The number of good, local restaurants is staggering and wine bars have found a receptive audience in the area as well. The region was also the first wine growing region in the country and still boasts several award-winning wineries. New Mexican food has grown into its own culinary specialty in the last several years, specializing in farm-to-table mentality due to the proximity to local agriculture in the area. Owner Sham Naik is a former Denver restauranteur so be sure to introduce yourself. Their burgers are all made with New Mexico farm fresh Angus beef. Local ingredients and more than 30 local craft brews - including its own “nano-brewery,” where they turn out very small batches of specialty brews pushing the limits of fermented flavor. Bistronomy B2B is a burger joint focused on being local. Photo by Jasmine BibleĬoloradoans will also appreciate the up-and-coming Nob Hill neighborhood. The incredible gift shop at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm. La Merienda is the on-site restaurant at Los Poblanos with a rotating menu of locally sourced, expertly prepared dishes inspired by the region. The former dairy farm specializes in soothing Lavender grown on site. The Inn recently added about 19 guest cabins for a total of 25 rooms, perfect for small weddings or family reunions. American architect John Gaw Meem worked on the inn and is largely responsible for the exquisite Southwestern colonial style buildings.
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Photo by Aaron BibleĪnother must-do in Albuquerque is the Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm. It can really be whatever you want it to be, as pretty much every trip is private and typically takes place on the 22,000 acre private ranch Roch has access to and patrols. Believe me when I tell you it’s not your typical jeep tour. That said, a trip with Roch (pronounced Rock), owner of New Mexico Jeep Tours is truly a must-do for the area, and will provide you with up-close, and literally hands-on experiences with petroglyphs and other Native American and Spanish Colonial ruins. It’s run by the National Park Service with a variety of high-desert trails winding through the hundreds-year-old rock engravings of Native American tribes that still inhabit the area. For a post-ride brunch, consider the local favorite, Flying Star Cafe.Ĭall: Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon CompanyĪfter breakfast, to burn off the calories - and the “Rio Grande Champaigne” (also called a “muddy,” orange juice and cranberry juice mixed with bubbly) - enjoy a hike or trail run at Petroglyph National Monument, one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America. It’s also an awesome way to view the Rio Grande river canyon. Albuquerque is known as the Hot Air Balloon Capital of the World, so you might as well check this one off your list and get a glimpse into ballooning culture. Get a literal overview of the city followed by the traditional post-ride Champagne toast. On almost any morning, enjoy an early morning ride with one of many local hot air balloon outfitters. And you’ll definitely want to bring your good camera on this trip.
Driving will allow you to bring all of your bikes and climbing gear. And, all of this in an up-and-coming, not yet tragically hip, friendly medium sized town. It’s cheap to fly but makes more sense to drive…and on the way swing through Taos for some skiing (in the winter, some of the steepest in-bounds skiing in the country nestled in a small, authentic family-owned ski area) and some serious southwest culture year-round. There’s more water and shade than one might expect with cool nights and moderate seasonal temps. Several ski areas are within easy driving distance, there’s endless desert to explore, paved trails, foot hills hiking opportunities, technical rock climbing and more. With an elevation higher than Denver and a latitude just higher than Phoenix, Albuquerque has, in some ways, the perfect climate with four mild seasons. Albuquerque – just a six hour drive from Denver - entices with history, climate, and under the radar culture and cuisine. Slowly coming onto travelers’ radar for good reason, Albuquerque is a destination that will definitely appeal to Coloradoan’s sensibilities. Trails at the top of Sandia Peak are a highlight of the area.
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