Traveling
full time has been good to our family so far. For the last 3 months, most of
our time has been spent in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In a city of almost 1 million people, there are
plenty to things to do and our family is all about taking full advantage of our
time wherever we go. Here is a list of
our top 10 recommendations in ABQ:
1.
Hot Air
Balloon Ride
Is this not on almost everyone’s bucketlist? It
should be! I can’t think of a better way to see a city, especially a beautiful
one with mountains and rivers. Sunrise or sunset is best. Ask for Troy at Rainbow Ryders. The
man has set world records!
2.
La Luz
Trail
There are so many trails in the Sandia Mountains
and in the city that I could probably make a top 10 trails list, but this one
was my favorite, strenuous but worth the effort. We rode the Sandia Peak Tram to the
top and hiked down. It was still 10 grueling miles, especially with the unexpected
snow and ice, but the amazing overlooks of the valley and the surrounding
mountains and forest made it worth the effort. They were the kind of views that
make a person happy to be alive!
3.
Petroglyphs
How cool is it to see preserved rock carvings
that are literally hundreds of years old?
They may be child scribblings or have some deep hidden meaning, but no
matter, to me, the carvings are amazing! The Petroglyph National Monument offers
trails that give great views of the valley and the rocks, and the place is
perfect for kids. They can have fun climbing, exploring, and hiking. We even
saw tons of jack rabbits and a coyote running around the area!
4.
Food
& Beer
With 40+ breweries in a city known for it’s IPAs,
there was no shortage of beers to keep me happy. No way could I hit every one
of them, but I made a dent. The food, mostly Hispanic influenced, was delicious
as well - chiliburgers, sopaipillas, Posole, tacos, Bizcochos, and more. Never a shortage of good foods and
restaurants to try!
5.
Route 66
Yeah, there are a lot of old, run down motels,
throngs of homeless, and jacked up traffic, but cruising down Route 66 (now
Central Avenue) through Albuquerque gives a sense of true Americana. The street has been the lifeline of New
Mexico and much of the West for many years, some say as far back as when the
Native Americans used it for a trade route. Route 66 definitely has character
and a personality all its own. No telling what you might see.
6. Santa Fe,
Taos, Madrid, Cerillos, Jemez
Technically, these towns are outside of ABQ, but
they are awesome day or weekend trips. The beauty of northern New Mexico is
unparalleled and these destinations all offer their own taste of the state. Santa
Fe is the biggest with so much to see, and Meow Wolf is a must. The other towns are smaller, but with just as
much character.
7.
Old Town
This is where American Indian, Hispanic, and
modern cultures collide. The Old Town Plaza conjures
the days of Spanish rule, where San Neri Church, still standing strong at
almost 300 years old, casts its shadow over the entire plaza. The older adobe
buildings, the Native Americans selling their crafts, and art and souvenir
shops give locals and tourists alike a place to congregate and enjoy a taste of
the past. A significant amount of city activities take place throughout the
year, like the lighting of the Christmas Tree, Feast Day celebrations, lighting
of the luminarias, and more.
8.
Explora
A children’s museum, you ask? Yes, but this one is just as fun for
adults. I could spend every weekend at Explora and find something new to
do. From blowing giant bubbles to experimenting
with music and art to riding a bike across a tightrope, the place is a blast!
9.
Breaking
Bad
Call me a nerd, an overzealous fan, or whatever
you like, but I had a great time mapping out Breaking Bad locations across
town. The show is as popular in ABQ now as when it was on TV. People pay good
money for tours where you can ride an RV like the one that Jesse and Walter
used to cook in. Since I had plenty of
time, I mapped out some of the places I wanted to see and when I was near the
area, I dropped by and snapped some pics. Of course, I also ate at Twister’s
(Pollos Hermanos), bought some blue meth from the Candy Lady, and had chili
dogs at The Dog House!
10.
Taekwondo
Yes, taekwondo! With a
few months in ABQ, our family decided to find an activity all of us could enjoy
together. I chose taekwondo, and much to
my surprise, our family loved it! Well,
except my daughter Sofiah, but she proved her toughness and grit by sticking
with it. Not only did the lessons allow
us to spend more time together, but we gained some skills, made friends, and
got great workouts! It helped that we
had a good teacher, Master Mokurai, at Silent Thunder. I suggest every family choose a challenging,
new activity to participate in together.
These are my top 10 in Albuquerque, although
I could easily add a more. Have you been
to the city? If so, what would you add?
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