One of the centers of Southwestern culture is Albuquerque. More than a dozen museums can be found there, and a strong public art initiative has murals and sculptures on almost every corner of the downtown area.
Though it is the largest city in the state, its spicy cuisine is frequently packed with red and green New Mexico chili sauces. Still, it serves up plenty of foreign cuisine. Here are some good destinations for this place.
Sandia Peak
Ride the Sandia Peak Tramway for great views of Albuquerque and the surrounding Sandia Mountains. Passengers are transported by cable cars over a suspended cable about 3 miles (about 15 minutes) from eastern Albuquerque to the 10,378-foot peak of Sandia Peak.
The top of the mountain offers visitors breathtaking views over the Land of Enchantment and the Rio Grande Valley, spanning up to 11,000 square miles on clear days. From the modest 0.3-mile Peak Nature Trail to the more challenging 7.5-mile La Luz Trail, there are routes to suit all ability levels. There are tickets available for one-way hikes up and down.
Emsculpt Treatment
It is truly revolutionary to use EMSculpt for body sculpting. It stimulates muscle contractions, which results in the growth of muscle and the removal of fat, by using cutting-edge electromagnetic technology.
In contrast to conventional exercises that concentrate on the muscles on the outside, emsculpt in Albuquerque works deeper, interacting with the muscles at the cellular level to yield remarkable outcomes. EMSculpt can assist you in reaching your physical objectives, whether they be to tone your arms, define your abs, or sculpt your buttocks.
Old Town
When visiting the American International Rattlesnake Museum in Old Town, one of the funniest museums in the city, visitors receive a certificate of bravery for spotting the museum’s huge collection of venomous snakes, which is devoted to conservation. The area has been shaped for more than 300 years by the civilizations of Native Americans and Spanish people (here was the location of the first municipal settlement in 1706).
The streets of Old Town, which are centered around the central plaza, are lined with colorfully trimmed adobe structures that are now home to restaurants, souvenir stores, and galleries. This is also the location of Albuquerque’s oldest structure, the magnificent San Felipe de Neri Church.
Indian Pueblo Center
Numerous Pueblo tribes lived in the area long before the Spanish conquistadors arrived in New Mexico. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which is owned by the Pueblos of New Mexico collectively, is currently home to the preservation of these Indigenous peoples’ traditions.
This teaching center on Pueblo art and history lies roughly two miles northeast of Old Town. It also conducts a range of cultural activities, such as dances, seminars, and lectures.
Recent tourists deemed visiting the facility a must-do while in Albuquerque and highly recommended it. If at all possible, schedule your visit during the Pueblo dancers’ performances; reviews say this was the highlight of their trip.
The Paseo del Bosque Trail
Take a little detour to the 53-acre Aldo Leopold Forest, honoring the conservationist and his connections to New Mexico, while following the Paseo del Bosque Trail. This 16-mile paved trail is ideal for bicyclists and walkers as it follows the Rio Grande through the heart of Albuquerque, passing by important locations such as the ABQ BioPark and Old Town.
It also offers the chance to view a variety of animals and public art. Road crossings don’t occur along the trail, which makes it a fantastic choice for seeing the city without any traffic.
Museum of Nuclear Science
Located between the Trinity Site, which tested the first nuclear bomb, to the south, and Los Alamos, where scientists developed the first atomic weapons, to the north, Albuquerque has strong connections to the beginning of the Atomic Age.
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History was founded in 1969 and chronicles the history of nuclear technology, covering everything from the first innovators in the area to the most recent advancements in nuclear power and medicine. The museum investigates the impact of the bomb on popular culture and brings visitors inside the decision to drop the first atomic weapon.
A wealth of participant oral histories from the Manhattan Project was given to the museum in 2019 as a result of a collaboration with the Atomic Heritage Foundation. A collection of uncommon and historically significant aircraft and missiles, including a B-29 Superfortress similar to the one that carried the “Fat Man” bomb, are kept outside in the 9-acre Heritage Park.
International Balloon Fiesta
If you intend to come, make sure you have several mornings and evenings free. Even though Albuquerque typically experiences warm weather, bad weather can prevent the balloons from taking off. It should be certain that you see the big show if you give yourself backup days.
Due to the city’s dry environment, which makes hot air ballooning ideal, hundreds of thousands of people visit Albuquerque annually during the first week of October to take part in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Over 500 vividly colored balloons take to the skies for a whole week, launching in large quantities from the 360-acre Balloon Fiesta Park in northern Albuquerque several mornings.
Attendees of the festival get to see the “Balloon Glows,” when the balloons glow against the night sky, and the mass launches right before sunrise.
Petroglyph National Monument
One of the best things to do in New Mexico is visit Petroglyph National Monument, which is located on the west bank of the Rio Grande and is worth seeing if you have an interest in (very) early American history. Visit the tourist center before venturing out to examine the petroglyphs for yourself (the park has three main hiking sections).
Remember that the petroglyph viewing trails are one to six miles away from the visitor center. If you are taking a cab or ride-sharing, ask the driver to wait for you so they may bring you to the trailheads. Three short trails at Boca Negra Canyon lead to a total of one hundred petroglyphs.
The most petroglyphs can be seen in Piedras Marcadas Canyon, where 400 are dispersed along a 1.5-mile (round-trip) walk. The park’s staff may point you in the direction of certain sites, and on-site educational events provide more context for the prehistoric rock art. Regarding the routes, the views of the petroglyphs and their accessibility were highly praised by recent visitors.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the numerous places and sites that you can visit in Albuquerque. But we pointed out just some of them which can be enough (for now) if you go there for the first time.
