Albuquerque Become a Disney Travel Agent Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Albuquerque, New Mexico, could be the place to fulfill dreams of a southwestern getaway. A centuries-old Spanish church anchors the city's plaza, chili-pepper-spiked delicacies are found on almost every menu, and residential neighborhoods are chock-full of both real adobe houses (made of mud and straw) and adobe-style look-alikes (made of concrete and stucco).

Albuquerque is New Mexico's largest city and definitely different from other cities in the state: It is a bustling, working town that doesn't run the risk of becoming too precious or too exclusive.

Albuquerque's size has also helped it to develop a fine lineup of attractions, such as the Albuquerque Zoo and Old Town Albuquerque—many of which are located close together near the downtown area. Even if you don't have a lot of time to spend in town, you can see several excellent sites in the span of a short drive and a few hours.

Must See or Do

Sights—A ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway; the drive up to and the view from Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway; ABQ BioPark, which includes the botanic garden, aquarium and zoo; etchings at Petroglyph National Monument; an afternoon in Old Town.

Museums—Indian Pueblo Cultural Center; National Museum of Nuclear Science and History; National Hispanic Cultural Center; Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.

Memorable Meals—A carne adovada burrito and a margarita at Sadie's of New Mexico; roast chicken at Artichoke Cafe; chili and sopaipillas at Padilla's Mexican Kitchen; dessert at Flying Star Cafe.

Late Night—Beer and the atmosphere at Kellys; live music at El Rey Theatre.

Walks—The nature trail at Elena Gallegos/Albert G. Simms Park; the Nob Hill area from Carlisle to Girard; downtown along Central Avenue between Second and Eighth streets.

Especially for Kids—Dinosaur bones at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science; ABQ BioPark Aquarium and ABQ BioPark Zoo; hands-on exhibits at Explora!, the children's museum.

Geography

Albuquerque sits in a bowl-shaped valley formed by the Rio Grande (Spanish for "Big River"), which runs north-south through some of the city's oldest districts. The Sandia Mountains define the eastern side of the bowl, and the Manzanos, smaller cousins of the Sandias, form the southeastern edge. Extinct volcanoes lie to the west.

The city is laid out in a grid pattern divided into four quadrants: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. The north to south boundary is Central Avenue, which once was Route 66; and the east to west boundary is Broadway Avenue and the railroad tracks. Many of the city's prime attractions can be found where the quadrants meet, near downtown. Old Town, the city's historic district and home to many shops and museums, is immediately west of downtown. The Nob Hill shopping district is east of downtown.

History

Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado arrived in central New Mexico in 1540 looking for the legendary Seven Cities of Gold. He didn't find them, but he did discover another precious place: the fertile middle Rio Grande valley. There he encountered New Mexico's indigenous residents, who lived in close-knit villages that the Spanish called pueblos.

The small farming community established by the Spanish remained a tiny outpost until 1706, when an ambitious provisional governor, Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdez, petitioned the viceroy of Spain to grant the outpost formal villa status. His petition also proposed that the new village be christened after the viceroy himself, the 10th duke of Albuquerque. His petition was granted.

Albuquerque developed slowly until 1880, when modern transportation reached the town. Railroad engineers, preferring to build along the straightest lines possible, relocated the center of town 2 mi/4 km to the east. (The former center of Albuquerque became known as Old Town.) In 1937, the cross-country highway Route 66 arrived in Albuquerque, overlapping Central Avenue. Gas stations, motor lodges, restaurants and curio shops sprang up along the road to take advantage of the anticipated traffic. The influx of railroad and automobile visitors brought new life to the town, and it became an important transportation hub in the region.

In the second half of the 20th century, the atomic age left its mark on Albuquerque. Situated between Los Alamos (where the atomic bomb was developed) and Trinity Site (where it was tested), Albuquerque was a logical place for a military outpost and for Sandia National Laboratories, one of the country's largest producers of nuclear weapons during the Cold War. Today the city remains a center for technology-based businesses, both for the government and the private sector.

Potpourri

The Doors front man Jim Morrison once made his home in Albuquerque. Other celebs who once called Albuquerque home include Neil Patrick Harris and Freddie Prinze Jr., both La Cueva High graduates. Other famous residents include King of the Hill creator Mike Judge, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm, and racing legends Al Unser Sr. and Al Unser Jr.

Local rumors claim that nuclear weapons are stored in the Manzano Mountains. Government agencies won't verify the claims.

One of Albuquerque's most controversial—and popular—sculptures is the Chevy on a Stick at San Mateo and Gibson.

On a clear day, residents can see one of the Navajos' four sacred mountains, Mount Taylor, 60 mi/95 km to the west.

The Gathering of Nations, the largest powwow in the U.S., takes place in Albuquerque each April. Come October, it's time for the world's biggest hot-air-balloon festival, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Bless Me Ultima, a seminal work of Chicano literature, was written in 1972 by Albuquerque's own Rudolfo Anaya.

The Sandia Peak Tramway claims the record for world's longest aerial tramway, at 2.7 mi/4.3 km.

The famous Route 66 is Albuquerque's Central Avenue.