Albuquerque is humble and understated compared to its neighbor, Santa Fe, to the north, yet this Southwestern city has a rich culture and heritage with plenty for visitors to explore.

In an area that was home to the Ancient Pueblo people for a thousand years, Albuquerque was founded as a small Spanish settlement in 1706. By the mid-1800s, Albuquerque found itself in the middle of the Wild West, with its legendary cowboys and homestead ranches. More recently, the city was a major stop along the infamous Route 66 and vintage neon signs can still be seen around town today. This blend of culture and heritage spanning several hundred years makes Albuquerque a special place to visit.

A main draw for tourists, the Old Town area is filled with a mix of 18th century architecture, cobbled courtyards, and classic Southwestern adobe buildings. This historic area is filled with a plethora of restaurants, shops, galleries, and craft shops, where you’ll find Southwest landscape paintings, Native American jewelry, and hand-woven textiles. This central part of the city is also filled with numerous museums, from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and Albuquerque Museum of Art and History to the American International Rattlesnake Museum, which boasts the largest collection of different species of live rattlesnakes in the world.

Visitors should make sure to venture outside the city center, as well, to enjoy the 310 days of sun and clear skies in this high desert region, whether by golfing, hiking, or enjoying a hot air balloon ride. Hot air balloons and Albuquerque go hand-in-hand, as hot air balloons take center stage at Albuquerque’s largest annual event, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The Balloon Fiesta draws nearly a million visitors from around the world every year during the beginning of October. What started as 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot in 1972 has today turned into the world’s largest hot air balloon event, with approximately 700 balloons of all shapes and sizes. Visitors to the nine-day festival can look forward to watching hundreds of balloons rise up into the morning sky, balloon piloting competitions, the beauty of the balloon glow event in the evenings when the balloons’ burners are lit to create giant glowing lanterns of sorts, fireworks, live music, artisan booths and much more.

Hot air balloons aren’t your only option to take to the skies while in Albuquerque. On the northeast edge of the city, the Sandia Peak Tramway rises more than 4,000 vertical feet to the top of the Sandia Peak Ski Area. The aerial tramway, covering almost 3 miles, is the longest aerial tram in the United States and one of the longest in the world. Visitors can enjoy the 15-minute ride to the top of Sandia Peak year-round—in the summer for panoramic views of the vast desert below, best enjoyed at sunset, or during the winter to bypass 30 minutes of driving over icy, windy mountain roads for a day of skiing or snowboarding at New Mexico’s oldest ski area.

After an eventful day exploring the city, you won’t want to leave Albuquerque’s unique culture and flavor behind, which is why the following three hotels are a great place to end your day.

Situated in the historic Old Town of Albuquerque, Hotel Chaco offers guests a luxurious and modern experience while celebrating 1,000 years of New Mexico history. Hotel Chaco pays homage to Chaco Canyon, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site, which was the cultural center of the Ancient Pueblo people between 900 and 1150 AD. The hotel’s ultra-modern design pays homage to Chacoan architecture, with precise stone masonry and wooden accents, and even the building’s alignment is positioned to coordinate with the sun’s movements like the ancient dwellings. Guests will love the local artwork displayed throughout the hotel, the rooftop restaurant with 360-degree views of the city, desert gardens and tranquil swimming pool, and the fabulously custom-designed guest rooms with 25 unique configurations among the 118 guest rooms.

Also in the heart of Albuquerque, Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town has a little something for everyone: contemporary comfort blended with historic charm, 188 guest rooms outfitted with Southwestern décor, an on-site restaurant and bar, outdoor pool, romantic wedding chapel, and more than 62,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. In partnership with the National Institute of Flamenco, the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town is also home to the Southwest region’s first authentic Tablao Flamenco, an intimate performance space featuring international and local performers who celebrate the music traditions of Southern Spain. Guests rave about these exciting performances and the authentic Seville tapas and flavorful drinks, including the popular coconut margarita, that can be enjoyed along with the show.

Just 20 minutes from the base of the Sandia Peak Tramway, the Crowne Plaza Albuquerque is centrally located off of Albuquerque’s main thoroughfares, I-40 and I-25, making it convenient and easy for guests to explore the city. The hotel offers newly renovated guestrooms, an Olympic-sized seasonal outdoor pool, large outdoor courtyard, and three on-site restaurants, including the award-winning Rancher’s Club of New Mexico. Rancher’s Club of New Mexico is one of the top-rated steakhouses in Albuquerque and draws both locals and out-of-town visitors - even those staying at other area hotels. The lounge and restaurant are filled with saddles, artifacts, and artwork donated by native New Mexican ranchers to evoke the rustic charm and comfort of a ranch house while sharing a piece of New Mexico’s history.

With hundreds and hundreds of years of multicultural history to explore through museums, art, architecture, restaurant options that include everything from the spicy flavors of New Mexico to ’50s inspired Route 66 diners, and the excitement of a hot air balloon or tram ride, Albuquerque offers visitors an exciting and authentic experience of the American Southwest.