6 Fun Things to do in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
4. Spend the morning exploring the ABQ Biopark
One of the city’s most popular tourist destinations is the ABQ Biopark. This great city attraction includes 3 activities: a zoo, a botanical garden, and an aquarium.
The zoo is small at just over 60 acres, yet still packed with all sorts of exciting exhibits including underwater polar bear and sea lion viewing, an amazing reptile house, and even a walk through Australian outback with Koala bears. Th zoo’s layout is quite nice with 2 miles in walking paths, making for a nice little 1-2 hour morning stroll. They were offering summer morning discounts during our visit. We get up early anyways and the temps are cooler, so we definitely took advantage of this deal. Desert morning temps are often 30 degrees cooler, so get out there right at opening and enjoy this limited time frame of pleasant weather conditions!
The aquarium is on the smaller side (I grew up visiting the Shedd in Chicago), however, still includes a number of interesting exhibits including colorful coral reef tanks, a colorful Gulf Coast gallery, and a large shark tank with over 20+sharks intermingling with a diverse variety of sea life.
The Botanical Garden includes 1.5 miles of easy strolling through diverse gardens. The Travel Channel has ranked it amongst the top 12 in the country! Overall, this is a great place to spend some time outdoors.
5. Try out authentic New Mexican cuisine
This city is an interesting choice for foodies. Most famously, the city is known for being home to an abundance of New Mexican style restaurants. This tasty regional cuisine is popular with both locals and tourists. In Albuquerque, you will find more New Mexican restaurants than any other type of cuisine. Not to be confused with regular Mexican food, New Mexican cuisine combines elements from Mexican, Spanish, and Native American culture. The state question of New Mexico is red or green? This refers to red or green chile, both of which are widely used in New Mexican cuisine. Or be creative and order it “Christmas” as true New Mexico locals do.
Although you will have a long list of options to choose amongst, El Pinto offers the most beautiful dining experience. As you relax amongst the plants, fountains, and beautiful decor in the outdoor courtyard (by far the best in the area), you will be feasting on filling, delicious, New Mexican favorites.
Whether you decide to go with a fluffy stack of Blue Corn Pancakes for brunch or a filling burrito smothered with lots of cheese and red or green chili, you won’t be disappointed! Anything made with blue corn is pretty awesome. I have been trying out a lot of unique dishes since moving to the Southwest. I make my own pancakes at home all the time. And just wait until you try a sopaipilla for dessert! Popular in the Southwest, this tasty fried bread is often served with honey as a sweet dessert after all that spicy food. It’s basically the perfect ending to a perfect meal.
6. Watch a gorgeous sunset over the Sandia mountains
Once you treat yourself to a breathtaking sunset, you will see why the mountains were named after watermelon. The easiest glimpse of the brilliant red glow over the mountains at sunset is Sandia Peak. This point can be accessed via hike or tram ride. At an elevation of 10,000+ feet, you can see pretty much everything from up here.
Plan on catching the tram at least an hour prior to sunset, bring with your camera, and then relax as you take in the tremendous views from one of several observation decks. And do not forget your jacket – even during the summer months- as the temps are often 20-30 degrees cooler up here at this high of an elevation.
More fun attractions!
Need more ideas for fun? Here are a few more activities and attractions to consider adding to your itinerary!
Breaking Bad tours – Every Breaking Bad fan knows that most of the iconic show was filmed in the city, along with a few other random locations in the New Mexico desert. You can sign up for a narrated tour which includes stops at: Jesse’s house, Walt’s house, and the Super Lab. On one tour, you will ride around in an RV just like the one featured in the show as you relive 20 sites from the series. This 3 hour tour departs daily from the Old Town area. Along the way there will be quizzes and prizes, along with scenes from the show! On an interesting side note, tour guides are actual actors from the show. For pricing info and more details on filming locations, visit the Breaking BadRV tour website.
Coffee shops – I love supporting local business when I travel. For the best espresso drinks, head over to Espresso Fino in the downtown area. For the nicest atmosphere including a beautiful outdoor patio head over to Michael Thomas Coffee. We loved enjoy our drink in the little garden patio here.
Museums -A few to look into include the Turquoise Museum, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Hot springs – In the region, you’ll find both resort and natural wilderness options. These mineral enriched waters reportedly cure a variety of ailments, and also help to soothe sore joints and muscles. Soaking in a hot springs is especially beneficial after long hikes and intense outdoor recreational activities. The closest choice is Giggling Hot Springs in the quaint mountain town of Jemez Springs. And if you are up for a longer day trip, Truth or Consequences is just 2 hours away and offers 10 different options for soaking.
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