Looney Tunes fans and specifically those who can quote scripture and verse the dialogue of Bugs Bunny have a special appreciation for New Mexico’s largest city. “I should have made a left at Albuquerque,” Bugs says after popping up out of his tunnel transit system, always somewhere where he shouldn’t have been. But Albuquerque is a place travelers intrigued by the American southwest SHOULD be. The city of 750,000 residents is frequently listed as among the most affordable travel destinations in the US.
Travelers really first began exploring Albuquerque and the surrounding beauty of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains with the opening of Route 66 through the city. With the paving of the 2500 mile long roadway from Chicago to Santa Monica in 1937, the motorized public more easily found their way to Albuquerque and its many delights and mysteries.
Much of the intrigue of the area is due to its history. More than 300 years ago, the city was founded by Spanish explorers who honored a Spanish Duke, the 10th Duke of Alburquerque, by naming the newly founded town for him. Yes, there was an extra “r” in the spelling in the Old Duke’s name, but it has disappeared over the years. And more often than not in today’s text messaging, 140-character-communication, Albuquerque is simply known as ABQ.
Those Spanish settlers were devout folks, so one of the first things they did in 1706 was build a church, and 300 years later, San Felipe de Neri is the centerpiece of Old Town Albuquerque. The area is a delightful mix of intriguing architecture, cultural cuisine, creative shopping and quirky museums.
One of those quirky museums in Old Town is The Rattlesnake Museum. If you can get past that fact that dozens of live poisonous snakes and other creepy creatures are separated from you by just a fragile piece of glass or a piece of wire netting, you’ll find the museum somewhat interesting. It really serves as a conservation effort and educational center to help the public understand why and how these critters are important to a healthy environment. And if nothing else, you’ll love the museum’s marketing campaign: “Our exhibits are striking; our T-shirts to die for.”
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is also located in Old Town, and a perfect destination for learning about the American Indian culture of this region. There are 19 pueblo tribes in New Mexico, which are the only tribes in the United States that have not been relocated from their tribal lands. A pueblo is basically a town or small village that maintains the lifestyle and tradition of these tribes through the centuries.
Here, children and adults can learn to grind corn, beat a drum and explore other hands-on crafts of the pueblo Indians. Almost every week, there are special dances, art exhibits and lectures about gardening and other lifestyle issues. This is also where bus tours to several of the state’s pueblos originate.
The Harvest Café at Cultural Center is one of many great places to have lunch in Old Town. Come for breakfast and enjoy Blue Corn Atole, which is a combination of raisins, pecans, milk and grapefruits, and a traditional dish in pueblo homes. Others may enjoy Blue Corn Pancakes for breakfast, cooked on an open rock in pueblo style. Lunch options will often include red or green chiles. You can have them in stews and posoles, as a topping for burgers (try it with a buffalo burger, or in tacos, enchiladas and pastas.
Because the weather is near perfect more than 300 days of the year, the outdoor activities in ABQ cover a wide range of interests and skill levels. The city is consistently ranked as one of the top fittest cities in the country because of biking paths. There are more than 20 golf courses in the city, rafting on the Rio Grande River and countless number of hiking and llama trekking options in the Sandia Mountains.
In addition to hot air ballooning (Elyse, can you link to my other story on ballooning from this reference?) a must do while visiting ABQ is a tram ride to the Sandia Peak Ski Area. The tram travels nearly three miles from the foothills on the north side of ABQ to the 10,400-foot Sandia Peak. There’s not where else, with the possible exception of a hot air balloon, that such a beautiful view of the city is available.
The ride takes about 15 minutes and on occasion, passengers will see bear or other wildlife in the rugged terrain of the mountains. Passengers often bring mountain bikes and ride back to the bottom of the mountain. For those with a fear of heights, don’t worry. The tram is fully enclosed and climate controlled. You may sit or stand as you wish.
Riding the Sandia Peak Tram is not just a tourist activity. Locals will tell you that the High Finance Restaurant at the top is a popular destination for romantic dinners and special occasions. The sunset here is unsurpassed.
Other fun things to do and explore in ABQ:
The Turquoise Museum, which includes a tour in a turquoise mine, and oh the shopping afterward!
The Unser Racing Museum, because the Unser family is from ABQ.
The National Atomic Museum, because this is where the human race perfected the art of blowing itself to pieces.
