Albuquerque’s charms have not gone unnoticed, and it is consistently on the top of “Best Place” lists. In 2008 it was named one of America’s 50 greenest cities by Popular Science, second-most affordable vacation spot by AAA Magazine and third-fittest city by Men’s Fitness. Clean air, over 300 days of sun a year, a beautiful setting, a rich culture and relatively low cost of living and affordable housing all combine to make Albuquerque appealing to individuals and businesses alike.

Albuquerque may be New Mexico’s biggest city, but with just over 800,000 residents, it is still small by big-city standards. However, each October the population almost doubles when 700,000 or more visitors come to see 700 hot-air balloons float over the city during the annual International Balloon Fiesta. Sometimes called “Balloon Capital of the World,” Albuquerque’s unique combination of mountain formations and river valleys creates ideal wind conditions for ballooning year-round.

No question that Albuquerque is technology central. Home to some of the nation’s finest research facilities, the city has a wealth of scientists and more than its fair share of Ph.D.s. New Mexico has been a nuclear presence since the 1940s, when it produced and tested the first nuclear weapon (atomic bomb). Today the focus of the high-tech labs is on home security and finding peaceful uses for nuclear energy. Kirtland Air Force Base is Albuquerque’s biggest employer and home to Air Force Material Command’s Nuclear Weapons Center. Sandia National Laboratories, a United States Department of Energy research and development laboratory, focuses on science-based technologies that support national security. The Atomic Museum follows the history of atomic energy from war to peace.

With its plethora of museums, historic areas, cultural centers, pueblos, sunny skies and natural attractions, it’s no wonder that Albuquerque draws about 5 million visitors a year, making the hospitality industry a major economic presence. Albuquerque also hosts most of the state’s convention and trade shows. Because these events are very profitable, competition is stiff, so, with an eye to attracting even larger shows, talks are in the works for a $400 million project in the downtown area around Civic Plaza, with plans to build a 12,000-seat event center and a 500-room nationally branded hotel near the present convention center. The hotel would bring the number of rooms downtown to the amount needed for large conventions; and the hotel, event center and convention center would be connected to each other — a key ingredient in attracting the larger trade shows.

In December 2008 the commuter and visitor train, the Rail Runner, began its service from Albuquerque to the state capital of Santa Fe. Not only will this cut down on commuter traffic congestion, it will also make it easy for visitors to get from one city to the other.

Recently, Hollywood has moved to Albuquerque. And no wonder, since the Albuquerque Film Office offers free assistance to filmmakers, acting as liaison to city agencies and assisting with locations, equipment and accommodations. This, combined with the need for few permits for filming around Albuquerque, makes the city an easy and desirable place to produce a movie or TV show. And it can’t hurt that a popular TV show uses Albuquerque as its location. As Ann Lerner from the Albuquerque Film Office points out, “Every week 3 to 5 million people watch In Plain Sight. The show makes Albuquerque look good, and who knows the economic impact of that many people watching “Albuquerque” being typed on the screen at the start of each show — but I bet people can spell it now.”

LODGING

DOUBLETREE HOTEL ALBUQUERQUE
Located across the street from the Convention Center, the highrise hotel has a fitness center, pool and wireless Internet.$–$$$
DOUBLETREE HOTEL ALBUQUERQUE
201 Marquette Ave. N.W.
tel 505 247 3344
www.doubletree.com

EMBASSY SUITES ALBUQUERQUE
Business travelers will appreciate the spacious suites, 24-hour business center, high-speed Internet and complimentary breakfast.$–$$
EMBASSY SUITES ALBUQUERQUE
1000 Woodward Place N.E.
tel 505 245 7100
www.embassysuitesalbuquerque.com

HOTEL ALBUQUERQUE AT OLD TOWN
Renovated with Southwestern flair, luxury guestrooms and suites have views of Old Town and the Sandia Mountains. Onsite restaurants and bar.$$–$$$
HOTEL ALBUQUERQUE AT OLD TOWN
800 Rio Grande Blvd. N.W.
tel 505 843 6300
www.hhandr.com/hotelabq

DINING

CHAMA RIVER BREWING COMPANY
Accompany a house brew with endive and citrus butter, barbecued ribs, Southwest chicken pot pie or truffled blue cheese fries. $–$$$
CHAMA RIVER BREWING COMPANY
4939 Pan American Freeway
tel 505 342 1800
www.chamariverbrewery.com

