Albuquerque info

[PCOL2000]

I'll be in Albuquerque from the beginning of April to the middle of may and won't have too much to do.  Wondering what's going on over there, is it the isotopes?  Golf?  Anybody got any tips on things to do out there?

[Noe]

I'll be in Albuquerque from the beginning of April to the middle of may and won't have too much to do.  Wondering what's going on over there, is it the isotopes?  Golf?  Anybody got any tips on things to do out there?

My understanding is when in New Mexico, eat something with green hatch chiles. It is required.

[juliogotay]

I'll be in Albuquerque from the beginning of April to the middle of may and won't have too much to do.  Wondering what's going on over there, is it the isotopes?  Golf?  Anybody got any tips on things to do out there?

Spend at least one weekend in Santa Fe. ABout an hour away. Hudson Hawke can tell you about a burger place that has greeen chili burgers because, as Noe says, it is a requirement. And you'll be glad you did. You might wish to take a drive along the Rio Grande up through Espanola and towards Taos. It should be a pretty drive in the Spring. Taos is a nice town, too. The Kit Carson Museum may keep your fancy for a couple of hours. Los Alamos is not far. Maybe they have a museum or something about the Manhatten project.

[NeilT]

Visit Acoma, to the west about an hour as I recall. 

[subnuclear]

I go to Albuquerque every 6 months or so for meetings. Generally, I spend my down time drinking margaritas and stuffing my face with chile-based food. I'm not sure I recommend that over a 6 week period.

There is a lot of outdoorsy stuff in New Mexico (hiking in the Sandia mountains nearby, Carlsbad caverns farther out) and there is some golf, but I'm not a golfer.

The Nuclear Museum of Science and Tech (in Albuquerque) is, well, unique and certainly the best of its kind. I've been to Los Alamos several times and there isn't much there for visitors.

[NeilT]

I go to Albuquerque every 6 months or so for meetings. Generally, I spend my down time drinking margaritas and stuffing my face with chile-based food. I'm not sure I recommend that over a 6 week period.

There is a lot of outdoorsy stuff in New Mexico (hiking in the Sandia mountains nearby, Carlsbad caverns farther out) and there is some golf, but I'm not a golfer.

The Nuclear Museum of Science and Tech (in Albuquerque) is, well, unique and certainly the best of its kind. I've been to Los Alamos several times and there isn't much there for visitors.

My daughter's boyfriend grew up in Los Alamos.  He's now in a physics PhD program at Wisconsin.  Do you think the two are somehow related?  Los Alamos does have a nice ski mountain.

I've been through Albuquerque a bunch, but don't really have a strong opinion about it.  Old Town has at least one good restaurant, and is worth a walk around.  I thought the Pueblo Indian Cultural Center was great, but it's been 30 years since I was there.  I do like Acoma a lot, but if I were in New Mexico for any reason, and had a couple of days to go anywhere, I'd go to Chaco Canyon.  It is just a wee bit out of the way though.

There are lots of good Santa Fe threads.  I'll just say eat the enchiladas at the Shed.

If you like to flyfish, I can recommend some places.

[subnuclear]

My daughter's boyfriend grew up in Los Alamos.  He's now in a physics PhD program at Wisconsin.  Do you think the two are somehow related?  Los Alamos does have a nice ski mountain.

I've heard there is nice skiiing in that area. Also, the Los Alamos airport is pretty cool because the runway is right next to a cliff in a particularly scary way. Teaching high school in Los Alamos must be very interesting.

[NeilT]

I've heard there is nice skiiing in that area. Also, the Los Alamos airport is pretty cool because the runway is right next to a cliff in a particularly scary way. Teaching high school in Los Alamos must be very interesting.

I gather that they have good science fairs.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Los Pollos Hermanos for speedy chicken dinners.

[Fredia]

we were going to go to new mexico for vacatiion but decided on fla instead. did i go wrong

[juliogotay]

we were going to go to new mexico for vacatiion but decided on fla instead. did i go wrong

depends on what you want to do doesn't it? The beaches in New Mexico are awful.

[Ron Brand]

depends on what you want to do doesn't it? The beaches in New Mexico are awful.

Cuban food in NM sucks too.

[geezerdonk]

El Malpais National Monument is nearby - scenic drives and great hiking. Bandelier National Monument is a little farther off but worth the trip.

[HudsonHawk]

Spend at least one weekend in Santa Fe. ABout an hour away. Hudson Hawke can tell you about a burger place that has greeen chili burgers because, as Noe says, it is a requirement. And you'll be glad you did. You might wish to take a drive along the Rio Grande up through Espanola and towards Taos. It should be a pretty drive in the Spring. Taos is a nice town, too. The Kit Carson Museum may keep your fancy for a couple of hours. Los Alamos is not far. Maybe they have a museum or something about the Manhatten project.

