Visit to Albuquerque, NM

The flight here was one of the worst flights we’ve taken, purely from the perspective of being violently bounced up and down when we thought we were near to landing. We were on a United Air Lines flight to Albuquerque from Richmond via Houston, where we had to switch to United Express utilizing an Embraer 175LR aircraft. The down-drafts (and up-drafts) that we flew through would bounce the airplane so violently that we thought we were hearing the rivets creak & groan!

We found out later that the primary reason is because Albuquerque lies just south of the Sandia Mountains - similar to Denver, it can get windy here as the wind crests the mountains and then flows down to the valley floor - and the wind when we landed was very strong! We descended bumpily to about 800 feet and then the wind reversed and was coming from behind at about 30 knots which caused the pilot to abort the landing. The landing speed is very important to avoid disaster, and the additional 30 knots of tail-wind speed was over the landing speed limit for that aircraft.

So the pilot initiated a "go-around" and we went up and to the west of Albuquerque and came back to land the plane from that direction. He was able to land it the second time, thank goodness, but it was the bumpiest flight we’ve ever had. It took a few hours for my stomach to settle back down.

The Sandia Peak Tramway whisks you up from the tram base station in just 15 minutes. As the tram glides along the mountainside, desert landscapes transform into a dramatic panorama. Below, the city shrinks, while the Sandia Mountains unfurl their rugged beauty. Reaching the 10,378-foot peak, a breathtaking vista unfolds. Albuquerque stretches out forever, and on a clear day, you can see for 11,000 square miles. Crisp mountain air invigorates, and the city's twinkling lights paint a magical scene at dusk.

We knew that it was going to be colder at the top of the peak (the temperatures at the top of the mountain are typically 20-30 degrees cooler than in the city below), but we didn't anticipate how difficult the wind chill was going to be - the wind was gusting up to 20 mph and the sweaters we were wearing were not up to the task. The air temperature was mid 30s farenheit, but the wind chill "perceived temp" was in the high 20s.

Then we discovered that the restaurant (TEN3) wasn't able to accommodate us for lunch (the restaurant was full) and then when we looked for a place to get out of the wind to warm up - the only available location was in the Tram waiting area. This combination of factors made us decided to ride the tram back to the valley below and find a restaurant there.

The sun warms your back as you enter Petroglyph National Monument. The visitor center unlocks the past, showcasing ancient tools and pottery. Following the ranger's advice, you pick a trail. Hiking through volcanic rock canyons, you spot the first petroglyph - a faded spiral. Further along, human figures and geometric designs emerge, etched by Pueblo people centuries ago. Questions dance in your mind: What stories do these symbols hold? The desert whispers secrets on the wind. You leave with a profound connection to the past, humbled by the timeworn messages etched in stone.

The Petroglyph National Monument is spread out across several different locations, we went to the Boca Negra Canyon location and it is adjacent to a suburban area full of houses and various commercial entities. The dichotomy between walking up the trail to where the petroglyphs reside and being immediately next to a housing area is unique.

Old Town Albuquerque; Sun-baked adobe buildings line narrow streets, their history palpable. The scent of roasting chiles mingles with vibrant music spilling from open cafes. We browsed artisan shops overflowing with colorful southwestern crafts – intricate jewelry, hand-woven rugs, and gleaming pottery. At the heart of it all lies Old Town Plaza, a charming square anchored by the San Felipe de Neri Church, its weathered facade a testament to the town's deep roots.

We explored our way around the plaza, went into several shops and gradully realized that lunch time was beckoning, so we had lunch at Little Anita's New Mexican Foods - food was good, service was very good and the price was low. We would easily recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a good lunch.

• Albuquerque Wikipedia Article
• Get Your Guide Albuquerque Guided Family Walking Tour
• Albuquerque Google Images Set
• Google Reviews for Albuquerque
• Visit Albuquerque on the "Visit Albuquerque" Website
• Google Search Results list for "restaurants in Albuquerque"
• Google Search Results list for "accommodations in Albuquerque"
• Our Youtube Channel

In the trip menu list below, a "dark filled circle" represents a destination where we stayed, and the "dark filled arrow" items below that circle location, represent the destinations we visited while in that city or location.

Click any link below to go directly to that page;

 Trip Overview Page

 Albuquerque, NM

• Sandia Peak Tramway
• Petroglyph National Monument
• Old-Town Albuquerque
• National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

 Alamogordo, NM

• McGinn's PistachioLand Farm
• White Sands National Park

 Carlsbad, NM

• Tunnel Vista Observation Site
• Trestle Depot Recreation Area
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park

 Roswell, NM

• International UFO Museum

 Santa Fe, NM

• Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, NM
• Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, NM
• Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort, NM
• Bradbury Science Museum - Los Alamos, NM
• Los Alamos, NM
• Bandelier National Monument, NM
• Nambé Falls, NM
• Meow Wolf, NM

 Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM

 Bisti Badlands, NM

 Monument Valley

 Grand Canyon, AZ

• Planning Your Grand Canyon Visit
• Grand Canyon South Rim Top Sites and Itineraries
• Grand Canyon El Tovar Hotel

 Sedona, AZ