art gallery, a children's area, a restaurant, and a large gift shop. Indian dances are a frequent event. $6, $4 children, under age 5 free.
• National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th St SW (south of downtown), +1 505 246-2261, www.nhccnm.org. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM, closed major holidays. A large complex of buildings dedicated to Hispanic culture, with a small but very interesting art museum. There is also a library (closed Su), restaurant and gift shop, and frequent special events. $3, $2 seniors, aged 16 and under free.
• National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, 601 Eubank Blvd SE (at Southern Blvd, near the Kirtland Air Force Base), +1 505 245-2137, www.nuclearmuseum.org. 9AM-5PM daily except major holidays. A museum devoted to things nuclear, including replicas of the Little Boy and Fat Man bombs dropped in WWII, as well as other weapons, nuclear-capable aircraft and rockets, and displays on arms control and uses of atomic energy. The surrounding park includes a large aircraft collection, with planes, rockets, missiles, and even cannons. $8, $7 seniors/youth, $6 military, age 5 and under free.

The Sandia Peak Tramway rises above Albuquerque

• Sandia Peak Tramway, Off Tramway Blvd on the NE corner of the city, +1 505 856-7325, www.sandiapeak.com/index.php?page=tramway. Operates every 20-30 min. from 9AM until evening (no morning rides on off-season Tu), with closures in Apr and Oct for maintenance. Runs from a lower terminus in the northeast heights to the top of 10,400-foot (3169 m) Sandia Peak east of the city, and is one of the longest (some sources say the longest) and most spectacular aerial tramways in the world. The first upward tram departs at 9AM (except Tu in the off season), and service continues until early evening. The 15-min. ride to the top is incredible, bringing you right up to the rocky face of the Sandias. The view of the city from Sandia Peak is tremendous (especially after sunset), and there is a restaurant and a visitor center at the top. Closed for two weeks in spring and fall for "maintenance," but spring winds are so intense that you really don't want to be on an aerial tram then anyway. $17.50 round trip for adults, $15 round trip for teens and seniors, and $10 round trip for children (discounts for riders with reservations for the restaurant at the top and for skiers).
• Unser Racing Museum, 1776 Montano Rd NW, +1 505 341-1776, www.unserracingmuseum.com. 10AM-4PM daily. Operated by the local Unser racing family, this museum is dedicated to the racing legacy of the Unsers as well as to the sport of auto racing in general. $7, $4 seniors, $3 children, age 6 and under free.