Albuquerque

Albuquerque New Mexico NM
Country Code
USA
State Code
NM
Day Trips
Head east out of town on I-40 (the modern incarnation of the famous Route 66), and hang a left onto the Turquoise Trail, which begins in the dusty town of Tijeras. Ancient Pueblo dwellings, ghost mining towns, and cultural treasures from New Mexico's rich past await you on this 52-mile road to Santa Fe. If you don't have time for the drive, at least take the Sandia Peak Tramway up to the top of Sandia Peak, where you will be amazed by the awesome, hundred-mile vistas. For more info, visit www.turquoisetrail.org.
Local Food
More than just Southwestern, New Mexican cuisine is actually a delicious hybrid of Mexican and Native American cultures, with a nod to the Spanish for the vegetables they brought from Europe. Corn, pinto beans, and of course the versatile chile pepper are the basics for a wide range of hearty, tasty fare. The chile pepper grows in some 2,000 varieties, and can be prepared in almost as many ways. Color, size, and spiciness vary, so go slow if you are a beginner. Note: If you find your tongue burning from the heat of a pepper, dairy products are the quickest remedy to quash the flames, so heap on the sour cream!
Gay Info
Common Bond Info Line 505/891-3647, www.commonbondnm.org.
Aids Group
505/938-7100, www.nmas.net.
Gay Aa
AA Gay/Lesbian 505/266-1900 (AA#).
Gay Pride
June. 505/873-8084, www.abqpride.com.
Annual Events
Tourist Attraction
Visitors Bureau
800/284-2282, www.itsatrip.org.
Weather
Sunny and temperate. Warm days and cool nights in summer, with average temperatures from 65° to 95°. Winter is cooler, from 28° to 57°.
Best Views
Sandia Peak Tramway (505/856-7325) at sunset.