New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
A trip through this museum will take you through 12 billion years of natural history, from the formation of the universe to the present day. Begin by looking at a display of stones and gems, then stroll through the "Age of Giants" display, where you'll find dinosaur skeletons cast from the real bones. Moving along, you come into the Cretaceous Period and learn of the progression of flooding in the southwestern United States, beginning 100 million years ago and continuing until 66 million years ago, when New Mexico became dry. This exhibit takes you through a tropical oasis, with aquariums of alligator gars, fish that were here 100 million years ago and still exist today. Next, step into the Evolator (kids love this!), a simulated time-travel ride that moves and rumbles, taking you 1 1/4 miles (2km) up (or down) and through 38 million years of history. Then, you'll feel the air grow hot as you walk into a cave and see the inner workings of a volcano, including simulated magma flow. Soon, you'll find yourself in the age of the mammoths and moving through the ice age. Other stops along the way include the Naturalist Center, where kids can peek through microscopes and make their own bear or raccoon footprints in sand, and FossilWorks, where paleontologists work behind glass, excavating bones of a seismosaurus. Be sure to check out the newest addition to the museum, the LodeStar Astronomy Center, a sophisticated planetarium with the Virtual Voyages Simulation theater. Those exhibits, as well as the DynaTheater, which surrounds you with images and sound, cost an additional fee. A gift shop on the ground floor sells imaginative nature games and other curios. This museum has good access for people with disabilities, including scripts for people with impaired hearing and exhibit text written in Braille.

National Hispanic Cultural Center
Located in the historic Barelas neighborhood on the Camino Real, this gem of Albuquerque museums offers a rich cultural journey through hundreds of years of history and across the globe. It explores Hispanic arts and lifeways with visual arts, drama, music, dance, and other programs. I most enjoyed the 11,000-square-foot gallery space, which exhibits exciting contemporary and traditional works. Look for photographs by Miguel Gandert. An exciting 2004 exhibit was Corridos Sin Fronteras, which re-creates the historical development of the corrida (a song portraying an adventure) in Mexico and the southwestern U.S. A restaurant offers New Mexican and American food. It's a good spot to sample authentic regional dishes such as tacos and enchiladas either from a buffet or by ordering from the menu. My favorite is the tortilla burger (a burger served in a flour tortilla, with all the fixin's). Plans are to incorporate a cultural cooking component into the center, which would allow visitors to sample Hispanic foods from all over the world.

National Atomic Museum
"I am become death, the shatterer of worlds." Shortly after the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb, Robert Oppenheimer, who headed the Manhattan Project, said this, quoting from ancient Hindu texts. This and other valuable information highlight the 51-minute film Ten Seconds That Shook the World, which is shown daily (throughout the day) at this museum, an experience worth fitting into a busy schedule. The museum itself offers the next-best introduction to the nuclear age after the Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos, making for an interesting 1- to 2-hour perusal. It traces the history of nuclear-weapons development, beginning with the top-secret Manhattan Project of the 1940s, including a copy of the letter Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt suggesting the possible need to beat the Germans at creating an atomic bomb -- a letter that surprisingly went ignored for nearly 2 years. You'll find a permanent Marie Curie exhibit in the lobby and full-scale models of the "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" bombs, as well as displays and films on the peaceful application of nuclear technology -- including nuclear medicine -- and other alternative energy sources.

Holiday Inn Express ALBUQUERQUE
After a long day of driving, relax at the Holiday Inn Express Albuquerque Hotel located off of I-40 at Coors Rd., South. Exit 155. Our spacious 103 rooms have both interior and exterior corridors. You can choose from rooms with one king or two queen size beds. We also feature rooms with jacuzzi style tubs for ultimate relaxation. For a long term guest we offer a guest apartment with a full size kitchen, living room, and bed room. All of our rooms are equipped with irons and boards, ...

Quality Inn & Suites
High-speed Internet available. Hot items on FREE Deluxe Continental Breakfast. Outdoor pool, hot tub and exercise room. FREE cable, 25-inch TV with ESPN and HBO. FREE local calls and newspaper. Meeting room available. Two-room suites available. Restaurant next door with room service available. Restaurant on premises. One mile from convention center. Pet Accomodations: 10.00/stay per pet Pet Accomodations: ...

Nativo Lodge
Nativo Lodge will charm and inspire you with inviting spaces that capture the rich and colorful spirit of New Mexico. Conveniently located in north Albuquerque, the lodge is adjacent to the Journal Business Center just off I-25, minutes to Old Town, Balloon Fiesta Park, Sandia Casino, Albuquerque Airport, and the finest shopping and dining that Albuquerque has offer. Spacious and comfortable guest rooms feature Native American accents, wireless Internet, in-room coffee, dual line phones with ...