Albuquerque is a city of diversity. Geographic and historical circumstances have brought Native American, Hispanic and Anglo cultures together to create a unique multicultural community. The land awes and inspires with its changes from the Sandia and ManzanoMountains to the east, the river valley that splits the city in half, to the West Mesa escarpment with its ghosts of volcanic activity.
The weather is mild and it is not unusual for a seventy-degree day during the winter where people can be seen snow skiing at Sandia Peak Ski Area in shorts. Albuquerque is a year-round destination for travelers, offering recreational activities such as white water rafting, the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, gambling for the high stakes enthusiast, hiking, skiing, world class bird watching, and great dining. The mixture of old-world and new architectural styles is stunning. In spite of the size of the city and all of the amenities that go with big city life, Albuquerque manages to retain a small town charm.
