A High-Flying Weekend in Albuquerque

New Mexico is a cultural hub. It’s cuisine, architecture, and museums all wink at the state’s roots as New Spain while Albuquerque's historic old town is designed with pueblo-style merchants and a row of museums that pay homage to the city’s history. It’s also a center of technology and fine arts, an interesting juxtaposition that creates a unique itinerary, jumping effortlessly between modern and classic. Looking to explore the city for the first time? Follow our itinerary for enjoying a long weekend in the beloved Southwest.

Friday Morning

Book an early flight so you can hit the ground running. Any trip to New Mexico should begin with a visit to the city’s historic downtown. If you’ve arrived in time, breakfast comes first.

Housed in one of New Mexico’s oldest buildings, constructed sometime after the state’s founding in 1706, Church Street Café was built by the prominent Ruiz family but sadly much of the building history has been lost. Today the structure houses a cozy Mexican eatery with all of the charms of its ancestors. With colorful clay floors and a textured fireplace, every detail of the restaurant adds to the ambiance while guests chow down on huevos rancheros and stuffed breakfast burritos. And don’t forget to indulge with an over-sized cinnamon roll, big enough to share.

After you’ve satisfied your appetite with New Mexican dishes, step outside and have a look around. Next door to the restaurant, artists sell their wares. Most of the artwork is indicative of its surroundings, featuring Native American works and souvenirs, heavy in feathers and including small carved animals and whittled bow and arrows.

The neighbors are just the beginning of what you’ll find here. Clear your afternoon to traipse around the square, darting in and out of galleries, sourcing trinkets from a row of kitschy shops, and even enjoying a laid-back wine tasting at Noisy Water Winery in Plaza Don Luis, a perfect stopover after you’ve finished browsing homemade jewelry next door.

Here, relax on the couches or grab a seat at the bar. The tasting room is routinely full of patrons meeting up to gab over glasses of New Mexico wine. And if you didn’t know New Mexico produced fine vino, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the extensive selection. In between glasses, walk through the attached buildings to view additional artwork or head out into the courtyard where a two-story plaza boasts small shops, eateries, a brewery, and more.

Friday Afternoon

For those who can leave their fear of heights behind, we offer your first of two high-flying adventures for the weekend. You’ll need to drive or catch an Uber to the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway. The longest aerial tramway in North America takes riders to the top of the mountains where the rest of your afternoon is up to you. Many ride the 2.7-mile tram in order to spend the remainder of the day hiking down. There are several trails at the top but be mindful of your surroundings as you will be starting at 10,378 feet, a staggering 3,819 feet from the lower terminal.

If you prefer an easier route, take one of the small trails just a few miles to enjoy the forested views. Or skip the physical activity all together and embark on a culinary journey instead. The same mountainous peaks can be enjoyed from inside of Ten3 (the name is a nod to the elevation) while sipping dirty martinis and gorging on dessert before heading back the way you came.

While the tram ride is mostly about the view and the destination, the crew is determined to make the journey fun, as well, cracking jokes on the 15-minute ride, some at the peril of those afraid of heights.

Once you’ve made your way back down, consider a more modern experience to finish out your afternoon. The familyfriendly digital gaming wonderland dubbed Electric Playhouse has kids (and adults) of all ages playing light games with each other. Not to mention, there’s a full bar with themed drinks. The content in each room is constantly changing and it responds to your movements. Experiences shift from competitive ball-throwing games to light-up floors. Most of the experiences result in some sort of digital game, but others are more for show. It’s safe to say adults could spend a couple of hours exploring the options and snapping photos, while families could spend the entirety of an afternoon.

Friday Evening

Before dinner, we suggest a drink, and there’s nowhere more picturesque to sit back with a glass of vino than Casa Rodena. The property is newer than much of New Mexico but still includes the specific charms of the state. Wines are made from the family’s vines, dating back to 1990, and the tasting room has been open since 1997, donning opulent chandeliers, cozy tables for small parties, and an expansive outdoor space that is often host to weddings and other affairs.

Tastings are made fun by tiered glass holders that house your varietals, but vino is also offered by the glass or bottle. We highly recommend grabbing a spot amidst the vines to sip at, with views of the fountain and small property pond.

When it comes to where to stay, we highly recommend booking a room at Hotel Chaco. The centrally located four-star hotel is hard to miss just steps from Historic Old Town and the urban Sawmill District. A stone masonry façade fits in with the rest of New Mexico’s décor, but the modern amenities and appointed guest rooms with surprising features makes it a standout from the rest. Inside, contemporary Native American New Mexican artists are on display, transforming the picturesque common spaces into high-end art galleries that match the energy of the expertly designed space.

