If Dorothy had landed in New Mexico instead of Oz, she likely would’ve never wanted to return home, discovering her true “somewhere over the rainbow” in this Land of Enchantment. Groups, too, will be charmed by the state’s magnificent landscapes and cultural treasures, finding plenty of interesting interactive experiences to take it all in, whether it’s hot-air ballooning over Albuquerque, learning how to whip up a refreshing agave margarita or embarking on a llama trek into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Art activities are especially popular as scores of artists are based in the state, probably because its breathtaking backdrops are so inspiring.
“We aren’t talking about places that make the pottery and then say, ‘We’ll let you paint some jars,’” says Steve Lewis, spokesman for the Santa Fe CVB. “Groups can learn projects from start to finish, starting with a lump of clay to a finished piece. People can really get their hands in it.”
Albuquerque
New Mexico’s largest city is considered the ballooning capital of the world, and no primer on Albuquerque would dare omit such a high-flying adventure. Linda Brown, vice president of convention sales, says the air in Albuquerque forms something like a great box, so that ballrooms easily return to their points of origin.
“Groups of as many as 8 to 12 people can go up in balloons,” Brown says. “They’re treated to amazing views of the Rio Grande River, the Sandia Mountains, dormant volcanoes and pueblos that they just wouldn’t be able to experience any other way.”
Rides typically occur in the morning and are followed by a traditional champagne breakfast.
The Sandia Mountains set the stage for some of the most scenic golfing in the Southwest. The nearby Sandia Resort and Casino offers the Sandia Golf Club for groups looking to bond over some par 5s. Isleta Eagle and Santa Ana golf courses are other options in the area.
An increasingly popular hands-on experience for groups in Albuquerque and throughout the rest of the state is cooking classes, especially those that showcase New Mexican cuisine featuring its famous chiles. Most chile peppers that are grown in the state (99,000 tons), are actually consumed in the state, Brown says.
“The official state question passed by the legislature is ‘Red or green?’” Brown notes, referring to whether one prefers red or green chile peppers when ordering food.
A number of outfits offer team-building cooking classes for groups. One popular outfit in Albuquerque is the Jane Butel Cooking School, which has been on the scene for 26 years. Class topics include “New Mexican Favorites,” “Fajita Party” and “A Tale of Two Tortillas.”
More hands-on experiences can be had at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, where participants can learn how the Pueblo Indians made various items, and the National Hispanic Cultural Center, where groups are welcome to attend free salsa, rueda and cha-cha-cha dance lessons.
Ghost tours of Old Town are also popular, Brown notes.
Santa Fe and Taos
Santa Fe, which significantly enhanced its offerings last year with the opening of an eco-friendly convention center, is a well-known center for the arts. That’s largely due to the reputation of painter Georgia O’Keefe, the capital’s most famous artist, who lived here and in the small village of Abiquiu, located about 50 miles from Santa Fe. With its high concentration of artists, it’s no surprise that Santa Fe offers groups plenty of options for creating art.
The Santa Fe School of Art features group instruction and can also custom design workshops for groups. The school also facilitates cultural art experiences in Santa Fe. The school, situated in the Railyard district downtown, offers classes in plein air painting (a very popular activity for groups), jewelry making, ceramics, glass art and more.
Passport New Mexico, a locally based DMC, coordinates a variety of hands-on activities for groups. The firm focuses on northern New Mexico destinations but can arrange activities for groups all over the state. In addition to classes in plein air painting and pottery, the DMC arranges photography classes and tours, which take full advantage of the state’s magical vistas.
“We’ve had groups go out with just disposable cameras and are taught how to frame great shots,” says Arlene Schiffer, Passport New Mexico’s president and CEO. “I am amazed with the pictures that come out of these classes.”
Groups can go out to remote mining towns to craft shots, or if they don’t have time, the DMC will arrange something downtown.
“There’s plenty of great architecture and scenery in Santa Fe, so groups don’t have to travel too far,” Schiffer says.
More interactive experiences that combine team-building elements such as geocaching are becoming increasingly popular, especially since Santa Fe offers 320 sunny days, says Lewis from the Santa Fe CVB. The bureau can coordinate a geocaching challenge, including providing a GPS device. Groups can split up into teams to find specific spots in Santa Fe. In addition to the Amazing Race aspect of the activity, groups learn about the history and heritage of the city.
El Rancho de las Golondrinas (“The Ranch of the Swallows”), a living history museum in Santa Fe, presents groups with unique hands-on activities that date back to the 1700s.
“Groups can learn candle making, rope making, wine making and sheep shearing,” Lewis says. “When I think of hands-on stuff, this is the place.”
