Top 15 Things to Do in Albuquerque
For travel destinations in the American southwest, Albuquerque doesn't come
to mind as quickly as Santa Fe or Taos. That's a shame because this laid back,
culturally eclectic city in the high desert of New Mexico holds many surprises
for the visitor. Albuquerque sounds fairly old by American city standards due to
it being founded in 1706 but by local standards that's nothing; the Spanish
conquistadores were there first, and the Native American people of
the area predate the city by far. Albuquerque soaks up all of these local
traditions from the past into its own unique mix of history and heritage, while
still developing for the future. If you decide to visit this funky southwestern
jewel of a city, here are some things not to miss.
15) Albuquerque Old
Town
Albuquerque has expanded over the years from its start as a small rural town
into the largest city in the state of New Mexico. The city has grown like a tree
does, out from the center, and the center of Albuquerque is still thriving.
Albuquerque's Old Town, as the original section of the city is called, is an
area that is has adobe architecture, small shops, restaurants, art galleries,
quaint small streets and the wide Old Town Plaza. The area is still comprised of
historic adobe buildings, roughly ten square blocks, and is still a focus of
community life for the city of Albuquerque.
Albuquerque enjoys over 300 days a year of sun and beautiful weather, making
it a joy to wander through the streets as well as explore the little shops. If
you want to see Native American art or pick up some turquoise jewelry, you'll
find it here. There are plenty of restaurants as well as cafes; a number of
other Albuquerque attractions either border the Old Town and are a short walk or
ride away. If you want a tour of the historic area there're multiple options
that are available: a pedi-cab tour, a trolley tour or a walking
historical tour. For a few shivers, you can even book a ghost tour of the area!
Old Town restaurants and stores
By Malcolm Tredinnick, via
Wikimedia Commons
Old Town Plaza
By Nightscream, via
Wikimedia Commons
14) Church of San
Felipe de Neri
On the north edge of Old Town Plaza sits the Church of San Felipe de Neri, the
first Catholic church in Albuquerque and a local landmark for hundreds of years.
The original church was built in 1706 but collapsed in 1792: construction on the
current church building was completed a year later. A rectory, convent and
school were attached to the parish over the years: various changes as well as
additions to the architecture of the main church have also been undertaken too.
Restoration work is currently underway to make sure that it and the associated
buildings stay in good repair for the years to come.
Exterior of San Felipe de Neri Church
By Camerafiend,
via
Wikimedia Commons
The church is open to the public and includes a museum of art along with some
of the artifacts that have been used in the edifice over the years. It is a
beautiful place to get out of the sun for a rest, while soaking in more of the
local culture and beautiful architecture of this landmark church. The Church of
San Felipe de Neri is still an active church with a thriving congregation, so it
may be closed to the public at times for services. At other times it provides a
peaceful place for contemplation, for viewing the church's art, gazing at the
buildings or simply taking a rest.
Inside San Felipe de Neri Church
By Mark Pellegrini, via
Wikimedia Commons
13) Paseo del Bosque
Trail
Albuquerque takes its outdoor fun seriously and one of the prime examples of
this is the Paseo del Bosque Trail. National Geographic featured the trail when
it named Albuquerque as one of the best U.S. cities for outdoor activities and
Sunset Magazine has named it one of the best trails in the entire western U.S.
Paseo del Bosque Trail
The Paseo del Bosque is a 16-mile multi use trail, entirely paved and
completely uninterrupted by any roadways. This makes it an ideal place to walk,
run, skate or ride bikes through the city for sightseeing. There are numerous
points at which you can join or exit the trail, although not all of these
provide parking. If you are connecting by car, make sure you locate an area
where you can park until you come back from your adventures. Many attractions
are within reach of the trail in addition to simply walking, biking, enjoying
the beautiful weather and site seeing the city of Albuquerque. Public art
displays are located at Central Avenue, Tingley Beach and several other sections
of the trail. You can connect to the Rio Grande Valley State Park, the National
Hispanic Cultural Center and other attractions from the Paseo del Bosque.
Central Ave and 5th Street
By John Phelan, via
Wikimedia Commons
National Hispanic Cultural Center
12) Open Space Lands
The Paseo del Bosque is not the only place where you can enjoy the great
outdoors in Albuquerque. The city owns over 28,000 acres of land in and around
the city that are managed for conservation of natural resources; they also
provide opportunities for outdoor recreation as well as education. Albuquerque's
Open Space Division manages 25 separate parks and facilities, many of them
specialized for educational or recreational use.
