Albuquerque travel

Albuquerque hotels
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Albuquerque vacation
online 06.09.2010

Albuquerque travel

At first glance, Albuquerque appears to be a typical Sun Belt city, stretching out more than 100 square mi with no grand design, architectural or otherwise, to hold it together. The city's growth pattern seems as free-spirited as all those hot-air balloons that take part in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta every October. With a bit of exploration, however, this initial impression of an asphalt maze softens as you get a sense of Albuquerque's distinctive neighborhoods. The charms of Albuquerque may not jump out to greet you, but the blend of Spanish, Mexican, Native American, Anglo, and Asian influences makes this a vibrant multicultural metropolis well worth exploring. In fact, the city's most distinctive components -- first-rate museums and performing arts venues; well-preserved Spanish-colonial, Victorian, and art deco architecture; both sophisticated and funky restaurants and B&Bs; and offbeat shops and galleries -- measure up to those you'd find in most U.S. cities this size. You just have to persevere beyond the suburban sprawl and strip-mall excess to find all the good stuff.

Albuquerque travel The "west side" of Albuquerque is where most recent construction has taken place, and it still has the feel of a place rapidly expanding and growing. Petroglyph National Monument is over here as well, with hikes and trails leading to ancient rock art panels on lava boulders. Small volcanos dot the horizon, and on a clear day, distant Mount Taylor is visible.

A ride on the Sandia Peak Tram puts you on top of the Sandia Mountains, where, on clear days, you can look out over 15,000 square miles of magical landscape. To the west, the Rio Grande snakes its way through the cottonwood-lined valley, and dormant volcanoes are silhouetted against fiery red sunsets. As darkness blankets the city, thousands of lights twinkle like diamonds, matching the stars scattered across the enormous sky.