Valencia: Nature, Culture and Wine

Valencia offers a range of ways to plan your trip: nature watching and short hikes sit alongside regional history, cultural traditions and wine. The nature destinations each have a distinct focus, while museums and the Valencia County Fair bring history and culture into view.

Nature Experiences and Trails

The Los Lunas Open Space Bosque Preserve protects a section of the Rio Grande bosque. Birdwatching and wildlife observation are possible at the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area. There is a one-mile, flat, unpaved trail there. The area and its visitor and education center are open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hours may change; check them before your visit. For planning your walk, the Whitfield trail has specific information on its length, route and surface, without implying a particular walking time.

Tomé Hill is a year-round destination for short day hikes and meditation on the hilltop. As conditions for public access may change, check them before your visit. The hill is also the site of a Good Friday pilgrimage tradition. Its slopes are covered with petroglyphs; its connection to multicultural spirituality stretches from pre-contact times to the present. At Tomé Hill, nature experiences and a long-standing cultural influence come together.

El Cerro de Los Lunas Preserve offers marked trails with viewpoints and habitat for native plants and wildlife. The King of the Hill Race takes place there annually. Together with the flat, unpaved trail at Whitfield, these sites offer different ways to experience nature: one features specific trail-length information, while the other combines marked trails, viewpoints and habitat.

History and Culture

The Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts preserves the history of Valencia County. The Harvey House Museum in Belen focuses on the history of the Harvey Houses, the railroad and the Southwest. Its extensive collection includes historic railroad and Belen artifacts, along with related information. The two museums therefore have different focuses: the history of the county on the one hand, and railroads, Harvey Houses and Belen on the other. This can help you choose the cultural topics that interest you most during your trip.

The Valencia County Fair also adds a cultural perspective. Valencia County supports the annual fair at the Valencia County Fairgrounds in Belen. If you want to plan your trip around the event, check the dates in advance. This lets you plan around the actual event days without assuming a particular season or specific date.

Travel Planning and Wine

Two details are relevant when planning to use public transportation: the Los Lunas Rail Runner Station is located at the Los Lunas Transportation Center. Rio-Metro Route 208 runs between Belen, Los Lunas, Pueblo of Isleta and Downtown Albuquerque. Timetables and routes may change; check them before your trip. The station and route information can help you check your transportation plans, without treating the different services as interchangeable.

Camino Real Winery and Taproom is a destination for wine. A visit offers the opportunity to learn about the history and taste wines. The winery offers twelve different grape varieties. Check current operations and offerings before your trip so your plans reflect visiting opportunities and the wines available. Nature, cultural history and wine thus offer different focuses for planning your trip to Valencia; choose specific hotels based on their individual offerings.

Discover more destinations: Los Lunas, Belen, Grant County, Rice County, Sandoval, Guadalupe County, Santa Fe, De Baca County.

For the broader travel overview: New Mexico.