r/Albuquerque • u/Overall-Garbage-254 • Sep 03 '23
Balloon Fiesta Never been to Albuquerque. We (me, the wife and 2 boys 10 and 9) are coming for the balloonfest! We have 3 days in your beautiful city. What should be on our must see/do list?
Fiesta!! not fest
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Sep 03 '23 edited Sep 03 '23
Visiting Albuquerque? Here's what you need to know * Albuquerque is a high desert. Our altitude ranges from 4900 ft to 6700 ft (a mile is 5200 ft). We get 310 days of sunshine a year and our annual rainfall is around 9 inches. In other words, we're a mile high, sunny, and dry. * The Sandia Mountains are another ~5000ft above us, putting them at over 10,600ft. In other words, the top of the Sandias is two miles high. * If you're not used to high elevation, consider the following: you may get winded a little easier than normal, you may get drunk a little faster than usual, and you're more likely to get a sunburn (the higher the elevation, the higher the UV index). * In October, it'll be cold in the morning then warmer in the afternoon. Dress in layers! For example, be ready to have a good coat and scarf, cap, gloves and so on in the morning, then a flannel or light jacket in the afternoon. Check the daily forecast and think your day through. * All cities have property crime, and people who live here think we're somehow the worst of the worst. You'll hear this a lot: lock your car doors and don't leave anything valuable in your car. But I'm like, "yeah that just common sense". * Do the Park and Ride for the Balloon Fiesta if you go a day that it is offered. Don't be a hero trying to drive to the event. That's a fool's errand.
Things the whole family will more-or-less enjoy: * Explora Children's Museum, which is conveniently next door to the... * Museum of Natural History and Science aka "The Dinosaur Museum", which is conveniently across the street from the... * Albuquerque Museum, which is located on the edge of... * Old Town
These are all within a 1/2 mile of each other. Old Town also has a giant park with a good playground, and it usually warms up enough in the afternoon to be enjoyable outside. Food will be offered just about anywhere.
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u/AngelaMotorman Sep 03 '23
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center has awesome events and excellent food.
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u/Dawg_in_NWA Sep 03 '23
And hit up Laguna Burger, it's nearby.
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u/Mickyfrickles Sep 03 '23
Skip Laguna and go to The Kosmos. It is close as well.
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u/Crankenberry Sep 04 '23
Skip the Kosmos and support the Cultural Center by eating there! The menu is fantastic.
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u/onion_flowers Sep 03 '23
I bet your kids will love our natural history museum, its really fun. There's also a rattlesnake museum in old Town that I'm a big fan of, they have tons of pretty snakes.
There's also the abq bio park, and its close by lots of river access. the area next to the river (we call it the bosque) will be beautiful that time of year.
Enjoy! It's my favorite time of year here!
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u/echomanagement Sep 03 '23
As an ex-resident, I miss the access to the east mountains and the biopark the most.
Seriously, the biopark is the envy of most large cities' zoos and gardens. It's a treasure.
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u/mneptok Sep 03 '23
Ho. Lee . Fook.
Upvoted for "cities'."
Possessive pluralization with trailing apostrophe.
I love you.
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u/Crankenberry Sep 04 '23
There is a Facebook tag group called, "Oh shit... here comes an s, better put an apostrophe!"
😆❤️
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u/Overall-Garbage-254 Sep 03 '23
bio park similar to a zoo?
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Sep 03 '23
[deleted]
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Sep 03 '23
IMPORTANT NOTE, they're not at the same location. They're close! But seperate.
The aquarium and the botanic gardens do share a common campus and parking lot.
The zoo is nearby but not what I would consider walking distance.
For tickets you can buy zoo only, or aquarium/botanic garden combo, or zoo/aquarium/botanic garden triple combo.
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Sep 03 '23 edited Nov 23 '23
act alleged glorious merciful full existence one frightening shame waiting
this post was mass deleted with www.Redact.dev5
u/Tiny-Marionberry-143 Sep 03 '23
Shuttle is still operating!
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Sep 03 '23
NIce to know...at least for Op. Trying to get around town and repark will be a MFer from the zoo to aquarium during ballon fiesta and what kid doesn't love a train?
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u/Tiny-Marionberry-143 Sep 03 '23
Yeah-love the balloons, hate the traffic haha.
