Petroglyph National Monument: technically located within Albuquerque, “it is estimated that about 90 percent of the petroglyphs were created during the period between AD 1300 until the end of the 17th century. At this time, the Native population was increasing quickly and Pueblo adobe villages were being built along the Rio Grande and at the base of the Sandia Mountains.”

Bernalillo: less than thirty minutes north of Albuquerque, you can visit the Coronado Historic Site, the Lady of Sorrows Church (built in 1857), and go thrifting at Camino Real Antiques

Tinkertown: thirty minutes east of Albuquerque, you can read about the history of Tinkertown here. It is located along the Turquosie Trail, “the perfect day trip linking Santa Fe and Albuquerque!”

Wildlife West Nature Park: thirty minutes east of Albuquerque, a native plant & animal habitat park

Los Lunas: twenty minutes south of Albuquerque, in Los Lunas you can see the Luna Mansion (built in the late 19th century), the Tome Jail, a AT&SF Depot, Tome Hill, the Decalogue Stone. You can also visit Sundancer Alpacas.

Belen: thirty minutes south of Albuquerque, in Belen (which means Bethlehem in Spanish!), you can visit the Harvey House Museum, see the Felipe Chavez House (built in 1860), the Belen Hotel (built in 1907 and now Judy Chicago’s home), Judy Chicago’s Through the Flower Art Gallery, Our Lady of Belen Church (built in 1850, the previous one from the 1700s is currently being excavated by archaeologists).

Tent Rocks: one hour north of Albuquerque

San Lorenzo Canyon: one hour south of Albuquerque

Socorro: one hour south of Albuquerque, you can see the Garcia Opera House, the Old Miguel Spanish Mission, the Loma Theater, and the Val Verde Hotel.

Near to Socorro you can visit several ghost towns, Fort Craig and see the Camino de Sueños sculpture, as part of the El Camino Real National Byway.

Acoma “Sky City”: one hour and fifteen minutes south of Albuquerque

Magdalena: an hour and a half south of Albuquerque, you can visit (stay in!) the historic Hall Hotel, eat at Tumbleweeds Diner, have a coffee in the old Bank, visit the Boxcar Museum and the ghost town of Kelly

Jemez Site: an hour and a half north of Albuquerque, “Jemez National Historic Landmark is one of the most beautiful sites in the Southwest. It includes the stone remnants of a 700 year old village and the San José de los Jemez church dating to 1621.” Nearby you can eat at the Los Ojos Restaurant & Saloon

Española: an hour and a half north of Albuquerque, you can visit the historic Plaza of Santa Cruz de la Canada Church, shop at the Chimayó Trading Post (opened in 1917), see the 1930s El Rio Theatre, visit the historic Inn at the Delta and the Bond House, a house built in the late 19th century when the town was located on the “Chili Line”

Puye Cliff Dwellings: an hour and forty minutes north of Albuquerque, the dwellings were “home to 1,500 Pueblo Indians who lived, farmed and hunted game there from the 900s to 1580 A.D.”

Los Luceros Historic Site: an hour and forty five minutes north of Albuquerque, Los Luceros is another one of the official New Mexico Historic Sites. At this 148-acre ranch you can visit a chapel built in the 1700s, a large hacienda where you can learn about Mary Cabot Wheelwright who purchased the property in 1923, and several other historic buildings.

Bosque Redondo Historic Site: two and a half hours east of Albuquerque, this museum teaches the viewer about the Long Walk, one of the darkest moments in the history of New Mexico