Cathy Adams

America’s Land of Enchantment is nothing if not, well, enchanting. The mountainous state – known for its rocky, rust-red landscapes and cornflower-blue skies, Native American pueblos and for being the location of TV megahit ‘Breaking Bad’ – is one of the least densely populated in the US. New Mexico’s spread-out charms are ideal for a road trip – handy, given that Route 66 runs straight through the middle of it. The Mother Road goes through the heart of downtown Albuquerque, the entry point to New Mexico and an increasingly zippy city with microbreweries and fancified restaurants. And then there’s hotbed of creativity Santa Fe, along with some striking sites of natural wonder, from caves to sand dunes. Here are the best places to stop off en route in New Mexico. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.