The culinary journey doesn’t stop in Albuquerque after dinner. Seek out all of the desserts with regional ingredients such as chile and piñon, Breaking Bad themed goodies, local brews, and dive bars on Route 66.
Golden Crown Panaderia
For traditional style New Mexican baked goods in Albuquerque, there is no place better. The exterior is lovely, inside you will find so much variety and a quaint sitting area. Something sweet, but not too sweet, Biscochitos are a cookie developed in state and the official cookie of New Mexico.
You can try them in many different flavors including blue corn, chocolate, and cappuccino. Loafs of bread are made daily, and what could be more perfect than having your morning toast or afternoon sandwich on this gorgeous Green Chile Bread?
If you’re looking for a whole meal, pizzas and sandwiches are offered in house.
The Candy Lady
Located in the heart of old town Albuquerque, this is more than your average candy shop – it is a truly local experience. Walking in you can’t help but try the fudge with a New Mexican flair, red or green chile chocolate.
There are so many ways to enjoy the famous red and green chile flavors in candy here.
Don’t miss trying the most celebrated nut in the state, the pine nut – locally dubbed piñon.
This shop melds the piñon with so many different ingredients, try it in toffee, caramel, a log, or chocolate clusters of white, milk, and dark.
Another fun facet is the back room where Breaking Bad fans can cook some blue sky, but it’s a bit more wholesome than the stuff on the show.
Of course the candy lady didn’t miss a chance to highlight another interesting feature of the state – are you a believer?
Rebel Donuts
Vibrant, different, and downright delicious – a dozen of these donuts scream New Mexico. Smaller in size so you can try more – the gourmet donuts are hand crafted with love and come in the best flavors. The red chile chocolate bacon donut is a great balance of sweet, spicy, and savory – or for something fruiter sample the apple green chile fritter.
Breaking Bad fans will want to try a Blue Sky, a vanilla cake donut that is beautiful and scrumptious.
Other epic flavors include French toast, hostess, cherry pie, cotton candy, and the Day of the Dead inspired decorated skulls.
Sister Bar
If a dive bar is your scene, this might just be your favorite spot in the city – located conspicuously right along Route 66. Dark and sparsely, yet keenly decorated, it certainly is one of my all time favorite places to hang out. Great craft beers and cocktails, if you’re hungry you can order New Mexican classics like frito pie and a green chile cheeseburger too. I’ll be honest here. The main reason I came to this bar is for the awesome pinball machines!
So you have a bar, restaurant, and arcade which books live musical performances frequently – there is a lot to love.
Cumbre Brewing Co
Hang out on the patio with live music and food trucks while sipping some seasonal brews.
Inside you will find wonderful art that conveys the essence of New Mexican style.
Hang out and try the elevated IPA on tap or housed in a beautiful can back at your place.
Look upstairs and you will find a foosball table, get ready for a competitive night!
Santa Fe Brewing Co
Enter this particularly interesting local brewery with a bizarre location, inside of a shipping container.
There are plenty of beers on tap along with bottles and cans that you can take to go.
Try the award winning Chicken Killer, a barley wine with over 10% alcohol level.
Check for events like Yogazo: Pints and Planks where yogis get a dollar off their first pint. Additional taprooms in the namesake city of Santa Fe.
You’ll love the funky wild western decor of this Albuquerque institution, each of the many rooms has so much to see.
Those with a sweet tooth won’t want to miss the ginormous and gorgeous cinnamon roll, served hot and topped with a buttery icing.
Breakfast is served all day.
Tastes like delicious home cooking and service as friendly as family at this mom and pop shop.
The restaurant was filled with locals, a great sign – but get there early because they may run out of your favorite ingredients! While they may not have had what I wanted to order, the waitress generously brought our table complimentary guacamole on top of the normally gratis chips and salsa.
New Mexico’s state question is, Red or Green? But luckily, you don’t have to choose. Get whatever your dish is Christmas style and be prepared for a spicy experience.
Dinner at Cocina Azul
This burger is made with New Mexican Hatch green chiles, and you can find other great offerings such as sopapillas, pozole, and enchiladas here.
Look online to see if there is a yelp check in for free salsa rojo and verde!
