James’s guide to Albuquerque
Gifts and cool things
One of my favorite places. I drink their teas exclusively. They have 100s of blends to choose from and will make custom blends upon request. If you like tea or know somebody that does this is a must when visiting Albuquerque. Less than a mile east of Old Town.
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New Mexico Tea Company
1131 Mountain Rd NWOne of my favorite places. I drink their teas exclusively. They have 100s of blends to choose from and will make custom blends upon request. If you like tea or know somebody that does this is a must when visiting Albuquerque. Less than a mile east of Old Town.
Neighborhoods
One of the best neighborhoods for an evening walk. Wide streets, mature shade trees, parks, and unique architecture in custom homes.
Huning Castle
One of the best neighborhoods for an evening walk. Wide streets, mature shade trees, parks, and unique architecture in custom homes.
Along Historic Route 66, the Nob Hill neighborhood has the largest collection of restaurants, shops, and things to do in Albuquerque. A good neighborhood to walk around and see things, a little more mature than the bar crawling scene of downtown.
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Nob Hill
Along Historic Route 66, the Nob Hill neighborhood has the largest collection of restaurants, shops, and things to do in Albuquerque. A good neighborhood to walk around and see things, a little more mature than the bar crawling scene of downtown.
Food scene
Mary & Tito's Cafe
2711 4th St NWLunch spot, not fancy. Just good good food.
Excellent food, drink, and decor. I don't want to say more, experience it for yourself.
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Cervantes Restaurant & Lounge
5801 Gibson Blvd SEExcellent food, drink, and decor. I don't want to say more, experience it for yourself.
The food here is next level good. There is a network of Indian restaurants across the country that serves the Indian truck drivers. The food here is comparable to what you would get in a major urban center with a large Indian population. This restaurant is a great place to get a meal when visiting El Malpais or El Morro national monuments.
Don't let the looks scare you off, located between a prison and a truck stop, the restaurant itself also looks a little scary from the outside. But go in and order off of the menu and be surprised. Skip the buffet.
As they are setup for truckers, they are open 0700 to 2300 7 days a week.
Spicy Bite Indian Restaurant
1203-1299 Motel DriveThe food here is next level good. There is a network of Indian restaurants across the country that serves the Indian truck drivers. The food here is comparable to what you would get in a major urban center with a large Indian population. This restaurant is a great place to get a meal when visiting El Malpais or El Morro national monuments.
Don't let the looks scare you off, located between a prison and a truck stop, the restaurant itself also looks a little scary from the outside. But go in and order off of the menu and be surprised. Skip the buffet.
As they are setup for truckers, they are open 0700 to 2300 7 days a week.
Another hidden gem in Grants NM. If visiting El Malpais or El Morro National Monuments this is a great place to get lunch. Sadly they are only open on weekdays, M-F 1100 to 1900. But very good California style Chinese food. The family has run restaurants across the world and was in California for many years before leaving to seek the small town life that Grants NM offers. This place also looks a bit odd from the outside, but once you go in everything is good to go. The family is super nice and welcoming. One of the few places that I see consistently rated a full five stars on review apps.
Tasty Kitchen
907 1st StreetAnother hidden gem in Grants NM. If visiting El Malpais or El Morro National Monuments this is a great place to get lunch. Sadly they are only open on weekdays, M-F 1100 to 1900. But very good California style Chinese food. The family has run restaurants across the world and was in California for many years before leaving to seek the small town life that Grants NM offers. This place also looks a bit odd from the outside, but once you go in everything is good to go. The family is super nice and welcoming. One of the few places that I see consistently rated a full five stars on review apps.
Sightseeing
A day trip to Taos? Don't miss the Gorge Bridge. Last time I went there were bighorn sheep all over. They walked right up to us.
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Tulay ng Rio Grande Gorge
A day trip to Taos? Don't miss the Gorge Bridge. Last time I went there were bighorn sheep all over. They walked right up to us.
Acoma Sky City, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America. A nice drive west out of the city. Go to the visitor center and sign up for the guided tour of the pueblo. The history and sights are worth the effort.
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Acoma Pueblo
Acoma Sky City, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America. A nice drive west out of the city. Go to the visitor center and sign up for the guided tour of the pueblo. The history and sights are worth the effort.