If you are interested in the natural geography and habitats of the area then
you can explore the Sandia Foothills Open Space or the Rio Grande Valley State
Park. The West Mesa Open Space contains the remains of five dormant volcanoes,
including lava flows and other volcanic landscape features. The Open Space
Farmlands are comprised of five working farms that are managed as part of the
Open Space division; they provide a link to agricultural space that gives the
residents of Albuquerque the opportunity to experience farming landscapes, take
advantage of educational opportunities and enjoy special events without needing
to travel miles away from the city. Other Open Space areas offer places to have
picnics and some may be reserved for private events, dog parks, golf courses,
hiking trails, special areas for off-road vehicles, etc. Whatever your outdoor
interests are, the Albuquerque Open Space Division has something to offer you.
Rio Grande Valley State Park
By John Phelan, via
Wikimedia Commons
Sandia Foothills Open Space
Vulcan Volcano located in the West Mesa Open Space
By John Phelan, via
Wikimedia Commons
11) Albuquerque
Museum of Art and History
If you want to explore Albuquerque's rich cultural history, it's well worth the
time, then swing through the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. This museum
sits on the edge of Albuquerque's Old Town and it houses a full collection of
artifacts that catalog as well as illuminate the city's past. The exhibits
include armor used by the Spanish conquistadores, who were the first Europeans
to explore and settle in the area, and an actual 19th century chapel. Artwork by
renowned local artists are also represented, including works by Georgia O'Keeffe
and Peter Hurd.
Exterior of Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
The museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday, and it includes museum
facilities, such as: a café, store and guided tours of the exhibits. In
addition to the museum's permanent collection, which focuses on the history and
art of Albuquerque, the museum also brings in world class temporary exhibitions.
Recent temporary collections have included many exhibits, such as:
landscapes by contemporary artists; an exhibit on the history of human
settlement and exploration in the Rio Grande valley; a collection of Goya's
satirical etchings released in 1799 and other exhibits, which display the
cultural heritage of Albuquerque itself or the people who have settled here over
the centuries.
Early Settlers display outside the museum
10) Albuquerque Flea
Market
If you like hunting up a bargain or finding a one of a kind buy then check out
the Albuquerque Flea Market because it has something for everyone; it includes
1,300 vendors and covers 25 acres. Both old and new items are on display:
antiques, collectibles, handcrafts, traditional Native crafts, jewelry and more.
It is a flea market, so you never know what will turn up on a given week. It may
take some searching to find the gems but that's the nature of the market. For a
better selection, get there early because the serious flea market shoppers are
on the hunt at the crack of dawn. There are plenty of food vendors, so even if
you don't go to shop then you can try out some of the tastes of New Mexico.
Flea Market Stand
Flea Market Food Vendor
9) ¡Explora!
Children's Museum
If you are traveling with children then a must visit attraction is ¡Explora!
Children's Museum; even adults may find themselves having fun for hours, playing
in the exhibits. ¡Explora!'s mission is to give kids and grownups the
opportunity to learn with handson activities, giving kids the chance to play as
well as interact with the exhibits centered around science, technology or art.
Instead of lectures and spoken tours, kids can look at materials under a
microscope, play with light, shadow and color or explore geometry using basic
shapes as well as tools. Exhibits are mostly small and totally kid friendly;
this is not a museum where "look but don't touch" applies. In the friendly
spaces of ¡Explora! Children's Museum, your kids can engage their imaginations
to the fullest by delving deep into whatever catches their fancy and you might
find yourself spending lots of time playing with some of the exhibits too.
Exterior of ¡Explora!
Children's Museum
Even if you don't have kids, ¡Explora! offers something for you. The museum
hosts Adult Night sessions, where adults get the chance to explore a scientific
topic in depth or enjoy live entertainment. The range of activities changes from
month to month but there's always something new and exciting to experience. ¡Explora!'s
Adult Night events have become popular with many locals, such as: college
kids, grandparents, singles groups, couples on dates, professionals,
retirees and everyone in between.
Interior of ¡Explora!
Children's Museum
8) National Museum
of Nuclear Science & History
This is a museum for those interested in more recent U.S. and world history. New
Mexico was home to one of the Manhattan Project's crucial facilities, the Los
Alamos plant where the first nuclear bombs were constructed and tested. The
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History seeks to educate visitors about
America's nuclear history, from the first weapons tests through all aspects of
modern nuclear power plants. Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute, the
museum lays out the history of the Atomic age. Its displays include: the
basics of atomic theory; the political and military history of World War II,
which led to the creation of the first atomic bombs; the nuclear standoffs of
the Cold War; modern uses of nuclear science and technology that includes
nuclear medicine. Many of the museum docents are former members of the U.S.
military with extensive expertise about their subject areas and a great talent
for educating the public about the sometimes murky, rumor-laden corners of our
nuclear past. Understanding nuclear science and technology is vital to see us
into the future; the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is helping to
educate the next generation about our nuclear history as well as about what the
future may hold.