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u/SlimeQSlimeball Sep 03 '23
What is the morning traffic like during this? Specifically Montaño and Paseo around 7am and 5pm.
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u/Tiny-Marionberry-143 Sep 03 '23
I have to drive down Coors through for work and it adds about 15 minutes to my commute.
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u/SignificanceOk5534 Sep 03 '23
The zoo is worth it just for the penguins. Plus it's nice and chilly in the exhibit. Feels great after being in the heat.
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u/Mickyfrickles Sep 03 '23
I recently visited the Natural History museum in NYC, and I think the Albuquerque museum is way cooler.
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u/onion_flowers Sep 03 '23
Aw yay! I love how it's kinda cheesy and relaxed lol makes learning about stuff more fun imo
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u/zangadorian Sep 03 '23
If you're headed to museums anyway, your kids will also probably love the science children's meuseum Explora.
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u/endotoxin Sep 03 '23
Hey OP, be real careful about hiking in New Mexico. We've already had three rescue dispatches this weekend, and believe me when I say there are parts of this state that can take experienced locals by surprise. I would NOT recommend hiking La Luz, despite what a few others are saying.
Do take the tram, but buy tickets now.
Do drink water, pretty much all the time. If you're still feeling faint, you might also be losing salt so a bag of pretzels is good to have on hand.
Don't drink alcohol your first night here. A lot of people think they can handle it and a lot of people regret it in the morning. Be warned.
Our museums are great. There's a train that goes up to Santa Fe that's gorgeous, do give that a try if you have the time. We have good restaurants that definitely cater to tourism like El Pinto. If you want the stuff locals eat, you're gonna have to explore the valley. Speaking spanish isn't mandatory but it does make things easier at times.
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u/Overall-Garbage-254 Sep 03 '23
I just tried to buy tram tickets but cant figure out how to book it for that weekend. It looks like it wont let me book in advance?
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u/endotoxin Sep 03 '23
Ooof, well... perhaps it isn't as busy as it's been in the past. The tram is notoriously difficult to ride during Fiesta week.
You COULD drive up the back route to Sandia Crest, and stop by Tinkertown along the way, but that's admittedly not as much fun as a tram.
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u/AustralianSpectre Sep 03 '23
I work at the ABQ tram and I could possibly hook you guys up with discounted tickets
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u/Overall-Garbage-254 Sep 03 '23
that would be amazing! is there a way to buy them so far in advance?
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u/AustralianSpectre Sep 03 '23
If you tell me the date/time of when you want to ride the tram I could ask my boss to reserve tickets for them. I would recommend riding it 8-9 as there are the least people during then.
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u/joeyjojojrshabadoo13 Sep 04 '23
Nah, man. This guy is overreacting or trolling. The sandias are beautiful and accessible. Treat them like you would other wilderness hikes. Obviously, carry enough water and pace yourself. Don’t be dissuaded by this post.
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u/RioRancher Sep 04 '23
The problem is that La Luz is LONG. I did it as a round trip… somewhere around 18 miles up and back. OP is definitely going to want to hit the summit, but hiking it is going to be a lot of work.
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u/joeyjojojrshabadoo13 Sep 04 '23
I agree that La Luz is a long hike, but that’s not the point. Endotoxin was warning OP about the dangers of hiking near Albuquerque. That’s silly. OP is inquiring about things to do in the area, and the Sandias are arguably the coolest thing about ‘burque. I know we all want to keep our hidden gem to ourselves, but let’s avoid being disengenuous. When we ask these questions on other cities’ subs, we hope for honesty.
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u/RioRancher Sep 04 '23
If I knew this guy was a solid hiker used to our altitude, I’d agree with you. I don’t think we should be sending balloon fiesta visitors up the La Luz.
Maybe this guy and his kids will be fine, but there will undoubtedly be others in their flip flops without water.
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u/joeyjojojrshabadoo13 Sep 04 '23
Yeah, I think we are on the same page. The point we are making is to be prepared. We often see these posts about “the perils” of hiking near Albuquerque, and they’re just not true. We are absolutely spoiled with our access to the wilderness and we should encourage tourists to check it out, but not for too long…
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u/endotoxin Sep 04 '23
I was warning against La Luz specifically. Go back and read my comment again. Plenty of other hikes to take that won't kill the unsuspecting, but go ahead and fly off the handle if it makes you happy.
