3 Best Sights in Los Ranchos/North Valley, Albuquerque

Along the banks of the Rio Grande, this 270-acre refuge in an especially tranquil portion of the bosque (about midway up on the Paseo del Bosque trail) is the nation's largest cottonwood forest. There are numerous walking and biking trails that wind into the 53-acre Aldo Leopold Forest and down to the river. Bird-watchers come to view all manner of migratory waterfowl, but especially the sandhill cranes that swoop in in late fall. Constructed half above ground and half below the edge of a pond, the park's interpretive Rio Grande Nature Center—a distinctive Antoine Predock design—has viewing windows and speakers that broadcast the sounds of the birds you're watching; frogs, ducks, and turtles may be seen (and heard) as well. On the Center's grounds, a native plant garden offers a nice meander under the cottonwoods. Active programs are available for adults and children, and the center's Nature Shop has a small but good selection of plush critters, books, and more.

This dramatic museum celebrates the city's legacy as the hot-air ballooning capital of the world. Albuquerque's high altitude, mild climate, and a fortuitous wind pattern known as the Albuquerque Box make it an ideal destination for ballooning. The fun, massive facility is named for Maxie Anderson and Ben Abruzzo, who pioneered ballooning here and were part of a team of three aviators who made the first manned hot-air balloon crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1978. Filling the airy museum space are several fully inflated historic balloons, and both large- and small-scale replicas of gas balloons and zeppelins. You'll also see vintage balloon baskets, china and flatware from the ill-fated Hindenburg and an engaging display on that tragic craft, and dynamic exhibits that trace the history of the sport, dating back to the first balloon ride, in 1783. Interactive stations are set up so kids can design their own balloons.

Perhaps the most stunning of Albuquerque's wineries, Casa Rondeña was designed to resemble a Tuscan villa, with its green-tile roof and verdant grounds laced with shade trees, fountains, and of course, vineyards. Though a true patina of age has yet to develop (the winery was founded in 1995 by vintner John Calvin), this is a most pleasant place for sipping. Respect for the centuries-old heritage of wine in the state is shown through their very drinkable "1629" red blend (made from Tempranillo, Syrah, and Cabernet grapes, it's a nod to the Spaniards who carried the first vines here in that year). A vintage oak fermentation sits in the great hall where tastings are conducted.