Exterior of The National Museum of Nuclear Science &
History
By byteboy, via
Wikimedia Commons
An exhibit in The National Museum of Nuclear Science &
History
7) Albuquerque
Biopark
The Albuquerque Biopark is a unique set of facilities that can keep your family
entertained and learning all day. It is a combination of a zoo, aquarium and
botanic gardens. The Rio Grande Zoo houses more than 250 species of animals and
is set in a lovely area along the Rio Grande River. Different shows and
attractions occur throughout the year, such as: feeding sea lions, riding
on camels as well as watching a bird show. The Albuquerque Aquarium specializes
in showing aquatic animals found in habitats from the neighboring Rio Grande
right down to the Gulf of Mexico. The attractions include a 285,000 gallon shark
tank, presumably the sharks aren't taken from the Rio Grande. For an
unforgettable evening, you can book a sleepover in the aquarium and "sleep with
the sharks". The botanic gardens provide over a mile of pathways through gardens
of every kind: some are formal, whimsical and exotic. There is a desert
conservatory, a dragonfly pond, a seasonal butterfly pavilion and more to enjoy
in the Botanic Garden that will delight your senses.
The Rio Grande Zoo
By Cburnett, via
Wikimedia Commons
Albuquerque Aquarium
Botanic Garden
6) Tinkertown Museum
Tinkertown is a one of a kind place that's not like anywhere else; it started as
the hobby of a man named Ross Ward, who grew up in the Midwest and was enchanted
by the work of amateur carvers who constructed tiny farms as well as villages.
Taking up carving and "tinkering" himself, he started carving figurines for his
local general store in 1962. He was a self taught artist who also painted,
etched, drew and sculpted. For more than 30 years he worked as a painter at
carnivals, traveling all over the country.
Exterior of Tinkertown Museum
Tinkertown is the result of Ward's desire to create his own folk art
environment; it includes figurines he carved when he was in high school till the
end of his life. Ward carved figures and animated them at Tinkertown,
constructing extravagant as well as wacky scenes that come to life in front of
your eyes. There are tiny western towns, miniature circuses, small carnival
shows and collections of odd Americana of every description. Tinkertown is a
tiny world of its own that showcases creative spirit and boundless fun through
the vision of one man for everyone to enjoy.
Tinkertown Exhibit
5) Indian Pueblo
Cultural Center
The area was settled by the Pueblo Indians long before any Europeans arrived in
the American southwest and they were given that name by the famous Spanish
explorer named Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. The Pueblo Indians were not a
single tribe or group but shared the common characteristic of living in
settlements the Spanish called pueblos, meaning "towns", and this set them apart
from more nomadic natives of the American west.
Exterior of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
By Jonny Brownbill, via
Wikimedia Commons
There are five American Native pueblos located close to Albuquerque and the
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center exists to celebrate pueblo history as well as
culture. The Center delineates the differences between various pueblo groups and
showcases art specialties from different pueblos. The liveliest displays are the
demonstrations of ceremonial pueblo dances, which are held in the museum's
central courtyard. These dances are otherwise only performed for pueblo
ceremonies on feast days or other special occasions and the demonstrations at
the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center are one of the few opportunities for visitors
to see these beautiful living parts of Pueblo culture. If you want to see a
demonstration dance then check ahead with the museum for their schedule because
sometimes feast days or other occasions take precedence.
Interior of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Dancers
4) The Petroglyph
National Monument
Petroglyphs are rock carvings made by chipping away at a rock surface with a
stone hammer and chisel to expose lighter rock underneath. Petroglyphs are found
in many sites across the southwest but one of the richest sites is located near
Albuquerque at The Petroglyph National Monument. It is estimated that there may
be 25,000 along 17 miles of rock escarpment inside the monument park and most of
them were made by the ancestors of today's Pueblo Indians, who have lived in the
area of the Rio Grande for more than a thousand years. Scientists estimate that
most of the carvings at Petroglyph National Monument were created between 1300
and 1700 CE but there are a few which may reach back as far as 2000 BCE, others
were created by Spanish settlers.
