🇺🇸 Christmas Trip to ABQ & Santa Fe (Part 3) 🎄✨

1️⃣ After exploring Petrified Forest National Park, we drove to Albuquerque (ABQ)—the largest city in New Mexico. Beyond Breaking Bad landmarks, ABQ’s Old Town is a gem! 🛍️ Local gift shops and Indigenous artisans selling turquoise jewelry (rings, necklaces, bracelets) at reasonable prices. Perfect for turquoise lovers! 💍💎 2️⃣ We booked tickets for the Sandia Peak Tramway hoping to catch the sunset… but it was a disappointment! 😤 Despite having 3-5 PM tickets, we waited almost 2 hours in freezing wind. Ended up witnessing a stunning sunset from the mountainside instead . 🌅 The tramway oversold tickets, and wait times were insane. We got a full refund after missing the ride entirely. Skip the tram—drive up yourself or enjoy the views from mid-mountain! Drove to Santa Fe that night (1-hour drive). 3️⃣ Santa Fe is an artsy cultural hub! 🎨 Loretto Chapel: Famous miraculous spiral staircase—built with no supports, purely through woodworking genius! ($5 entry fee). San Miguel Chapel: Oldest church in the U.S.—see ancient Indigenous foundations and ring a 100-year-old bell! 🔔🍽️ Food Highlights:ABQ: Dion’s—amazing pizza, subs, and meatballs! 🍕Santa Fe: La Choza—extremely popular! Try the blue corn enchiladas (with beef) and sopaipillas (honey-drenched fry bread). 🍯🌮 #Albuquerque #SantaFe #NewMexico #TravelGuide #ChristmasTravel #TurquoiseJewelry #SkipTheTram #ArtAndCulture #FoodieFinds #USATravel