This
is a city made for drivers. Spread out over a wide area
in the upper Rio Grande Valley, its attractions are
numerous but require a car to fully explore. From the
Sandia Peak Scenic Byway to the Coronado Monument, the
region is defined first by the river and then by the
nearby mountains.
Named
after the Viceroy of New Spain, the Duke of Alburquerque
-- the first "r" was dropped in later years -- the
community sat beside a busy crossroads during the days of
American settlement. In 1880, the Santa Fe Railroad
pulled into what then was a small town and the city
quickly took shape. It was the destination of cattle
drivers from as far away as Texas. Today, Albuquerque is
home to 500,000 people but the cultural heart of the city
is still Old Town and the Plaza, where the first Spanish
mission was established. The human history of the area is
much older than the Spanish conquests. Several pueblos
are found in the area, most to the north of town, and the
Pueblo Indian culture has been a continuing influence on
life in the Rio Grande Valley, as well as providing
destinations for tourists.
What
to See & Do
Old
Town Albuquerque
Close
to the city's newer "downtown," the Old Town area is
bordered by Rio Grande Blvd. (on the west), Central
Avenue (to the south), and Mountain Road (north). More
than 100 restaurants and shops&emdash;many in historic
adobe buildings&emdash;are located in the area. The
centerpiece of Old Town is the Spanish Plaza, across from
the Church of San Felipe de Neri. The church has been
considerably rebuilt and enlarged since its founding in
the 1700s, but the original thick walls are still intact
within the structure. While homes were originally built
around the Plaza, offering community security, these have
given way to jewelry and crafts shops, galleries, and
restaurants. The Albuquerque Museum, located at the
northern edge of Old Town, has a multimedia show on the
history of the city since 1875 as well as displays of
artifacts and exhibits on the Spanish/American periods
titled "Four Centuries -- A History of Albuquerque."
Across from this museum is the New Mexico Museum of
Natural History, which opened in 1986 with displays on
the development of the state's natural resources. The
Dynamax Theater is part of the complex.
On
Christmas eve, the Plaza is gently lit by thousands of
"luminarias," candles set in paper bags with beds of
sand, which have replaced the lighted pinyon pine logs
carried by early Spanish settlers on their way to the
church.
International
Balloon Fiesta
During
early October, the Albuquerque sky becomes filled with
dozens of colorful hot-air balloons. Inaugurated in 1972,
this festival has grown to the point that now, almost
1,000 balloons take part over the duration of the
festival. Mass flights take place during morning hours
and a highlight of each festival is the Balloon Glow when
hundreds of balloons are inflated after sundown. The best
source of information about the upcoming Kodak
International Balloon Fiesta is the Albuquerque
Convention and Visitors Bureau, at 1-800-284-2282 or
(505) 243-3696.
Indian
Pueblo Cultural Center
Before
visiting one or more of the 19 existing Indian pueblos in
this part of New Mexico, a trip to this horseshoe-shaped
complex is recommended. The center is located one block
north of Interstate 40 at 2401 Twelfth Street and
features historical displays on the development of the
Pueblo villages&emdash;now occupied by more than 40,000
people. The building has been designed as an homage to
the landmark Bonito Pueblo in Chaco Canyon. During spring
and summer, demonstrations in the performance area
include retelling Indian rites with spectacular dances,
in addition to potterymaking and silver crafts. There's a
restaurant that serves traditional Indian foods, plus
modern American dishes. The gift shop has kachina dolls
and jewelry from the Zuni, Hopi, and Navajo peoples, as
well as sand paintings. An admission fee is charged and
the center is open daily from mid-April through early
January and daily except Sunday during the winter months.
For information, call (505) 843-7270.
University
of New Mexico
Located
in the middle of the city, this is the state's largest
university and it showcases pueblo architecture in
several of its buildings. Free to visitors are the
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, which specializes in
exhibits on the native cultures of the Southwest, the
Museum of Geology and Meteorites, containing a multitude
of old rocks in addition to exhibits on the flora and
fauna of New Mexico, and the Fine Arts Center in the New
Mexico Union Building. The latter includes a theater
complex and is home to the New Mexico Symphony and the
University Art Museum. A campus map and an updated
calendar of university events are available at the
Visitors Bureau in the Fine Arts Center. For information
on university happenings, call (505) 277-3729.
Sandia
Peak Aerial Tramway
Drive
19 miles north of the city on Interstate 25 (the direct
route to Santa Fe) and turn east onto Tramway Blvd. The
cable gondola will take you to the top of Sandia Peak, at
the top of the Sandia Mountain range. The trip takes
about 18 minutes, climbing from an elevation of 6,599
feet to the crest at 10,378 feet. There is a cactus
garden and a restaurant at the base, with a Forest
Service information station, hiking trails, and another
restaurant at the top of the tram ride.
