What can you tell me about Albuquerque?

[ByTheSea]

It looks like I may be spending a considerable amount of time there over the next few months. I would like to bring my family with and spend some weekends in the area, ideally leaving the city for the weekends but this is one part of the country I have never spent any time in and really am clueless about. We love the mountains, and love to golf, any suggestions?

 

[Harley Chick]

I live in the mountains just east of Albuquerque. It's very beautiful and there's plenty to see and do. There are a few golf communities here, I don't know much about them, but if you have specific questions, I'll ask DH. Santa Fe is great for its galleries and shopping, and Old Town and the botanical park in downtown Abq are great. PM me if you want more info.

 

[cuterlt]

I live in ABQ too. It is a beautiful place. What time of year will you be here? There's lots to do and plenty of golfing - although you may have to rely on Harley Chick's DH as I'm more of a miniature golf fanatic.
What do you want to do on weekends? Santa Fe is an hour drive and a very different place from Albuquerque. Do you like to camp? There's lots of fun things to do all over New Mexico. Please feel free to PM me.

 

[Rajah]

Oh, I *love* Albuquerque. It's got some rough stuff, but the culture is so fascinating and it's a good central point to a TON of neat places to visit. Now I want to go back. LOL!

You're going to be there in the fall, right?

ABQ people -- when's the baloon festival? Has that already passed for the year, or is that coming up?

What sort of things do you like to do, ByTheSea?

 

[cuterlt]

Balloon Fiesta is October - don't know specific dates but usually early - and state fair is September.... lots of fun stuff to do here!

 

[*Robin*]

We went with DH spent 3 months there working in 99. I loved it so much that it's been the only place I've said I would move to in a second in all of our travels.

Try to make it up to Sante Fe during the week, it's amazing. Also Albuquerques old town is worth at LEAST 2 visits. Don't miss Jackelope, there are 2 of them. I actually liked the one closest to Albuquerque the best.

I wish I could remember all the restaraunts we liked. It was our first taste of Taco Cabana, which we loved for fast food. If you go to the older mall (there are 2 and the older one is just north of the other) DH built the Gateway country store there.

If you want a big road trip, try Abiquiu (I'm thinking I'm not spelling that right) This was the home of Georgia O'keefe.

We were lucky enough to be there for the Balloon Festival, which, if you have the opportunity, GO! It's wonderful with kids! The one they do at night is, for the money, amazing! Everthing is pure magic!

If I'm remebering right, they have GREAT bagel cafe's there!

Also old Route 66 goes through there, but all I can say (Gosh, I'm hoping I'm remembering the right city) is DON'T go through at night! LOL It's a bit seedy in some parts.

Sorry to babble...I just loved it so much! If I could live the dream, I'd have a house in the mountains north of Albuquerque, and one on the ocean in Florida...

Have a great time! It's an amazing place!

Oh, one more thing, I have about 3 travel guides for New Mexico. Far and above all is the "Moon Travel Guides" New Mexico Handbook. It's definetly worth it's weight in gold!!

 

[*Robin*]

Just talked to DH. He thinks it was Amarillo that got kinda scary at night on Route 66. I'm sticking to Albuquerque though...

 

[Beauty]

My most vivid memory about Albuquerque from the one night spent there on the way to Las Vegas at 18 years old was that there is a hotel attached to a mall. Which for an 18 year old was the most amazing thing in the world!

I do remember that it was quite beautiful though.

 

[ByTheSea]

thanks so much for the info. I will find out early next week for sure, it's a work thing and they wanted me to start early August but I am booked out at other clients most of August, so my boss is working on my current schedule and hopefully this client can be a bit flexible for the first month. If eveything works out I'll pretty much be there Mon-Thursday for several months, probably through April 2004. When I do stay over the weekends it will always be 3 day weekends.

I've never been to the area but love Colorado and love to go to Estes Park, sort of an artsy/village/small town area, but really just enjoy spending quiet time hiking through the Mountains. I'm hoping we can find some places like that for a few weekends.

With my job, I travel all the time to client sites, so being gone Mon-Thursday, well no matter if I take this assignment or not that will happen, many times Mon-Friday. I have always worked on smaller short-term projects, or multiple "part-time" projects where often I know my schedule only a few weeks in advance so it would be nice to have a set schedule for months. I also generally work as the solo consultant, but this project is fairly large and I will be working on a team with 3 other consultants with sounds like a nice break. Plus I can get into the 4-day work weeks.

