Albuquerque Overview

Rugged mountains surrounded by high desert and a deep history create a setting for a unique mix of cultures. Ride the world's longest aerial tram and enjoy the largest gathering of hot air balloons in the world. This is Albuquerque. ¡Bienvenidos!

Districts

Albuquerque is a city of diversity, with geographic and historic circumstances that brought Native American, Hispanic and Anglo cultures together to create a unique multicultural community. The land awes and inspires with the Sandia and Manzano Mountains to the east, the river valley cutting through the city and the West Mesa escarpment with its ghosts of volcanic activity. The weather is mild and it is not unusual for a 70-degree day during the winter, when people can be seen snow skiing at Sandia Peak Ski Area in shorts. Albuquerque is a year-round destination for travelers, offering recreational activities such as white water rafting, the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, gambling for the high-stakes enthusiast, hiking, skiing, world class bird watching and great dining. The mixture of old and new architectural styles is stunning. In spite of the size of the city and all of the amenities that go along with big city life, Albuquerque manages to retain a small town charm.

Whether you stroll through this historic district on your own, or take a tour with the Albuquerque Museum, Old Town is the perfect place to begin exploring The Duke City. At the heart of this district is the original central plaza that is lined with over 100 quaint little shops. Like everything else in Albuquerque, a visit to Old Town is a delightful mix of old and new, with sights that range from Civil War cannons to the Church of San Felipe de Neri. A stroll around the plaza will give you a glimpse into the rich history of the area as well as a taste of the tremendous artistic talents showcased in places like The Adobe Gallery.

The hub of business and government activity in the city is the bustling downtown area. The Civic Plaza also plays host to a myriad of other activities and during summer months, Summerfest is held. This is a celebration of New Mexico's many cultures that showcases the food, music and dance of a different ethnic group every Saturday.

Entertainment

Albuquerque is the only major city within several hundred miles and most of New Mexico relies on it for quality entertainment. The city offers activities that are as diverse as the cultures that populate the area. No matter what your tastes, there are year-round activities that will provide hours of enjoyment. The locals are particularly proud of the various venues here and contribute greatly to the success of events.

Whether you are an avid outdoors person, enjoy the symphony or ballet, or spectator sports, you will find something you enjoy. New Mexico is famous among outdoor sports enthusiasts. Mountain biking, world-class snow skiing, river rafting, hiking and a multitude of other outdoor sports are only minutes away from anywhere in town.

Dining and Drinking

The rich cultural diversity of New Mexico has created a culinary melting pot. Finding something to eat is easy, but choosing from all of the options may take awhile. There are a variety of ethnic restaurants, and for every one of these, there are at least three restaurants offering New Mexican cuisine.

When native New Mexicans find themselves displaced from their home soil for any period of time, the thing they miss the most is the food or, more precisely, chili. Fresh roasted chili is the foundation of all good New Mexican restaurants. If your heart says, "chili," but your stomach says, "I don't think so," there are still plenty of other dining selections.

Where To Stay

Albuquerque has been a center of commerce for hundreds of years. Five hundred years ago it was a trade hub for pre-Pueblo and later Pueblo Indians. After the settlement of the region by the Spanish, this village sat on the Camino Real, or Royal Road. As the railroad crossed the nation, it chose Albuquerque as a major terminus. Following The First World War came Route 66, a paved highway that connected Chicago to Los Angeles. Through the years this town that sits at the crossroads of the southwestern United States has been known worldwide for its hospitality and welcoming accommodations.

Hotels and motels are spread generously throughout the city, with high concentrations in key areas, giving travelers to Albuquerque a large number of choices for where to stay. Accommodations can also be found at local bed and breakfast inns sprinkled throughout the city. Location, décor and service vary widely among these quaint, historic and sometimes trendy inns.

With more than 14,000 rooms available throughout the city, accommodations can easily be made at any time of the year with the exception of the first two weeks of October. The popularity of the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has skyrocketed over the past decade and rooms have been a premium commodity during the event. It is recommended that you make reservations well in advance if you are planning to visit during this time.

Albuquerque by the Numbers

Elevation: 5,326 feet

Average Annual Rainfall: 8.5 inches
Average Annual Snowfall: 11.1 inches

Average January Temperature: 35 degrees F
Average July Temperature: 79 degrees F

Time Zone: GMT- 7
Area Code: 505

Population: 469,426
Major Industries: Oil, Electronics, Computers, Automobile Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Chemicals, Higher Education, Shipping
Ethnic Mix: Caucasian (74.5%), African American (3.4%), Native American (2.7%), Asian (2.9%), Pacific Islander (1.0%), Other (15.5%)

Did You Know?

Albuquerque is the highest metropolitan city in America with an elevation of 5312 feet.

Orientation/Geography

Albuquerque is divided into the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest and Southwest quadrants. These quadrants are needed on street mailing addresses. It is in central New Mexico, not far from the capital, Santa Fe.

Content Provided by WCities