Taking a trip late May.. Help with Itinerary! (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: appointed, for rent)

[jrod2828]

Hey All,

I've posted on here a while now and my wife and I are thinking of taking the big plunge and moving to ABQ from Indianapolis.

We plan on coming in late Thursday evening May 29th and flying back Monday June 2nd. That gives us 3 whole days to do as much exploring as possible.

So here's the deal. My wife will be getting her Phd at UNM. I am currently searching for a job. So we'll definitely want to check out the UNM area. We are going to rent a house at first, probably near the university. Then after she graduates and we start doing the baby thing, we're going to head out to the burbs and settle down (I've heard Rio Rancho is nice and also NE Heights). So we want to check out those areas as well.

What else? Help me make up an itenerary. Where is the best hotel to stay? What area? Dowtown, uptown, nob hill, old town, North side, sandia mtns?

What are the places that definitely need to be hit? What are the best restaurants? Best sight seeing? Best bars?

I'm 27 and my wife is 26. We love the outdoors and are very active. We also love great food and throwing back good alcoholic beverages from time to time.

So if you guys/gals can help us plan a 3-day itenerary to hit those things I'd appreciate it.

On another note, the only thing keeping us from moving is friends and family. We are very social and don't want to be stuck here alone. We'd like to meet people our age who are also active. Are there groups where newcomers to the city get together? What is the best way to meet people, other than the typical workplace and neighbor stuff. We are both very active, love sports, conservative on our views, like to have a good time (not nearly as much in college but a little bit). Where is the best place to meet people like that?

Anyways, any help would be appreciated. I hope to make ABQ my home for a long time. I love Indianapolis but I CAN NOT take another winter here. It's taking years off my life. Thanks in advance!

[abqsunport]

Definitely check out UNM/Nob Hill, then Downtown, then Old Town (all down Central Ave.)

See Sandia Tram and Peak
Check out Musuems and Such
See ABQ Uptown, and both malls

Neighborhoods to check out for suburbs

NE Albuquerque (In city limits for most part)
Check Out Tramway to Montgomery through the Tram
Check Out Paseo Del Norte from Lowell through Wyoming
Check Out Coralles
Check Out Placitas
Check Out Los Ranchos De Albuquerque
Check out parts of Bernalillo
Rio Rancho isn't great, but go ahead and take a trip there
Check out Edgewood

Good Hotels
Sandia Resort Sandia Resort & Casino. Hotel & Entertainment - Albuquerque, NM
Courtyard Albuquerque Journal Center Courtyard Albuquerque: Rooms designed for business travelers in Albuquerque
Marriott Pyramid Albuquerque Journal Center Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North: Hotel deals, rates and availability in Albuquerque
Hyatt Place Albuquerque Uptown Hyatt Place Albuquerque Hotels
Marriott Albuquerque Albuquerque Marriott: Hotel deals, rates and availability in Albuquerque
Drury Hotel Drury Inn & Suites Albuquerque, New Mexico
Nativo Lodge Nativo Lodge: A Culturally distinct Hotel in Albuquerque New Mexico
Hyatt Downtown Downtown Albuquerque Hotels, New Mexico Reservations & NM Lodgings - Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
Hyatt Tamaya (isolated resort in Bernalillo) New Mexico Hotels & Santa Ana Pueblo Luxury Resorts - Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa
Hotel Albuquerque Old Town Culturally Distinct Albuquerque Hotel: Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town is the premier Hotel in Albuquerque NM
La Posada De Albuquerque La Posada de Albuquerque
Doubletree Albuquerque Doubletree Hotel Albuquerque New Mexico - Albuquerque NM Hotels
Embassy Suites Albuquerque Downtown Albuquerque Hotels: Embassy Suites Albuquerque New Mexico Hotel Reservations NM
Sheraton Albuquerque
Holiday Inn Albuquerque

[kensgirl]

You didn't say, but I'm assuming you are renting a car for your visit? It really is the best way to see the sights.

Hotel - can't really help you. When I visited, we just stayed near the highway, so we could get around quickly (Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard by Marriot).