I'm crossing my fingers that it all falls together next week. I am going to print off your responses, this is very helpful. I think I'm going to enjoy it.

 

[marlasmom]

Beth I stayed at that motel too, with the dog, three kids and a cat. It truly was beautiful and the restaurant was great for the kids. Stupendous milkshakes I will always remember. It's a GREAT place.

 

[Beauty]

MM...LOL! I was in heaven!! I was a perfect size 10 at the time and could wear and find anything......did I mention I was a size 10....where is that smiley that crys?????

I remember that the landscaping was gorgeous. I took tons of pictures .... maybe I can find them and scan them and then you can cry with me....LOL!

 

[Dancind]

I really thought I was the only DISer from Albuquerque! BytheSea, the mountains are just at the edge of Albuquerque, and they are big ones! Longest tram in the world, in fact, lots of hiking trails. You can be there in 20 minutes from almost anywhere in town. We live in the foothills, most of Alb. is a valley. There are also several public golf courses, and they play golf year-round. We get snow in the winter, but not much. The weather in the fall is the best anywhere, and the New Mexican food is the best, too. They say that New Mexicans that leave always come back, because you can't get green chile anywhere else! The Balloon Fiesta is a very big deal, and I believe it is the first two weekends in October, plus the week in between. We have a big State Fair in September, and Indian Market in Santa Fe is in the fall too. There's a ski area at the top of the tram, one in Santa Fe, and of course there's Taos. Funny, though, we want to move to Florida! And sorry, the hotel that was attached to Winrock Shopping Center is long gone. Diana

 

[cuterlt]

You can get to Colorado pretty quickly from ABQ. I think the drive to Durango (a wonderful place!) is about 3 to 3-1/2 hours on a brand new highway.
There is plenty of hiking in the Sandia mountains, although if you're not used to altitude it may take a little getting used to. The Balloon Fiesta is a treat, and really reasonably priced. Santa Fe has a fun flea market, as does ABQ, if you like that kind of thing.
If you're really gonna be here for several months, you'll find tons to do. There are some cool out of the way state parks that are nice to hike through. There's Jemez springs, Chimayo, Taos, Carlsbad, Alamogordo, and all kinds of other wonderful places to explore. You might want to get a little guide as *Robin* suggested. You will not be without something to do.
The Jackalope stores are great, and I can recommend a ton of great "New Mexican" restaurants. Old town has a lot of history, and is fun to explore.
Please feel free to email if you have any specific questions.

And hi there fellow Albuquerquians!!!!

 

[ByTheSea]

thanks again.

Now I've gone and gotten all excited and I won't know for sure until sometime this week if I got the assignment. If I do get it I will certainly pick up the book mentioned.

Although I was once 95% sure I was getting sent to the UK for 8 weeks and we couldn't get one "sensitive" client to agree to another consultant for two 3-day site visits and it all fell through... so I'll wait til I get the signed services agreement before I buy anything.

The prospect of spending the winter in Albuquerque sure beats the other new project I was up for, in Northern MN (3 hours from the closest airport)

 

[ByTheSea]

UPDATE:

I got the assignment and am thrilled. I'll have to go pick up that Moon Travel Guide this weekend!

I'll be there on and off through August, then pretty much every week through April or possibly a few months longer so I should get to know the area pretty well. Staying downtown when I'm there, but will have a car to explore a bit.

 

[*Robin*]

I'm thrilled for you!! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

There may be someone who can help you from Albuquerque, but we stayed in some really great apartments on the north end of town that allowed for short term guests. It's been so long that neither hubby or I can remember the name, I'm sorry!

good luck with the assignment, and I hope you have a blast!!

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Good luck in NM! I love Albuquerque. DW goes there often for work training and takes me with (although I wish her business trips were to Orlando, like mine). Two things come to mind immediately: #1 Oh, the views. #2 Hot food, ouch, HOT food! Be prepared to re-introduce yourself to the pepper.

Enjoy!

Pat

 

[Rajah]

Congrats! I'm jealous. As I said, I *love* Albuquerque. Have a fantastic time while you're there!!

 

[cuterlt]

Congrats!!! you will love it here...
Please feel free to PM me. I'd be happy to help you in any way I can. I work downtown, and that can be a pain - with the change in all the streets to two way from one way, particularly. Hope you have a wonderful place to stay.
Welcome!!!
P.S. don't forget to say hi, good morning, how are ya, to anyone you see. We're a friendly group.