The Land of Enchantment

After a very long flight from Baltimore with a connection in Minneapolis, I finally arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 11 p.m. on a Saturday. Since I was here for a conference, there wasn’t much time to venture out and away from my many sessions. I don’t even think I went to the pool until the very last day of the meeting. The weather was great and since this was already late September, I knew it would be my last chance for sun. I didn’t get to do as much exploring as I would have liked therefore I only have a few tips and must sees and dos for this enchanting city.

Where To Lay Your Head: I stayed at the Hyatt in downtown Albuquerque and it was very nice. However, I would not recommend staying in downtown Albuquerque, there isn’t anything going on and not much to see. On the weekends, it’s like a ghost town. I heard that it’s best to stay a little further out like in Santa Fe which everyone told me is beautiful. Even if you don’t get to stay in Santa Fe, according to some of my colleagues, it is definitely a place to see while you are in New Mexico. Oh and it’s worth renting a car to help you get around. Taxis are not readily available.

Hot Spots for Shopping: For a little character and some good southwestern food, head down to Historic Old Town. There are a lot of quaint shops and galleries. There are also several displays of gorgeous and unique jewelry strewn throughout the plaza on large cloths on the ground. We arrived a little late in the evening and therefore only a few vendors were out. When you can’t shop, the next best thing is to eat. We had some great tequila and green chile (which ABQ is known for) in Old Town.

Get a little Culture: Make a point to visit the National Hispanic Cultural Center. It is truly beautiful with some of the most amazing Native American and Hispanic art I have ever seen. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and eager to tell you all about what the museum offers. The conference had one of its events here and we had the museum to ourselves. Dinner was near a gorgeous courtyard and catered by the onsite restaurant “La Fonda del Bosque.” (On a scale of 1-10, it was a 6.5) Dancing under the stars in the courtyard was by far the best.

Grab a Bite: My last recommendation is to have dinner in Nob Hill, near the University of New Mexico, at this cute Italian restaurant — Scalo Northern Italian Grill. Being from Chicago, I am always in search for authentic and good Italian cuisine. I was pleasantly surprised at this place. From the homemade spinach ravioli to the special house Limoncello, this should be a definite stop on your trip. Grab a seat outside, some wine, and do a little people watching at the same time.

One of the activities I didn’t get a chance to do and what ABQ is especially known for is a trip in hot air balloon. An absolute must do if you can. How great it would be to fly amongst the clouds!