This monument is quite large and has several distinct areas. A large natural arch, massive lava fields, caves. Bring water and sunscreen.
El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center
1900 E Santa Fe AveThis monument is quite large and has several distinct areas. A large natural arch, massive lava fields, caves. Bring water and sunscreen.
If you are heading to Santa Fe, take the scenic route (Highway 14) at least one direction and be rewarded with sights along the way. The small town of Madrid and the Origami Garden are worth a stop.
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Origami in the Garden
3453 NM-14If you are heading to Santa Fe, take the scenic route (Highway 14) at least one direction and be rewarded with sights along the way. The small town of Madrid and the Origami Garden are worth a stop.
A few freeway exits past Santa Fe is the turnoff to Pecos. Spend a couple of hours exploring the site. High reward with little effort to get there.
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Pambansang Makasaysayang Parke ng Pecos
1 NM-63A few freeway exits past Santa Fe is the turnoff to Pecos. Spend a couple of hours exploring the site. High reward with little effort to get there.
A nice short drive out of the city will take you to Quarai. The ruins of an old church all built by the women of the pueblo. Give yourself a couple of hours to explore the ruins and the adjacent trails. Then go to Mountainair and visit the Shaffer hotel for some food and coffee before heading back. If you have time, go west and see the Abo unit of the Salinas National Monument.
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Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument (Quarai unit)
A nice short drive out of the city will take you to Quarai. The ruins of an old church all built by the women of the pueblo. Give yourself a couple of hours to explore the ruins and the adjacent trails. Then go to Mountainair and visit the Shaffer hotel for some food and coffee before heading back. If you have time, go west and see the Abo unit of the Salinas National Monument.
December 1-3rd is the annual festival of the cranes. A great time to test your photography prowess alongside national geographic photographers and other amateurs.
For the other 51 weeks of the year, the wildlife refuge is a great place to tour and see lots of animals. During peak season the sandhill cranes are the primary draw, lots of snow and Canadian geese. Elk, wild turkey, hawks, eagles, coyotes, jackrabbits, and of course roadrunners.
It does cost $5 per vehicle for entrance to the refuge. The visitor center has facilities, gift shop, a cactus garden, and some educational things. About 75 minutes out of Albuquerque.
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Sentro ng Mga Bisita ng Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
1001 NM-1December 1-3rd is the annual festival of the cranes. A great time to test your photography prowess alongside national geographic photographers and other amateurs.
For the other 51 weeks of the year, the wildlife refuge is a great place to tour and see lots of animals. During peak season the sandhill cranes are the primary draw, lots of snow and Canadian geese. Elk, wild turkey, hawks, eagles, coyotes, jackrabbits, and of course roadrunners.
It does cost $5 per vehicle for entrance to the refuge. The visitor center has facilities, gift shop, a cactus garden, and some educational things. About 75 minutes out of Albuquerque.
An excellent monument to see on a day trip out of Albuquerque with a stop in Grants for a meal. This monument is great to go to with people that are mobility limited as the base trail is paved and has very few steps, might even be a path to get to the inscription rock with no steps.
There is an upper trail to the Atsinna Pueblo ruins above where the natives lived. This trail is a lot more strenuous to ascend, not difficult for the able bodied though. Lots of remnants of their settlements hundreds of years later. Pottery shards and obvious structures. Don't take souvenirs from here please.
Anyhow, you can see the inscription of Juan de Onate from 1598 in the rock as well as hundreds of others. Some tell stories, others just the name.
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Pambansang Monumento ng El Morro
New Mexico 53An excellent monument to see on a day trip out of Albuquerque with a stop in Grants for a meal. This monument is great to go to with people that are mobility limited as the base trail is paved and has very few steps, might even be a path to get to the inscription rock with no steps.
There is an upper trail to the Atsinna Pueblo ruins above where the natives lived. This trail is a lot more strenuous to ascend, not difficult for the able bodied though. Lots of remnants of their settlements hundreds of years later. Pottery shards and obvious structures. Don't take souvenirs from here please.
Anyhow, you can see the inscription of Juan de Onate from 1598 in the rock as well as hundreds of others. Some tell stories, others just the name.
Taking the scenic route from Albuquerque to Bandelier National Monument will take you through Jemez Pueblo (take in the Jemez historic site), the town of Jemez Springs, and the soda dam off of the side of the road. Take in the sights and stretch your legs.
