That Cool Travel Couple

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment, and it’s not difficult to see why. This is our itinerary for your perfect trip to Albuquerque. This great state is definitely worth at least a weekend visit – if you have more time, make a road trip of it and stay a while!

Practicalities

Albuquerque is located over 5,000 feet above sea level and is in the desert at the foot of the Sandia mountains. In the spring and summer, the climate is hot, dry and sunny. You should pack light clothes and lots of sunscreen. The city proudly claims to have 310 days of sunshine, but keep in mind it can get quite cool in the winter months. You’ll want to pack warm clothes if you plan on venturing up to the mountains in the fall or winter (you should).

Tips: Bring lots of sunscreen and stay hydrated, no matter what season you visit in! Also, take it easy if you’re not used to operating at a high elevation.

How to Get There

Albuquerque is an easy and direct 2 hour flight from LAX. Flights are often fairly cheap especially on Southwest airlines. We definitely recommend renting a car if you fly, because it can be a little difficult to get around with public transport.

If you drive from LA, it will take you about 12 hours. There are lots of awesome places to stop off along the way in Arizona to break up your journey.

Where to Stay

Let’s break it down by budget.

Luxury: Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm. This is a really cool place to check out even if you’re not staying here (more on that later). The rooms are spacious and updated and you’ll definitely want one with a patio to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Mid Range: Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa. This one is located about a 20 minute drive from the city so you’ll definitely want to rent a car. It’s a sprawling resort with dramatic mountain views.

Budget: Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn. This Inn is located in the Old Town neighborhood meaning it’s a really close walk to the historic heart of the city. It’s also close to lots of small local shops and restaurants.

What to Do

If you can at all plan your trip around the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, then DEFINITELY DO. Typically this is held the first two weekends of October and during the week between them. There are events starting at sunrise – the mass ascension and Dawn Patrol. This is followed by various other events throughout the day, ending with the twilight glow and firework show. There’s also tons of food, games, auctions, local craft displays and much more. The entire city really comes alive during that week.

One of the best things to do in Albuquerque is to hike and take advantage of the beautiful weather. There are multiple awesome places to hike in Albuquerque. We specifically recommend walking by the Rio Grande river – park at the Alameda Trailhead of the Paseo del Bosque Trail. It is 16 miles long and is paved, allowing for walking, biking, and even strollers. Enjoy the beautiful view as you meander along this famous river.

We also recommend visiting the Elena Gallegos Open Space in the foothills.There are a variety of trails you can take from here, one of which leads to a look out over a pond (you can sometimes see mountain lions taking a sip!). There are also lots of spaces for picnics around here.

If you’re up for a challenge, consider the La Luz trail which is an over 13 mile out and back trail from the foothills up the Sandia mountains. Make sure to bring plenty of water as this is a fairly challenging hike. If you’re not up for the challenge, take the Sandia Peak Tram up the mountain and do the Kiwanis Cabin trail to see the ruins of an old stone building. Either way you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of forest and mountain. The Sandia mountains are named after the Spanish word which means watermelon. The mountains are known to light up pink in the evening right around sunset.

Once you’re done enjoying the outdoors, it’s time to stop by Old Town Albuquerque for some delicious traditional food and culture. There are some amazing art galleries around here. You can also find local crafts for display and purchase. Stopping by the San Felipe de Neri Church is always a good idea as well. Peruse the selection of silver and turquoise hand made jewelry and woven blankets. Check out the red chile ristras hanging outside the buildings (and try some grub involving chile as well!). Don’t forget the state question – red or green?

Where to Eat

Albuquerque has SO many amazing food options – it’s hard to pick just a few. Here are our favorites in list format for easy reading.

• Campo. This restaurant is located at the Los Poblanos Inn (above) and features a farm-to-table menu with lots of options for dietary restrictions. They also have delicious cocktails and we recommend this place for brunch especially.

• Casa Rondena Winery. Alright, so this isn’t an eating place – it’s for wine tasting. This winery has a beautiful garden setting and pond making for a great relaxing place to spend an afternoon.

• Flying Star. This local cafe is great for serving up delicious fare. We recommend the green chile burger but save room for dessert as the selection is spectacular.
• Golden Crown Panaderia. This small bakery has an amazing selection of pan dulce, but we really like a good biscochito and coffee!

• Pinon Coffee House. Try the local pinon flavored coffee – they also carry tons of other, often seasonal, flavors.

• Ten 3. This is for a bougie dining experience as it’s located at the top of the Sandia Peak Tramway. It offers spectacular views across the city – try to go at sunset and definitely make reservations beforehand.

Optional Nearby Add Ons

There are multiple casinos close to Albuquerque which offer gambling and buffet meal options. The closest is Sandia Resort and Casino, which offers a delicious seafood buffet on weekends.

Santa Fe is an hour north of Albuquerque and is the capital of New Mexico. Santa Fe is somewhat similar to Old Town Albuquerque, and is a haven for artists and hippies. It’s a magical place to walk around and has some great options for dining as well. Definitely visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

Taos is another two and a half hour drive north from Santa Fe, and offers lots of hiking and skiing.