Albuquerque

Sometimes I take my adopted home state of NM, and especially Albuquerque, for granted. But we have an abundance to savor, too. For those who love walking around old town areas I think our Old Town is charming. Lots of good shops to browse, and a favorite restaurant, the Church Street Cafe. The food is good, and the patio is beautiful and the tables are shaded. So from late spring through fall we sit on the patio and listen to the fountain, and watch the birds, and just generally enjoy the meal and ambiance.

An unrivaled experience is our aerial tram, the world's longest. It goes from the foothills to the Sandia Crest, which is a 10,800' mountain. The tram ride is not to be missed and the view from the top is stunning. Dress warmly, even in the summer. The Crest is always cold and windy! Also at the top is a pretty good restaurant called High Finance. The food is tasty, well-priced and plentiful, but I'm always wishing they'd wash their windows a little more often. But I guess with a view like that you can't have everything.

For those traveling with children, our Explora museum is a delight for the whole family. Our little ones sure liked it! Our Albuquerque Museum is also worth seeing with good permanent exhibits, as well as new and changing exhibits that reflect various aspects of Albuquerque's history. But the NM Museum of Natural History is my absolute favorite. They have worthwhile exhibits, as well as a Dyna-Theater with constantly changing films, and a planetarium.

So, savor the miles along the way, and then stop in and see the Duke City, named for the Spanish Duke Of Alburquerque. (We dropped the first R). We have great shopping, especially for Native American Jewelry. A good variety will be on display right in Old Town Plaza. Stop and chat and check out their wares.