All I knew about Albuquerque before moving here in 2005 was that Bugs Bunny missed his turn as he went through town. Some of my friends knew even less – after I announced that I was moving to New Mexico, more than one gave me a shocked look and asked why I had decided to leave the country.

Background

Albuquerque is by far New Mexico’s largest city. There are about 750,000 residents in its metropolitan area, which is about 1/3 of the state’s total. The city of Albuquerque has about 500,000 residents, half of which are of Hispanic origin. 19 American Indian pueblos surround the city, mostly to the north and west. If you listen carefully, it is not too hard to catch some folks speaking Diné, the Navajo language.

I remember one time, years ago, when I was visiting Colorado and took a driving trip. I came across a maximum security prison out in the middle of nowhere that had a magnificent view of some very majestic mountains. I thought, wow, at least they have something pleasant to look at. Albuquerque is similarly blessed – the Sandia mountains are at the edge of the city and are spectacular. Sandia means watermelon in Spanish. Right before sunset, the mountains turn a bright pink for about a minute. A must see.

Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier at the main airport. The speed limit (if you want to call it that) between towns is 75 mph, so the distances are not as bad as they appear. We have great weather – dry summers with highs in the low nineties and mild winters.

Attractions

Sandia Tram – The world’s longest aerial tramway. A must see. Skip the restaurants (Ouch! Did I really say that?)

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – A nice museum and gift shop.

Santa Fe, NM – Only about 45 minutes away from Albuquerque. Tons of art galleries and great restaurants.

Sky City – Acoma Pueblo’s jewel in the desert. About an hour west of the city. A must see.

Inscription Rock – About two hours west. Wanna see some 400 year old graffiti? No, the New York City subway is not quite that old.

Very Large Array – Made famous in the movie Contact with Jodie Foster. Give yourself about an hour to go on the walking tour.

White Sands – Very photogenic, and a great science lesson.

Taos, NM – A smaller, more secluded version of Santa Fe. Very scenic and fantastic skiing in winter.

Juarez, Mexico – A must see, though it’s easier for me to go since I’m still fluent in Spanish. I never cross the border without a passport or a Mexican auto insurance policy (if driving). Do your homework on this one. The contrast between the BMW dealership at the mall and the extreme poverty in the outskirts of town is amazing.

Grand Canyon, AZ – Only about a six hour drive away. Must be seen to be appreciated.

Meteor Crater, AZ – Yes, it’s a tourist trap. But you have to see this at least once in your life, and the gift shop is pretty good, too.

Restaurants

(Gil’s Thrilling Web Site – Great reviews of local restaurants.)

Frontier – Until recently open 24 hours a day. More of an experience than a restaurant.

Rudy’s – The city’s best bar-b-que.

Shogun Japanese Restaurant (Central Ave at Nob Hill) – The best sushi.

Le Peep – Best breakfast on a weekend morning.

Flying Star – Great sandwiches and salads.

Events

(Alibi – Free weekly newspaper that contains a great events calendar.)

Balloon Fiesta – The big one. By far the largest ballooning event in the world with about 700 balloons and hundreds of thousands of visitors. Usually occurs during the first two weeks of October. Also the most photographed event on earth, for good reason.

New Mexico State Fair – A good one. Lasts for two weeks in mid-September.

Shopping

Flea Market – Saturday and Sunday mornings at the State Fairgrounds. It’s big – about 700 vendors.

Skip Maisel’s – Large selection and great prices on Native American goods.

Flying

Albuquerque R/C Club – Probably the largest model aircraft club in New Mexico.

Albuquerque Soaring Association – A very active model glider club.

Rocky Mountain Flying Machine – They fly from a nice private airstrip.