The museum is available for rental and includes a dining pavilion. Scenes from films Into the West and All The Pretty Horses were filmed here.
For a memorable experience, groups can go on llama treks. A number of trekking options are available, including trekking in the Santa Fe National Forest.
“The llamas carry the gear,” Lewis notes. “Groups can have an idyllic lunch on the trek. It’s a great experience. Llamas are wonderful creatures.”
Llama trekking is also an option for visitors to Taos, situated about 70 miles north of Santa Fe. Famous people have been increasingly drawn to Taos before actor Dennis Hopper lived here off and on since the 1960s. D.H. Lawrence and Ansel Adams were drawn to the Southwestern heritage of Taos in the 1920s. And that’s what is attracting groups today, along with great skiing, white-water rafting and its artist’s colony.
“Several artists can take groups out for painting classes,” says Steve Fuhlendorf, CEO of the Taos County COC and Visitor Bureau. “With some 80 galleries, groups are able to go into many galleries and not just view the art, but talk to the artists. Now that’s interactive.”
Groups interested in exploring the Native American heritage should not miss visiting Taos Pueblo, which has been continually inhabited by Pueblo Indians for more than 1,000 years.
Groups can bring their pueblo exploration full circle by checking out a few structures that have been built north of Taos since the 1960s. The homes are called earthships, and many are built into mountainsides using old tires, cans and other items.
“Just like pueblos, these homes are off the grid,” Fuhlendorf notes. “They aren’t connected to water or electricity.”
For outdoor enthusiasts, Taos offers activities year-round, whether it’s skiing, snowboarding, cycling or water sports. One popular excursion is a hot-air balloon tour of the majestic Rio Grande Gorge.
Northwestern New Mexico
Farmington is the principal city in this region and serves as the hub for the Four Corners region. The area is also home to some of the most renowned Indian ruins in the Southwest, including Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument, and Salmon Ruins and Heritage Park.
“An easy hike to view Navajo pueblitos and rock art is a good experiential activity,” says Tonya Stinson, marketing manager for the Farmington CVB.
This region is ideal for fly-fishing trips, Stinson says. The San Juan River at the base of Navajo Dam is where the waters teem with rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Many qualified guides can take groups fishing.
In Farmington proper, there’s the Artifacts Gallery, located in the historic Farmington Lumber building, where a dozen artists in residence are at work. Groups are able to watch artists in action and participate in hands-on activities such as card making, calligraphy, watercolor painting and creating handmade books.
The small community of Los Alamos, located about 45 minutes from Santa Fe, was once a secret think tank community thanks to its rural location and the fact that it is home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the first atomic bomb was developed. Atomic City Tours take groups out to various points of interest.
Southern New Mexico
Las Cruces, Mesilla, Roswell and Ruidoso are the four primary towns in Southern New Mexico, and all offer unique ways to interact with the area’s riches.
The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces offers hands-on activities along with event space with views of the Organ Mountains.
“Groups can make salsa with our famous chiles or learn how to find water in the ground,” says Chris Faivre, media and public relations manager for the Las Cruces CVB. “Plus, it’s great for receptions. It has a beautiful courtyard.”
Many groups will likely not be traveling into outer space any time soon. But those who are curious about it will no doubt be checking out the upcoming Spaceport America, located 45 miles north of Las Cruces. Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic plans to launch flights into outer space from here. It is slated for completion in 2010 or 2011, Faivre says.
Mesilla is a good option for a day trip from Las Cruces. The area offers New Mexico’s newest state park, Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, which opened in 2008. Faivre says the 945-acre park is a great option for groups that enjoy bird watching, hiking and learning about wildlife.
Roswell, famous for its UFO mystique, is also a great place for creatures of this world, particularly dragonflies. The new Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge celebrated its open house in June and will be guiding groups on how to spot dragonflies in the region.
The town of Ruidoso is known for its horse track, great skiing and Wild West heritage. An ideal way to experience the region is to drive along the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway. The road takes visitors to Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino, the Billy The Kid Interpretive Center, Hubbard Museum of the American West and Capitan, the site where the cub Smokey the Bear was discovered clinging to a tree by firefighters in 1950.
For More Info
Albuquerque CVB 505.842.9918 www.itsatrip.org
Farmington CVB 505.326.7602 www.farmingtonnm.org
Las Cruces CVB 505.541.2444 www.lascrucescvb.org
Los Alamos CVB 505.662.8105 www.visit.losalamos.com
Roswell COC 575.623.5695 www.roswellnm.org
Ruidoso Valley COC 575.257.7395 www.ruidosonow.com
Santa Fe CVB 505.955.6200 www.santafe.org
Taos County COC and Visitor Bureau 575.751.8800 www.taoschamber.com