You can start your exploration of the petroglyphs by stopping at the park
visitor center, where park staff can direct you to the various trails on which
you can see sets of petroglyphs. There are trails with different degrees of
difficulty, so you can plan for a rigorous hike or a much gentler exploration.
Petroglyph National Monument entrance
By cburnett, via
Wikimedia Commons
The Petroglyph National Monument
By Samat Jain, via
Wikimedia Commons
3) Sandia Peak
Tramway
If you don't mind heights then there is no better ride in Albuquerque than the
Sandia Peak Tramway. The Tramway is a Swiss built cable car system that lifts
visitors from the city up to the top of the Sandia Mountains, a rise in
elevation of about 4,000 feet. The ride takes about 15 minutes and travels 2.7
miles, giving stunning views of the Sandia Mountains over the rugged terrain of
crags as well as canyons. Take the tram up at sunset and you'll see a whole new
level of beauty in the southwest scenery as the sky lights up in glorious sunset
color around you.
Exterior of The Sandia Peak Tramway
During ski season, the Tramway provides access to the Sandia Peak Ski Area
where you can ski or snowboard. In the summer, you can hike along the peak
trails or bring your mountain bike. There is a forest visitor's center a few
miles along the trails from the Tramway, where you can have lunch before hiking
back for your return trip down the mountain. Be mindful of the altitude though,
Albuquerque is at roughly the same height above sea level as "Mile High" Denver
and the tram will take you up over 10,000 feet above sea-level. It may be best
to give yourself a few days to acclimate to Albuquerque's altitude before you
take the trip to Sandia Peak.
Sandia Peak Tramway cable car ride
By AdamSelby, via
Wikimedia Commons
2) ¡Globalquerque!
Music Festival
Albuquerque is home to many special events and festivals over the course of the
year; if you visit at the right time you can take advantage of great
opportunities for art, music, as well as other forms of entertainment. One of
the biggest of these festivals is the ¡Globalquerque! Music Festival, where
Albuquerque embraces its own cultural pluralism that is made of multiple
overlapping cultural influences that have made their home in the southwest. In
the spirit of this cultural acceptance and celebration, ¡Globalquerque! is a
truly international festival that brings in artists from all over the globe to
showcase their own musical styles. The 2013 lineup includes artists from the
U.S., Mexico, India, Taiwan, Sierra Leone, Ireland, Argentina, Ethiopia and
more.
¡Globalquerque! includes the Global Village, which is an area of booths
showcasing food, crafts and culture from around the world. Local cultural groups
are also welcome to come and be a part of the Village. It is a marvelous
opportunity to see, touch and taste offerings from many cultures, chat with
artisans as well as gain a bigger appreciation for the diversity of our planet.
Walk the Village, sample foods you've never heard of and pick up a souvenir or
two to remind you of expanded horizons.
Globalquerque 2012 performance by
Zeb and Haniya
By Carptrash, via
Wikimedia Commons
1) Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta
More than any other event, Albuquerque is known for the annual International
Balloon Fiesta. It takes place every October and it's an outstanding spectacle
of color that has over 500 balloons that take to the sky in close company. The
two weeks of the festival offer more than just balloon viewing, there is a
packed schedule of events happening both on the ground and in the sky. Everyday
there is a mass ascension of balloons, morning or evening balloon "glows",
fireworks, special event competitions, concerts and other entertainments. There
are precision flying events that are beautiful for anyone to watch but
especially interesting for those who fly balloons and understand the skill
involved. Of course, if you want to go up in a balloon yourself there are many
opportunities to take advantage of. Even if you don't, you can still get an idea
of what it's like by following one of the webcams taken up in many of the
balloons that show views of the festival from the air. Take advantage of the
Balloon Discovery Center, an area which explains the science and technology of
flying air balloons. Kids will enjoy the opportunity to "fly" a balloon
simulator at the Discovery Center then will go back outside and appreciate the
balloons in flight after seeing what kind of work goes into hot air ballooning.
By Eric Ward, via
Wikimedia Commons
Final Words
Albuquerque offers much for visitors of every kind and if you love getting
outdoors as well as hiking or exploring then there are opportunities for you in
every direction. If you appreciate history then you will love the city because
it's bathed in it, from the Old Town, the surrounding pueblos as well as the
ancient rock carvings to great museums. If modern entertainment is your scene
then check out one of the many festivals that happen throughout the year. Sample
the local cuisine, browse quaint or funky little shops, breathe in the desert
air and appreciate a million miles of clear blue sky above your head. If you've
never visited Albuquerque, a world of adventure awaits you there.
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