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One of Southwest's most impressive cultural sites, Chaco Canyon reflects the sophistication of the Ancestral Puebloan civilization that existed here. With its six "great houses" and many lesser sites, the canyon was once the political, religious, and cultural center for settlements that spread across much of the Four Corners. One of the best activities in the area is the Northern Pueblos Tour. The fertile valley of the Rio Grande between Santa Fe and Taos is home to eight of the 19th Native American pueblos in New Mexico. Nambe gives stunning views of the surrounding mountains, mesas, and high deserts. San Ildefonso Pueblo is famous for its fine pottery, and other villages produce handcrafted jewelry or rugs.
New Mexico is well-known for its arts community. The state's art museums feature everything from folk art and glass to sculpture and paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe. But there's more to experience in New Mexico museums than art. Here, visitors can find something special in every county in the state. Parks, museums, fairs, festivals, and tours are held year-round across New Mexico. The city of Taos, home to Indians for around 1000 years, is now a vibrant artistic center. In 1898, artists Ernest Blumenschein and Bert Phillips stopped here to repair a wagon wheel and never left. In 1915 they established the Taos Society of Artists, which continues to promote the work of local artists today.
The oldest state capital in North America, Santa Fe was founded by the Spaniard Don Pedro de Peralta in 1600s. With a population of 70,000 primarily Hispanic, Anglo and Native American people, Santa Fe, which means Holy Faith in Spanish, is New Mexico's fourth largest city behind Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Rio Rancho. Situated at 7,000 feet in the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains, it was founded between 1607 and 1610, making it the second oldest city as well as the highest and oldest capital in the U.S. In 1912, it officially achieved statehood and today its unique offerings of art, culture and ancient traditions make it a world-class tourist destination, drawing more than 1 million visitors each year. In 2005, Santa Fe became the first U.S. city to be chosen by UNESCO as a Creative City, one of only nine cities in the world to hold this designation.
For the lovers of the unknown and science fiction, New Mexico has a special treat. The small ranching town of Roswell is a byword for aliens and UFOs since the night of July 4th, 1947 when an unidentified flying object crashed here. The International UFO Museum and Research Center features a collection of newspaper clippings and photographs of the crash site, and a film with over 400 interviews of various people connected to the incident.
If you are an outdoor person, you might want to visit the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Located in the state's remote southeastern corner, this park protects one of the world's largest cave systems.
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When it comes to entertainment everyone knows that New Mexicans enjoy life. In every corner of New Mexico, visitors can find festivals, performances, restaurants and gaming. From the Santa Fe Opera to the Great Duck Race in Deming, there is an event or festival to capture the imagination of everybody in the family. Even the food is fun - in New Mexico, chili comes in "red, green, or Christmas." Visitors who might be in a gaming mood can spend a day at the horse track or in one of the casinos throughout the state. Come out and enjoy the world that is New Mexico.
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