Albuquerque Travel Tips

[Thomas Flannigan]

It seems our national team will play a friendly against Honduras in Albuquerque on Saturday, March 19, 2005 at 2:00 PM local time. Albuquerque is a very pleasant city and worth a visit at any time of year.
I was there in 1996 and took a cab from the airport (it was late) and the airport bus back to the airport on a Saturday afternoon. The bus runs infrequently and goes all over the place before getting to the airport. You get to see the University of New Mexico campus on the way but it takes more than 1 hour from Route 66, which runs right through the downtown area.
There is good youth hostel in Albuquerque, the Route 66 Youth Hostel. When I walked in there was a guy with a pony tail playing the guitar at the front desk. He put down his guitar to book me in. Clean and friendly.
http://www.hostelz.com/display.php/21433+Route+66+International+Hostel

Right next door there is a budget motel that cost about 27 dollars a night at the time.

[GreatZar]

I'm trying to organize a Sammers/Yanks day road trip (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169029) from Denver to Albuquerque. Is there a net designated for USA support to purchase tickets (or a good section of the stadium for such)?

[Hosscat]

I'm not counting on Denver getting any of the WCQ's, so Denver needs to represent at this game down in Albuquerque. I hear mixed things about Albq (some say it's a shitehole, others say it's a nice town), but hey, it's US Nat game within driving distance of Denver.

[Rob Base]

I live in the 'Burque near the University and will be at the match. I'm excited to have the national team here, especially considering that I was hoping for a friendly/qualifier in reasonable travel distance (Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, etc...). If anyone has specific requests about the city, I'll help as I can. Albuquerque isn't one of the great American cities. What it is is a great centrally located place for hitting the outdoors. The weather's normally great, and you can live where it rarely rains or snows, then get up and drive to a variety of ski areas, mountains from 10K to 13K feet, and classic high desert Indian country. There are some great restaurants and a lot of hotels.

The University Stadium holds around 37K, but it seemed much more intimate when I was there for a US Women's match last year. It should be a good venue for the men.

I'm hoping for a good turnout for the match. My friend is the head coach for the UNM men (along with assistant coach and former MLSer Jamie Clark). He is looking into the Nats training schedule ahead of the match. I'll pass along any details I get.

Rob

[Thomas Flannigan]

Albuquerque is more like a big village than a city, but it is a very pleasant village. The Old Town has, predictably in American cities, many bars, cafes and places to shop.

[GreatZar]

Any of you locals gonna host a tailgate that a bus-load of fools could join? If so, where/when...:D

[Jeff]

Zar, I'm interested in heading down, but need to stay at a hostel or somewhere dirt dirt cheap. My first thought is take Friday off from work, drive down there, hit Santa Fe on the way, stay in NM through Sunday then drive home.

[sanariot]

Albuquerque is more like a big village than a city, but it is a very pleasant village. The Old Town has, predictably in American cities, many bars, cafes and places to shop.

Albuquerque has excellent food too.

I lived there for two years. I'm considering making this trip. My mom still lives there, so I've got somewhere to stay. Hmmm....

[RobtheAggie]

If you plan on flying, the Airport is only about 2 miles to the stadium. The stadium is in the SE part of the city, NOT near UNM campus. That area is full of hotels and the like. If you have some cash to spend, I suggest a trip the Sandia Tram. Very impressive.

Also bring your sunglasses. It is usually very sunny in NM.

[wcgcapone]

Has there been a section designated "Sam's Army" or supporters or whatever you want to call it?

[MetroShawn5]

I live 3 hours away from Albuquerque and I attended the Women's game last May and all I can tell you is DO NOT PARK IN THE STADIUM LOT!!!!! I was stuck in the parking lot for over two hours after the game with a very pregnant wife in 95 degree weather. Yikes! If anyone has any parking advice, please post it.

[DCUPopeAndLillyFan]

Any of you locals gonna host a tailgate that a bus-load of fools could join? If so, where/when...:D

I'm interested. I live in Ft Collins now. I was in ABQ for a wedding last fall and my sister lived there for a bit, so I'll see what ideas I can get for non-game activity.

For those inclined, there are a couple of casinos in hailing range (Sandia to the north, Route 66 to the west), both about 15 or so miles out of town.

As for parking advice, just plan to tailgate for a couple of hours after the match :D

[GreatZar]

Well, I'm bank-rolling the charter and booking the bus. If you want to join us from either Denver, Colorado Springs, or Pueblo visit the Rapids (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169029) thread for details/instructions. Need at least 20 seats booked by March 5!

[DCUPopeAndLillyFan]

I'm figuring on renting a car to go down and staying Saturday night, especially if I can get anyone to join me.

[cnaw]

For those inclined, there are a couple of casinos in hailing range (Sandia to the north, Route 66 to the west), both about 15 or so miles out of town.


You forgot about Isleta and the Downs @ Albuquerque. ;-)

[Thomas Flannigan]

Albuquerque is a nice city. It is really different from your typical American big city. The pace is a lot slower.
There are many nice bars. I can't remember the name of one but it was in between the Route 66 Youth Hostel and downtown. The bar had a lot of old southwestern stuff but it was also kind of upscale. Route 66 runs right through the town and the bar was on it.
There are also bars in the old town, as you might imagine. Albuquerque has a big Indian population and an even larger Mexican population. I met some of the locals at the bus stop. People were nice.
There are many interesting side trips.

