Prior to my arrival in Albuquerque, I didn’t know what to expect. The only knowledge I had around this mountain city was that it was the setting of Breaking Bad (which if you’ve seen Breaking Bad, you’ll know what I mean). However, what I did soon experience was a precious and gorgeous hidden gem tucked away in the mountains that was rich in so much culture, history, and heart.

2023 International Balloon Fiesta

The main purpose of my visit was to experience what Albuquerque was mainly known for: their International Balloon Fiesta (with one of my closest friends who was doing her PGY2 at UNM at the time) where approximately 550 hot air balloons mass ascend during sunrise. The annual fiesta spans across the first two weeks of October every year. Now, coming from Boston, I had the typical Bostonian mentality of “Oh, how cold can it really be?” It was COLD – I’m talking the lows dropping to low 40’s. With that being said, the weather was so incredibly beautiful during the day – just be prepared to layer up so you can shed down your layers throughout the day. I’ll touch on that more later.

The first thing I will say about the balloon fiesta was it was absolutely unreal. Pictures and words don’t do the magnitude of it justice, you have to be standing there watching all the array of colors and shapes moving over you. The Fiesta takes place everyday for two weeks – we opted in for the second Saturday. Sunrise that day was at 7:12 AM MDT, so we wasted no time and made a plan to get there around 6-6:15 AM in order to catch the Dawn Patrol show at 6, where the first hot air balloons ascend to test the winds and make sure it is safe for mass ascension. Keep in mind, over 800,000 people from all over come to Albuquerque to be a part of this magical experience, whether it's going up in one or watching from the ground. So you can imagine how horrible the traffic was during this time. The best option is to bike (which is what we did) if you can or park a little further away and walk. As we got closer to the Balloon Fiesta, we were able to catch the last part of the drone show from a distance and make it just in time for the Dawn Patrol show. Because Dawn Patrol was before sunrise, it was still pretty dark which made watching these hot air balloons unlike anything I have ever seen before. The gas flames keeping the balloons afloat illuminated the sky and it was just a stunning sight.

We found a good spot to set up our blankets about 30 minutes before mass ascension was about to begin. The first balloon launch was aligned almost perfectly with the sunrise, around 7:10 AM, with the other hot air balloons staggering behind. The sight was unbelievable. There were hot air balloons everywhere of different shapes, sizes, and colors! What’s unique about Albuquerque is the mountains form in such a way that cause the winds to create a box, allowing the balloons to land at almost the same area from where they took off. Because of this phenomenon, we were able to watch the balloons take off and come back around to the same spot when it was time for them to land. The Fiesta does have other events and attractions going on while these balloons are in the air such as the chainsaw carving exhibition and different tents to get food and shop around but honestly, we were just having so much watching all of these balloons of all different designs floating in the air. There were some that looked like they were spiraling in the sky (they weren’t, it was just how the design was), one that had different aquatic animals painted on, a Day of the Dead one, one shaped like an elephant, and so many more. And because we went on the day when the eclipse was happening, we even had a surprise eclipse showing! All the balloons came down, we put our glasses on and between exactly 10:30 and 10:34 AM, we watched the moon cover the sun and witnessed the “Ring of Fire”. By far probably one of the most magical days I have ever had. And if you’re wondering: yes, we biked straight home after the eclipse and took a long nap.

Sandia Mountains

Albuquerque is in a high desert, with an elevation of up 10,800 feet. Circling back to my earlier statement on the weather, don’t be fooled: it gets COLD. Now, I haven’t visited New Mexico in the summer so I can only imagine the heat. But what I do know is that in the month of October, the mornings and nights teetered around high 30’s and low 40’s while it hovered around high 60’s and low 70’s during the day, which means layer up.

The city is home to the Sandia Mountain Range. No matter where you are in the city, you can always see the mountains in the distance and with the mountains always in clear view, the sunsets are unbelievable. Every evening, as the sun starts to set, these mountains turn a beautifully unique red/purple-ish color – a “watermelon red” if you will which truly make the sunsets here no joke. We just missed the sunset as we boarded the tram but going up it at night was an experience I would never trade for nor ever forget. The Sandia Peak Tram is the longest aerial tram in the U.S. rising a total of 3,819 feet as it climbs up to the upper terminal – the lower terminal where you board starts at an elevation 6,559 feet, raising you to 10,378 feet as you approach the upper terminal. Keep in mind that you’re climbing up a pretty high altitude so be prepared with your parka, gloves, hats, etc. The top is freezing and the winds are high but it is 100% worth it. You can see how beautiful this hidden gem of a city is illuminated at night from the top. Perched up at the upper terminal is Ten3, a beautiful upscale restaurant. They were closed for seating when we made it up but if you have the chance to eat here, definitely take up the opportunity as the views are wonderful. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more casual, Bosque Brewery is about an 8 minute drive from the tram and has some great eats – don’t sleep on their jackfruit tacos!

Old Town

There is so much Native American history in this part of the country and New Mexico is no different. With numerous reservations across the state, there are lots of Native American influence which is truly emphasized in Old Town. Old Town is a neighborhood in Albuquerque filled with shops, restaurants, and bars. You can come here to do some shopping, grab lunch, or just drinks – whatever the vibes are for that day. Most of the gift shops have similar spices and souvenirs; but each store offers something unique. And there are chiles galore! Locals take their chiles SERIOUSLY here and it is just so cool to see. There is a tea store called New Mexico Tea Company that had a green chile tea (which tasted phenomenal and reminded me exactly of Fall), stores filled with green chile spices or spice mixtures containing spice mixtures, containers for a green chile chicken soup base, and more.

Other shops include Lapis Room/Brown Bear Gallery, an art gallery showcasing local artists jewelry, paintings, etc., the Breaking Bad store for all the Breaking Bad fans, Old Town Hat Shop, numerous gift shops and more. Old Town is also home to some of the oldest historical landmarks in Albuquerque, the most famous being San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church (known as the “spiritual heart of Albuquerque), one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city dating back to the Spanish colonial period.

Nob Hill

Moving east in the city brings us to Nob Hill, a trendier neighborhood in Albuquerque with more unique shops and restaurants. We started our day at Flying Star Café, a delectable brunch place with an inviting atmosphere. Because the green chile vs. red chile debate is so controversial here in Albuquerque, we had to test out the waters for ourselves. We ended up ordering the breakfast burrito half smothered in green chile sauce and half smothered in red chile sauce. Our verdict: green chiles house more flavor, but red chiles house more spice so a mix of the two was just chef’s kiss. Along with the burrito, we ordered the Huevos Rancheros which was equally just as delicious.

We decided to walk around Nob Hill after finishing up brunch and I am so glad we did. It was cool to see the New Mexico United team store (New Mexico’s soccer team) and check out the Organic Bookstore and The Herb Store right around the corner.

There is so much more to my visit in Albuquerque that made this trip so special. This place truly was a hidden gem with some of the friendliest and most hospitable people I have ever met. If Albuquerque isn’t on your radar or on your list of places to visit, definitely put it on there because there is more to this historical mountain city than meets the eye. I’ll definitely be back.