Things to see - whenever we have visitors, we hit old Town (have breakfast or lunch at Church Street Cafe, right behind the church), take a ride on the Tram to the top of the Sandias (you can drive thru NE Heights to get there), go to one of the wineries (I love Casa Rhondena in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque - great building, leisurely tastings) and check out Nob Hill, by UNM (Kelly's Cafe is always good for a good lunch). Other restaurants to check out would be The Range Cafe and Flying Star (great desserts). If you want to get outside, check out the Petroglyths or go to the Botanic Gardens.

I'm sure that other posters will have other suggestions for you. There is a lot to see, and you'll find your 3 days will go by pretty quickly! Enjoy the visit

[penelopelp]

For hotel recommendations, you might want to check out tripadvisor. Last summer, we stayed in the Embassy Suites, & we were very comfortable.

[jrod2828]

Very good information. Thanks a bunch. We will be renting a car to cover as much space as possible. Is it best to spend a long time in one spot (like in a museum or zoo) or just drive around and see things? How big is ABQ? Can we cover all the big places in 3 days? I'm definitely interested in hitting a winery. This is all very good information. May sound like a stupid question but does "NE" in NE Heights stand for North East? Thanks again.

[InTheDesert]

I'd consider staying in Old Town, you'll be right in the old part of Albuquerque in the plaza, walk to MANY good restaurants, plenty of options for tapas and drinks and live music down there, that way you can stumble back to your B&B or hotel and not worry about your car. Also Old Town is right near regular downtown bars, music, movie theater, as well as tons of new lofts you could potentially check out for renting. Up from there is the University. You can easily check out all of Abq. in a couple of days, it's a small town.

Check out Old Town Bed and Breakfast:

Old Town Bed & Breakfast

More $$$ but still a cool hotel right in Old Town:

Albuquerque Accommodations: Hotel Rooms in Old Town Albuquerque NM

Check out the restaurant thread for good places to eat. There are tons of good NM restaurants.

For live music/festivals/nightlife check out alibi.com:

alibi . march 13 - 19, 2008

Make sure you hit up the Sandia Tram, longest tram in the world, there is a really good hike at the top to an old rock cabin plus a little restaurant at the top. You can see just how small Abq. is from the top!:

http://www.sandiapeak.com/

[EnjoyEP]

OK, jrod, let me give this a hack with some advice / suggestions for you.

My wife and I moved to ABQ around the same age you and your wife are...we moved there in early 2003 and lived there until July or 2007. Now, in our early 30s, we moved back to our "hometown" area of Milwaukee, WI because we had a couple of kids in ABQ and thought being back close to friends/family here was for the best. We were wrong. We miss ABQ desperately. It is a great city.

ONE NOTE: Albuquerque is a unique, very-non-cookie cutter US city. It has a vibe, culture, pace and charm all on its own. So many big US cities now seem to kind of blend together in terms of the same pop culture, the same restaurants, the same architecture, the same attitudes, the same "looks" and "feels", etc.

Albuquerque is not that place. First off, it is a desert. So for Midwesterners coming looking for grass, lush stuff, boating, water, etc., etc., etc., this is not the place. I find ABQ to be quite colorful, but a common complaint I hear about ABQ is how "brown" it looks. Well, it is the desert. What you get for 310+ days of sunshine per year and minimal gray/rain is great, but it also means that yes, there won't be huge, lush green things. If you are good with that, that is great! I love that about ABQ. But sometimes I see folks roll into ABQ, coming for the weather, but then not being sure "why it is so brown"...well, it is a desert after all.

ABQ has a unique culture. ABQ is proud of who and what it/they is/are, and it is so non-cookie cutter as it relates to so many other major-sized US cities. It has a distinct culture, pace, and vibe...if you learn to love that (like I and so many others have and do) you'll love ABQ. If you resent that (as others do), you may be driven nuts with ABQ.

ABQ is a tremendous place. But it is polarizing based to personalities. In my opinion, folks visiting should have that perspective coming in. If ABQ is something, it sure the heck ain't Minneapolis (or Chicago, or Denver, or Pittsburgh, or Baltimore, etc., etc., etc.).