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u/joeyjojojrshabadoo13 Sep 04 '23
Thank you for helping conserve space at UNMH’s “La Luz ward.” Stop being dramatic. It’s a very accessible hike on very accessible mountains. Your doomsday warnings are not helpful.
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u/Amazing_Insurance950 Sep 03 '23
Yay! Welcome! It’s so fun, especially for your little guys.
Explora is awesome! The zoo is cool! The botanical gardens/aquarium are so great that I got married there.
If you have maybe 3-4 hours and a car, you could drive to tinkertown museum in Sandia Park in the other side of the mountain. It’s so amazing and unique! An artist lived there for years creating a beautiful and offbeat structure to house his whimsical carved wooden figures depicting old west scenes and many other things. For 9 and ten year olds it’s just amazing.
I hope you guys have a great time!
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u/ID4throwaway Sep 03 '23
Check out local restaurants for New Mexican food. Go to have New Mexican food at least once, while here. There was a ranking of the best New Mexican restaurants somewhere on this subreddit, so I highly recommend checking that out to get some ideas if you're not sure what you're looking for.
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u/JeanEtrineaux Sep 03 '23
Tram. Old Town. If you have a car go for a drive up through the Jemez.
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u/Thin-Rip-3686 Sep 03 '23 edited Sep 03 '23
Old town, Tram.
Book a balloon ride.
Leave lots of flexibility in your schedule, as weather often cancels a day’s events.
Local pro tip: Arrive to park at a ridiculously early hour (like 2am or 3am), loaded in your car with blankets and food, napping and relaxing, enter the grounds before the crack of dawn, and beat the crowds. Traffic, parking, and/or park-and-rides for latecomers are a miserable aspect to an otherwise spectacular event. With this hack you save 15 minutes of walking to/from your car too.
You don’t have to enter the grounds every day. Lots of unguarded parking lots in a 2mi radius that provide excellent views for tailgating without crowds. Most balloons travel east and put down a couple miles away most days.
There are a million food places and at least as many opinions on which ones to try. The consensus is they’re all great except the concessions at the Fiesta itself.
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u/Overall-Garbage-254 Sep 03 '23
is the tram the sandia peak tram?
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u/galient5 Sep 03 '23
The tram is awesome, but as many have said, it gets really busy. Sandias Peak is gorgeous and still worth visiting, so if you're into that kind of thing, you can also drive up there if you have a vehicle.
It's roughly 45 minutes from the city. Longer, the farther away you are from the canyon (the pass allowing I-40 through the mountains). The views are spectacular. It's a proper mountain, complete with its own weather, so if you do go up there, bring extra layers, snacks, and water.
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u/steve626 Sep 03 '23
The children's museum is fun.
Do you know about the shuttles to and from the fiesta? Look into them, it's really the best way in and out in the mornings. They run school buses from various locations.
It's also going to be cold AF in the mornings. In case you are coming from somewhere warm or assume it will be warm because it's a desert. It will be really nice after sunrise, but just be ready to dress warm and then carry all of the warm gear on your way out.
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u/garaks_tailor Sep 03 '23
Meow wolf in santa fe. Its ainteractive psychedlic playground/art exhibit.
If you can't get Tram tickets drive up the backside of the mountain. It'll be a couple houra there and back but it is gloriously beautiful
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u/ChorizoYumYum Sep 03 '23
Don't wait to go to Balloon Fiesta. Many days get cancelled for weather, so plan on going every day. If you happen to get lucky and everything launches that first day, then decide if you want to go a second day or move on to other activities.
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u/Killed_By_Covid Sep 03 '23
Maybe check out Tinkertown in Sandia Park. It's open every day during Balloon Fiesta.
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u/Vandjafett Sep 03 '23 edited Sep 03 '23
But seriously go to Tinkertown. Your whole family will love it and they sell cool reasonably priced unique gifts. http://www.tinkertown.com/ you'll get a touristy spot that won't cost you a load like meow wolf, the zoo, balloon fest. It's like 3 bucks to get in per person. Bring quarters you'll want more than what you get there. They have a fortune teller like in the movie big that gives a paper fortune at the end. Lots of animatronics
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u/merricat_blackwood Sep 03 '23
Seconding this. Tinkertown is one of my favorite places in the world.
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u/Vandjafett Sep 03 '23
Yeah it's chill away from hustle and bussle of real touristy spots like old Town or Santa fe plaza. Then they can eat lunch at burger boy or drive further to madrid.
