Albuquerque gets a bad rap. Maybe it's Bugs Bunny's fault, or maybe its the fact that the TV show COPS set up permanent camp here in the 90s but truly and honestly, I live in Albuquerque and I choose to stay here because it's an amazing town. Let's ditch a few stereotypes first, however. No, we do not wear sombreros and it's not all desert. We get snow, we have mountains...and lakes....and rivers...and forests! We also are as high (and in Santa Fe, higher) than Denver, the mile high city. They just took all the credit. Oh, and you know those big giant saguaro cacti you always see on the movies? We don't have those, that's Arizona. So now that we've cleared a few things up, let's talk about why Albuquerque is a great place to live. Despite its problems, Albuquerque, well, New Mexico in general, is a diverse and interesting place and I can see the positives in wanting to raise a family here. Growing up in Portland, OR I was not quite as exposed to different cultures as I would have liked to be. Upon moving to NM, I found opportunities to see things differently as close as next door. New Mexico is a gem in that at one point in was part of Spain, Mexico and the US (in 1912) and it has an integrated cultural variety from all of these things. That mixed with rich and colorful Native American culture which is still vibrant and well today, makes living in NM like living in a different country. Here are a few things about New Mexico and Albuquerque that I really love! Enjoy!
(Sandia Peak Tram!)
1. Chile! A common question out here is "Red or Green?" Locals are referring to the Chile of course, which is abundant and served very casually with just about everything. In Native New Mexican food, it is the Chile that sets it apart from Mexican food. New Mexican food and Mexican food are quite different. New Mexican cuisine is often spicy and influenced heavily by the local Native American culture. New Mexican includes things like Tamales made with corn masa and cooked in dried corn husks, chile rellenos (a personal favorite) as well as sopapillas which are like little deep fried dough pillows of amazingness. If you go up to Santa Fe, you will see locals put honey on top of their spicy food with Chile. It sounds gross, but it's actually quite delicious. So...Red or Green?
2. Balloon Fiesta. Balloon what? You heard right, fiesta! Every fall in October, People from all over the world come to see ht air balloons from the whole globe. Every morning for a week straight, you can wake up early and see hundreds of balloons fill the blue sky. If you want to take a more active role in balloon fiesta, you can join a balloon chase crew and help follow your assigned balloon through its journey until it lads, and help get it grounded, or, you can go to Balloon Fiesta Park and see the balloon glow in the evenings where they grounded balloons are lit up at dusk and fill the night with beautiful colors and lights. You can also crew a balloon and help get it in the air (I have done this and its hard but rewarding work!) or even book a balloon flight with companies like Rainbow Riders, who, for a fee of 100$ or so will take you up in a hot air balloon flight and have a champagne toast after you land. FUN!!! It's amazing for families and locals to see hot air balloons landing all over the city for a week straight! Sometimes people park their cars along the banks of the Rio Grande river and watch the balloons dip into the water. It truly is an amazing sight!
3. Santa Fe. I had the pleasure of living in Santa Fe when I was first married to my husband (He is a native Santa Fean) and I have to say it was unlike any place I have even lived. Santa Fe is a mixing pot of art, food, culture and music. If you come to NM, be sure to make a day trip to visit some of the local galleries and spots in Santa Fe. Santa Fe is a very eclectic and amazing city. If you are around in the late summer/early fall, check out the Indian market or the Spanish market art markets. Some of the est art in the world come to these events. Also, if you are in NM in September, check out Zozobra, Santa Fe's version of a burning man type ceremony where they burn a large scale puppet that represents old man gloom, burning away the troubles of the past year. After Zozobra, the same weekend is "Fiestas" a celebration of Santa Fe's culture and roots, where all the names of the Spanish conquistadors are posted in the plaza (Many of the names are common New Mexican last names like ours, Dominguez, which is displayed every year). Fiesta's is a great time to see Santa Fe show off its history, culture and livelihood. There is a parade, a fiesta king and queen as well as many different venues to entertain. You will hear the locals walking the streets yell "Viva la Fiesta!" in which the other locals will should out "Que Viva!" It is a fun and amazing time to be in Santa Fe and a few years back, the king and Queen of Spain were in attendance for for fiestas and a special mass at the historic St. Francis Cathedral in downtown Santa Fe. Don't forget to finish your fiestas with a margarita (or two!) at the La Fonda Hotel's Belltower Bar, overlooking the city, or at Marble brewery for a cold local micro brew. If you are looking for a great place to stay, consider the Hotel St. Francis for a very NM feel oh, and Viva La Fiesta!!