That would be the Bobcat Bite in Santa Fe. The best burgers. In. The. World.

Lots of good food in NM, particularly Santa Fe. But good eats abound. I hear there is good golf.

[PCOL2000]

Thanks for the scoops y'all.  I just hope I can weasel my way into a rental car.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Thanks for the scoops y'all.  I just hope I can weasel my way into a rental car.

In your line of work, doesn't the rental car usually come with a .50 cal?

[juliogotay]

Thanks for the scoops y'all.  I just hope I can weasel my way into a rental car.

New Mexico is not the place to be without wheels.

[Andy]

Bobcat Bite is awesome, the best hamburger ever... but that's in Santa Fe. If you're looking for places to eat in ABQ, and specifically a hamburger, I would suggest Five Star off of Academy and Wyoming. It's in a shopping center and kind of easy to miss, but they have outstanding buffalo burgers. Plus, they give you a lot of french fries with green chile mayo - outstanding!

Also, I always suggest Las Cuates on Menual. It is traditional New Mexican food... which I'm not sure how it is different from Tex-Mex other than it is a little hotter and slathered with green chile. It isn't fancy, but it is authentic and, in my opinion, ABQ's version of Case Ole.

The breakfast burritos in ABQ are second to none. I like Golden Pride or Twisters.  

I've been to the Nuclear Science Museum... it is pretty dope but it isn't an all day thing. You could couple that with a trip to the Petroglyphs or the casinos.  

If you do happen to head out to Los Alamos, I would also go hit up Bandelier - you can spend the day hiking and looking at indian ruins and still be able to make it back to ABQ by sundown.

You should also check out the VLA (which I think has a different name now), but it is an area way south of ABQ that has an assload of satellites - very cool! Also, the second best hamburger can be found a short ways away in San Antonio at The Buckhorn Tavern.

[HudsonHawk]

Also, I always suggest Las Cuates on Menual. It is traditional New Mexican food... which I'm not sure how it is different from Tex-Mex other than it is a little hotter and slathered with green chile. It isn't fancy, but it is authentic and, in my opinion, ABQ's version of Case Ole.

Ok, "traditional" and "Casa Ole" should never be used in the same sentence.  Ever.

You should also check out the VLA (which I think has a different name now), but it is an area way south of ABQ that has an assload of satellites - very cool! Also, the second best hamburger can be found a short ways away in San Antonio at The Buckhorn Tavern.

San Antonio is like 150 miles from Albuquerque.  I'm not sure I'd term that a "short ways".  It's like saying Minute Maid Park is just a short ways from Austin.

There is also the Buckhorn Saloon in Pinos Altos.  But I heard that got renovated and went big time upscale fancy.  NTTAWWT.

[Andy]

Ok, "traditional" and "Casa Ole" should never be used in the same sentence.  Ever.

San Antonio is like 150 miles from Albuquerque.  I'm not sure I'd term that a "short ways".  It's like saying Minute Maid Park is just a short ways from Austin.

There is also the Buckhorn Saloon in Pinos Altos.  But I heard that got renovated and went big time upscale fancy.  NTTAWWT.

The Buckhorn Tavern is about ten miles from the VLA.

I thought since we were mentioning Taos and Carlsbad, San Antonio and the VLA were not out of bounds.

[subnuclear]

You should also check out the VLA (which I think has a different name now), but it is an area way south of ABQ that has an assload of satellites - very cool!

Its still called the VLA, but I don't remember any satellites. The radio telescope array is a pretty cool deal though.

[HudsonHawk]

The Buckhorn Tavern is about ten miles from the VLA.

I thought since we were mentioning Taos and Carlsbad, San Antonio and the VLA were not out of bounds.

OK.  Just thought you meant it was close to ABQ.  It's not really.  But if you're driving all over the state...hell, then Pinos Altos may not be out of bounds either.

[Bench]

On a childhood family trip to the Grand Canyon, we had dinner at Garcia's in Albuquerque.  It was good.

[austro]

The breakfast burritos in ABQ are second to none. I like Golden Pride or Twisters.

My daughter took me to some place across the street from the university where we had some monster burritos. Can't remember the name, but they had a huge menu across the wall, an Erlacher jersey on the wall, etc. Seemed like it had probably been there forever. Frontier Restaurant, maybe?

If you do happen to head out to Los Alamos, I would also go hit up Bandelier - you can spend the day hiking and looking at indian ruins and still be able to make it back to ABQ by sundown.

I think Bandelier was subject to some pretty bad fires in the last few years. Its character may be quite different now.

[PCOL2000]

In your line of work, doesn't the rental car usually come with a .50 cal?

