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Memorable
Pink Sunset |
Officially
nicknamed the “land of enchantment,” New
Mexico could just as easily be called the “land
of sunshine.” The sun is out year-round, warming
winter days and creating perfect conditions for hiking,
biking or snowboarding. And while new visitors to
the state’s largest city sometimes expect to
find a hot, parched desert, Albuquerque and its surroundings
actually offer a rich and varied landscape of soaring
mountains, undulating foothills, distant mesas and
lush river valleys. The Sandia Mountains tower to
the east of the city, creating an ever-changing vista
of colors, shadows and textures. After one Albuquerque
sunset, you’ll understand why the early Spanish
explorers named them sandia or watermelon: they turn
a bright vermillion each evening at dusk.
For hundreds of years, the golden light in New Mexico
has been captivating artists, painters and travelers.
Although Albuquerque is a bustling modern city with
high rises and a sizeable airport, the quality of
the time-honored light hasn’t dimmed. Come experience
it yourself in three fun-filled days.
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| Green
Chile |
The
cuisines of New Mexico are as varied as its landscape
and the cultures of its peoples—a distinctive
blend of Native American, Hispanic and American traditions.
Most New Mexican food restaurants are inexpensive
and casual, offering filling and satisfying food.
Hundreds of small family-owned restaurants statewide
serve traditional New Mexican foods: enchiladas, burritos
and tacos, usually smothered in red or green chile
sauces. Green chile sauce is made from fresh or frozen
green chile pods and can range from quite spicy to
very mild. Red chile sauce, made from dried mature
red pods that are soaked and puréed to create
a rich, velvety liquid that’s generally milder
than green chile. Order any dish “Christmas-style”
and you’ll get half red and half green. With
the advantages of modern transportation, restaurants
in Albuquerque offer fresh seafood and specialty ingredients
from around the world. The state also has many small,
specialty farms that produce wonderful goat cheeses,
free range-chickens, fresh chile peppers and vegetables.
New
Mexico is the nation’s fifth largest state in
land area, so be prepared to spend some time in a
car to see all the sights within easy range of Albuquerque.
If you fly in, rent a car and ask for unlimited mileage.
There’s plenty to enjoy in just three days.
DAY
1
A
great portion of your time will probably be spent
in the Old Town area, so you might want to consider
spending the night there. Among several quaint B&B’s,
the historic Böttger Mansion,
built in 1910, features seven individual guest rooms
with bathrooms and a two-room suite. For more modern
accommodations, try the handsome Sheraton
Old Town, which offers a swimming pool, spa,
salon, bar and two restaurants. The short drive east
on historic Route 66 to downtown Albuquerque puts
several more hotels and motels within reach. Some
good choices include The Hotel Blue,
a haven for rock stars in town for concerts, and the
Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, ideal for business travelers.
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Find Southwestern Art in Old Town's Many Galleries |
The
first stop on any trip to Albuquerque is Old
Town, first settled in 1706. A square plaza
that formed the heart of the original city, Old Town
today is filled with locally owned shops, boutiques
and restaurants. It’s the perfect size to stroll
and stretch travel-cramped legs. If you’re looking
for good turquoise or silver jewelry, this is a great
place to shop. During warm weather, vendors set out
blankets under the portal on the east side of the
plaza, selling jewelry and souvenirs. Don’t
be afraid to bargain with them. The best quality goods,
however, are found in Old Town’s galleries and
retail stores. Take a brief tour of the magnificent
and historic San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church
on the north side of the plaza. It’s a fine
example of early New Mexican adobe architecture, with
a courtyard in front crowned by a tall adobe steeple.
For more information about Old Town, including ghost
sightings, check out the Old Town Visitors
Center.
Old Town offers many dining options. One favorite
lunch spot is La
Crêpe Michel, a fine country French restaurant
in a tiny historic adobe house. A more upscale choice
is Seasons
Rotisserie & Grill in San Felipe Plaza, one
of Albuquerque’s liveliest and best contemporary
American restaurants. In warm weather, sit at tables
set up on the sidewalk or on the spacious second-floor
balcony. During the summer, Seasons has jazz upstairs;
but regardless of the season, there is the view of
the Sandia Mountains and the steeple of San Felipe
de Neri.
For good New Mexican food, try Little
Anita New Mexican Foods on the corner of Mountain
Road and Rio Grande Boulevard. The breakfast burritos
are always a hit; so are the carne adovada burritos,
stuffed with tender oven-baked boneless pork marinated
in red chile. Little Anita’s is a good choice
for breakfast because it opens at 7 a.m. and there’s
a take-out window for fast service.
Mountain Road is also Albuquerque’s Museum
Row, with the New Mexico Museum of
Natural History & Science on one side
of the street and the newly renovated Albuquerque
Museum on the other. The Museum of Natural
History highlights the changing ecology of New Mexico
and has a vast display of Jurassic-age dinosaurs unearthed
in the state, including the life-sized Seismosaurus,
a 110-foot plant-eating dinosaur that was one of the
largest creatures ever to walk the earth. A full tour
of the museum will take about three hours or more
if you include the movie at the DynaTheater.
The Albuquerque Museum houses several art and sculpture
galleries, in addition to exhibits on the history
of the city. From the days of the earliest Pueblo
Indians, to the coming of the Spanish settlers, to
the founding of the railroad, Albuquerque has always
been a cultural crossroads. The sculpture garden is
a great place to unwind. During summer weekends, the
museum hosts jazz and salsa concerts outside in the
amphitheater.
Two other museums are also within walking distance
on Mountain Road. The National Atomic Museum
dedicates its exhibits to the uses of atomic energy.
Explora offers hands-on exhibits
that teach children and adults about the natural wonders
of our world, from static electricity to how tornados
are formed.
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| Artichoke
Café |
Downtown
has turned into a lively night spot, with clubs, restaurants,
movie theaters, shops and a performing arts center
within walking distance. If you’re looking for
a white-tablecloth dining experience, try McGrath’s
Restaurant, the signature restaurant in the Hyatt
Regency Albuquerque. The menu offers game, steaks,
pasta and seafood, plus a terrific wine list. After
dinner, stroll Central Avenue, the original Route
66.
Another
good weekend dinner choice downtown is the Gold
Street Caffè, a cozy, seasonal American
bistro with great food and good desserts. It’s
open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays. The Gold
Street Caffè is also a great choice for breakfast,
serving fantastic fresh baked pastries. A short drive
up Central Avenue is the Artichoke
Café, long considered one of Albuquerque’s
best restaurants. Be sure to make reservations, as
it can be crowded, especially on weekends. If you
want to dine in Old Town, a stellar option is the
tiny Ambrozia
Café & Wine Bar, with a changing menu
of contemporary American cuisine and a great wine
list.
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Sunset and Green Chile images courtesy of www.marblestreetstudio.com
