TAOS, NM — Two distinctly different but equally intriguing New Mexico landmarks -Taos Pueblo in Taos, NM and Bandelier National Monument in Los Alamos, NM - are among two of more than 200 contenders worldwide vying for the VirtualTourist.com's quest to crown the "Eighth Wonder of the World."

Public voting for the "Eighth Wonder of the World" begins on Monday, June 3 and continues through Sept. 30, 2013 at VirtualTourism.com, a leading travel research website and community that is part of TripAdvisor Media Group. 

"It's wonderful to have a nomination from every corner of the world so we are thrilled to receive landmark as a nomination from nominator," said Giampiero Ambrosi, General Manager of VirtualTourist.com.  "As one of the best travel guide resources on the web, members and visitors to our site have been to almost every country in the world. We are eager to see which landmark they will choose to be crowned the Eighth Wonder of the World."

Anyone can vote once per day for both Taos Pueblo and Bandelier National Monument through Sept. 30 on VirtualTourist's website: virtualtourist.com/8thwonder. Voters can also vote on the Taos Facebook page at: Facebook.com/TaosTravel; and Los Alamos County's Facebook page at: facebook.com/LosAlamosTravelInsider. 

The landmark with the most votes will be deemed the winner, and will be featured in a national TV segment and receive a significant PR push from VirtualTourist. 

About Bandelier National Monument.
Los Alamos, New Mexico was recently dubbed by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the top 10 "Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013," and a big reason for the nomination was because of Bandelier National Monument. Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of rugged but beautiful canyon and mesa country as well as evidence of a human presence there going back over 11,000 years.  Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities.

With 70 miles of trails in the officially designated wilderness areas, take a long or short or long hike along trails that provide easy access to dwellings including the Alcove House and Tsankawi Ruin built between 1400 and 1600 AD. Guided hikes and moonlit hikes, evening ranger programs, cultural demonstrations, and interpretive programs are available throughout the summer.

Visitor center hours at Bandelier are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year round. Call or visit Bandelier's site for entry fees. Camping is also available at Juniper Campground and Ponderosa Campground. Visit nps.gov/band/index.htm for complete details, prices, events, and more or call 505-672-3861x517.

About Taos Pueblo.
Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community to be designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. Taos Pueblo has been named as one of Budget Travel's top 10 places every American should see," and most recently by CNN Travel, one of the top 10 "Classic American Experiences" that the U.S. has to offer; along with many other accolades. Taos Pueblo's multi stories adobe homes have been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years, which gives visitors a sense that time stands still and that they are able to glimpse into the past. San Geronimo, or St. Jerome Chapel (the patron saint of Taos Pueblo), has stood there since 1850 to replace the original church which was destroyed in the Mexican-American War of 1847. Taos Pueblo artists use clay from the Sangre de Cristo mountains for their micaceous pottery, and local dirt to mud their adobe pueblos.

Taos Pueblo has several ceremonial feast days throughout the year that celebrate Catholic patron saints and, most, are open to the public. Traditional dances and religious ceremonies are sacred, and not allowed to be photographed. Guided tours are available. Photography is not allowed during religious ceremonies. For more information visit taospueblo.com or call 575-758-1028.

To vote for both Bandelier National Monument and/or Taos Pueblo, visit the Town of Taos's Facebook page at facebook.com/TaosTravel and Los Alamos County's Facebook page at facebook.com/LosAlamosTravelInsider and click on the "Eighth wonder of the world" button; or vote for both/either directly on VirtualTourist.com's website at virtualtourist.com/8thwonder. Voting takes place beginning at 8 a.m. on June 3 through 6 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2013.

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