What To Do In Albuquerque ?

[Babyfat]

My Parents Are Going To A Meeting In September And Want To Spend A Few More Days There, Can Anyone Suggest Sights To See Or Do For Them? They A In There 60's So Easy On The Strip Clubs



Thanks

John

 

[CTRice]

Suggest that they have dinner at the top of Sandia Peak. It is a ski resort on the top of a mountain. You have to take a suspended tram to get there, but the views are spectacular. I was there last fall and it was 60 degrees f at the bottom and it was snowing at the summit.



Also suggest Olde Town Albuquerque. Many indian crafts are done with items for sale.



Chuck

 

[BFoughty]

I was south of Albuquerque last month in Soccorro. Very nice area. Maybe some of the members from NM can give you more insight. Soccorro is a college town where they teach mining. That is also the area where Contact was filmed (with Jodie Foster).

 

[JRMora]

My Parents Are Going To A Meeting In September And Want To Spend A Few More Days There, Can Anyone Suggest Sights To See Or Do For Them? They A In There 60's So Easy On The Strip Clubs



Thanks

John

I'm a native Albuquerqueño. (Born and raised there)



If they are going to be there in early September, I'd suggest a visit to the NM State Fair (also called Expo NM). Lot's of stuff going on there. Best to go during the week during the day. The kids come out at night and the midway is no place for a couple of 60 year olds.



NM State Fair



Sandia Peak Tram is good. The restaurant on top is pricy and the food is only so-so. Go up in the afternoon and watch the sun set. That's well worth it. Don't go on a windy day, though. And it will be significantly cooler on top of the mountain that in the city.



Sandia Peak Tramway



Old Town Albuquerque is also worth a visit. Lot's of native american crafts, as well as the oldest functioning church in the US. Good food can be had there, too.



Old Town Albuquerque



If they have a car, a day touring Santa Fe and the main plaza there is also a good diversion. Santa Fe is about an hour north of Albuquerque.



Santa Fe



Lastly, if they like to gamble, there are four nice casinos all a short drive from Albuquerque - Isleta Casino, Sandia Casino, San Felipe Casino, and Santa Ana casino.



I can give you restaurant suggestions, too if you tell me what kind of food they might like.



I hope they enjoy the Land of Enchantment!



Juan

 

[cArNiVaLwOrKeR]

If you happen to go with them,,,

Hit the Menaul Inn, its a Bar and you will hava great time, also Uncle Cliffs and Pistol Petes, and say hello to my Familia there around San Mateo and candelaria, like you said EZ on the Strip clubs, while your parents are playing Bingo@ Sandia, you may need to hit the Strip Club or a local Massage Parlour, you will get more attention there than you would as a newlywed )

with the usual HAPPY ENDING, maybe JOE DONNELY has some places that he may frequent???

 

[Grizzly]

In and around the Old Town area, which is a must, include many museums, a great zoo, Albuquerque Little Theater, (if it's open), Tingley Beach, Bio Park, the Nature Center. In addition are the Rio Grande Bosque walking and biking trails stretching some 20, 30 miles. Bosque is Spanish for woods. If they like birding, the Bosque along the river is excellent. If they like birds, fish and other wildlife, they can go south some 60 miles to Bosque Del Apache, where there are 377 species of birds, and habitat for coyote, wolf, mule deer, elk and more. If they like high mountains, they can go just east of Albuquerque city limits to the Sandia Mountains, which rise from 5. 000 ft to 10,000 ft. Plenty of snow and skiing.

If they have time, a 60 mile drive north to Santa Fe is an experience they will never forget. If they have a little more time, they can continue north to Taos, home of world renown artists, celebrities, Indian Pueblos and spectacular mountains. From there they can go around the Enchanted Circle to Angle Fire, Eagle Nest and Red River. In the Enchanted Circle is Wheeler Peak, tallest peak in NM at 13,161 ft. This is a big skiing area. They don't have to ski to enjoy the mountains.

Another must place to visit is Correlas, immediately northwest of Albuquerque and along the Rio Grande.

Places to eat, if they want New Mexican food, which is different from Mexican food, are El Pinto, Little Anitas, Sadie's and many many more. If they want seafood and steak there are many places around the Cottonwood Shopping Center and all around Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Correlas and the Sandia Mountains.

If they want shopping, There are Cottonwood Mall, Coronado Mall, Winrock Mall and the brand new ABQ Open Mall. Old Town, Nob Hill and Correlas are also worth going to for shopping and restaurants. Hope this helps.

 

[Babyfat]

Thanks for the info I will pass this along to them, No I won't be with them someone has to take care of the store, But my wife and I are plannig a trip west with our boys 12 and 9 this summer or next, I went to Pagosa Springs CO a couple years ago elk hunting with some buddies and told her we needed to take the camper and boys back that way.



I told mom about the Tramway but she said no way :-laf (scared of heights)

can you drive up to the top? or is Tramway only way?



thanks agian and if you have any other suggestions please let me know



John

 

[JRMora]

I told mom about the Tramway but she said no way :-laf (scared of heights)

can you drive up to the top? or is Tramway only way?

You can drive to the top of the Sandia Mountains, but you won't be at the top of the Tramway. The drive to Sandia Crest is a nice one. They have an observation deck on top over looking the city.



