How is scenery, outdoor activities, and social life in NM? (Albuquerque: employment, neighborhood)

[aries63]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

I remember only 20 or so years ago when there was no real parking lot at all, you just pulled off into the junipers, and you might see a half dozen people in the canyon. Now I would steer clear of the place during its most popular times.

Yes, it was made a national monument in 2001, and before that the road into it was unpaved, I believe it was under the state parks and monuments. Once that road was paved and it made the list of national monuments, visitation soared.

As a quieter alternative, I like the Plaza Blanca area in Abiquiu.
About

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

Chaco Canyon, Just a few years selected, it varies a lot:

2017 55,334
2013 29,917
1997 113,336

I suspect the vast majority of this was summer months. I admit the last time I visited was during the cold season.

[BMI]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

Recreation Visitors by Month, Chaco Culture NHP

Chaco Canyon, Just a few years selected, it varies a lot:

2017 55,334
2013 29,917
1997 113,336

Jan 2018 1,231
Jan 1980 678
Jan 2003 3,385

All The Stats at: https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSRepor...ear)?Park=CHCU

I was one of the 113,336 that visited Chaco Canyon in 1997,
almost killed my car going there. I entered from the north and exited south...
both roads unpaved back then, the road heading south was terrible,
very rough, washboard, should have been only for 4x4s.
After that NM trip I have to have suspension work done on my car.
But it was worth it...really liked Chaco and all the other places I visited.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by BMI

both roads unpaved back then, the road heading south was terrible,
very rough, washboard,

But it was worth it...really liked Chaco and all the other places I visited.

I can't remember when we visited, but the two times we did, it was washboard roads...

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

I can't remember when we visited, but the two times we did, it was washboard roads...

Almost any dirt road in NM is gonna be washboard.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by potanta

I am 20 and a junior in college and I am just curious of places where to live out West after college, I love the dramatic and beautiful scenery of AZ, but AZ is not a place to live due to having to live too close to Phoenix for a job, too many retirees in the great parts, etc. I considered small metro areas in the West including NM's metro areas as a choice too.

Is NM scenery gorgeous like the way people think about AZ and UT's scenery?

Does NM have a lot of outdoor activities?

Also, NM has a small population of 2 million. I am so used to NJ having 9 million people, however, 9 million people in a densely populated state sucks. Is 2 million in NM too sparse for me to have a good social life and are there a lot of young people in NM? I have checked Google Earth and if you zoom in close to the outer ABQ metro area, there are tons of undeveloped streets with no houses that are being built up and I assume the population of NM will grow (Google Earth still needs to update its imagery).

I love the scenery in a lot of New Mexico.I would stick to ABQ for a big city social life since you are coming from New Jersey.I think there are parts of ABQ that are popular with the young.I dont think New Mexico will grow much in terms of population for the foreseeable future.New Mexico has lots of outdoor stuff to do.What New Mexico metros are you considering?

[moshywilly]

Originally Posted by C24L

I love the scenery in a lot of New Mexico.I would stick to ABQ for a big city social life since you are coming from New Jersey.I think there are parts of ABQ that are popular with the young.I dont think New Mexico will grow much in terms of population for the foreseeable future.New Mexico has lots of outdoor stuff to do.What New Mexico metros are you considering?

I would say that NM only has one metro area, which is ABQ and every other major municipality name in NM is just a satellite city influenced by ABQ. I am not interested in living in ABQ itself. I would like to live in those nice neighborhoods east of it where the houses are nice and spread apart. I love New Mexico for that while AZ crowds their houses if you want to live close to jobs even though AZ has a lot land. Utah has crowding due to the lack of flat land.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by potanta

I would say that NM only has one metro area, which is ABQ and every other major municipality name in NM is just a satellite city influenced by ABQ. I am not interested in living in ABQ itself. I would like to live in those nice neighborhoods east of it where the houses are nice and spread apart. I love New Mexico for that while AZ crowds their houses if you want to live close to jobs even though AZ has a lot land. Utah has crowding due to the lack of flat land.

Okay i see....best of luck to you.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by potanta

I am not interested in living in ABQ itself. I would like to live in those nice neighborhoods east of it where the houses are nice and spread apart.

Which neighborhoods do you refer to?

[Cactus Hibs]

Originally Posted by potanta

I would say that NM only has one metro area, which is ABQ and every other major municipality name in NM is just a satellite city influenced by ABQ.

Not really accurate. Las Cruces is a city of 200,000+ that is 3 1/2 hours away from Albuquerque and really more part of the El Paso metro, and Santa Fe is 410 years old and has a culture (for good or bad) that is quite distinct from the Duke City.