Albuquerque, NM

Much More Than Just Coyotes and Cactus

When one considers the quintessential vacation to the Desert Southwest of the U.S., they often consider New Mexico and its largest city, Albuquerque. Straddling the Rio Grande River with the Sandia Mountains as a backdrop, Albuquerque is where the Chihuahuan Desert and Colorado Plateau meet. This gives Albuquerque’s landscape a beautiful mix of desert flora and fauna combined with canyons, cliffs and mountains in bright reds and oranges. Because of its location, there are four distinct seasons with hot summers, relatively mild winters and over 275 days of sunshine per year. Because Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico, it serves as the region’s cultural and economic hub, which makes it a great place to visit. Visitors will enjoy the relaxed nature of the town where casual dress is considered acceptable in almost every situation.

With such a temperate climate and beautiful landscape, it’s no wonder that there is so much to do outdoors. One of the biggest and most impressive events in town is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Each year during October, hot air balloonists from around the world all meet and launch their balloons, filling the sky with an amazing array of shapes and colors. When you are ready for some shopping, Old Town Albuquerque has an excellent selection of art galleries, antiques, jewelry and more, all in the style and feel of New Mexico. Downtown is where all the restaurants and bars are located and where you can try the famous green chili, which is New Mexico’s culinary star. And to round out your visit, choose from some great, 5-star hotels in Albuquerque including the Hotel Andaluz that combines a historical building with contemporary style and impeccable service. Owing to the great weather, friendly people and beautiful landscape, Albuquerque is the essence of the southwest and a perfect place for you to visit.