Jemez Soda Dam
19219 NM-4Taking the scenic route from Albuquerque to Bandelier National Monument will take you through Jemez Pueblo (take in the Jemez historic site), the town of Jemez Springs, and the soda dam off of the side of the road. Take in the sights and stretch your legs.
Not the easiest to find, but the reward is worth the effort. Great sightseeing through all four seasons. A fun drive whether in a lowered sports car or a lifted truck. Pretty easy access.
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Gilman Tunnels
Not the easiest to find, but the reward is worth the effort. Great sightseeing through all four seasons. A fun drive whether in a lowered sports car or a lifted truck. Pretty easy access.
The remnants of a massive volcanic eruption from 1.25 million years ago, the Valles Caldera is a 13.5 mile wide crater full of wildlife. The drive to Bandelier will take you along the southern rim. Stop for some pictures, maybe go to the visitor center.
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Pambansang Preserbasyon ng Valles Caldera
39201 NM-4The remnants of a massive volcanic eruption from 1.25 million years ago, the Valles Caldera is a 13.5 mile wide crater full of wildlife. The drive to Bandelier will take you along the southern rim. Stop for some pictures, maybe go to the visitor center.
Bandelier is so worth the effort. There is some ladder climbing to get the most out of it, but it is quite spectacular even from the ground. Do plan your trip, there have been times where you have to park at White Rock and take the tour bus in, other times you can drive in. Either way is worth it to see such a well preserved cliff dwelling site that you can go explore.
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Bandelier National Monument
15 Entrance RdBandelier is so worth the effort. There is some ladder climbing to get the most out of it, but it is quite spectacular even from the ground. Do plan your trip, there have been times where you have to park at White Rock and take the tour bus in, other times you can drive in. Either way is worth it to see such a well preserved cliff dwelling site that you can go explore.
If you have made it to Bandelier, you might as well take some time to see the city of Los Alamos. Home to Los Alamos National Laboratories, the Manhattan Project, and the creation of the gadget that ushered in the Nuclear Era.
The labs themselves are restricted to those with a DOE badge, but there is plenty of stuff to see in the city. The whole place used to be secret but now has a lot that is open to tourists.
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Los Alamos
If you have made it to Bandelier, you might as well take some time to see the city of Los Alamos. Home to Los Alamos National Laboratories, the Manhattan Project, and the creation of the gadget that ushered in the Nuclear Era.
The labs themselves are restricted to those with a DOE badge, but there is plenty of stuff to see in the city. The whole place used to be secret but now has a lot that is open to tourists.
If you are a fan of Georgia O'Keefe, go see her museum in Santa Fe of course, but to get a better feel for her inspiration go to the village of Abiquiu (Ah-bih-cue) and see her workshop and explore the village. The drive there is rewarding, especially in October when the cottonwood leaves are bright yellow through the valley. Just past the village is the Abiquiu reservoir which is a nice sight to take in.
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Abiquiu
If you are a fan of Georgia O'Keefe, go see her museum in Santa Fe of course, but to get a better feel for her inspiration go to the village of Abiquiu (Ah-bih-cue) and see her workshop and explore the village. The drive there is rewarding, especially in October when the cottonwood leaves are bright yellow through the valley. Just past the village is the Abiquiu reservoir which is a nice sight to take in.
Whether you are Catholic or not, this is a great place to take in. Mystery and enigma abounds. Grab a meal at Rancho de Chimayo, walk the grounds of the church and enjoy the drive. I highly suggest making the loop through the area going through La Puebla on the way in and Nambe on the way out or vice versa.
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El Santuario De Chimayo
15 Santuario DrWhether you are Catholic or not, this is a great place to take in. Mystery and enigma abounds. Grab a meal at Rancho de Chimayo, walk the grounds of the church and enjoy the drive. I highly suggest making the loop through the area going through La Puebla on the way in and Nambe on the way out or vice versa.
Santa Fe has too many things to list in this guidebook, but if there is one thing you see in Santa Fe, make it this. Endless things to see within walking distance to here, but go here first.
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Loretto Chapel
207 Old Santa Fe TrailSanta Fe has too many things to list in this guidebook, but if there is one thing you see in Santa Fe, make it this. Endless things to see within walking distance to here, but go here first.