UNM, Albuquerque, & Surrounding Area
Here in Albuquerque, we are at the center of the Southwest with diverse biomes to explore; from the Chihuahuan Desert, plains grasslands, and high alpine in the Rocky Mountains. The city is situated between the Rio Grande at 4,900 ft and the foothills of the Sandia mountains at 6,200 ft in the dramatic Rio Grande rift zone. With a metro area population of ~900k there are fantastic options for dining, entertainment, and night life.
The whole of New Mexico has a culture and cuisine not found anywhere else. Green chiles, red chiles, posole, stuffed sopaipillas, green chile cheeseburgers, carne adovada, piñon, frito pie, biscochitos… Additionally, hot air balloons are a frequent feature in the sky above ABQ. And with Santa Fe only a 45-minute drive away, you can experience its deep history, world-famous restaurants, and an incredible art scene, including the Santa Fe Opera House and Meow Wolf.
Along with amazingly beautiful geology, outdoor activities are everywhere you look: hiking, fly fishing, skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing, camping.
Within 2 hours:
Outside of the magnificent Sandia mountains directly east of ABQ, we are only a 2 hour drive from numerous mountain ranges and beautiful areas in any direction. These include:
El Malpais – black lava flows that were the crossroads of human societies for centuries, especially at El Morro (the 2nd oldest National Monument – established 1906).
Mount Taylor – a dormant stratovolcano.
Jemez Mountains & the Valles Caldera – A supervolcano (like Yellowstone) with several hot springs that you can hike to and streams to catch trout. This mountain range is also home to 1 of the 2 endemic species of salamander found in New Mexico.
Sangre de Cristo Mountains – The Southernmost point of the Rockies, you can hike to alpine lakes above timberline.
Here in Albuquerque, we are at the center of the Southwest with diverse biomes to explore; from the Chihuahuan Desert, plains grasslands, and high alpine in the Rocky Mountains. The city is situated between the Rio Grande at 4,900 ft and the foothills of the Sandia mountains at 6,200 ft in the dramatic Rio Grande rift zone. With a metro area population of ~900k there are fantastic options for dining, entertainment, and night life.
The whole of New Mexico has a culture and cuisine not found anywhere else. Green chiles, red chiles, posole, stuffed sopaipillas, green chile cheeseburgers, carne adovada, piñon, frito pie, biscochitos… Additionally, hot air balloons are a frequent feature in the sky above ABQ. And with Santa Fe only a 45-minute drive away, you can experience its deep history, world-famous restaurants, and an incredible art scene, including the Santa Fe Opera House and Meow Wolf.
Along with amazingly beautiful geology, outdoor activities are everywhere you look: hiking, fly fishing, skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing, camping.
Within 2 hours:
Outside of the magnificent Sandia mountains directly east of ABQ, we are only a 2 hour drive from numerous mountain ranges and beautiful areas in any direction. These include:
El Malpais – black lava flows that were the crossroads of human societies for centuries, especially at El Morro (the 2nd oldest National Monument – established 1906).
Mount Taylor – a dormant stratovolcano.
Jemez Mountains & the Valles Caldera – A supervolcano (like Yellowstone) with several hot springs that you can hike to and streams to catch trout. This mountain range is also home to 1 of the 2 endemic species of salamander found in New Mexico.
Sangre de Cristo Mountains – The Southernmost point of the Rockies, you can hike to alpine lakes above timberline.
Slightly further afield
White Sands National Monument – https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm
Gila National Forest & Wilderness Area – the world’s first Wilderness area! This was largely spearheaded by Aldo Leopold. https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/your-national-forests-magazine/aldo-leopold-in-the-gila-wilderness
Carlsbad Caverns National Park – https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm
Durango Colorado and the San Juan Mountains – hiking, skiing, fishing, etc.
Roswell, NM – Interested in UFOs?
Trinity site – Ground zero for the world’s first nuclear bomb explosion.
White Sands National Monument – https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm
Gila National Forest & Wilderness Area – the world’s first Wilderness area! This was largely spearheaded by Aldo Leopold. https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/your-national-forests-magazine/aldo-leopold-in-the-gila-wilderness
Carlsbad Caverns National Park – https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm
Durango Colorado and the San Juan Mountains – hiking, skiing, fishing, etc.
Roswell, NM – Interested in UFOs?
Trinity site – Ground zero for the world’s first nuclear bomb explosion.
History in New Mexico
Inhabited by Native American tribes, namely the Pueblo peoples, since prehistoric times, this southwest landscape has many important cultural heritages sites and continues to be enriched by these native inhabitants. New Mexico has 19 Pueblos and 3 Reservations and 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including 2 cultural sites (Taos Pueblo and Chaco Canyon). As the land that is now New Mexico was once the Spanish colony of Nuevo México, it’s capital – Santa Fe, designated in 1610, is the oldest capital city in the USA.
New Mexico’s Native American Communities - https://www.newmexico.org/places-to-visit/native-culture/pueblos-tribes-nations/
Petroglyphs National Monument - https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm
Bandelier National Monument - https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm
Chaco Culture National Historic Park - https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm
Taos Pueblo - https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/492/
Inhabited by Native American tribes, namely the Pueblo peoples, since prehistoric times, this southwest landscape has many important cultural heritages sites and continues to be enriched by these native inhabitants. New Mexico has 19 Pueblos and 3 Reservations and 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including 2 cultural sites (Taos Pueblo and Chaco Canyon). As the land that is now New Mexico was once the Spanish colony of Nuevo México, it’s capital – Santa Fe, designated in 1610, is the oldest capital city in the USA.
New Mexico’s Native American Communities - https://www.newmexico.org/places-to-visit/native-culture/pueblos-tribes-nations/
Petroglyphs National Monument - https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm
Bandelier National Monument - https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm
Chaco Culture National Historic Park - https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm
Taos Pueblo - https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/492/
In Albuquerque
Some of the favorite things that I have discovered in ABQ and some things that I look forward to exploring after Covid.
Route 66 trail – https://independenttravelcats.com/finding-historic-route-66-in-albuquerque-new-mexico/
Guild Cinema - https://www.guildcinema.com/
New Mexico United – USL Soccer team.
Isotopes – Triple A Baseball team.
Ex Novo Brewing Co. – Great beer.
La Cumbre Brewing Co. – Great beer.
Frontier Restaurant – A staple of UNM students for 50 years, open all-day (sweet rolls, tortillas, Frontier Burrito).
The Shop – Fantastic spot for breakfast and lunch (The Shop burger).
El Modelo – Must visit (tamales, sopaipillas).
New Mexico Jerky – It is a thing and it is great.
Some of the favorite things that I have discovered in ABQ and some things that I look forward to exploring after Covid.
Route 66 trail – https://independenttravelcats.com/finding-historic-route-66-in-albuquerque-new-mexico/
Guild Cinema - https://www.guildcinema.com/
New Mexico United – USL Soccer team.
Isotopes – Triple A Baseball team.
Ex Novo Brewing Co. – Great beer.
La Cumbre Brewing Co. – Great beer.
Frontier Restaurant – A staple of UNM students for 50 years, open all-day (sweet rolls, tortillas, Frontier Burrito).
The Shop – Fantastic spot for breakfast and lunch (The Shop burger).
El Modelo – Must visit (tamales, sopaipillas).
New Mexico Jerky – It is a thing and it is great.