New Mexico’s largest city, Albuquerque is located in the high desert region. The city was founded in the 1700s on the banks of the Rio Grande, since then it has become a crucial part of what people think of when they think New Mexico. With a modern downtown vibe and an historic Old Town scene, the city really does represent the best of both worlds for visitors looking to travel back in time and also enjoy contemporary amenities. For those who want to spend time outdoors, in proximity to the city you will find stunning canyons, mountain side hiking trails, the Cibola National Forest as well as the popular beaches of the Rio Grande. And for the art and culture enthusiasts, Albuquerque offers just about every museum you could want to visit from a turquoise museum, to the art and history museum, to even an American rattlesnake museum.
This really is the quintessential New Mexico experience. Composed of narrow streets featuring adobe houses, quaint shops and authentic southwestern eateries, Old Town looks very much as it did in its earliest days. Visitors here truly are get transported back to the past.
This is one of North America’s largest collection of Petroglyph Art. Between 400-700 years ago, Native American and Spanish settlers carved symbols and designs into the rock structures found in this geographic region. There are several hiking trails throughout the park’s canyons that take you to some of the most interesting pieces of art you will find.
From specialty coffee shops that roast their own beans on site, to farm-to-table gourmet fare, Albuquerque is definitely a food lovers town. Of course, southwest and Mexican cuisine are huge within the city limits, but you can pretty much find any type of meal for which you might be in the mood.
UNM makes this city a definite college town. It is the largest institution in the state and features 16 NCAA teams. The Lobo football team has been to 6 bowl games since 1997, most recently they won the New Mexico Bowl in 2016.
Skiers enjoy visiting in the winter for the nearby Sandia Mountains. The city is pretty cool, with high temps only the mid-40s.
May is sunny with highs around 80 degrees. It is a good time to be in Albuquerque.
Summers are hot, with temps regularly in the low 90s. July and August are the rainiest months of the year, but it is still very sunny.
Fall is consistently ranked as the best time of year to visit Albuquerque. The weather is warm and the season is packed with festivals.