Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA

Marvel at the 11,000-square-mile sprawl of the entire Rio Grande Valley from the observation deck of the 10,000-foot Sandia Peak, reachable either on foot or on a ride on the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway. Look down, and you’ll see deep canyons while the gondola takes you on an almost three-mile journey to the top. Take your campervan rental to the nearby Cibola National Forest where trails of varying length present an opportunity to enjoy the views and encounter wildlife on a vigorous hike.

Glean insights into the artistic minds of the ancestral Pueblo peoples and early Spanish settlers at the Petroglyph National Monument when RV camping at Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA, about half an hour’s drive from the monument. About 24,000 carvings of animals, human-like faces, and geometric patterns were etched onto volcanic rocks by occupants of the land some 400 to 700 years ago. For really ancient carvings, make your way to the Boca Negra Canyon area where carvings have been dated as old as 3,000 years.

For a look at how Puebloans lived around a thousand years ago, make a day trip to Bandelier National Monument less than two hours away by Bernalillo RV rental. Imagine what life was like for these ancient Native Americans whose culture can still be discerned in the surrounding communities. Climb up into their cave dwellings (some a few stories high) dug into soft rock cliffs, see standing masonry walls, and gaze at the mesatop fields where they planted crops. Out in the open, launch a kayak in White Rock Canyon or seek out the park’s short and long trails to see more of the area.

Hundreds of huge hot air balloons of all shapes, colors, and stripes fill Albuquerque’s orange sky in October when the International Balloon Fiesta comes to town. Around the world, it’s the largest event of its kind. Rent a camper near Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA during this well-attended festival and venture out after dark to witness the mesmerizing glow of the balloons tied to the ground.

With more than 300 days of sunshine, Albuquerque is an inviting place to visit any time of the year. Outside of the balloon season, the narrow streets of the Old Town swarm with visitors who come for the century-old adobe houses and New Mexico’s legendary red and green chiles. Step inside the museums for a look at Albuquerque's culture and heritage or join a guided tour of more than 100 shops and galleries for unique items from the Southwest. In the more modern part of town, you’ll find heaps of restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, and gas stations to supply your needs during your visit.

New Mexico was once under a shallow sea, and evidence of that geologic past keeps turning up in the fossils that archaeologists have unearthed over the years. Their “uncoveries” are on display at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, which also dedicates a room for dinosaur skeletons. If you’d like to see Ice Age caves, the museum offers a look into them with their replicas and provides an immersive experience in their walk-through volcano.

With your RV rental near Albuquerque North/Bernalillo KOA, you’ll be able to meet native and exotic animals at 64-acre Albuquerque BioPark and Zoo. You’ll see "Birds of the Americas” here, and animals from Africa (chimpanzees, hippopotamuses, giraffes) and Australia (kookaburras, Tasmanian devils, and kangaroos). You can get close to the animals or keep your distance. Touch an alpaca or a llama, get up close to a shark, or take in the surroundings and cover more ground on a train ride.

Albuquerque is New Mexico’s major tourist draw, and when you’ve had your fill of the wonderful treasures it has to offer, you’ll see why. So book an RV rental in Albuquerque, New Mexico today and get ready to be “ballooned” away.