Generally in the Air Force we check for the nicest hotels where we are landing next.  I get to shoot a gun once every other year or so.  I think it'd be easier to get my hands on a .50 cal here in Texas rather than from the military. 

Edited to say "awwwww shit, 100 posts.  Movin on up"

[NeilT]

Generally in the Air Force we check for the nicest hotels where we are landing next.  I get to shoot a gun once every other year or so.  I think it'd be easier to get my hands on a .50 cal here in Texas rather than from the military. 

Edited to say "awwwww shit, 100 posts.  Movin on up"

My dad was a bombardier in the Army Air Corp, and at the end of World War II was stationed near Albuquerque, apparently training to drop locally-produced bombs on Japan.  One of his favorite stories was getting hold of a car in Albuquerque and driving to Santa Fe.  He said there was no edge to Santa Fe.  You just poured into the square.  Every time I go to Santa Fe I think about that story, and how it must have looked in 1945.

I, on the other hand, first went to Santa Fe (that I recall) in 1968.  I saw a long-haired hippy wearing a Gene McCarthy button.  It was something.

[strosrays]

Well, I'll stop when I can
Get some fried eggs and country ham
And I don't care
If they don't know where
I am

[Greg M]

I lived in Albuquerque for a few years.  The two most common things to do are to take the Sandia tram to the top and check out the hot air balloon scene. It was the longest tram in the world, but is now 2nd to one in like Bulgaria, or at least that's what I heard.  I prefer driving around the backside and hiking to the top.  You can also drive up there from the east side.  Hiking the Sandias from the west side closer to Albuquerque is nice for a bit, although there isn't much for tree cover.  It's much nicer around back.  Balloon fiesta is amazing.  Early in the morning you can see hot air balloons year round in the landscape.

Albuquerque is a very easy city to orient to.  Get lost?  Find the Sandias and that's due east.  Everything is laid out in a grid.

I spent most of my time in Nob Hill which is a yuppie/hipster area.  I used to spend a lot of time downtown on or near Central frequenting the bars for live music.  Alas, I'm too old for that now being at the ripe age of 38, except for the Launchpad.  Launchpad (minimal cover) and Burt's Tiki Lounge (free) are the places to catch music on the cheap.  I've seen some amazing shows at the Launchpad which is a small venue that holds only about 150 people.  I've seen Beirut, Calexico, the Album Leaf, Brett Dennon, and a whole lot more there.

Outside of ABQ, there are some cool Pueblos to check out.  Acoma is really beautiful due west on I40.  Up north, Taos is fun to check out for a day or 2.  You can raft the Rio Grande gorge, the Box, which is always a good time.  Around Los Alamos, there is Bandalier National Park with ancient native cliff dwellings.  It's pretty cool and also good for kids.  Northern New Mexico is really beautiful.  There is plenty of info on Santa Fe.  I've lived there too, and briefly in Taos.  My parents are in Santa Fe. 

Let me know if you need more info.

[Greg M]

Couple of other things off the top of my head.  There are hot spring in the Jemez mountain range near Los Alamos, but I don't recommend them unless you want to sit next to dirty and naked hippies.  Instead, hit up 10,000 Waves in Santa Fe up the ski basin road.  It's a Japanese style bath house.  Great massages, hot tub, and sauna.  Another place is north in the middle of no where called Ojo Caliente.  I've never been there, but have heard great things.

Further up north there is Pagosa Springs, CO.  IF you like spring skiing, this is the spot.  Wolfe Creek gets more snow than any ski resort in Colorado and it's about a 3-4 hour drive from ABQ.  It's a good time.  The New Mexico resorts probably won't have much snow, but if they do Santa Fe is a nice mountain with a good mix of simple and challenging terrain.  Taos is typically for the more advanced skier as it has really steep slopes.

Most of northern New Mexico activities, outside of the art and food scene, revolve around the outdoors.  Enjoy!

[Noe]

Couple of other things off the top of my head.  There are hot spring in the Jemez mountain range near Los Alamos, but I don't recommend them unless you want to sit next to dirty and naked hippies.  Instead, hit up 10,000 Waves in Santa Fe up the ski basin road.  It's a Japanese style bath house.  Great massages, hot tub, and sauna.  Another place is north in the middle of no where called Ojo Caliente.  I've never been there, but have heard great things.

Further up north there is Pagosa Springs, CO.  IF you like spring skiing, this is the spot.  Wolfe Creek gets more snow than any ski resort in Colorado and it's about a 3-4 hour drive from ABQ.  It's a good time.  The New Mexico resorts probably won't have much snow, but if they do Santa Fe is a nice mountain with a good mix of simple and challenging terrain.  Taos is typically for the more advanced skier as it has really steep slopes.

