Albuquerque

At first glance, Albuquerque appears to be a typical Sun Belt city, stretching out more than 100 square mi with no grand design, architectural or otherwise, to hold it together. The city's growth pattern seems as free-spirited as all those hot-air balloons that take part in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta every October. With a bit of exploration, however, this initial impression of an asphalt maze softens as you get a sense of Albuquerque's distinctive neighborhoods. The charms of Albuquerque may not jump out to greet you, but the blend of Spanish, Mexican, Native American, Anglo, and Asian influences makes this a vibrant multicultural metropolis well worth exploring. In fact, the city's most distinctive components—first-rate museums and performing arts venues; well-preserved Spanish-colonial, Victorian, and art deco architecture; both sophisticated and funky restaurants and B&Bs; and offbeat shops and galleries—measure up to those you'd find in most U.S. cities this size. You just have to persevere beyond the suburban sprawl and strip-mall excess to find all the good stuff.