Travel guide to planning a vacation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including top tourist attractions and things to do.
Often overlooked in favor of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, New Mexico, offers tourists a wide range of things to see and do. Even better, because it is slightly less well-known as a tourist destination, Albuquerque is more reasonably priced than its sister-city.
When visiting Albuquerque, be sure to bring a big appetite. This place offers some of the most delicious cuisine in the Southwest. From the restaurants in Old Town to eateries in the Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque offers tantalizing edibles for everyone.
Old Town Albuquerque offers both great food and shopping. Visit the Church Street Cafe for their delicious chiles rellenos or patronize Seasons Rotisserie & Grille for their American fare, then walk it off while you browse through the local shops and art galleries or stroll around the central plaza.
Albuquerque's historic Nob Hill-Highland district, near the University of New Mexico, also offers art, antiques, delicious food and sightseeing. Visit the Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro for a taste of nightlife, French and American food and fine wine, then take in a show at the Ana Chavira theater. Or stroll through the galleries and antique shops.
When you've gotten your fill of shopping and fabulous food, visit Albuquerque's excellent museums. With much of the place devoted to describing various eras in the Earth's history, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science offers outstanding exhibits on dinosaurs, the Ice Age, and local changes in culture and geography. You'll also find some fascinating exhibits on microcomputers.
Another must-see is the Albuquerque Biological Park. Encompassing the Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Rio Grande Zoo and Tingley Beach Aquatic Park, the Biological Park offers a view of numerous ecosystems and a surprisingly complete, enjoyable aquarium, something you wouldn't expect from a city located almost in the center of the state.
If you're in the mood for a hike, Albuquerque offers several day-long adventures that you'll love. For history and pre-history buffs, Petroglyph National Monument offers both a mild workout and a mystery. The monument features petroglyphs, or pictures that have been tapped into the rock several thousands of years ago. Although scientists have several theories, no one has yet determined why these petroglyphs were carved here or what they mean. The park offers almost 25,000 different carvings and stretches for 17 miles along Albuquerque's West Mesa.
If you want a true rush of adrenaline, though, Sandia Peak is the place for you. Albuquerque is located near the Sandia Mountains, which means "watermelon" in Spanish. Named for their deep red color at sunset, which is punctuated by the shadows of local fauna, these mountains offer the longest aerial tramway in the world, plus downhill skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. You can also hike from the bottom of Sandia Peak to the top. And if you get hungry from your efforts, there are restaurants at the foot and on top of the mountain. Choose the more casual Sandiago's Grill at the bottom or the more formal High Finance Restaurant & Tavern. But if you choose the latter, you'll probably want to take the tram or at least a change of clothes - it's a tough hike up the side of the mountain.
Albuquerque also offers several day and overnight trips. In easy driving distance of Bandalier National Park, the location of Anasazi cliff dwellings, and Taos, a renowned ski resort, Albuquerque offers culture, history and tradition, plus great shopping and dining.
