Albuquerque is an ethnically diverse city, which is one of the things that make it a great city to live in or visit. We have Native Americans, Hispanics, Anglos, Asians, and other cultures living side-by-side, all enriching each others’ lives. You can’t beat the scenery or the skies or the weather, which is why Albuquerque draws people like a magnet.
Below are a few of the many sights to see in the Old Town area where the MWSA Conference in Hotel Albuquerque is located. A few sights at the end of this list are farther away, but worth checking out.
- The Albuquerque Museum is in Old Town Albuquerque, a short walking distance from Hotel Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Museum is dedicated to preserving the art of the American Southwest and the history of Albuquerque and the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. The museum has exhibits from its permanent art and history collections, world-class traveling exhibits, and community-curated exhibits. www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/albuquerque-museum
- The Natural History Museum, across the street from the Albuquerque Museum is home to fossils and minerals, spectacular dinosaur exhibits, a planetarium, a Dynatheater, and interactive displays. http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/
- Investing 90 minutes in the Best of ABQ City Tour will help you plan what to see while you’re in Albuquerque. And best of all, it leaves from Hotel Albuquerque. You’ll see Old Town, Museum Row, Downtown, EDo, Historic Route 66, University of New Mexico, Nob Hill, Isotopes Park, University Stadium, The Pit, historic Barelas neighborhood, Tingley Beach, ABQ BioPark and more. https://www.tourabq.com/abqtrolley
- There’s also a 4-hour Best of Bad Tour, which features filming sites of the popular Breaking Bad Series. https://www.tourabq.com/abqtrolley
- Speaking of Breaking Bad, the Candy Lady in Old Town has little Ziplocs of Breaking Bad Blue Crystal Meth made from dyed sugar, a really unique souvenir. Other candies include over 20 flavors of handmade fudge, a wall of licorice in assorted flavors from around the world, fresh dipped and glazed fruits, hand-made chocolates, custom cakes, hard candy, rock candy, truffles, and some unexpected treats, also classic sweets, custom confections and modern delights. And you may want to spice things up with local flavors unique to New Mexico. https://www.thecandylady.com/
- Don’t miss Treasure House Books on the south side of Old Town Square. It’s a great little bookstore known for its support of local authors. https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/listing/treasure-house-books/
- The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a world-class museum and cultural center created as a place where Pueblo people can tell their story. As the gateway to the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, the IPCC is a necessary first stop for visitors to New Mexico, providing an introduction for understanding the state’s landscape, legacy, and story of continuance. The IPCC hosts traditional Native American dances every weekend year round and offers an exciting schedule of cultural, educational, and community activities. https://www.indianpueblo.org/
- Farther away in the far NE Heights of Albuquerque at the base of the Sandia Mountains is The Sandia Peak Tramway, an aerial tramway that stretches from the northeast edge of the city to the crest line of the Sandia Mountains at 10,600 feet and has the world’s third longest single span. It is the longest aerial tram in the United States. The views are breathtaking. Don’t miss it. http://www.sandiapeak.com/
A final note: Albuquerque is home to many incredible restaurants, world-renowned microbreweries, and other museums and art galleries. You may want to check them out on Yelp, TripAdvisor, or other similar sites.
