The first tourists in New Mexico arrived between 225 and 66 million years ago. They must have enjoyed themselves, because they stayed through the Late Triassic and the entire Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. When they became extinct, the party was over, but the dinosaurs were kind enough to leave fossils behind throughout the state, except for the southeastern corner.

The majestic mountains and mesas are breathtaking, but some of the most intriguing lines of New Mexico's landscape lie in its architecture. And, like the formidable Sangre de Cristo peaks, no two New Mexico houses are the same.

When you look at a Navajo rug, rich in texture and glorious in color; or a coiled basket tray; or a ceramic water jar, you are viewing New Mexican masterpieces. Ceramics, basketry, weavings, and kachina dolls reflect a proud heritage; the artwork and craftsmanship have deep roots, some tracing to prehistoric times.

Country music icon Randy Travis lives in the Land of Enchantment with his wife Elizabeth and finds a world of artistic inspiration here.

One of the most romantic roads in U.S. history — Route 66 — runs through the heart of Albuquerque and its Nob Hill area on Central Avenue. The two-mile section of The Mother Road, bounded by Girard and San Mateo in Nob Hill, is one of the state's best-preserved segments of the legendary road.

A list of GuestLife New Mexico's favorite Hotels and Conference Centers

What a blast: The birthplace of the atomic bomb meets a faithful pilgrimage to Santuariao de Chimayó — only in Northern New Mexico, where the High Road to Taos ascends along the New Mexico Scenic Byway.

A list of some of GuestLife New Mexico's favorite Real Estate resources.

Tens of thousands of birds take off at the same time and fields of soft, white gypsum sands curl across the horizon. Southern New Mexico — home of giant stalagmites, great wineries, and (gasp!) aliens — is a destination with many dimensions.

Taos Mountain casts dramatic shadows and regally guards a destination that's best known for its azure skies and its wildly popular winter attraction: Taos Ski Valley. But with more than 80 art galleries, 10 museums, gourmet restaurants, the eminent Pueblo of Taos, and an abundance of outdoor activities, you can enjoy Taos any time of the year.

"America's first couple of outdoor cooking," Cheryl and Bill Jamison are among the nation's most lauded writers with three James Beard Awards and numerous other honors to their credit.

The Galisteo resident has authored Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and The Savory Way, both named Julia Child Cookbooks of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

A James Beard Award winner for her book Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations, Lois Ellen Frank is a photographer and chef based in Santa Fe who has published 15 culinary posters and 18 cookbooks and photographed books for several prominent chefs.

With 310 sunshiney days under impossibly blue skies, New Mexico has five national forests, 29 state parks, and 13 national monuments — extraordinary for hiking, camping, and biking, as well as water and snow sports, all in breathtaking landscapes. Welcome to the great outdoors — New Mexico style!

As you peer into a gleaming meditation pool, watch the sun sink below the lavender horizon reflecting off the water. Only this and the scent of herbs wafting from the four-star restaurant alert you that it's dinnertime. This is a New Mexico spa.

A Calendar of Events Hosted by New Mexico's Native American Community.

Collective Soul — A year-long lineup of festivals and events that celebrate the diversity that permeates New Mexico.

Celebrated as one of the most historically significant buildings in Santa Fe, the Palace of the Governors holds the future and the past of New Mexico's story.

It's always theater season in New Mexico — whether in landmark, restored Art Deco movie palaces or old-time adobe opera houses. Early settlers communicated through their dramatic enactments, which local stages continue to share with today’s audiences.

Enrich your life with art! Here’s a selection of some of New Mexico’s performing arts.

While New Mexico’s flavors include Mexican influences, there are also differences. Whatever its heritage, restaurants here pride themselves on the freshest ingredients available.

A selection of some of GuestLife’s favorite galleries in New Mexico, covering many genres and artists.

A guide to New Mexico's museums, cultural centers and historical attractions. Including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Northern and Southern New Mexico.

GuestLife's favorite places to shop, arranged by city.

Santa Fe's historical Guadalupe District is build-ing for the future with The Railyard, in the heart of the area, driving the transformation as its 50 acres become a dynamic community center. The permanent home for the Santa Fe Farmers Market — one of the top markets in the country and a powerful magnet to the area — will be ready in 2008.

Some of the most innovative, contemporary jewelers today are located in New Mexico, the inspiration of so much wearable art. Whether it’s a bold, clean design in a silver belt buckle, the graceful contours in an exquisitely designed coral necklace, or a 22K gold ring bedazzled in diamonds and rubies, New Mexican jewelry — contemporary or traditional — surpasses mere ornamentation.

The innate skills of weavers in northern New Mexico become instantly apparent, whether you're viewing or shopping for woven goods.

From the neon trim of Route 66 that winds through its center, to its kaleidoscope sunsets, brilliant blue skies and star-filled nights, soaring balloons, and holiday luminaries, Albuquerque is a city of light. More than ever, the Duke City is capturing the national spotlight.

First-time visitors are awestruck by the sheer magnitude of undeveloped terrain with homes that seem to emerge from the hillside and follow the contours of the land. And although these castles in the sky are a spectacular sight, it's the simple pleasures Santa Fe offers that are her greatest of luxuries.

Before jutting up to Santa Fe or Taos, stop in the state's urban depot — downtown Albuquerque — for a look at an appreciable variety of established, emerging, and cutting-edge artists.

Located in a former beer warehouse on unpaved land at The Railyard at South Guadalupe and Paseo de Peralta, SITE Santa Fe has proved its mettle as a magnet for contemporary art collectors, curators, and dealers worldwide.

The Taos founders established a colony that has stood the test of time, continuing to inspire generations of artists working in all media — painting and sculpture, as well as jewelry and vessels.