OK....long caveat aside...here we go:

-----Restaurants I would suggest for a 3-day stay (hopefully you like Mexican / New Mexican cuisine...otherwise, wow, you'd be missing out on a staple of what makes the area great):

-The Frontier
(Absolutely a must-stop; by UNM; super casual, huge, 24-hour a day local icon. Get a breakfast burrito or a chicken taco or a breakfast item. You MUST get a cinnamon roll for desert (2 trillion calories). Buy a bag of the homemade flour tortillas to eat at home like bread).

-Barrela's Coffee House
(Only open for breakfast and lunch. In a very aged portion of ABQ somewhat near Downtown and UNM. Very casual. Extraordinary New Mexican cuisine and also flavor for the area).

-Mariscos Altimar
(Mexican [not New Mexican] cuisine - tremendous Mexican seafood. On I-40 and Coors NW).

-The Range Cafe and/or Weck's
(Awesome American food with some New Mexican touches too. Range is open for dinner, Weck's I believe is also just breakfast and lunch - multiple locations for both).

-Flying Star (multiple locations)
(Again, very casual...tremendous food though...American cuisine...very hip and cool).

-Yanni's (on Central Avenue)
(Tremendous Mediterranean cuisine in a fairly dressy atmosphere)

-Blakes Lottaburger (various locations)
(You'll see tons of these burger joints all over ABQ. Stop in. Get a green chile cheeseburger. You won't be disappointed).

-Other possibilities: Garcias (various locations - New Mexican food), Sadies (in the North Valley - New Mexican food).

You will love the eatin' in ABQ if you try these options!!

-----Bars (ranked in order of "must stop in" preference):

-1. The Horse N' Angel (a must stop on Juan Tabo and Eubank Blvd.'s intersection)

-2. Kelly's Brew Pub (on Central Ave.)

-3. Anodyne Pool Hall & Cocktails (Downtown ABQ, near Maloney's)

-4. Maloney's (Downtown ABQ)

-5. Barley Room (near the Horse and Angel off of Eubank Blvd.)

Also...specialty bars...

-Coach's (on Central Ave. IF YOU WANT A SPORTS BAR)

-Turtle Mountain Brewing (Rio Rancho...IF YOU WANT A BREW PUB)

-----Now...having said that, here are some "must stops" if you ask me or "must do" things:

1) Take the Sandia Peak tram ride

This is the world's longest ariel tram car. You start at the foothills of the Sandia Mountains and ride it to the peak (nearly 11,000 feet). The ride takes about 15 minutes and gives you incredible views of ABQ. (Tickets are about $10 or $15 - well worth it.)

At the peak, you can hike, walk around, take in views/photos, etc. There is also a restaurant/bar at the peak called the High Finance that is worth stopping into for a cocktail or an appetizer. (Unlike the name, you can go dressed casually).

The views on the ride are not only amazing, as well as obviously on the mountain peak, but also just the car ride up the road to the building where the tram is based out of are incredible as it is.

A neat note: While you are waiting inside for your ride, there is a temperature gauge showing you the temps at the peak; so, if it is 65 degrees in the afternoon at the base where you are, it could be 40, 35 degrees, etc., at the peak. Bring a coat and hat for the peak!!

2) Go shopping / sightseeing in Old Town Albuquerque

This is literally the oldest part of ABQ, which is now a really neat, specialty shopping area that is somewhat akin to what folks think of when they think of going to Santa Fe's historic plaza for shopping. You'll find outside jewelry vendors as well as many indoor, neat, specialty shops. These shops give such a flavor for the Southwest / ABQ / NM.

There are also other neat things to see here, such as a historic old catholic church built in 1706, as well as neat architecture, landscaping, plants, the plaza, etc.

3) Make sure to drive to the Rio Grande near Alameda Blvd., park, and take a bit of a walk by the bosque (the bosque is the tree-laden, greened area that grows along the river). A very pretty contrast to the majority of the desert that is ABQ.

4) Here is a good VERY ROUGH, GENERAL "driving tour" I think where you can see various parts of ABQ easily (certainly you'll have to pop on and off of these main roads as you determine you'd like):

-Start at San Mateo NE and Academy Blvd. NE (this is in ABQ's NE Heights). Head EAST on Academy Blvd. NE. Head SOUTH on Tramway Blvd. NE. Head WEST on Candelaria NE. Head NORTH on Eubank Blvd. NE. Once you are all the way to Paseo Del Norte, head WEST.
*This will enable you to see, I believe, a good cross-section of the Northeast area.

