We wrapped up our time in New Mexico with a couple days in Albuquerque. Brian had visited several years ago for the Balloon Fiesta as part of a work trip, but our recent trip together was my first time.

We arrived in the mid-morning just as a crazy wind storm was picking up. There was so much dust in the air the nearby mountains were barely visible through a haze, despite the blue skies overhead. We opted for some indoor activities and then enjoyed our outdoor plans the following day when the wind had settled.

While we didn’t hit the touristy areas downtown, we really enjoyed driving to some of the sites around greater Albuquerque. If you have a car and the inclination to drive around, I’d recommend checking out the following areas during your time in the city.

Learning the History of Ballooning

Given Albuquerque’s ballooning history it only made sense to spend time in the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum just north of downtown. We both thought the curation could have been a little better organized, but once we gathered the ballooning basics we were able to successfully move around to the different areas, which covered everything from overall ballooning history to the modern day Balloon Fiesta, and world-record ballooning feats, including global navigation, North Pole exploration, war-time zeppelins, and more.

We easily spent several hours exploring the exhibits, including an area designed for kids where Brian enjoyed the hands-on activities on wind and lift!

Exploring Petroglyph National Monument

We both really enjoyed our time at Petroglyph National Monument, which is a bit west of downtown. There is a temporary visitor center outdoors, which made watching the park video a bit of an adventure as the pop-up tents overhead struggled against the elements. We always enjoy starting with the museums and videos to get our bearings, and the ranger we spoke to was helpful in lieu of the normal amenities.

There are no petroglyphs or hikes from the visitor center – you have to drive to one of three different trail systems, some of which abut residential areas around western Albuquerque. The ranger gave us maps and directions, and we set off for the Piedras Marcadas Canyon, which he said was his favorite place to see tons of petroglyphs relatively close to the trail.

He was correct – we saw several hundred petroglyphs during our two-mile roundtrip hike. Neither of us had any idea there would be so many or that they would be so visible and diverse in the subject matter they covered. Along our walk we also spotted a roadrunner – one of the first wildlife sightings on our trip!

Hiking in the Sandia Mountains

My favorite activity during our time in Albuquerque was hiking in the Sandia Mountains. The tram was closed for repairs but we were able to hike to a viewpoint not far from the top of the tramway for similar views. We set out early for La Luz Trail No. 137 and ended up hiking to Ponderosa Point for a mid-morning snack with picturesque views before heading back down.

The first half of the hike was through desert-like conditions with cacti and little shade, but eventually we arrived at the tree line where the shady sections of the trail were still covered in packed ice and snow. Happily we had our ice spikes and poles so we didn’t have any issues getting to our turnaround point. Our out-and-back route clocked in at 6.4 miles and 2,944 feet of gain.

Dining at Central Pharmacy

Following our hike, we headed to Duran’s Central Pharmacy for a late lunch. I’d read good things about this Route 66 staple, and we were not disappointed.

Founded in 1942, the pharmacy’s original soda fountain was converted into a restaurant in the 1960s and continues serving delicious Mexican food today. They are known for their world-famous red and green chili, and we were definitely impressed with the green that came alongside our meals. The chips and guacamole were also a highlight. Definitely recommend!

Wine Tasting at Casa Rondena

An unplanned stop that we ended up really enjoying was Casa Rondena just north of downtown. I came across this winery while I was looking for something else on Google Maps, and we decided to check it out.

The winery is on a beautiful property, with a tasting room and other buildings tucked behind the vineyards. The tasting room was amazing with a big stone fireplace and welcoming staff, but it was warm enough that we opted to sit outside by the pond, which lit up with twinkle lights as the sun started to set.

It was so calm and peaceful watching the ducks float around the water while we tried a few of their red and white wines. I was impressed with the reds and enjoyed learning from the staff that New Mexico actually has a fairly sophisticated wine industry, predominantly in the southern part of the state. I’m so happy we stumbled upon this gem!

Late-night Snack at the Dog House

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fans will recognize this late-night dining spot that Brian contributed to our itinerary! The Dog House Drive-In, which is featured routinely in each television series, has been a Route 66 icon since the 1960s, and the chili dog and fries are still solid.

We arrived just as they turned off the neon, but a group of kids visiting from Argentina were able to cajole the employees into turning them back on so we could all take a few pictures!

I was pleasantly surprised by Albuquerque and could easily have spent another day or two exploring the downtown area and other sites I tagged in the outskirts. Although Brian’s done it before, maybe we’ll make time for a future Balloon Fiesta and explore the other items on our list!