It’s here that you will find your dinner for the night. Level 5 is a roof-top experience located on the fifth floor of Hotel Chaco. Cozy seating surrounds fire pits overlooking the city. Dine at sunset to enjoy the best of both worlds— the looming mountain scenery in the distance and the twinkling lights once the sun officially sets. The menu features an array of fresh dishes that change seasonally, including a goat cheese, strawberry, and spinach flatbread that takes American comfort food and elevates it effortlessly. There’s also fried artichoke hearts, served with Moroccan olives, lemon, mint, and a creamy aioli. For the main course, you’ll have your choice of arugula and goat cheese pasta, filet mignon, Herb Crusted Lamb Loin, and Red Beet and Citrus Marinated Ocean Trout. It can all be capped off with an Earl Grey-infused crème brulee or a semi-frozen layered cake called the New Mexico Yerba Buena Semi-Freddo.

Stay and sip until dinner service ends, typically around 9 PM, and don’t forget to save time for the property’s pool and hot tub downstairs.

Saturday Morning

An early start is needed if you’re going to check a hot air balloon ride in New Mexico off of your bucket list. In general, the experience is one to brag about, but in Albuquerque it’s made better by the city’s reputation for hosting an annual hot air balloon festival to rival all other

Saturday Afternoon

After you eat, explore the attached Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Rotating exhibits offer another opportunity to interact with Native American art and vendors often set up in the courtyard selling their own authentic pieces to the masses. Plus, you can walk through the exhibits to learn more about Native American history in New Mexico. Continue your education by heading back to Historic Old Town and the museum row. You’ll have your pick between the American International Rattlesnake Museum, Albuquerque Museum, New Mexico Museum of Natural History, and Science and Explora, each of which appeals to families. The New Mexico Museum of Natural History specifically has a dinosaur exhibit with gigantic statues and plenty of details on prehistoric life and extinction for enthusiasts.

If you’ve saved time, get on the road and drive around a bit to see the rest of Albuquerque. We recommend stopping off at Eldora Chocolate for a sweet treat. It won’t take long to savor a cup of sipping chocolate and pick up a few truffles to take home, but the quality of the chocolate shop—and the hospitality—make it a worthy pitstop while visiting.

hot air balloon races.

You can have your own experience with an early morning adventure hosted by Rainbow Ryders. You’ll need to rise before the sun, but we promise it’ll be worth it. You’ll meet at headquarters before a van takes groups to the launching point. Here, the balloons race to inflate and certified pilots get ready for takeoff. From there, it’s a leisurely ride over the Rio Grande where you’ll take notice of flat-roofed mansions and streaming waterways below. You land where you land—it’s hard to fully control a hot air balloon—but will most likely end up somewhere on a golf course where the crew quickly offers up morning snacks and mimosas, plus flight certificates to commemorate the ride.

From here, we figure you have two options. Either secure a round and hit the links you’ve just landed on, or head to the Indian Pueblo Kitchen for breakfast with a story.

Breakfast is easy at Indian Pueblo Kitchen and the entire menu adheres to the kitchen’s mission of offering indigenous cuisine education to visitors while leaning heavy on Native American culinary artistry and Pueblo hospitality. Any meal served with pueblo bread is recommended, but the Native Superfoods griddle cakes and waffles are also a treat.

Saturday Evening

When you’re ready to eat, the Sawmill Market across from Hotel Chaco is chocked full of choices. As New Mexico’s first artisanal food hall, there are 27 (and counting) merchants inside, including everything from a wine bar and brewpub to tacos and sushi. The openair concept allows guests to mix and match entrees before gathering at a communal table. Expert Tip: Red & Green provides a chance to dive into authentic New Mexican dishes, crafted with a modern touch.

Sunday Morning

When it comes to breakfast, we suggest revisiting Level 5 for their exclusive brunch menu. Served only on the weekends, their New Mexico Lavender and Honey Ricotta Filled Crepes and savory Brunch Burger finished with a side of natural-cut fries are the perfect farewell after a stimulating weekend away.

If you’ve left time before your flight for one last adventure, you have a few gems to choose from. The Petroglyph National Monument stretches 17 miles and offers trails where you can explore the Native American drawings. The El Vado Motel has a storied history as part of the original Route 66 and reopened in 2018 with shops and food vendors to explore. Or take in the Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm where an organic lavender farm, farm-to-fork dining options, on-site spa, and artisan retail offer a little bit of everything for guests.