Most of northern New Mexico activities, outside of the art and food scene, revolve around the outdoors.  Enjoy!

We skied Red River once with a bunch of friends. It did not live up to the hype from one of our friends in terms of skiing, but the place was absolutely beautiful. And the people were extremely nice and the food was outstanding every place we went to eat. Driving home late at night, I almost hit a giant caribou (or what looked like caribou to me) that was crossing the highway on the mountain. Biggest animal I've ever seen in my life, we almost could have driven underneath it.

[geezerdonk]

This is getting far afield from Albuquerque, but there is a Vietnam Veterans Memorial outside of Angel Fire. It is just off of the north end of the air strip. A worthwhile destination for anyone interested in military history and memorabilia. It is well organized and maintained and has an interesting history itself.

[strosrays]

Well, they say
That Santa Fe
Is less than ninety miles away
And I got time to roll a number
And rent a car
Oh, Albuquerque

[94CougarGrad]

My daughter took me to some place across the street from the university where we had some monster burritos. Can't remember the name, but they had a huge menu across the wall, an Erlacher jersey on the wall, etc. Seemed like it had probably been there forever. Frontier Restaurant, maybe?

Probably, as there is a place named that right across from UNM. We usually stop for the night in ABQ when we're driving back from Vegas, and this last time, we ate dinner at Frontier. Yum. The green chile chili they smother the cheese enchiladas with is really good. Not super expensive, either. For Guy Fieri fans, Standard Diner's not far from there. Upscale foodie-ish diner eats. Good, but a little on the rich side, both on the palate and the wallet. We haven't spent much time in ABQ other than spending an occasional night there, but I understand it's a good museum and scenery city.

[strosrays]

Probably, as there is a place named that right across from UNM. We usually stop for the night in ABQ when we're driving back from Vegas, and this last time, we ate dinner at Frontier. Yum. The green chile chili they smother the cheese enchiladas with is really good. Not super expensive, either. For Guy Fieri fans, Standard Diner's not far from there. Upscale foodie-ish diner eats. Good, but a little on the rich side, both on the palate and the wallet. We haven't spent much time in ABQ other than spending an occasional night there, but I understand it's a good museum and scenery city.

I've been flying down the road
And I've been starving to be alone
Independent from the scene
That I've known
Aaa-aaa-aal-buquerque

[NeilT]

I never liked green chile sauce.  I always get the red.

[HudsonHawk]

I never liked green chile sauce.  I always get the red.

Infidel.

[Taras Bulba]

Couple of other things off the top of my head.  There are hot spring in the Jemez mountain range near Los Alamos, but I don't recommend them unless you want to sit next to dirty and naked hippies.  Instead, hit up 10,000 Waves in Santa Fe up the ski basin road.  It's a Japanese style bath house.  Great massages, hot tub, and sauna.  Another place is north in the middle of no where called Ojo Caliente.  I've never been there, but have heard great things.

Further up north there is Pagosa Springs, CO.  IF you like spring skiing, this is the spot.  Wolfe Creek gets more snow than any ski resort in Colorado and it's about a 3-4 hour drive from ABQ.  It's a good time.  The New Mexico resorts probably won't have much snow, but if they do Santa Fe is a nice mountain with a good mix of simple and challenging terrain.  Taos is typically for the more advanced skier as it has really steep slopes.

Most of northern New Mexico activities, outside of the art and food scene, revolve around the outdoors.  Enjoy!

Was in Taos, etc. this past summer.  Took the missus and daughters over to Ojo Caliente one day for them to do the spa thing.  Above it are some nice trails that lead to an ancient tiwa settlement.  Pottery shards all over the place.
One thing I would recommend if you are ever in or near Taos is to do the llama hike--there's a local guy who does a day hike in the national forest north of Taos and is simply outstanding in what he does.  Interesting animals and you stop for a great lunch at the mid-point.  Great fun for all ages, including jaded teenagers and general malcontents.

[PCOL2000]

Well after a week in Albuquerque I really like this town. The food has been great I just wish I was drinking right now (once a year I stop drinking for thirty days just to prove to myself that I don't HAVE to drink)

I hooked up with a lot of decent golfers from the base and will be playing some of the nicer courses in the area.  This was after I won a hundred bucks off of the rest of my foursome too.

Also going to see Band of Horses on Wednesday night, with a really hot girl I met the other day.  -  a friend of mine is stationed here and his band was playing and in between sets they had a burlesque show.  This chic was working with them but not dancing.  She was selling raffle tickets and basically lookin good.  

Looking forward to Wednesday and just want to say thanks to everybody that gave me some info.  I constantly come back here looking for things to do.

Also going to see some of the isotopes games soon.