1. Santa Fe: One of the most unusual towns in the US. Home to the famous summer opera festival but it is interesting at any time. Taos is even more unique; the old Native American buildings are in evidence.
2. Carlsbad Caverns: It is a long drive but it is supposed to be one of the greatest cave systems in the world and is a UNESCO site, one of only about 14 in the US. Mexico is right there and the border is open, but it opens into a rather barren part of Mexico.
3. Roswell: Where Some Strange Thing crashed in 1947. Good for a few laughs but a long way to go. Alamagordo also has a bit to see concerning the atomic test in 1945.

[RobtheAggie]

Albuquerque is a nice city. It is really different from your typical American big city. The pace is a lot slower.

I moved from New York to NM and was amazed at the pace of life. I got annoyed at the beginning, then grew to love it. Sample any of the mexican food, it is great. Just a quick warning, when ordering food, you will be asked a question "Red or Green?" This is in now way related to the USMNT. It pertains to the color of chili that you want. Green is usually milder and has a great taste. Red is hotter. If you are not used to hot chili stay away from the red.

[Brushes Sand]

Roswell and Carlsbad are to be combined if you really have to get
out that way. However they are both overrated in my book, and
in any event will take 2 full days to get to, rush through, and then
get back to ABQ. The actual crash site of whatever crashed in '47
is also 75 miles northwest of Roswell, and is impossible to locate
without expert help. You can, however, find the ruins of the shack
where Mac Brazel stored overnight whatever it was that he stored
overnight, and it's down 12.5 miles of dirt road south of Route 247
heading southeast from Corona. ALL crash site visit advertisements
and businesses are scams.

Alamogordo Space Hall of Fame is top notch, and for space junkies,
a Pilgrimage Location. However, a visit there is only efficient when
combined with Ruidoso, Carlsbad, or when heading to the Big Bend.
An Alamogordo trip by itself also makes sense on the first Saturday
in April and October, when they open up The Range so you can
get to the Trinity Site, Trinitite not included :) .....

For those that are heading in for the game, if you arrive the night
before, spend Saturday morning at Acoma. It's 45 minutes west on
I-40 (@ 85mph), and is very much worth the trip. LEAVE EARLY.
Get there at 9am. Do the first tour they offer. Then head back
to UNM. Study your approach to UNM carefully. Silver, Lead, etc.

If you have time on Sunday, do the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Best single repository of Southwest Artifacts not in private collections
in Santa Fe.

If you actually have time for a real kick ass adventure, Chaco Canyon
is the single most important Paleo-Astronomical site in North America.
It is the only known site on the planet with alignments to both Solar
AND Lunar cycles. 3 hours in the park requires 9am departure from ABQ,
gets you back to ABQ around 8pm. A must.

Santa Fe is awesome, but also is best done with expert help to avoid
overpaying and underutilizing your expenditures. And Santa Fe is not
to be done on the cheap, there is no point.

-bs

[Rob Base]

Green is usually milder and has a great taste. Red is hotter. If you are not used to hot chili stay away from the red.

This is not always the case. Red chili is simply the ripe version of the green chili. Depending on a variety of factors (harvest time, the year's crop, rainfall that year, etc...) green can be much hotter than red. It's best to ask or look for a "chili report" sign at the restaurant that will tell which chili is the hottest and just how hot at the time. Green chili (as a sauce, not the pepper itself) is like a thickened stew of diced chilis and other ingredients in broth. Red chili is a similar in texture/appearance to enchilada sauce (but much hotter). "Green or Red" is the state question and a subject of great debate amongst residents. I prefer the richer flavors of the green chili over the red (which I feel is just a souped up enchilada sauce). The exception is carne adovada, which is meat (usually pork) marinated in red chili.

More than you ever wanted to know about New Mexico chili, now I'll shut up.

[Rob Base]

Roswell and Carlsbad are to be combined if you really have to get
out that way. However they are both overrated in my book, and
in any event will take 2 full days to get to, rush through, and then
get back to ABQ. The actual crash site of whatever crashed in '47
is also 75 miles northwest of Roswell, and is impossible to locate
without expert help. You can, however, find the ruins of the shack
where Mac Brazel stored overnight whatever it was that he stored
overnight, and it's down 12.5 miles of dirt road south of Route 247
heading southeast from Corona. ALL crash site visit advertisements
and businesses are scams.

Alamogordo Space Hall of Fame is top notch, and for space junkies,
a Pilgrimage Location. However, a visit there is only efficient when
combined with Ruidoso, Carlsbad, or when heading to the Big Bend.
An Alamogordo trip by itself also makes sense on the first Saturday
in April and October, when they open up The Range so you can
get to the Trinity Site, Trinitite not included :) .....

For those that are heading in for the game, if you arrive the night
before, spend Saturday morning at Acoma. It's 45 minutes west on
I-40 (@ 85mph), and is very much worth the trip. LEAVE EARLY.
Get there at 9am. Do the first tour they offer. Then head back
to UNM. Study your approach to UNM carefully. Silver, Lead, etc.

If you have time on Sunday, do the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Best single repository of Southwest Artifacts not in private collections
in Santa Fe.

If you actually have time for a real kick ass adventure, Chaco Canyon
is the single most important Paleo-Astronomical site in North America.
It is the only known site on the planet with alignments to both Solar
AND Lunar cycles. 3 hours in the park requires 9am departure from ABQ,
gets you back to ABQ around 8pm. A must.

Santa Fe is awesome, but also is best done with expert help to avoid
overpaying and underutilizing your expenditures. And Santa Fe is not
to be done on the cheap, there is no point.

-bs

Good info. Regarding Chaco Canyon, be aware that getting there involves a significant amount of time on unpaved roads that are usually like washboards. Also, if it rains or snows (which inexplicably it has pretty frequently this year so far), the road is nearly impassable.