Things to Do and See—Albuquerque

Things to Do and See—Albuquerque
Are you getting excited about our 81st Annual International Conference in Albuquerque?
Barbara D’Angelo and I guarantee that you are going to be ENCHANTED and ENGAGED!
Here are some teasers about the exciting activities you might pursue while in Albuquerque.
History
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The most ancient resident of Albuquerque was also one of the most ancient residents of North
America. The “Sandia Man” lived in the area now known as Albuquerque as many as 20,000
years ago.
In 1880, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF) arrived in Albuquerque. Did
you know that the Santa Fe Railroad did NOT go to Santa Fe? Why? Because the company
decided to push on to the Pacific coast rather than build the expensive route through the
mountains.
Albuquerque’s dry climate made it a haven for people suffering from tuberculosis; and in the
1920s, it gained respectability when health-seekers began to move into the city. Many of these
new residents were leading citizens and talented artists. Thus, the culture of the city changed
to a more artistic one with flourishing cultural-rich traditions and history.
Historic Route 66’s first route alignment of 1926-1937 ran North-South through Santa Rosa,
Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Los Lunas, and several Indian reservations.
During World War II, the atomic bomb was developed through the top-secret Manhattan
Project in Los Alamos (90 miles north of Albuquerque).
The city has been the destination for film and television production—Breaking Bad, In Plain
Sight, Terminator Salvation, and many others. Albuquerque Studios is the largest film studio in
the United States.
Weather
The sun shines in Albuquerque, on average, 310 days per year. Albuquerque actually gets more rain
than most people think. The average annual rainfall in the city is about 8.67 inches; but in the nearby
Sandia Mountains to the east, the annual rainfall is about 40 inches with an average annual snowfall
of about 111 inches. Weather during October conference time is: Average high of 71o F and
average low of 44o F; 43% humidity; and 69% possibility of sunshine. You’ll be glad for both
layers and sunscreen.
Culture
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Greater metropolitan Albuquerque population tops 909,000
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City of Albuquerque has a population of 555,417 (2012 Census Bureau)
Albuquerque is home to more than 70 different ethnicities
Fun Things to Do
Albuquerque Trolley Company
Join us on the pre-conference tour of Albuquerque and learn about the Old Town and the new city.
Visit http://www.abqtrolley.com/ to learn more about the trolley tour and sights you might encounter
on the trip. Please sign up in advance with your conference registration.
Mama’s Minerals
Do you like jewelry? How about making your own jewelry?
Across the parking lot from our Hotel Albuquerque is Mama’s Minerals. We visited Mama’s
Minerals—and got really excited about making our own jewelry. You can spend several hours
perusing the assortment of beads, stones, and minerals in this store. Make a selection or selections,
and create your own enchanting necklaces, earrings, and boleros. Give it a try! They also have many
fossils and larger rocks. https://www.mamasminerals.com/
Sandia Peak Tramway
A trip on the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway transports you above deep canyons and breathtaking
terrain a distance of 2.7 miles. At sunset, the desert skies produce a spectacular array of color, and
your vantage point from the observation deck atop 10,378 foot Sandia Peak in the Cibola National
Forest affords an 11,000 square-mile panoramic view of the Rio Grande Valley and the Land of
Enchantment. http://www.sandiapeak.com/. Albuquerque Trolley http://www.abqtrolley.com/ just
established transportation to the tram with 5pm departure from Hotel Albuquerque & 8:30pm return
departure from the tram (times may change for Oct). (The transportation does not include tram
tickets. You must buy tram tickets upon arrival to the tram.) It’s worth the trip! Take a jacket or
coat. It could get cold! Consider reservations for drinks up top at High Finance, with dinner down
below at Sandiago’s. http://www.sandiapeakrestaurants.com/
The Bad Candy Lady
Visit Old Town and experience the candies sold by “The Bad Candy Lady.” The shop is right across
the street from Hotel Albuquerque. For those of you who are familiar the television show, Breaking
Bad, you will understand the reference! And, YES, she sells SUGAR FREE candies as well.
Dining
One of the BEST restaurants in Albuquerque is right inside The Hotel Albuquerque—and the
breakfast menu is FANTASTIC! Visit Garduno’s while attending the ABC Conference.
El Pinto Restaurant was voted Best New Mexican
Restaurant in Albuquerque New Mexico according to the "Best of City" annual survey conducted
by Albuquerque the Magazine. Come see why it is the local favorite for authentic New Mexican
Cuisine! Visit the website, http://tinyurl.com/hlymc2w, and learn more about the phenomenal cuisine—
check out and the largest Tequila Bar in New Mexico!
Looking for a restaurant in Old Town? Church Street Café is one
of the oldest buildings in Albuquerque. Visit the website, http://tinyurl.com/j8ctnvhand learn about the
history of the Casa de Ruiz (now known as the Church Street Cafe) and take a look at the menu. You
will be dreaming of some of the mouth-watering offerings found there.
To the West – Interstate I-40
Do you have a car? Visit the Pueblo of Acoma’s Sky City Cultural
Center and museum, about an hour West of Albuquerque, for an intriguing tour of the oldest
continually occupied settlement in North America. The pointed logs depicted here represent piercing
of the clouds to welcome rain. There may be vendors offering jewelry, distinctive pottery, and perhaps
tamales. A small café is in the museum. http://www.acomaskycity.org
View to Enchanted Mesa. Pueblo of Acoma (above).