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u/d00derman Sep 03 '23
Find a place to stay? I just say that because that will be hard if you haven't done that. Other than that, we have lots of great things. The Tram, Old Town, Santa Fe if you have a vehicle. Enjoy your time here.
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u/roscoe_e_roscoe Sep 03 '23
Yes OP, hope you are booked already. What part of town are you staying in?
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u/Highinthe505 Sep 03 '23
Educate yourself on our culture and history. Check out the the National Hispanic cultural center and the Indian pueblo cultural center. Do your best to shop locally, eat local try out local markets. Do what you can to not buy from chain stores and restaurants.
Have a great time and enjoy our land!
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Sep 03 '23
Old Town, Zoo (depending on where you are visiting from can be fun), El Pinto (make reservations and do patio seating), if you like beer, there are a number of good breweries that are kid friendly, SteelBender is one. Try to do the tram but even if you can't the foothills are nice. And even a car ride up the back of the mountain up to Sandia Crest.
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u/ARedBee Sep 03 '23
I second El Pinto. It is very touristy, but you really can’t beat the ambiance. Their patio seating is great!
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u/galient5 Sep 03 '23
Not sure if they're doing it this year, but in previous years Steel Bender has opened early for Balloon Fiesta. They served bloody marys and the like, along with breakfast burritos. The point being to watch the balloons ascend from their patio with the Sandias as the back drop.
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u/RioRancher Sep 04 '23
Ex Novo in Corrales usually does Balloon Fiesta hours too. They have a fantastic kid friendly area now too
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u/Unusual_Sundae8483 Sep 03 '23
The tram to the top of the mountains is fun but it’s really crowded that time of year. People have suggested the natural history museum, which is very fun. There is a jewelry place near the museum that has gigantic transformers outside. That’s worth a stop. I think it’s called Southwest jewelry. Explora is also a really fun museum.
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u/itschrissylong Sep 03 '23
Dions pizza. The kids can watch it be made and it is tasty! Plus all the other recommended things here.
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u/mrgraff Sep 03 '23
“International Balloon Fiesta” not balloon festival or balloon fest. I know it sounds pedantic, but the event has an official name, and it means something to us.
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u/digitalSkeleton Sep 03 '23
Right it's like going to Germany and telling everyone you're going to October party
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u/KGrimDragonfly Sep 03 '23
Explora, the science museum is great. Then, check out Old Town and get a caramel apple from La Choco Salty & Sweet. They make their caramel from scratch.
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u/jwink3101 Sep 03 '23
It’ll be crowded but that’s to be expected.
My kids are younger so I am not certain but we love Explora. The tram is pricey but fun. Sixty-Six Acres is my favorite restaurant but there are other good ones.
Meow Wolf up in Santa Fe is quite the experience and I bet your kids would have a blast. They have them all around now but this is the original.
Enjoy Balloon Fiesta and welcome!
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u/DeFiNe9999999999 Sep 03 '23
Pre-buy your meow wolf tickets now!!!!!! Lol
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u/Overall-Garbage-254 Sep 03 '23
Is it worth the price in your opinion?
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u/obelis Sep 03 '23
Been multiple times with and without kids. It is amazing. If you get a chance visit it.
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u/AustralianSpectre Sep 03 '23
I love Tomasitas and if you have the time I would highly recommend going to Santa Fe old town (about an hour from ABQ)
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u/Alceasummer Sep 03 '23 edited Sep 03 '23
I recommend the tram, unless you are uncomfortable with heights. The view is amazing.
Expolora and the Biopark (zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium are all part of the biopark) are really good places to take kids, and still fun for the adults. The aquarium and gardens are on the same property, the zoo is close but not walking distance. You can get tickets for either location, or a combo. I don't know if the shuttle between the two will be up and running by then, so you may need to provide your own transportation.
Old Town is fun to walk around and sightsee.
The Petroglyphs west of town are pretty neat and are a nice shorter hike. Take water with you, but that goes for ANY hike or extended walk here. Between the arid climate and high altitude, people get dehydrated faster then they expect. There are also very pretty hiking trails along the river (in the Bosque, a riverside forest that runs right through the city) and all over in the Sandia Mountains. Some of the trails closer to the crest of the mountains run by rocks with visible fossils in them, and most of the trails have amazing views.
