Albuquerque

...then chances are you'll find Albuquerque a bit wanting. If, however, your tastes run toward the spectacle of mountains soaring majestically above the high desert, or to magnificent sunsets, or to the stark splendor of a barren landscape revealed in all its splendor--if these things appeal to your senses, then chances are you will love Albuquerque. Toss in a few hot-air balloons drifting gently in a brilliant blue sky, and you have an almost irresistible ...
...underrated cities.

Albuquerque was my childhood home. Thus, my inner child has fond memories of watching lightning dance in the night sky across the high peaks of the Sandias. There were also blissfully balmy December days when I wore only a light corduroy jacket for roller skating around and about the neighborhood. Growing up in Albuquerque meant green chili feasts, fiesta days in the Old Town Plaza, and chasing horned toads across ... more

Albuquerque, New Mexico isn't for everyone. If your idea of the perfect environment includes lush green landscapes and abundant water recreation, then chances are you'll find Albuquerque a bit wanting. If, however, your tastes run toward the spectacle of mountains soaring majestically above the high desert, or to magnificent sunsets, or to the stark splendor of a barren landscape revealed in all its splendor--if these things appeal to your senses, then chances are you will love Albuquerque. Toss in a few hot-air balloons drifting gently in a brilliant blue sky, and you have an almost irresistible formula for attracting you to one of the Southwest's most exciting and underrated cities.

Albuquerque was my childhood home. Thus, my inner child has fond memories of watching lightning dance in the night sky across the high peaks of the Sandias. There were also blissfully balmy December days when I wore only a light corduroy jacket for roller skating around and about the neighborhood. Growing up in Albuquerque meant green chili feasts, fiesta days in the Old Town Plaza, and chasing horned toads across the schoolyard. And less fondly, it sometimes meant walking to school facing backward to keep the sting of a sandstorm out of my face, choosing instead to expose my bare legs. (Back then, of course, girls wore dresses to school--even during sandstorms.)

Growing up in Albuquerque also meant learning to appreciate cultural diversity. "Anglos" were and are decidedly in the minority. Spanish is routinely spoken in public places, and Hispanic families proudly trace their roots to forebears who arrived in the region as Spanish colonists long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Native American communities representing 19 Pueblo tribes, as well as the Navajos and Apaches, have left their mark on everything from local architecture (adobe style), to personal adornment (turquoise and silver jewelry) and commonly consumed foods (corn, beans, and tortillas), and to an increasingly important sense of reverence for the land and its resources. And of course, frontier culture still has a major influence. Relics of the Old West thus include cowboy hats, rodeos, and a fundamental reverence for both self-reliance and cooperation between neighbors.

Spread out along the Rio Grande in a mile-high valley between the Sandia Mountains and the escarpment of the West Mesa, Albuquerque enjoys a dramatic physical setting. With such landmarks, it's virtually impossible to get lost--during daylight hours, at least. The most one can do is to become misplaced by a few blocks.

Visitors have the choice of a wide variety of pastimes and services. The city's attractions are at once modern and ancient. Petroglyph National Monument on the West Mesa offers intriguing glimpses to our area's prehistoric past. Old Town preserves the Spanish colonial era as an immediate and palpable experience. It also provides the setting for an open-air Indian market and is home base for numerous galleries, restaurants, and shops. Modern malls and shops throughout the city cater to every possible requirement. The politically sovereign Sandia Pueblo on the northern edge of the city welcomes visitors to its traditional festivals and trading post, and it encourages them to try their luck at a tribally owned casino.

Depending on the season and personal inclination, residents and visitors alike may choose golf, mountain climbing, horseback riding, hunting, or mountain biking--not to mention such spectator sports as minor league baseball, horse racing at Albuquerque Downs, or Lobo basketball at the University of New Mexico. The world's longest jigback tramway can transport you to the ski runs in the Sandia Mountains above the city. After peaking at almost 1,000 balloons and crews a few years back, the annual International Balloon Fiesta in October is now limited to a mere 750--and participants do come from around the world.

Albuquerque has a number of fine museums. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, for example, introduces visitors to the history and culture of the Pueblo peoples through native crafts, dance, lectures and presentations, and educational exhibits. The National Atomic Museum, located at Kirkland Air Force Base, is the United States' "official" museum on the history of atomic science and warfare. And the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico presents a number of excellent exhibits and programs that provide a basis for appreciating New Mexico's multicultural heritage. Other less well-known institutions include the American International Rattlesnake Museum, the Turquoise Museum, and YesterDave's Auto Museum.

Taken as a whole, Albuquerque is a city that appreciates and benefits from the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, just as it respects the value of a good siesta. Albuquerque thus encourages its residents and its visitors to understand that a well-rounded person needs to leave some things to "mañana"--thereby providing time for a happier and healthier present.

Visitors who want to share this unique blend of beauty, heritage, and balance will find that accommodations are abundant, including bed & breakfast establishments, hotels, motels, campgrounds, RV parks, and hostels. Restaurants are plentiful--even for those who are misguided enough not to appreciate native New Mexican cuisine. The nightlife is vital and varied, and hospitality is outstanding by any reasonable measure.

For more detailed accounts of Albuquerque's many attractions, contact the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.alqcvb.org.

© DAnneC/BawBaw 2000 (updated 2003)

 

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