4. Amazing Outdoor Adventures! I recently went camping with my husband, son and our friends who also have a 4 year old little boy. We decided to check out Bandalier National Monument. Bandalier is by Los Alamos National labs and is a historic site of a pueblo village that was carved entirely inside a cliff to form a rock dwelling type pueblo for early native american cultures. This is one of the many fun and amazing places NM has to offer. Other places to check out are the Jemez Hot springs, Ojo Caliente Hot springs, Sipapu Ski Basin, The Pecos Wilderness,white sands,El Morro rock, Sandia Ski area (ride the lift in the summer and bike your way back down!) Quarai ruins and the beautiful tent rocks hiking area as well as the Santa Fe wilderness area. Another weekend getaway to consider is the site of El Porvenir Camp. There is a campground (bears are frequently spotted here but harmless) or you can rent a small family cabin at the actual El Porvenir camp for something like 40.00/night. There are a lot of outdoor adventures for the whole family. If you are feeling daring, take a day trip up to Taos and go on a whitewater
rafting tour through the Taos box rapids or check out horseback riding in Northern New Mexico.
5. Ghost Towns. There are plenty of these in NM and they can be a fun day trip or photo opportunity adventure! Check out Magdalena or my personal favorite, Madrid, which is just around 60 miles outside Albuquerque and the filming site of the movie "Wild Hogs." Old mining towns with tours and art and that quirky old west feel run rampant in NM and they are a great escape from a modern world, even if just for a few hours. If stopping in Madrid, eat at the Mine Shaft Tavern. Rugged old saloon with a lot oh ghost town charm and good for a full belly. Also check out the quirky art galleries in town.
6. Pueblo Culture. There is an advantage to living so close to the 4 corners. We get the best of Native culture and arts, food and dancing. In the fall and winter, many of the pueblos have Feast Days where they invite the public to come and observe native dances specific to the people of the pueblo and then eat some of the native food also. We also have the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque every year which brings together the 4 corners region as well as many other tribal leaders and people from all over the country. There is also a fair share of casinos all over the state that have a lot to offer in fine and casual dining, entertainment or simply getting a night out without dropping a Vegas budget.
7. Micro Brews & Wine. New Mexico's climate allows for a colorful variation of wine production to take place here. It's high altitude coupled with our semi arid climate makes for some great wine country and even better wine festiavls throughout the year (I enjoy the Bernalillo Wine Festival every year around labor day) and fantastic wine and food pairings and dinners offered at local fares like Zinc Wine bar in Nob Hill Albuquerque as well as various venues in Santa Fe. As for Micro Brews, NM has put itself on the map in the last few years with breweries emerging in various locations all over the state. Marble Brewery, Tractor Brewery, Il Vicino Canteen and Chama River Brewing Co. are a few of my Albuquerque favorites and as far as Santa Fe goes, it doesn't get any better than Santa Fe Brewery's Java Stout or the State Pen Porter. Cheers!
8. Sports. With a baseball team called the Isotopes, do I really have to say more? Albuquerque is a big college sports town. With the University of New Mexico Lobos, there's always a football, basketball, or soccer game to go to. You name it, the Lobos have it. Don't hold our football team against us, we still love them :)
9. Public Transportation. Okay, okay I know we aren't NY, hell we're not even LA but we do have a train that will talk you from ABQ to Santa Fe and back again on a scenic and lovely route that your whole family will enjoy. We also have bike paths and trails for bikers as well as a bus system that can get you anywhere you need to go. We're proud and its getting better all the time! Did you know that ABQ also has bike polo teams and tournaments? Who knew?!
10. Wide Open Spaces. Living in a desert makes you feel so small when you compare one person to the vastness of a huge blue sky and measureless desert. It scary and beautiful and mysterious all at once. Georgia O'Keefe once said of New Mexico:
-arriving in New Mexico...
Well! Well! Well!... This is wonderful. No one told me it was like this! (Georgia O'Keeffe)
To which I wholeheartedly agree. I have decided to raise my family in the wide open, great big yellow and blue country of New Mexico. It has been my joy to share it with you.
(Sandia Peak Tram!)
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