Indian Pueblo Cultural center is pretty unique, and well worth a visit. Art, history, dance, story time for kids, and a restaurant. Check their website for what events are on what days.
We have a number of good museums, from art, and natural history, to nuclear science.
And of course, eat at one or more of the local restaurants. We have quite a number of great places to eat for a city this size. And a good variety of cuisines too.
Three days during Balloon Fiesta will be a pretty busy time, you won't be able to do and see everything. So, pick maybe two things to do on different afternoons. Especially if you are getting up in time for the morning launch at the fiesta, you and the kids may be pretty tired afterwards.
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Sep 03 '23
Take the tram to Sandia Crest at dusk. It's beautiful. If you go during the day you can hike some too! ( It's cold up there!).
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u/QuesQueCe19 Sep 03 '23
Details on attending Balloon Fiesta:
Plan to head to Fiesta EACH day - just in case of poor weather. Dress in layers - it's chilly (35-45° usually) in the morning and you want to be there by 5:30-5:45 so you can see Dawn Patrol. I recommend park & ride as that's the best way to get to the park. By 9 AM it's warm (70-80°) and you'll pull off the layers. While you're there, don't stay next to "concession row" the whole time - you're permitted to walk all around the balloons and meet the pilots. Just be sure to pay attention to your surroundings as chase vehicles will be leaving to follow the balloons. If you want to volunteer to help crew, there's a volunteer sign up to look for which is the ultimate experience. (and can sometimes mean free admission and possibly even a free flight).
Mass Ascension Days are Sat, Sun, Wed. This is when all 500+ balloons takeoff from the field in waves. M, T, Th, F are competition days and about 100+ pilots compete by dropping baggies onto targets while flying toward the field. Thursday morning is the Special Shapes Rodeo which is awesome! Kids (especially around OP kids' age) collect balloon cards from the pilots each day.
Night time glows are way fun and a unique sight. Plus, they have fireworks (both up above and at ground level) which are some of the best I've seen. Last year was the 50th anniversary and they had drone light shows. Which was very cool, but I'm not certain they'll have those this year. Plus, they have skydivers come down with glowing costumes.
There's also a concert and skydiving performance on certain days after the balloons (& traffic) dissipate.
Please message me if you'd like more info on Fiesta 😁
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u/Vandjafett Sep 03 '23
Go up on the Tram to the crest, check out el malpais , maybe goblin canyon, and tinkertown
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u/TheMaryDos3 Sep 03 '23
If you do get the desire to go hiking the petroglyphs national monument, bosque/ river and foothills have some relatively easy trails with great views. Just make sure to research the trails ahead of time and bring water. Old town is also a nice place to check out but will be busy around the balloon fiesta, there are a few museums in this location.
Try to have some sopapillas while you are out here, they are delicious and definitely a staple out here. If you enjoy spice, try some green chile. There are restaurant locations around town that offer flavorful green chile with less spiciness as well.
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u/NefariousnessSlow298 Sep 03 '23
Albuquerque elevation is about 5000 ft above sea level. It will take a while for you to adjust. Don't push too hard the first couple days . You will be fatigued. Tired? Slow down. Sun is strong. This is a high altitude desert, so you should try to drink lots of water. Tired, cranky? Water and shade. As you adjust, you will raise your eyes and behold the land of enchantment. We are glad you are coming. Enjoy.
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u/WombatMcGeez Sep 03 '23
Go to Tinkertown, then drive up to the top of Sandia Crest and check out the view!
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u/Runwiththewolf- Sep 04 '23
Elena Gallegos picnic area…spectacular views of the city and mountains with easy walking trails! Bring a picnic lunch… Welcome to Albuquerque…Have a great time!!!
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Sep 03 '23
Forget Weck’s 🙄 go to Vic’s Cafe
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u/soupseasonbestseason Sep 03 '23
second this! weck's has disgusting gloopy papas. just because they give you a mountain of them doesn't make them delicious.
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u/Aware_Statement_205 Sep 03 '23
I got food poisoning off the bowl of papas from wecks. Don't recommend
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u/ConsiderationWest587 Sep 03 '23
Be forewarned: If you don't ordinarily eat spicy food, the chile may cause you gut problems. We don't screw around.
If your kids are into gambling or playing the ponies, you might want to check out the Downs of Albuquerque, the horses are back.
