If you're looking to get out of the house this summer, these five spots across New Mexico are a great way to explore nature without traveling too far, or breaking the bank.
Visit the place that inspired Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings, walk among ancient pueblos, drive through historic towns, explore where the Atomic Bomb was developed or learn about alien landings in Roswell at these five trips to take this summer.
Views from Ghost Ranch that inspired Georgia O'Keefe, other artists
Cliffs near Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch for Summer Guide cover.
Cliffs near Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch
This Aug. 31, 2021 photo shows a bend in the Rio Chama near Abiquiu, New Mexico. Traditional irrigation systems known as acequias that depend on the river are feeling more pressure as drought persists and climate change piles on with warmer temperatures.
Ghost Ranch is located on Hwy 84 just north of Abiquiu.
A late afternoon view of Highway 84, near Ghost Ranch, after a storm cleared.
Christ in the Desert Monastery in Abiquiu.
Jeff Weber, photographs the white-walled labyrinth of Plaza Blanca near Abiquiu. The Portland, Oregon Artist uses the images for inspiration for his paintings.
This dead juniper is one possible subject for O'Keeffe's 1937 painting "Gerald's Tree," during the guided tour "Georgia O'Keeffe and the Ghost Ranch Landscape" on Thursday, July 6, 2006.
Horses near Abiquiu Lake
Jean Richardson stand near the labyrinth at the Ghost Ranch Conference Center near Abiquiu.
With his head nearly in the clouds John Buffington, from Massachusetts, takes in the view of Abiquiu Reservoir and northen New Mexico from atop Cerro Pedernal, a mountain west of Abiquiu. At over 9800 feet, hikers who reach the summit are rewarded with a 360 degree view of northern New Mexico. Buffington said he was visiting the area to gather flint that he will use to make arrow heads. Cerro Pedernal is spanish for flint mountain. Indians used to come to the area to collect flint and the peak was made famous through paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe who could see the peak from her home in Abiquiu.
Cormorants perch on a tree on Abiquiu Lake.
The Chama River near Abiquiú.
Echo Amphitheater near Ghost Ranch.
The Penitente Morada in Abiquiu, NM.
Christopher Garcia prepares to field a ball in the plaza of Abiquiu where the Armijo Old Spanish Trail originated. San Tomas Catholic church is in the background.
This road near Abiquiu Reservoir is thought to be part of the original Old Spanish Trail.
Georgia O'Keeffe's familiar landscape is the backdrop for camping at Abiquiu Lakes Riana Campground.
Georgia O'Keeffe collected are on display at the new Georgia O'Keeffe Welcome Center in Abiquiu, Wednesday May 23, 2018.Â
This photo of Georgia O'Keeffe cooking stew, shot in 1961, is one of several photos by Todd Webb on display at the new Georgia O'Keeffe Welcome Center in Abiquiu. Photo shot Wednesday May 23, 2018.
Ed Lucero, from Embudo, surfs the new Abiquiu Wave on the Chama River near the Abuquiu Lake Dam, Tuesday May 26, 2020. Dozens of people come daily to play on the wave created by New Mexico Game and Fish, the Army Corp of Engineers and Riverbend Engineering.Â
Sarib Jot Khalsa and Sebastian Crespo, from Santa Fe, and Erika and Ed Lucero, from Embudo, take turns surfing the new Abiquiu Wave on the Chama River near the Abuquiu Lake Dam, Tuesday May 26, 2020. Dozens of people come daily to play on the wave created by New Mexico Game and Fish, the Army Corp of Engineers and Riverbend Engineering.Â
Milo Light, from Los Alamos, uses a kayak to surf the new Abiquiu Wave on the Chama River near the Abuquiu Lake Dam, Tuesday May 26, 2020. Dozens of people come daily to play on the wave created by New Mexico Game and Fish, the Army Corp of Engineers and Riverbend Engineering.Â
Ghost Ranch owns a large part of the land around Abiquiu Lake.Â
A family from Albuquerque docks their boat after a day of boating on Abiquiu Lake, Tuesday September 14, 2021. Signs around the lake warn people of blue green algae in the water. The lake often has issue with the toxic algae during the heat of the summer but not usually in mid-September.Â
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hauls a group of bird watchers and volunteers around Abiquiu Lake looking for eagles. This was their first annual Midwinter Eagle Watch held at the lake.
A bald eagle flies along the shore of Abiquiu Lake Saturday morning. Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with a group of bird watchers and volunteers spent Saturday morning counting the eagles around the lake.
Dan Elkins, who is contracted through the forest service, tends to wild horses who were adopted in Abiquiu on Saturday, March 11, 2006.
Barbara Deeter of Denver exits the tour bus as guide Carol Mackey prepares to discuss O'Keeffe's painting of the cliff chimneys seen in the background during the guided tour "Georgia O'Keeffe and the Ghost Ranch Landscape" on Thursday, July 6, 2006.
Carlos Vanderzanden, left, from Hernandez, and Davina Archuleta, from Espanola, fish at Abiquiu Lake, Tuesday July 5, 2011. Behind them smoke from the Las Conchas Fire billows into the sky.
The Monastery at Christ in the Desert, along the Rio Chama northwest of Abiquiu. Taken Wednesday, April 18, 2012.Â
People excavate an archeological site under a tent at Ghost Ranch, Thursday August 2, 2012.
