A weekend visit to Albuquerque

During a recent weekend, I decided to visit Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'd never been there before and I thought, "Why not?" I’ve got a goal to visit all 50 states in the United States and the best visit I’d had to date was slowly flying over the southern part of the state in a 2-seater Cessna 152.

Getting to Albuquerque

Getting to Albuquerque was straightforward. I hopped on a 2-hour flight from Burbank on Southwest Airlines. Burbank Airport is closer to my home than LAX is, and I find it much easier to get in and out of. If you fly Southwest, I've compiled some handy tips to maximize your experience.

💡Burbank Airport Tip: At Burbank Airport, my preferred parking is now Lot C. For $15 per day, it's located conveniently across the street from the airport. In my recent experiences, it's proved faster and more efficient than valet parking. Inside the airport,

I've never encountered a long TSA Precheck line, making the process even more streamlined.

💡Tip: As an added perk, my Global Entry status includes TSA Precheck, and Chase Sapphire Preferred reimburses $100 for the Global Entry fee.

Getting Around Albuquerque

You need a car in Albuquerque. Things to see, do, and eat are spread out across the city. Upon arriving in Albuquerque, I picked up a car from Thrifty Car Rental, paid with Ultimate Rewards points. A side note: the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers impressive car rental insurance, which can come in handy during your travels.

Where I Stayed

I stayed at the Hyatt Place Albuquerque Airport for this trip. My only requirements were cleanliness and convenience as I planned to spend most of my waking hours exploring. The room was great, and I paid with points transferred from Chase. Moreover, breakfast was free, which helps get me on the road a little faster.

Things to do in Albuquerque

My first stop was Old Town Albuquerque and I was a little underwhelmed. I found a lot of tourist shops, but there were a few unique things to do. The San Felipe de Neri Church provided a picturesque backdrop for a quinceañera photo session I happened upon. And, the American International Rattlesnake Museum, which feels more like a large snake pet shop, does have an impressive collection of mostly live rattlesnakes, but also other snakes from around the world.

I drove to the far west of the I hiked a 2-mile loop at the Petroglyph National Monument. The black rocks scattered across the landscape are adorned with petroglyphs etched over centuries by Pueblo Indians and Spanish ranchers. I was mostly alone during the windy, cool hike in the desert. Seeing Albuquerque in the distance, I did have a few Walter White moments, although at no point did I strip down to my underwear for a photo op.

Having a good four hours of sunlight left after my hike, I decided to drive to the top of Sandia Peak on the other side of the city. In planning the trip, I’d wanted to take the Sandia aerial tram, but it closed for maintenance just days before my planned visit. The drive was still a great idea, as I got to drive through some small towns on the back of the mountain and see the changes in the environment as I drove up the 10,000 foot mountain. The peak was still blanketed in snow and the temperature lingered in the 30s. The views from up there are amazing in both directions, looking down on Albuquerque on one side and toward small towns and Santa Fe on the other side.

The other highlight of Albuquerque for me was the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. I love museums and I learned a lot about the history and culture of the pueblo Indians of New Mexico and watched the Zuni Kallestewa Dance Group.

Where I ate in Albuquerque

As for food, the highlight was La Guelaguetza Mexican. This is just a simple casual place with amazing food and good service.

Tip: A lot of the best food is at small local restaurants, some of which are cash-only. Have some cash on you before you go, just in case.

Of course, there’s so much more to see and I couldn’t hit it all. Visit Albuquerque is the official site for planning your travel there. It can give you the lowdown on Albuquerque events while you’re there.