New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, Albuquerque, NM

After browsing around the Sculpture Garden outside the nearby Museum of Art and History, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant in Old Town and then made our way into the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science.

This is really a great museum and we enjoyed our visit. There were several middle school groups there that posed some disruptions to otherwise peaceful browsing of exhibits, etc. But, we reminded ourselves that the future of all museums rests squarely on the captured interests of young shoulders... and so it is always a good thing when children are visiting.

We watched the Imax 3-D show "Tiny Giants", a day in the life of a scorpion mouse and a chipmunk, and it was most excellent. The animations are done so well, it is about impossible to tell where the real creatures stop and the CGI begins. We were the only two people in the theater that were not part of a school group. As it turned out, we enjoyed the "oohs" and "aahs" from the kids, and their excitement at watching the show.

A visit to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is well worth the time. Highly recommended!

Welcome

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Seismosaurus

Pentaceratops Shull

Mosasaur

Diatryma

Sculpture Garden, Museum of Art and History, Albuquerque, NM

We visited the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science today... but it took us a while to go into the facility because we were distracted by the Sculpture Garden outside the nearby Museum of Art and History. What an awesome display!

In particular, I fell in love with the collection of life-size bronze sculptures, "La Jornada", depicting Governor Juan de Onate's seven-month expedition to New Mexico in 1598. He was accompanied by nearly 600 settlers, including women and children, along with Mexican Indians, Franciscan friars, and thousands of sheep, pigs, goats, cattle, mules, and horses. Here are some photos... scroll down for more!

In addition to "La Jornada", there were other wonderful bronze works on display:

By the time we finished walking around the Sculpture Garden, it was time for lunch. We enjoyed a very good meal at Back Street Grill in Old Town. After lunch, we finally made our way to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science.

Bandelier National Monument, NM

Today we visited the Bandelier National Monument and loved it!

Bandelier is about a two-hour drive from our campground at Kirtland AFB - an interesting and easy drive. We went up through the Santa Fe area, over to White Rock, and then on to the monument.

Bandelier National Monument preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Pueblo People. Most of the pueblo structures date from 1150 to 1600 CE. The Monument is 50 square miles of the Pajarito Plateau, on the slopes of the Jemez Volcanic field in the Jemez Mountains.

Over 70% of the Monument is Wilderness, with over one mile elevation change, from about 5,000 feet along the Rio Grande to over 10,000 feet at the peak of Cerro Grande on the rim of the Valles Caldera, providing for a wide range of life zones and wildlife habitat. There are only three miles of road, but over 70 miles of hiking trails.

The Monument protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, a diverse and scenic landscape, and the country's largest National Park Service Civilian Conservation Corps National Landmark District.

We really enjoyed exploring the Pueblo ruins, the cliff dwellings and the amazing landscape. HIGHLY recommended!

Pueblo Ruins

Along the Cliff

A Cliff Dwelling

Part of the same Cliff Dwelling

Entrance to a Cliff Dwelling

Foliage Abounds

A Portion of the Cliffs