Did you know that Northern New Mexico is a beautiful place, steeped in history? It's a great place to step back in time, and learn about our country's history. If this sounds like fun, below are a few must-see destinations on your visit.

Valles Caldera: This 89,000 acre park can only be visited with an advance reservation, but this innovative method is actually advantageous. It keeps the park from every getting too crowded, and when you're there, you will feel like you have the whole park to yourself. 

Tinkertown Museum: For most of his life, artist Ross Ward made art out of found objects to decorate his Sandia Park home. His home is now open to the public, and his unique garden of treasures is now a nationally recognized collection of folk and outsider art.

Santa Fe: Santa Fe is a fabulous destination for a long weekend away. While you're there, you can enjoy the theater, do some shopping, tour a museum, or time your trip around one of the city's many annual celebrations and festivals.

Acoma Sky Pueblo: Perched on a stunning mesa, Acoma Sky Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the nation. Community residents provide tour year round of the 1,000 year old pueblo, and 500 year old Spanish church that still stand in the community to this day. 

Carlsbad Caverns: These wondrous caves are internationally known for a reason. Carlsbad Caverns is a complex of 17 caves filled with amazing natural rock formations. Before you begin, grab the inexpensive audio tour and wander around the Big Cave, or, if you're up for an adventure, hike to the natural cave entrance.

Find authentic Southwest cuisine at Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler. Located across from the Hampton Inn suites, Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler is the kind of cool place that you want to find in California. The interior is really cool and comfortable, with neat wall décor and even surf boards hanging from the ceiling. For happy hour, this is a perfect place to meet up with friends and get a cold beer, glass of wine or hand-crafted drink while sharing some great apps. Try a tasty soup or salad, or go for one of the Killer taco platters (don’t forget to try the salsa bar). And there’s always something happening like King Trivia night, Tuesday Family Fajita day or Sunday Funday! Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler is open seven days (and nights) a week.

Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler
25289 The Old Road
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91382
(661) 288-1022
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chuys-mesquite-broiler-stevenson-ranch

This fantastic Middle Eastern restaurant has been winning raves from locals since it opened for its delicious meat dishes, perfectly-cooked rice and more. Diners rave about the basmati rice, cooked with a unique process to make it tender and flavorful, and served with amazingly delicious charbroiled tomatoes—it’s almost a meal in itself. But don’t stop there; the kebabs are some of the best in the area, with perfectly-seared chicken, beef, and lamb tantalizing the palate. In an unusual move, they also offer salmon kebabs, which might be even better—the tender, flaky fish is spectacularly seasoned and cooked to perfection. Get a side of delicious, savory hummus and soak it up with freshly-baked pita bread. Diners on a budget stop in for the $9.99 lunch buffet, which offers some of Persia’s most popular dishes in a serve-yourself format.

Persia Restaurant
26877 Bouquet Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
(661) 513-0077
www.persia-restaurant.com