Though Walter White and his Breaking Bad exploits certainly put Albuquerque on the map, at least in the broader pop-cultural sense, this dry desert city still feels relatively small and unassuming. Maybe it’s because of its landlocked location in the sprawling American Southwest, or maybe it’s because those who fall in love with New Mexico are smart enough to keep it to themselves. Regardless, this quaint identity falls apart each year for about a week in October, when the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta comes to town (read about our fiesta experience here!). During that week, the city gets crowded. Like really, really crowded.
Though all this excitement is beyond well deserved (see our other article about the fiesta), because the festival is largely an early morning and evening event, there is so much time to experience all the other great attractions that New Mexico has to offer. So after you’ve taken your midday nap after catching a beautiful early morning Mass Ascension, check out these four amazing things to do in the area!
#1 Explore Old Town Albuquerque
This is a can’t miss activity, especially if you love architecture and history. Founded in 1706 by Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, the Spanish governor of New Mexico, Old Town is exactly what you’d think–a beautiful historic district, complete with ten blocks of Pueblo-Spanish adobe buildings, a picturesque church from 1793, and crisscrossing streets lined with luxurious shops and museums.
I highly recommend getting a coffee at the vibrant yet quaint Blackbird Coffee House and taking it to the nearby City Plaza, where you’ll often find a mariachi band serenading the square. And perhaps best of all, Old Town is quite small, meaning it’s not too exhaustive of an activity to undertake after a long morning of balloon watching.
#2 Go to Santa Fe
Only an hour away by car, Santa Fe is in many ways more similar to Old Town Albuquerque than it is to other state capitals. Originally settled by the Pueblo and Tanoan peoples in 900 AD and then settled by the Spanish in 1610, Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in America–and it feels that way. It is truly a magical place, with an endless number of museums, art galleries, shops, and historic monuments. I highly recommend spending some time going to all the beautiful churches (The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Loretto Chapel, and San Miguel Chapel), as they are all within walking distance from each other. San Miguel Chapel was the standout, as it is the oldest church in the United States, originally built in 1610.
I also highly recommend checking out the endless shops and galleries on Canyon Road. Housed in historic low Adobe buildings, these fine art museums are an easy way to spend a couple hours getting a feel for the local art scene. And don’t forget to check out Kakawa Coffee House, just minutes away, for some of the best Pre-Columbian drinking chocolate in the world. You can truly tell that Kakawa puts so much heart and soul into each locally sourced chocolate, with a standout option being the Meso-American 100% Cacao and Chilli elixir.
#3 Soak Up Some History at Petroglyphs National Monument
Located right outside of Albuquerque, this park is home to thousands of petroglyphs carved by Pueblos and Spanish settlers, dating back as far as 700 years ago. Though these cultural carvings are relatively simple and unassuming at first glance, the well-paved trails are complete with loads of historic information that truly brings the historicity of the park to life.
We checked out the Boca Negra Canyon, which has three relatively short trails that lead to about a hundred petroglyphs. Spending a couple of hours here is a wonderful way to decompress from the excitement and chaos of the Fiesta, as the quiet beauty of Albuquerque’s West Mesa is a perfect juxtaposition to the commotion in town.
#4 Pecos National Historic Park
If it isn’t clear already, New Mexico is a history lover’s dream destination. And perhaps no place is better for history than Pecos National Historic Park, located about an hour away from Albuquerque, near Santa Fe. Situated at a historically important pass in the Sangro de Cristo mountains, this park is a great place to learn about the woven and endlessly dynamic stories between Native Americans, Spanish armies, Mexican and Anglo Armies, and Spanish Fe Settlers. Though the main attraction of the park are the ruins of a Spanish mission built in 1619, I highly recommend also checking out Glorieta Pass Battlefield, which was the site of one of the most western Civil War battles. Like Petroglyphs, Pecos is the perfect place to relax and spend some time in nature, although make sure to stay hydrated because you are very high up in the mountains.
So if you find some time in between the balloon fiesta and catching up on sleep, make sure to check out these four attractions. My favorite was probably Old Town, mostly because it was the perfect balance of historic and luxurious, with splendid galleries lining the vibrant streets. And if none of these options sound enticing, you can always feed your inner cinema nerd with the famous Breaking Bad tours of Albuquerque.
Conclusion:
So if you find some time in between the balloon fiesta and catching up on sleep, make sure to check out these four attractions!
My favorite was probably Old Town, mostly because it was the perfect balance of historic and luxurious, with splendid galleries lining the vibrant streets. And if none of these options sound enticing, you can always feed your inner cinema nerd with the famous Breaking Bad tours of Albuquerque.
