Albuquerque

Albuquerque’s history stretches far back to before the city as we know it was founded. As far back as 2,000 B.C. The Pueblo people were living in present-day Albuquerque. These people were adept at many skills including stone masonry, pottery and an impressive array of arts and crafts. These traditional skills are still alive in Albuquerque today, as the skills have been passed down from generation to generation.

Following the Pueblo, the Spanish were the next to populate the region. A religious people, the first structure in town was a small adobe chapel located in what is today Albuquerque’s Old Town, where San Felipe de Neri Church currently stands. This church is now the center of Old Town, and the square on which it is located is home to several cultural, historical and city events throughout the year.

Today, Albuquerque holds a unique distinction as the Hot Air Balloon capital of the U.S. Due to its unique atmospheric conditions and air currents, the city is an ideal ballooning location and tourists and residents, alike, often enjoy going for a hot air balloon ride. Every October, an event known as the Balloon Fiesta draws over a million and a half people to the world’s largest international hot air balloon competition. On these days, it is not uncommon to wake up to the sight of hundreds of balloons filling the sky.

Among the many awards and rankings given to the city of Albuquerque are:

• WalletHub.com ranked Albuquerque one of the Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle.
• USA Today ranked Albuquerque one of the 50 Best US Cities for Biking.
• Albuquerque was ranked one of the 5 Best Up and Coming Cities for Foodies by Women’s Health.
• The Resonance Report ranked Albuquerque once of the Top 50 US Destinations for 2014.
• Albuquerque was named one of the 10 Cities You Need to Visit in Your 20s by The Huffington Post.
• Albuquerque was named one of 7 Great American Vacation Spots That Won’t Bust Your Budget by Time.com.
• The Trust for Public Land ranked Albuquerque among the Top Park Systems in the US.
• Albuquerque was ranked one of the most Unexpected Brewery Cities in the US by Outsideonline.com.
• The Alliance for Biking & Walking ranked Albuquerque one of the 20 Best US Cities for Cyclists.
• Albuquerque ranked the #2 Top Film Locations in the World by Wayn.com.
• Albuquerque named #1 on Weather.com’s 10 Best Urban Destinations for Nature Lovers.
• Albuquerque has been named one of the top Park Friendly Cities by the Trust for Public Land.

Just as Albuquerque is an excellent city for nature enthusiasts, foodies can take comfort in knowing that the Duke City is also home to a bustling food and shopping scene. New Mexican food is its own unique style, blending Native American, Mexican and Spanish ingredients and cooking techniques. Although the city is home to hundreds of restaurants, it is not uncommon to find chile on the menu, and the question you will hear when you order it will always be, “do you want red or green?”

Among the higher-end dining options are Jennifer James 101, Antiquity, and St. James Tearoom. At a slightly more economical price point, there are options including Zinc Wine Bar and Bistro, Chama River Brewing Company, and the Artichoke Café.

Some of the more moderate options include II Vicino, Saggio’s, Grove Café and Market, and Shogun Japanese. If you’re in the mood for some cheap eats, there are options such as Frontier Restaurant, Siam Café, El Modelo Mexican Foods, and Thai Vegan. With a metro area of over 900,000 people, you will be sure to find a restaurant to enjoy, no matter your desired type of cuisine.

Just like its dining, Albuquerque’s shopping does not disappoint.

Surrounded by a 300-year-old plaza, historic Old Town offers over 150 shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Old Town is a showcase for many local and Native American artists, and nearby you can find the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo, as well as some of the city’s museums.

A hub of activity, Nob Hill attracts countless shoppers to its shops and boutiques, restaurants, wine bars and live music.

Downtown Albuquerque offers the best nightlife in New Mexico, as well as a number of niche merchants and galleries. Gold Avenue is a prime spot for modern, locally owned boutiques, in addition to street fairs throughout the year.

ABQ Uptown is the state’s largest shopping destination. Operating as an outdoor shopping mall, it features upscale retailers, restaurants, and a spa/salon. Among the stores here include North Face, Sunglass Hut, The Apple Store, Williams-Sonoma, J. Jill and many others.

Near to Uptown, the Coronado Center offers over 150 stores, including well-known names like Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears, Caché, H&M, Gap and more. Nearby, the Winrock Center is undergoing a series of renovation, and is home to a brand-new movie theater.

The Cottonwood Mall on the west side of town features Dillard’s, Macy’s, Sears, JCPenney, Regal Cinemas and many more other retailers.

Albuquerque’s Park Management Division manages over 286 park sites and 113 miles of developed urban and soft trails. In addition to our parks, there are biking and hiking areas found in, or near, the Sandia and Manzano foothills. The Park Division also offers (among others):

• 13 dog parks
• Shooting range
• Softball fields
• Mixed use fields, picnic facilities and recreation areas

Pools – West Mesa Aquatic Center is an all-purpose aquatic center including stadium seating for 800 spectators. It has an indoor pool with a large water slide and zero-slope entry. The city also offers a number of indoor and outdoor pools.

Model Rocketry with two 6-slot rocket launchers. The equipment is loaned out for a maximum of 3 days. Launches are conducted at Balloon Fiesta Park normally.

During ski season, the City of Albuquerque provides skiing and snowboarding lessons.

Albuquerque is the home of the University of New Mexico, the state’s flagship university. UNM’s School of Medicine has been ranked nationally among the top 50 primary-care-focused medical schools. Other higher education opportunities in Albuquerque include National American University, Southwest University of Visual Arts, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Trinity Southwest University, and the University of St. Francis College of Nursing and Allied Health Department of Physician Assistant Studies. The Central New Mexico Community College serves the entire region.

Albuquerque Public Schools, one of the nation’s biggest school districts, serves nearly 90,000 students. The district administers 13 high schools, 27 middle schools, 89 elementary schools, 11 alternative schools. There are also 33 charter schools serving over 6,000 students. In addition, there are a number of respected private schools available.

Albuquerque is also New Mexico’s premier location for healthcare. Hospitals here include the Heart Hospital of New Mexico, Lovelace Women’s Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital, and the VA Medical Center. The University of New Mexico Hospital is the state’s sole level I trauma center. Additionally, University Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital also enjoy high rankings nationally.

When getting around Albuquerque, there are several options for every mode of transportation. For drivers, the city has two major highways which are I-25 for north-south driving, and I-40 for east-west. Two airports also serve Albuquerque. The larger of the two, Albuquerque International Sunport is located 3 miles southeast of the central business district. The smaller of the airports, Double Eagle II Airport, mainly serves as an air ambulance center, but is also used by corporate planes, military personnel, and for charter and private use. For those looking to bike, Albuquerque has been nationally recognized by several publications for its biking infrastructure and many bike paths.