Dinner at La Salita
A Frito Pie is another fun dish to find locally, made with ground beef and beans that are smothered with chile and queso.
If you’re dining on a Tuesday, you can grab this plate for a great deal of just $5 instead of $9. End on a sweet note with the dessert sopapilla drizzled with a chocolate chile glaze.
Dinner at Owl Café 
For a kitschy Route 66 experience, don’t pass up a trip to this eye-catching diner. They will start you off with a bowl of beans and green chile, but you have to try the Santa Fe style chicken soup which I could have eaten an entire vat of it!
On certain nights of the week you can order Indian tacos, super filling and fresh.
Most of all the restaurant is known for their heaping slices of pie, so save room for dessert!
Multiple trails with varying lengths depart from the Visitor Center the, longest of which is the Mesa View trail, a 3.8 mile loop gaining 200 feet of elevation.
The path is well maintained and at times even lined with rocks, filled with stunning vistas as you climb up to the top of the mesa.
Perhaps the path will be covered in tumbleweed if it’s a windy day, which takes a few minutes to clear before you are on your way.
Stop to admire the badlands which are a change of pace from the otherwise pale panorama.
Multiple benches are scattered along the length of the trail for a break, and when you reach the top there are information plaques to learn about the environment.
From up here the Manzano Mountains look like sky islands, isolated by lowlands.
Look and listen for birds as you make your descent back towards the visitor center.
Other trails include a mile long interpretive path through a wash, and the ¼-mile wildflower loop.
Here there is plenty of wildlife to discover, many species reside in the park including desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mountain lion, bear, and bunnies.
In the late afternoon, not another soul was present to share the park with – it was extremely peaceful.
Situated between the cities of Albuquerque and Las Cruces, the Woods of the Apache has seen 358 species of birds and many other animals on its land within the Chihuahuan desert .
From the summit of Chupadera Peak to the bottom wetlands the preserve holds a diverse array of landscapes in its 57,331 acres along the Rio Grande.
In the fall birders flock to see the gathering of the 10,000 Sandhill cranes and in the winter its massive group of 20,000 geese, but any time of year you are sure to see something impressive.
The exciting twelve-mile looping auto tour displays an impressive array of wildlife without even leaving your car. It is a gravel road, but extremely well maintained and manageable for any kind of vehicle. You’ll want to drive it slow to enjoy the varying landscapes, but also for the safety of the creatures. A gorgeous snake was sitting right in the middle of the road sunning itself, maneuvering around it was a careful task.
Plenty of birds of prey sit perched in the trees beside the road waiting for an opportunity.
Tons of turkey convened in a field to parade about, more than I’d ever seen together before.
Perhaps the happiest sight of the day was this stunning pheasant who posed long enough for me to admire him.
So many species I had never witnessed before could be checked off my bird book, this preserve truly is a treasure.
Off of the road there are places to park and hop onto hiking trails with ranging difficulties, from one to ten miles. The Marsh Overlook trail is a short an scenic loop just over a mile long.
The smell of the wetlands and sound of red winged blackbirds was wonderful for the senses.
Seeing what I believed to be a nutria was interesting, but unfortunate because it is an invasive species.
Shifting from wetland to grassland, the scenery remains very much serene, and a small hill affords views for miles.
Sunset is absolutely divine, especially when reflected off one of the many wetland pools.
Watching the colors of the dwindling day and the birds of the rookery was pure magic.
There were no other visitors to share the trail or tranquil narrowing canyon with.
Just the song birds, an occasional lizard, and bees who were minding their own business.
Lovely desert views and mild bouts of elevation make this a fun and relaxing journey.
Good to know:
Apaches believed the rejuvenating nature of the water to be sacred, and scientists seem to agree. They have determined that there are 38 minerals in the water, one of the highest counts in the country. The most prevalent of minerals is chloride which naturally kills germs, sterilizes skin, and keeps the water pure. Visitors can book a soak by the hour or stay overnight. There are eight common pools and also private rooms which overlook the tranquil Rio Grande with its wonderful wildlife.
Pools range from temperatures of 98-115 degrees, private rooms have refreshing fans, misters, and overhead showers.