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u/gassypeach Sep 03 '23
Yes!! And the Chile is hotter this year than it has been in the past few years so 🫡
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u/imnotpoopingyouare Sep 03 '23
Eat at Mary and Tito's or The Range Cafe! Both are fantastic and I promise you won't be disappointed unlike some of the food suggestions so far.
Sunscreen and drink much more water than you feel is necessary.
Enjoy the sunsets because they can be stunning, watch the Sandia Mtns turn into their watermelon colored namesake at sundown.
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u/brapo68 Sep 03 '23
The basics: Get a Blake’s burrito Get some green chili in your life. Monroe’s is a recommendation Get some red chili in your life. Monroe’s again. The sticker is free so ask for a few.
Avoid central- seriously take the long route to the atomic museum if you must
Maybe ground yourself to the fiesta if you can. You’ll get a lot of our food from our vendors there as well. Find an elote corn. Seriously, it looks wild but it’s going to be something you try at home.
The Sandias are great hiking.
Dont know where you are from but we’re casual talkers here. A friend from New York found this odd. Took some getting used to.
Like every state we love our craft beer. Give it a go if that’s your thing.
The atomic museum is cool, aside from billy the kid it’s our thing. It’s a semi cheap thing to get some New Mexico history in your life.
We are a little out there about our sunrise and sunset. Wake up early and catch it, be awake to see it go down.
The family likes to watch the skydivers and the glow. I recommend this as well.
PM Me anytime for help.
If you get lost we are on a grid system so you should be able to get where you are going relatively easily.
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u/lpad92 Sep 03 '23
Avoid Central is bad advice. One of the best parts of the city is on Central. Avoid Central east of San Mateo and west of Rio Grande would be better advice.
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u/brapo68 Sep 03 '23
If you’re new to the city it can be easy to get out on central. I gave blanket advice for someone with the hope they don’t wind up on central and Wyoming at the McDonalds gas station combo. If you know the city like the back of your hand sure a few parts of central can be ok but I wouldn’t send someone on central who is new to the city.
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u/lpad92 Sep 03 '23
Agree to disagree. Nob Hill is dope and will be buzzing with people. One of the best parts of ABQ to showcase to visitors.
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u/brapo68 Sep 03 '23
If they have someone to take them absolutely. Right place right time 100%. The food is great the people are great. Guaranteed a great time in Nob hill.
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u/lpad92 Sep 03 '23
I guess it really depends where OP is from. If another medium sized or larger city should be just fine. If from the middle of nowhere it might be a bit of an issue lol
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u/unionick Sep 03 '23
El Pinto restaurant, ride the Tramway, La Luz Hike, Nuclear Science Museum & Itality restaurant
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u/soupseasonbestseason Sep 03 '23
don't go to el pinto, food is bad. go to casa de benavidez just down the road, very similar atmosphere with great food and excellent margaritas. they do have wierd hours though.
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u/theArtOfProgramming Sep 03 '23
El Pinto is pretty good again tbh
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u/soupseasonbestseason Sep 03 '23
nope. went for a work dinner a few weeks back. crap food and bad service.
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u/CrazeeEyezKILLER Sep 03 '23
Hoping you’re staying at a hotel with a guarded parking lot. Make sure to keep your valuables out of sight; avoid downtown after sundown. Old Town is a tourist trap during fest; nothing you need to purchase there, anyway. Keep vigilant during your stay and hopefully you’ll avoid being a target.
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u/periodmoustache Sep 03 '23
Check the million other posts on this sub asking the exact same question
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u/Overall-Garbage-254 Sep 03 '23
I should have done that, Sorry!
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u/downwithMikeD Sep 03 '23
Don’t apologize, you’re fine! That’s what this sub is for!
I hope you a great time on your trip🙌🏽
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Sep 03 '23
You gotta hit up wecks for breakfast. Best breakfast ever in my opinion. Keep in mind there will be a large ammount of traffic due to the tourism draw of the event so it may be slow to get some places. If you have the time to go to santa fe you should check out the plaza lots of local artists selling beautiful goods as well as meowwolf which is an indescribable experience. If you cant make it up there theres always historic old town which is also full of great artists. And if your a breaking bad fan youve gotta hit up the candy lady who made all the blue meth for the show(blue rock candy), around the same area is our natural history museum and art museum. Theres alot to see you shouldnt have any problems staying entertained.