Sandia Crest / Turquoise Trail



After going to the Crest, the drive through Madrid (pronounced "Mad rid", not "Ma Drid") to Santa Fe is beautiful.



I'll second Griz's food recommendations. Luckily for me, there's a Little Anita's just about a mile from where I live so I can still get my New Mexican food.



There'll be plenty to keep them amused.



Juan

 

[dshatzer]

If they go to Socorro, don't forget the EL Sombrero restaurant, Mannies's in San Antonio (birthplace of Conrad Hilton. . the town, not the restaurant), as well as the Magdalena Cafe on the way out to the Very Large Array radiotelescope west on US 60.....

 

[Grizzly]

If they go to Socorro, don't forget the EL Sombrero restaurant, Mannies's in San Antonio (birthplace of Conrad Hilton. . the town, not the restaurant), as well as the Magdalena Cafe on the way out to the Very Large Array radiotelescope west on US 60.....

Probably the most famous place in all of San Antonio, NM is the Owl Cafe. The most famous person was of course, Conrad Hilton. His first hotel was in near by Socorro, NM. There are a few Owl Cafe's in Albuquerque, which feature their famous green chile cheeseburger. They are great.

 

[BFoughty]

If they go to Socorro, don't forget the EL Sombrero restaurant, Mannies's in San Antonio (birthplace of Conrad Hilton. . the town, not the restaurant), as well as the Magdalena Cafe on the way out to the Very Large Array radiotelescope west on US 60.....

While we were in Socorro they told us of an old lady that sells the silver jewelry for the local indians. It is about a block off of the main road that goes up to the campus. Mom may want to look at some jewelry while she is there. It is suppose to be very very well priced (cheap). That is also the site of the golf course that Mr. Hilton developed... . or that is what we were told.

 

[RoryTek]

If going to Santa Fe go the back way via the Turquoise Trail which is Hwy 14
Catch it from I-40 at Tijeras exit 175 you will see some neat towns like Madrid, Cerrillos and Golden. I would also tell you stop at our bar n grill in SF but we're closing it this week, but Tomasita's and Gaberile's has great NM food.

 

[gmsboss1]

All of the suggestions so far sound great. We really like to visit the Albuquerque area and thought we'd "seen it all", but now we have a new and expanded list. Thanks to you all!



Based on our visit last Fall, the Albuquerque Aquarium should be added to the list. We've visited the Aquariums (Aquarii ?, Aquaria ?) in Monterey, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Charleston, and a couple in Florida, but for the size, Albuquerque is terrific.



Looks like your parents "couple of extra days" could grow... ... ...

 

[CDonaldson]

Every place already recommended is GREAT !!! All of that will extend their visit to at least a week. New Mexico is a GREAT place to visit and LIVE. They will have a GOOD TIME here.



So, I just have to ask, do you see 60 as the cutoff age for strip clubs, or what? That's just when the fun begins.



CD

 

[Babyfat]

Every place already recommended is GREAT !!! All of that will extend their visit to at least a week. New Mexico is a GREAT place to visit and LIVE. They will have a GOOD TIME here.



So, I just have to ask, do you see 60 as the cutoff age for strip clubs, or what? That's just when the fun begins.



CD

Ok I should rephrase that strip clubs for dad ok, for mom i don't think she would go but you never know.



and no 60 is not a cut of age cuz i know in 17 more years i'll still want to go

 

[CDonaldson]

I was just funnin' with you about the strip clubs. I've lived here in NM for 5 years and have NO IDEA where the strip clubs are located. I suppose they have them, but I'm at a loss, so I can't give your Dad any suggestions.



The timing of their trip will be when the weather is usually very nice, not too hot, not too cold, not too windy. Wherever they choose to visit, I'm sure it will be a very plesant experience. If you parents are into wines, there are some awesome wineries to the north of Santa Fe. New Mexico has a very friendly state website with regards to tourism. You might want to check it out or direct them to it http://www.state.nm.us/ If they are into cultural stuff there is also the http://www.nmculturenet.org/ In the first site is a list of cities, you can check out each area to see what's there and happening, sometimes there are some real good local activities taking place that can be fun to check out. I am in the bottom half of the state, more art galleries and artists that have open houses that you can tour. About 3 hours from Albq. I have been in the Old Town shops, downtown, there is some great stuff there, lots of Traditional Silver Jewelry and local Craft. It can get a little costly, but the stuff is very beautiful. If your parents are coming from your area, MI, just make sure to remind them to drink lots of water, it is easy to get dehydrated here with temps and altitude and not see it coming. The Sun can get to you quickly too. I moved here from the east, PA, it was certainly a really nice, plesant change, the climate is just spectacular all by itself.



CD

 

[pwerwagn]

I would also reccomend our Zoo. Been to many, and ours is by far the best. You can also ride a little trolley train thingy to see the bio park and aquarium at the same time.

there is a nice restaraunt at the base of the tram, sandiagos. Its a new mexican restaraunt, but they have steaks and such too. There are some nice sunsets from there as well, and good food.

Tell your mom that even if she if scared of heights, the tram is a very unique experience. My wife hates heights too, but she loves the tram. the view is breathtaking.



--Jeff