🎄 Christmas Trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico

Due to not being able to rent an SUV, we ultimately decided to skip plans to visit Bisti and Chaco after two days of hesitation. But hey—every trip has its regrets, and it just means there’s more to look forward to next time! 😊 So we spent two days exploring Albuquerque instead. The first is of a quirky UFO-shaped house built by a creative local grandpa. It was near where we stayed, so we dropped by for a fun photo op. 🛸 Of course, no visit to ABQ is complete without stopping by the famous Breaking Bad store! 🧢⚗️ As fans, we were pretty impressed—the merch is diverse and well-designed. The store is located near Old Town, so we also wandered around the local shops and visited the San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church. 🏛️ The church is free to enter,✨ and the gift shop at the entrance feels like a mini-museum—definitely worth a look. We also tried the spicy coffee at Blackbird Coffee House. ☕🌶️ It was okay—a bit sweet for my taste—but the café had a great vibe! One of the highlights was riding the Sandia Peak Tramway—the longest aerial tram in the U.S.! 🚡 We went on January 1st and booked the 4–8 PM slot. Adults even got a $10 discount! We expected holiday crowds, but we only waited 15 minutes before boarding. Each tram car fits about 40 people and runs every 15 minutes. During peak season, be prepared to wait longer! There was a guide onboard who shared fun facts about the rocks and the tram itself. On the return trip, the guide—a man nearly 60—told heartfelt stories about his father and his own connection to the tram. 🗻❤️ As the sun set and the city lights began to glow, the moment felt truly magical. The view from the top was breathtaking, but the wind was intense—super cold! ❄️🧥 Bundle up! We stayed about 20 minutes and headed back down just after sunset. Watching the city light up was absolutely perfect. We also visited Petroglyph National Monument, a small national park near the city. 🏞️ You can get your passport stamped at the visitor center, but for the actual trails, navigate to Boca Negra Canyon. We hiked the Mesa Point Trail and saw ancient Indigenous rock carvings. The trail involves a bit of climbing but can be done in under an hour. On our last day, we went to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. ✈️🚀 The outdoor exhibit featuring planes and missiles is a major highlight—perfect for military enthusiasts! We took an Uber there, and the driver warned us the area might be unsafe—even mentioning “grab kids” rumors. Not sure if it’s true, but better safe than sorry!😀 By the last two days, we were tired of eating out, so we bought instant noodles, veggies, shrimp, and more at Smith’s and cooked in our hotel. 🍜🦐 The food prices here are pretty reasonable! Shoutout to Residence Inn—currently my favorite hotel in the U.S. (except for their super repetitive breakfast…😅). #Albuquerque #NewMexico #TravelGuide #BreakingBad #SandiaPeak #Petroglyph #NuclearMuseum #USTravel #HotelLife