The hottest of pools are called the Hot Minnow Baths, speaking to the past life of the facility. In the 1940s there was a minnow and bait shop here, and these three pools are the refurbished tanks that housed live bait! If you’re looking for something really invigorating, a hop in the river after a hot soak will wake up the system.
Prices are pleasantly affordable for such a fantastic spa, two can reserve a private room for $30 an hour. This is an extremely serene venue and a designated ‘whisper zone’ so that everyone can enjoy peace and quiet. Adults only, no children under 12 years are allowed.
Many people stop at Pistachioland on their way to White Sands National Monument, I might go as far to say your trip to the glistening desert is incomplete without visiting. This roadside attraction sits in front of McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch, a place that celebrates one of the best nuts on earth.
Pistachios are originally from Asia, but the desert conditions of New Mexico work very well for growing the nuts.
The family run farm offers 30 minute tours of the pistachio orchards and vineyards (a winery is also on site) daily for $2 per person, the ticket is redeemable for a free cookie too, making the deal even sweeter.
Nutty jokes are endless, but really this store has a lot to offer visitors –perfect road trip snacks and the best gifts for loved ones back home.
Head on in, try some samples, find what you like – and see if there is a yelp check-in that might get you a free bag of nuts at the register.
Visiting the extensive tasting bar is a major treat, there are so many flavors to choose from.
Finding your favorite unique blends is fun, green chili has the perfect regional flair.
For those with a sweet tooth the pistachio candies are out of control, atomic hot chili pistachio brittle is particularly interesting.
Of course there is pistachio ice cream! A lot of people love this flavor, which was invented in the 1940s by James W. Parkinson of Philadelphia.
Fun and delicious get your pistachios in the nuttiest place in New Mexico.
They stand almost 9,000 tall, a great contrast to the Chihuahuan Desert floor also protected in the preserve.
Not only is the area incredibly beautiful, but it holds an intriguing varied history. Hundreds of archeological sites lie within the park boundaries, ruins, petroglygphs, and caves.
Famous names like Billy the Kid and Geronimo had stints on this land. Twenty-two miles of the Butterfield Stagecoach trail are protected in the preserve. During WWII bombers practiced targeting here and in the 1960s astronauts trained for their mission to the moon here.
History lovers, rock climbers, campers, and of course hikers are drawn to this diverse area which could take years to explore.
If you only have a few hours, the Pine Tree Loop is a perfect introductory hike to the landscape with some of the most engrossing scenery.
This is a four-mile loop starting at the Aguirre Springs Campground gaining just over 1,000 feet of elevation is well marked and interesting through its entire circuit.
The hike does not climb too sharply or with switchbacks, allowing you to enjoy the incredibly scenic section of the park.
At midday wildlife was mostly out of sight, save for a beetle lumbering across the trail and a few flitting song birds.
Some portions of the hike look like a desert while other are straight out of a forest, either way the flora is exceptional.
Upon reaching the halfway point, the path is marked with a plaque reading its elevation: 6,880 feet.
From the higher up perspective, the smooth Sugarloaf Peak comes in to view behind the needles.
Farther in the distance, the Tularosa Basin and White Sands Missile Range are revealed as well.
Good to know:
There are three gypsum dune fields in the Chihuahuan Desert, White Sands is one of them and particularly special because it is the largest on the planet.
Usually gypsum dissolves when mixed with water, but in a rare set of circumstances the ancient lake left behind vast dunes of this mineral, seen few places in the world. The dunes are an ever changing ecosystem, moving like waves with the wind.
When a rare rain occurs in the Tularosa Basin, the water-soluble gypsum cements together forming a striated layer of more solid sand.
A stop at the visitor center details more information on the environment in a short film, along with exhibits, and facilities.
Note that gypsum doesn’t become as hot as sand that you’d find on the beach, so even on the most brutal days of summer you can walk barefoot in the dunes. While you don’t need shoes, you’ll want to bring shades because the light bouncing off the white sand is extremely powerful.
There are four designated trails in the preserve, the Playa Trail is less than a quarter of a mile, the Dune Life Trail is a one mile loop, Interdune Boardwalk is a quarter mile long, and then the more challenging Alkali Flat trail which we will be exploring.
