Albuquerque (and vicinity) holidays

This centrally located airport is near several attractions, including the University of New Mexico Arena & Stadium. Home of the state’s beloved Lobos and better known as The Pit, the arena is one of the most recognizable structures in college basketball. Kirtland Air Force Base is adjacent to the airport The base also houses Sandia National Laboratory, which conducts top-secret military research.

El Camino Real, the colonial road that ran through Bernalillo, once led to Mexico City. The community’s rich history is reflected at the Coronado State Monument, the site conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado is thought to have encountered in 1540 while searching for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. Bernalillo is also known for its annual wine festival, the largest in New Mexico.

The famed Route 66 runs through Downtown Albuquerque, site of the city’s convention center. Downtown is flanked on the west by Old Town and the Midtown/University neighborhood to the east. Among Old Town’s many landmarks is the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History. The University of New Mexico and shopping centers dominate the Midtown/University area. The Rio Grande Zoo is south of downtown.

This area hosts the world’s largest hot-air balloon festival. Each fall, more than 700 balloons take off from Balloon Fiesta Park, also home to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. Other nearby attractions are the Petroglyph National Monument’s 20,000 rock-art images and the Sandia Peak Tramway, a 15-minute tram ride from the base to the 10,378-foot summit of Sandia Peak.

Located in Northwest Albuquerque, Rio Rancho is one of New Mexico’s fastest growing suburbs. Its master-planned downtown includes the Santa Ana Star Center, home of the New Mexico Scorpions hockey team. The facility also hosts big-name entertainers and concerts. Casino gaming is nearby.