ALBUQUERQUE

GETTING TO ALBUQUERQUE

If you’re flying to Albuquerque, Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is the widely used gate to New Mexico. As an official hub for Southwest Airlines, Sunport always has many cheap flights up for grabs from bigger cities. Alaska, American, Delta, United, and JetBlue all also fly in and out of Sunport. The airport is just about 10 minutes from downtown. If you’re not keen on flying to Albuquerque, you might like to know that the city has Amtrak service from 128 cities around the country. It will take you just over a day to ride in from New York City.

Things to Do in Albuquerque

The first thing I’m going to recommend doing in the city will take you a little bit out of the city. Grab your tickets to take in stunning views of the crest line of the Sandia Mountains on the Sandia Peak Tramway. This one-of-a-kind attraction is the longest aerial tram in the Americas.

My next pick is ABQ BioPark. This campus is several attractions in one. First, the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden dazzles you with 1.5 miles of manicured paths teeming with colors and subtle wildlife. Next, the show-stopping zoo located next to the Rio Grande will delight you with its famed penguins, seals, and sea lions. There’s also a world-class aquarium on the campus showcasing aquatic wonders spanning from the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico.

Another bright spot on any Albuquerque trip is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Operated in conjunction with New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos, this attraction immerses you in traditional New Mexican culture by way of live dance performances, food, museum exhibits, and more. While you’re in the mood to step back in time, put the San Felipe de Neri Church on your list. Constructed more than 300 years ago, this adobe-style Catholic mission predates the Revolutionary War. It is the oldest surviving building in Albuquerque. It also positions you nicely for a visit to the rest of Old Town.

The gem of any visit to New Mexico, Old Town Albuquerque brings together history, entertainment, and commerce in a delightful way. This chunk of the city came to be when a group of Spanish families found it to be a pleasant spot to settle in near the Rio Grand in 1706. Old Town has more than 150 shops, restaurants, and galleries to explore in total. The big anchors of Old Town are the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

If you find yourself in the position to come to Albuquerque during the holidays, don’t miss out! Old Town is famed for its vibrant luminaria displays during December. As you’d expect, Old Town is food central for ABQ. Find your way to La Hacienda of Old Town, Taqueria Alondra’s Mexican Food, and La Placita Dining Room if you’re coming in search of traditional Mexican cuisine. If you’re strictly looking for margaritas, I’ve found Monroe’s Restaurant to be the best spot. I appreciated all of the small cafés and “treat” establishments peppering Old Town during my visit because I tend to grab and go while I shop. Q Chocolate, the Candy Lady and Blackbird Coffee House ended up being my favorites after several days of snacking around Old Town.

While I didn’t personally have an interest in visiting the American International Rattlesnake Museum I passed by during my time in Old Town, I did chat with a family with young kids visiting from the East Coast. They found it to be the highlight of their trip. It’s really easy to finish up at Old Town with bags of gifts to bring back home. The artisan shops and trading posts that pepper sidewalks here are filled with treasures that only exist here. You’ll find the right mix of jewelry, crafts and wares at Genuine Southwest Arts and Gifts right on Old Town Road. Plaza Indian Trading Post is another one with really high-quality, authentic goods.

Beautiful, Natural Albuquerque Should Be on Your Bucket List

Albuquerque is a very open, airy city where you always feel like you’re just a whisper away from nature. While I didn’t mention the University of New Mexico, you should know that the campus is also worth a visit if you’re interested in exploring a few hundred acres of attractive buildings and manicured terrain. Overall, you can’t go wrong with a city bordered by mountains and the Rio Grande. This Southwest city is proof that vacations are best when served with a side of red chile sauce!

PORTLAND

PORTLAND

A trip to Portland should be on the list if you find yourself on the West Coast. I like Portland because you can have a great experience even if you can only stop in for a day. It’s my top pick if you’re looking for a city that’s made for biking!