Albuquerque Travel Diary ✨🌵 The City with the Trickiest Name!

During my trip to New Mexico, I only had time to explore two cities—unfortunately, White Sands National Park and the Native American reservations didn’t make the itinerary this time. But Albuquerque and Santa Fe were absolutely fascinating on their own! As someone from the Northwest, I’d call this the “American version of the Great Northwest” 😂—from the unique Adobe architecture (yes, “adobe” means mud brick in Spanish 🧱), the vast semi-arid plains, to the 300 days of sunshine per year… it all gave me a strange, almost nostalgic feeling of being back home. 📍 Cultural & Historical Spots: Albuquerque Old Town – Definitely worth a visit! Allow 3-4 hours. Lots of cute little shops with handmade crafts (not the mass-produced type!). At the Candy Lady, you can even buy a bag of “blue rock candy” inspired by Breaking Bad 💙🍬—perfect as a fun souvenir for friends. Albuquerque Museum – Also highly recommended, located right next to the Old Town. You can explore it in about an hour. There are six galleries featuring both permanent and seasonal exhibits, covering local culture and conceptual art. 🖼️ Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (Albuquerque) – A must-visit! Spend around 2 hours here. The building is circular ⭕ and showcases the diverse cultures and languages of different Pueblo tribes. There’s also a Pueblo restaurant inside—I heard the food is great! They’re even opening one at the airport soon. I didn’t have time to eat but grabbed a cookie 🍪 before heading out. Santa Fe Old Town – Worth a full afternoon. Similar vibe with lots of museums and craft shops, though many sell similar imported goods. Still, the Adobe architecture and museums are beautiful. Might feel repetitive if you’re not into cultural stuff. Santa Fe History Museum – Allow 2 hours. Very detailed and engaging storytelling about New Mexico’s past. 📜 Santa Fe IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts – A bit underwhelming. It’s pretty small and focuses on modern Native American art—some pieces were hard to grasp, but definitely thought-provoking! 🎨 🌄 Natural & Scenic Spots: Sadly, I didn’t have time for the reservations or White Sands, but if you have 4+ days, there are amazing Indigenous cultural experiences—check out Lonely Planet’s “A Local's Guide To Must-See New Mexico” for inspiration! Sandia Peak (yep, “Sandia” means watermelon in Spanish 🍉!) – A beautiful spot about an hour from town. It was once the world’s longest tramway 🚡—stunning at sunset! You’ll pass it on the way from ABQ to Santa Fe. Better to book in advance during peak season—we walked in and had to wait in line. #Albuquerque #SantaFe #OffTheBeatenPath #HiddenGems #TravelDairy #SouthwestUSA #CulturalTravel #AdobeArchitecture #NewMexicoTrue #ExploreLocal