A five mile loop traverses around the untouched sands of the desert, do not assume that it is flat as its name may wrongfully imply.
Climbing up and down the dunes can be laborious as your feet sink in and your boots fill with sand. Each tiring step takes you slightly back while gaining just an increment forward, but at every crest immaculate vistas wait.
Red poles with a diamond symbol mark the trail, it is imperative to see the next marker before moving on. Heading this far out into the desert can become disorienting, there are very few landmarks if any and these markers get knocked down. If you find that you cannot see the next marker, it is recommended to turn around and head back to your car.
No two hikes along this trail will ever be the same due to the wind moving and shaping the dunes daily. It explores the landscape as a whole, and the little details such as the endless line of pure ripples and a straggling plant struggling to survive against a harsh environment.
Most people visiting the park do not tackle this loop and there are many stretches through the sand where you will not see a soul, which makes it all the more memorable.
+Note that the park is surrounded by military bases including the White Sands Missile Range, whose missile tests can close traffic for as long as three hours, check their website or call for closures before visiting
Over 70 miles of hiking trails cover from mountainous summits of 10,200 feet, down to the Rio Grande Valley. Below are some of the most exciting and attainable trails for a one day visit. Start your trip at a visitor center to obtain a map and use the facilities.
Cliffs are visually stunning from the distance, but become even more intriguing as you take a closer look.
Discover the extensive clusters of ancestral pueblo homes, sometimes multiple stories high, spanning hundreds of feet long.
What’s more is that these aren’t guarded off by ropes, visitors are encouraged to enter these cavates by the help of ladders.
Under further scrutiny, notice the petroglyphs that are carved into the cliff some cases,
and painted upon the rock in other cases – withstanding the test of time.
In one instance, there is even a preserved section of the colors and designs that would be painted on the outside of these dwellings.
Alcove House
Excitement piques when the ceremonial cave comes into view, and the route you must take to reach it is uncovered.
Only those who are confident in their abilities and comfortable with heights should undertake the 140 foot quartet of ladders.
Your reward is an immaculately preserved kiva chamber, used for religious rituals hundreds of years ago.
The view is extraordinary and the experience to get there is an unforgettable one.
Completing the other side of the loop there are many informational plaques detailing facts about the environment.
Falls Trail
The hike is a peaceful out and back hike of three miles roundtrip, dropping in elevation 400 feet along the way.
Upper falls is 80 feet tall stemming from snowmelt of the Jemez Mountains, eventually flowing out to the Rio Grande.
Prior to 2011 the trail continued down to the lower falls and the banks of the Rio Grande, but flash floods destroyed the path and there is no access to the river from the Frijoles Canyon at this time.
The people who lived in this area shared the same beliefs as those in the main area of Bandelier, but their language was different.
They left their mark on the land, with cavates, petroglyphs, and the low dug out stonewalls which make up the ancient paths of the Pueblos.
Not only is the history of interest here, but the panoramas are positively stunning as well.
Good to know:
Tent Rocks National Monument is an amazing day trip easily accessible from either Santa Fe (40 miles) or Albuquerque (55 miles), well worth the drive to witness one of the most unique landscapes in the state.
Seven million years ago a volcanic eruption created the Jemez Mountains, over time wind and water eroded the soft pumice and tuff into cone shaped formations resembling tents. Hikers can experience the environment from three distinct trails.
Initially the trail is flat and sandy, making its way through the namesake element a narrowing slot canyon.
Upon emerging out the other side, the most imaginative hoodoos sprout beside the path.
Some of these formations have caprocks on top of them, which are made of harder stone that have yet to erode.
The tent rocks seem to multiply as you continue onward and range in height with the highest reaching almost 100 feet tall.
Soon the trail begins to ascend and will climb gradually 630 feet, to an elevation of 6400 feet above sea level on the Pajarito Plateau.
At the top of the lookout a whole campsite of perfectly tipped tents comes into view.
After fully exploring the spurs and taking in the top rate scenery, head back the way you came.
The Cave Loop trail
It is named for the small cavate, a human carved cave which was dug out with sharp stones around 1200 AD by Native Americans.
The cave is high off the ground for safety purposes, keeping the space dry from flooding and making it easier to ward off animal or rival tribe attacks.