A ram skull near the entrance to Georgia O'Keeffe home in Abiquiu. Photo shot Monday, June 20, 2022.
Georgia O'Keeffe's Philco radio on her sawhorse and plywood kitchen table at her home in Abiquiu. Photo shot Monday, June 20, 2022.Â
Georgia O'Keeffe's aloe plant on her kitchen sink at her home in Abiquiu. Photo shot Monday, June 20, 2022.Â
A hollyhock in a garden at Georgia O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu. Photo shot Monday, June 20, 2022.Â
Georgia O'Keeffe's Chamber gas stove in her kitchen at her home in Abiquiu. Photo shot Monday, June 20, 2022.Â
The studio in Georgia O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu. The home is kept just as it was when the artist left. Photo shot Monday, June 20, 2022.
The room for framing paintings in Georgia O'Keeffe home in Abiquiu. Photo shot Monday, June 20, 2022.Â
Santa Fe City, State and National water policy officials, spent the weekend rafting the Chama River from El Vado Dam to near Abiquiu Lake. The trip was put togather to give the official a chance to talk about water issues in a different setting.
Seen from N.M. 84, the ruins of La Santa Rosa de Lima in Abiquiu, N.M. are surrounded by cottonwoods that are just starting to turn, photographed Thursday Oct. 6, 2005.Â
Taos Pueblo
 The Taos Pueblo has between 120 to 128 buffalo on 300 acres of pastureland for them to graze on
Taos Pueblo Gov. Ruben Romero center, holds a glass vase created by Isleta glass artist Tony Jojola. Tribal leaders, Lt. Gov. Frank Marcus left and Secretary Richard Deertrack right, are hoping a new glassblowing facility being build on the pueblo will not only create a new industry for the tribe but will also help Indian youths reconnect with their culture. Oct. 1998
People have lived in the adobe homes of Taos Pueblo for more than 1,000 years.
Dancer at the Taos Pueblo Pow-Wow on Saturday which also was the precursor of the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Return of Blue Lake, sacred to the Taos Pueblo. July 2010
Representative Bill Richardson speaks to members of Taos Pueblo celebrating the return to the tribe of The Bottleneck Tract of land.
Taos Pueblo
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and area around it is part of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
Mark Sundin, left, and Steve Henke look at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge June 11, 1997
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
What you can see beyond the National Labs in Los Alamos
A group of National Park scientists and environmentalists tour a section of Bandelier National Monument that was thinned to help stop erosion.
COURTESY OF THE LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB The Pond Cabin, built in 1914 was an office of the Pajarito Club, a private hunting ranch. During the Manhattan Project, the office was used by Segrs group to support plutonium chemistry research. kroberts@abqjournal.com Fri Feb 21 12:56:52 -0700 2020 1582315005 FILENAME: 1675615.jpg
Frijoles Canyon at Bandelier National MonumentÂ
Visitors walk along the "Long House" cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument.
Visitors walk the main loop trail through Bandelier National Monument as members of the Rocky Mountin Youth Corp. and the National Parks Service work to restore some of the walls of Tyuonyi Pueblo ruins in the park.
A double rainbow arcs over the mountains of the Dome Wilderness near Bandelier National Monument after a summer thunderstorm.
The New Mexico Ice Wolves got their first taste of the Los Alamos County Ice Rink last season during an intrasquad scrimmage and will be returning there Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 to face the El PasoRhinos in a regular-season NAHL gameÂ
Officials from the National Parks Service, the Department of Energy and Los Alamos take a tour of the Oppenheimer House in Los Alamos, Tuesday June 2, 2015. This sculpture of the scientist and LANL director during the Manhattan Project is on the hearth.
Houses along Bathtub Row in Los Alamos were the only ones with bathtubs during the Manhattan Project.
Fuller Lodge served as the dining hall for the Los Alamos Ranch School and as a community center for Manhattan Project workers.
J. Robert Oppenheimer and his wife, Katherine, lived in this house in Los Alamos.
The Los Alamos History Museum has displays showcasing life in the 1940s in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project.
A replica kitchen from the 1940s is part of the permanent collection at the Los Alamos History Museum.
Turquoise Trail
The annual Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race held in Cerrillos is one of the many events hosted at state parks across New Mexico.
Turquoise Trail Brewing in Moriarity
Cerrillos Hills State Park just outside of the village of Cerrillos is a great place to wander by foot or horseback.
Los Ranchos de las Golondrinas holds numerous festivals each year.Â
The Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid
Mines both ancient and modern pocket the Cerrillos Hills State Park.
Roswell
A sign welcomes visitors to Roswell
The International UFO Museum Research Center in Roswell
 Dana Lenko, a native of Melbourne, Australia who lives in Austin, Texas, sports alien antennas while visiting the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell. June 2017
 Danielle Childers, of Nashville, Tennessee, visits Alien Zone in Roswell. June 2017
Visitors tour the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell. June 2017Â
 A large variety of UFO-related items on sale at Roswell Landing, a store in Roswell
 An early evening monsoon storm over the plains of eastern New Mexico just east of Roswell
Bottomless Lakes State Park, about 15 miles southeast of Roswell, is a popular destination for campers and swimmers in the summertime. New Mexico has 35 state parks, where camping and boat registration fees have not been raised in decades.