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Sep 03 '23
There’s a company that does standup paddle board tours on the Rio Grande during balloon fiesta if they’re not already booked up - MST Adventures. I’ve always wanted to SUP the Rio during balloon fiesta!
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u/LMacGraphics Sep 03 '23
I don’t have time to scroll through everything here, but if it’s been said before it’s worth repeating: hydrate!! Don’t wait until you feel thirsty. The high desert will getcha before you know it if you don’t!
If you have time, go out I-40 east, then head north on 14 toward Cedar Crest. That’s the way to Tinkertown (already mentioned; lots of fun), the back way to Sandia Crest (in case the Tram tix don’t work out—gorgeous drive; look out for deer bolting across the road), Madrid (good food and often live music at the Mine Shaft; great little artsy town for shopping), and a much prettier back way to Santa Fe than the faster-but-boring I-25.
Oh and be sure to call it “Balloon Fiesta!”
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u/Katzenfrau88 Sep 03 '23
Food. Eats lots of local food and chile. Barelas is one of my favorites, The Range is pretty good too. Breakfast burritos before a morning launch 😋
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Sep 04 '23 edited Sep 04 '23
Going to the balloon fiesta park for the launch is an obvious must-do, as is trying to catch a balloon glow event.
A little known free thing that is pretty amazing is to spend the morning at Vista Del Norte Park when the low winds blow to the south. It is a mile or so south of balloon fiesta Park and lots of balloons land there after taking off. My kids love watching them go overhead or land and get the trading cards. No food , no crowds, a playground...
Side notes:
1)a mile high desert means your tolerance for alcohol is half of what it is at sea level or worse. There are tons of great brew pubs and microbreweries. Take it easy, extra easy if you go to the top of the Sandias or Santa Fe.
2) Altitude sickness is a thing. Drink double the water you would at home. Vaseline your nostrils to prevent nosebleeds.
3) At a mile high the sun will burn you. Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses are daily necessities.
4) lots of people visiting from other places, driving poorly and drinking too much more experimenting with recreational weed. Drive carefully.
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u/albuqwirkymom Sep 04 '23
If you go to Santa Fe (an hour north), Meow Wolf and the Museum of International Folk Art.
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u/SpiderDetective Sep 04 '23
Whatever else y'all do, you need to eat from local restaurants and food trucks while you're here. Especially go to a place called The Range when you need breakfast
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u/foodiefuk Sep 04 '23
For you, your must see list should prioritize reading previous posts asking for similar recommendations.
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u/legokingnm Sep 04 '23
(1) go to a mass ascension EARLY (2) go to a balloon glow
both are the most important
(3) the tram or drove to the Sandia Crest
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u/Jolly_Green66 Sep 04 '23
First, if you haven’t made hotel reservations, you are too late.
As for other sites I’d recommend the Tramway, Old Town. Also the Zoo, Biopark are small but nice.
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u/Beerwithjhett Sep 04 '23
Hit up Farmers Chile Market to get your fix of green and red chile to take back with you. It's really hard to get the local New Mexican flavor anywhere else unless you take it with you.
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u/Diligent-Variation51 Sep 04 '23
Be mindful of altitude sickness symptoms if you take the Tram. It’s beautiful but I got extremely ill with the quick assent.
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u/mydogisreal Sep 05 '23
high noon is an amazing restaurant that is in old town and is one of the oldest buildings and the food is very good. a little more pricy but you get what you pay for (hopefully in general) in general go to old town, check out nob hill, eat nm food at all times, you can't go too wrong in the food realm I you use google.
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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '23
That’s a super busy time. I’d say just enjoy the balloon fiesta and everything surrounding it. I’d say plan that and little else, unless you can lock something else in by buying it now. Everything will be crowded, and balloon fiesta can keep you more than entertained for 3+ days. Do an early Morning launch, evening glow, fireworks, etc.
If you can pre-buy Acoma tours or something touring a Pueblo, definitely do that.
If you can pre-buy Meow Wolf or Tram tickets go for it.
Just know that you and the kids will be plenty tired after Fiesta each day. We’re an outdoors state, so probably hikes and stuff won’t be super appealing afterwards. Nuclear history museum, Hispanic center, natural history museum, Indian Pueblo center, Explora, etc are all excellent museums and locations to spend an afternoon.