Why Albuquerque?
Albuquerque has long been a gateway to the weird and other-worldly. The rugged, colourful, mountainous New Mexico desert spreads out from the state’s largest city in most directions, while the dazzling landscape of the White Sands National Monument to the south gives a weird sense of transcendence.
For space tourists, Albuquerque will soon become the gateway to a truly unearthly experience. It’s the closest city to Spaceport America, where the Virgin Galactic space flights are due to depart from.
But Albuquerque is more than just a hub. It’s in a stunning natural setting and packs in an unexpectedly large selection of quirky attractions. Leave time to explore before going into space.
A comfortable bed
The Andaluz (001 505 242 9090) is the most stylish and distinctive option in town, with a pleasingly central location and the odd extravagant Moorish touch to give off an Andalusian palace vibe. The rooms are less flashy than the OTT lobby, but they have a modernised slickness. Queen rooms cost from US$180 (Dh661).
The ranch-style Los Poblanos Inn (001 505 344 9297) doesn't feel like it's in the city at all. Spanish colonial antiques dot the building, there's a gorgeous central courtyard and an organic farm on-site, which makes for excellent breakfasts. Rooms cost from $204 (Dh749).
Downtown Historic Bed and Breakfasts (001 505 842 0223) offers charming twin heritage houses. One's more Victorian in look and feel; the other has heavy nods to the arts-and-crafts movement. The en-suite rooms cost from $109 (Dh400).
Find your feet
Albuquerque is a city to drive, not walk. Start at the central plaza, which is ringed by gorgeous adobe buildings, then get a dose of kitsch by driving along Albuquerque's stretch of the historic Route 66. Just off it is the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History (001 505 245 2137), which delves into the region's history of nuclear-science innovation and testing. This includes the first atom bomb tests at White Sands.
From there, head to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum (001 505 768 6020), which celebrates aviation pioneers from an era way before space flight. Albuquerque is arguably the world's hot-air-ballooning capital, and many record-breaking craft are exhibited inside between displays on ballooning history.
The Sandia Peak Tramway (001 505 856 7325) is not far away. Essentially a super-scaled cable car, this aerial tramway scales steep cliff faces to climb 1,164 metres in 15 minutes. At the top station on Sandia Peak, you can stare down at the city from 3,163 metres above sea level. Return tickets cost $20 (Dh73).
Meet the locals
You really don't want to meet some of the locals in the wild. Mercifully, the Rattlesnake Museum (001 505 242 6569) just off the main plaza corrals them in a safe place. It takes a loving look at rattlesnakes, but you leave knowing that you don't want to mess with them.
Book a table
Más at The Andaluz does a really good job of Spanish dishes, often with a south-western twist. It’s mostly tapas-style, but there are excellent mains, including the paella ($28 [Dh103]) or grilled salmon with gazpacho salsa ($26 [Dh95]).
Breaking Bad fans are probably going to want to make the pilgrimage to the notorious Los Pollos Hermanos fast-food joint. In real life, it's a branch of Twister's at 4257 Isleta Boulevard, a thoroughly unremarkable burger-and-burrito outlet, in a mundane part of town.
Shopper’s paradise
The main plaza is surrounded by galleries and souvenir shops, although it’s worth taking a look at what the many street vendors are offering too – many of the fabrics are handwoven.
Crafts made by the local American-Indian population can be found at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (001 505 843 7270).
What to avoid
Albuquerque is currently most famous as the home of Breaking Bad, but if you come solely for that, you're likely to be a little disappointed – many of the locations were chosen precisely because they're somewhat humdrum. The local tourist board website has a list of locations and a map.
Don’t miss
Albuquerque is the nearest major town to Spaceport America. The site was chosen for its elevation, consistent weather, relative isolation and lack of air traffic. The only way inside at the moment is to take a tour with Follow the Sun (001 505 897 2886) from the township of Elephant Butte, about two hours' drive south of Albuquerque. The tours cost $59 (Dh217), and offer prime views of the UFO-like main building, before letting you loose on the gigantic runway that the spacecraft will take off from.
Getting there
Return flights with Delta (04 397 0118) from Dubai to Atlanta, connecting on to Albuquerque, cost from Dh4,905, including taxes.
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