-Take Paseo Del Norte all the way west across the river and hit Coors Blvd. NW - head NORTH on Coors Blvd. This will allow you to see various areas of the Northwest and Rio Rancho/Corrales.

-Check out the area around I-40 and Louisiana NE...this is the Uptown area. You may want to pop into the ABQ Uptown shopping area - upscale, neat, and nice - an outdoor mall concept.

-Check out Downtown on foot, and the UNM/Nob Hill area on foot as well (or a car / foot combo).

5) Do you like college basketball? If so, you must stop off of Gibson Blvd. heading east off of I-25 and see the historic college bball arena the Pit. You could also stop in to their merchandise shop. The UNM football stadium (University Stadium) and Triple A minor league baseball stadium (the Albuquerque Isotopes) is also in this vicinity. Speaking of which, if they are playing an Isotopes game when you are in town and you guys like baseball, go to a game! Very cool.

6) Do you like bread? Do you like green chile (a type of regional pepper)?
Stop in at the Golden Crown Panaderia near Barrela's restaurant and buy a loaf (or 3) of green chile bread to take back home to IN with you...when you eat it, it'll remind you of what a neat place ABQ is.

7) Make sure to get up early enough for a sunrise over the Sandias. Make sure you are watching the Sandias also 15 minutes or so before sunset and witness the beautiful "Sandia time" color change on the mountains. Then watch the sunset. All are amazing in ABQ.

***8) Good "road trip" of sorts to do for a drink/appetizer: drive out to the Tamya Hyatt resort (near Bernalillo...20 minutes north of Albuquerque)...hit their bar area and, weather-permitting, sit on the patio. Just breathtaking outdoor views of the Sandia mountains, the desert, and the bosque/Rio Grande.

I think I have covered just about all I can for 3 days! Just make sure to get to the Sandia Peak tram and Old Town if you do nothing else, and GET OUTSIDE! ABQ's outdoor features and weather are two of its highest selling points, along with the amazing food.

As for hotels, perhaps stay at the Marriott in Uptown (good central location) or the Nativo (I-25 and San Mateo - good freeway access).

Let me know if you have any other questions...I am hopeful this helped!!

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by jrod2828

Is it best to spend a long time in one spot (like in a museum or zoo) or just drive around and see things?

I would say do a mixture of both.

I omitted this from my original list, however, if you guys are zoo people, Albuquerque has a really nice zoo. The Rio Grande zoo...it is one of the nicest in the region and is worth going to (again, if you like zoos).

Originally Posted by jrod2828

How big is ABQ? Can we cover all the big places in 3 days?

Albuquerque isn't huge...the city is about 500,000 with the metro about 850,000. It is spread out a bit, but yes, you surely could cover a lot of ground in the city in 3 days. Especially in non-rush hour times, ABQ's traffic is generally very manageable and speed limits are reasonably high.

You'll definitely be able to cover quite a bit in three days.

Originally Posted by jrod2828

I'm definitely interested in hitting a winery.

Ah, stupid me, I forgot this too. ABQ has some very nice wineries (a really nice one in Corrales too - a next-door suburb). My wife has taken out-of-town friends to ABQ wineries and they really enjoyed them. Not a bad option.

Originally Posted by jrod2828

This is all very good information. May sound like a stupid question but does "NE" in NE Heights stand for North East?

Absolutely. It is just the 1/4th of the city in the Northeast geographic quadrant. ABQ is broken fairly conveniently into four distinct quadrants - the NE, North west, South east and South west.

[jrod2828]

EnjoyEP,

Thanks for being very helpful. I printed out your comments and I'll use all this information for our trip in late May. I forgot to ask, are there areas not to go? Bad areas with crime? For instance, In Indy, don't got to the eastside. Very ghetto and dangerous. Any places like that in ABQ?

Thanks again for all you help and the information!

[abqsunport]

yes, jrod2828, there are a few places that you do not want to go to. You don't want to go to the South Valley, Avoid Areas near the State Fair Grounds, and avoid South Broadway/Central.

Check my hotel list on my previous post, these are the hotels I recommend to everyone. I gave you some in each part of Albuquerque, so check it out!