Carved into the side of the Sandia Mountains just north east of Albuquerque, New Mexico is a little mining town you don’t want to miss.
Surrounded on either side by jutting rocks and sparse shrubbery, you’ll find Madrid, a tiny, blink-and-you-miss-it stop off Route 66. It takes all of five minutes to get from one side of town to the other, but on the drive you’ll pass a crystal and gem store that specializes in turquoise jewelry (and caters to clients like Drew Barrymore), a cafe that serves homemade apple and green chile empanadas, and a little storefront that sells all things steampunk.
Take Route 66 farther south and you’ll be in Albuquerque. Sound familiar? You can probably thank Breaking Bad for that.
But it’s not all like tv.
Albuquerque, especially in the fall, is a premiere travel destination, with so many things to look forward to during the season. From October 7th to October 15th, you can check out the world renowned Balloon Fiesta, with thousands of hot air balloons taking to the skies above the city in the wee hours of the morning and again at night for the balloon glow event. And at the end of the week-long run? An incredible fireworks display closes the whole thing out. There are tons of incredible food vendors and plenty of gifts to take home from local small businesses.
Hot air balloons not your thing? Don’t worry. Head over to Los Poblanos, a historic lavender farm in the heart of the city’s north valley, for beautiful views, great shopping, and delicious meals. There’s also the tram to take you from the base of the Sandia Mountains to the top, where you can hike to what locals affectionately refer to as the “rock house”, or grab a meal at the beautiful and recently renovated Ten 3. And don’t forget to pop over to the Rio Grande Arts festival for some incredible shopping and dining experiences – the art in these areas can’t be beat.
There are incredible hiking trails and camping spots all over the Albuquerque area. If you’re looking to splurge, consider Glamping at Balloon Fiesta Park. Or head up to Moriarity for McCall’s Pumpkin Patch (don’t forget to try to escape the haunted maze). Either way, you can’t lose with these views.
And if you’re looking for music, we’re sure that you’ll find some great concerts at the Launchpad, the Historic El Rey Theater, and even the Sunshine. Want something more intimate? Moonlight Lounge might be more your speed. And make sure to get the password for Founders Speakeasy if you want some of the best cocktails the city has to offer.
Heading south? Don’t forget to stop at Penny’s Diner (it’s a converted train car, you can’t miss it) in Belen, New Mexico for the best coffee and pancakes in the state.