7 Fantastic Factory Tours You Can Only Take In New Mexico

It’s hard to believe that this locally owned cannery pops more than 400 pounds of raw corn in an hour! Take in the sights and smells (oh, caramel corn) for yourself by signing up for a free tour of the facility. Tours last between 35-45 minutes and group sizes range from 10 to 30 people. They are held Tuesdays through Thursday (excluding November and December) and visitors receive a free sample. Call 505-247-3626 to book your tour. The Popcorn Cannery is located at 1727 7th Street NW in Albuquerque.

Bet you didn’t know you could tour a drum factory in New Mexico! Technically, this place is more workshop than factory and it’s been producing drums since 1951. The folks here claim to have the world’s biggest selection of Indian drums. Workshop tours are free and it’s pretty neat to see the craftsmen making these instruments by hand. Taos Drums is located at 3956 State Road 68 in Rancho de Taos.

Eagle Ranch contains roughly 12,000 pistachio trees, along with a vineyard. Lasting about an hour, the free tours here take you through the groves and to the nut processing area. You also get to sample some of the wine – it’s a win-win. Tours take place Monday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. Eagle Ranch is located at 7288 Highway 54-70 in Alamogordo. For more info.

Learn about the art of distilling on a tour that features a tasting of five spirits, including whisky and apple brandy. Tours are available on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at a cost of $15 per person. Be careful not to confuse the tasting room with the distillery, where the tours actually take place. The latter is located at 7505 Mallard Way in Santa Fe. Book a tour online here.

This working alpaca farm has an on-site store and offers free tours. Appointments aren’t necessary, providing you visit between Thursday and Monday, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (until Oct 30th 2017). The farm is located at 503 Frost Road in Sandia Park. For more info.

Given the size of Ortega’s Weaving, "tour" is a bit of a stretch. However, as you browse this historical store, you can wander around the area containing all the looms. Fascinating stuff! Ortega’s is located on Juan Medina Road in Chimayo. For more info.

Tours of Gruet Winery are held on the last Saturday of the month, at 2:00 p.m. Since Gruet is known for its sparkling wines, it’s especially interesting to learn about the winemaking process here. Tours last about an hour and cost $5 per person (or are free with a purchase). Gruet is located at 8400 Pan American Freeway NE in Albuquerque. For more information about tours, call (505) 821-0055 or visit the winery’s website.