19 New Mexico True Adventures You Need to Experience During Balloon Fiesta

1. Fill Your Tank

Fill your tank with breakfast at one of more than 100 restaurants on the New Mexico True Breakfast Burrito Byway. Remember: Mornings can be chile. 

2. Ride the Rails

Ride the rails and see stunning fall colors on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama. 

3. Find “Hoppiness”

Find “hoppiness” on the New Mexico True Ale Trail and see what the hype surrounding New Mexico’s craft beer is all about.

4. Enjoy an Excursion

Enjoy an excursion on any of the Enchanted 8 Road Trips. These themed itineraries span the state and feature topics such as Native Culture, Cuisine and Family Travel (and all offer excitement, adventure and history.)

5. Play the Slots

Play the slots (slot canyons, that is) at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument near Cochiti Pueblo. 

6. Just Relax

Just relax with a spa treatment that uses locally sourced ingredients, like lavender, prickly pear and red chile. 

7. Cowboy Up

Cowboy up with Old West traditions at the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso Downs.

8. Reach for the Sky

Reach for the sky at Acoma's famed "Sky City", a USA Today award winner as "Best Native American Experience."

9. Play in Nature’s Sandbox 

Play in nature’s sandbox and go sand sledding at White Sands National Monument. 

10. Break Out Your Lederhosen

Break out your lederhosen and raise a stein at Red River’s Oktoberfest, located on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. 

11. Sip it Up

Break out your lederhosen and raise a stein at Red River’s Oktoberfest. 

12. Savor the Flavor

Savor the flavor along the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail, USA Today's '10BestReaders' Choice' award winner as "Best Food Trail."

13. Discover Native Treasures

Discover Native treasures with multicultural arts & crafts vendors, traditional dances, and hands-on demonstrations.

14. Taste Tradition

Taste tradition along the New Mexico Culinary Treasures Trail made up of family-owned restaurants in operation more than 40 years.

15. Intermingle with Artists

Intermingle with artists on the self-guided Abiquiu Studio Tour. The landscape alone, made famous by Georgia O’Keeffe, is worth the drive.

16. Craft Shop ‘til you Drop 

Craft shop ‘til you drop for unique works of art at the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival.

17. Go Nuts

Go nuts by staying in NM a bit longer to sink your teeth into the Southern New Mexico Pecan Festival and indulge in a pecan pie competition, food truck throwdown and live music.

18. Hit the Links

Hit the links along the New Mexico True Golf Trail, showcasing New Mexico’s many stunning—and affordable—golf courses.

19. Build a Foundation

Build a foundation of understanding New Mexico’s one-of-a-kind architecture along the Architecture Trail, filled with some of the most important and arresting historical structures in the country.