SADIE’S OF NEW MEXICO
An Albuquerque favorite for 50 years. Southwest specialties include sopaipillas (fried dough), carne adovada (pork and red chilies), spicy salsa and killer margaritas.$–$$
SADIE’S OF NEW MEXICO
6230 Fourth St. N.W., tel 505 345 5339,
www.sadiessalsa.com

TUCANOS BRAZILIAN GRILL
Bring an appetite to fully enjoy Brazilian churrasco open-flame skewer grilling in a festive setting.$$–$$$
TUCANOS BRAZILIAN GRILL
110 Central Ave. S.W.
tel 505 246 9900
www.tucanos.com

DIVERSIONS

One of the most exciting things to do in Albuquerque is to go on an early morning balloon ride. Rainbow Ryders (tel 505 823 1111, www.rainbowryders.com) has been in business for 26 years and offers rides year-round, weather permitting. Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum (tel 505 880 0500, www.balloonmuseum.com) is the place to learn more about ballooning and view more than 50 historic and contemporary gondolas, many accompanied by complete balloon systems.

The National Hispanic Cultural Center (tel 505 246 2261, www.nhccnm.org) is dedicated to the study, advancement and presentation of Hispanic culture, arts and humanities. Besides various exhibit halls and a performance center, there are a library, a genealogy center and an award-winning restaurant. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (tel 866 855 7902, www.indianpueblo.org) focuses on preserving and perpetuating Pueblo Indian culture, history and art. Permanent exhibits follow the history of the Pueblos and display artifacts and traditional crafts. Pueblo Harvest Café & Bakery (tel 505 724 3510) is the city’s only Native American Indian-owned restaurant; traditional hornos (adobe ovens) are used to bake Pueblo oven bread daily.

Albuquerque offers a plethora of museums, ranging from the quirky to the traditional. American International Rattlesnake Museum (tel 505 242 6596, www.rattlesnakes.com) boasts the world’s largest collection of live rattlesnakes. New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (tel 505 841 2800, www.nmnaturalhistory.org) is the place to learn about dinosaurs and walk through a simulated active volcano. Albuquerque Museum of Art and History(tel 505 243 7255, www.cabq.gov/museum) follows the city’s history and highlights the work of regional artists. Explora (tel 505 224 8323, www.explora.us/en) is a hands-on learning center featuring more than 250 interactive exhibits that are fun for the whole family. The National Atomic Museum (tel 505 245 2137, www.atomicmuseum.com) follows the Atomic Age from early nuclear development research and the creation of the first atomic bomb to today’s peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Albuquerque’s Old Town (www.albuquerqueoldtown.com) is the city’s historic core and centers around the plaza and the lovely San Felipe de Neri Church. Pueblo/Spanish-style buildings house stores, galleries and restaurants.

There are plenty of outdoor activities within Albuquerque’s city limits. Trails around Petroglyph National Monument (tel 505 897 8814, www.nps.gov/petr) pass by an estimated 20,000 petroglyphs carved on volcanic rock as early as 1300. For an unrivaled view of the city, board the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway (tel 505 856 7325, www.sandiapeak.com) for a 2.7-mile ride to the top of 10,400-foot Sandia Peak. New Mexico Jeep Tours (tel 505 252 0112, www.nmjeeptours.com) offers off-the-beaten-path tours over primitive roads on private land, exploring Pueblo ruins and geological formations.

At Home with Dale Lockett

President and CEO Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS ALBUQUERQUE’S GREATEST ASSETS?
Our culture and heritage jump out head and shoulders above everything else. Our city’s been shaped by three distinct cultures coming together — the Native American, the Hispanic and the Western — all of which can still be experienced in Albuquerque today. Another major asset is our natural environment. National monuments, state parks and forest land all surround the Albuquerque area, making it extremely easy to get out of the city and into nature. And we are the ballooning capital of the world, with the fall International Balloon Fiesta being the city’s biggest event.

WHAT MAIN INDUSTRIES DRIVE THE CITY?
The No. 1 industry in Albuquerque is government, including Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories. The second-largest is the hospitality industry, which generates more than $2 billion a year for Albuquerque — over half the income for the state as a whole — providing 22,000 jobs. We also have quite a bit of emphasis on green technology, including Schott Solar and Advent Solar. The numbers of scientists and technologists employed by the various green companies and Sandia National Labs make Albuquerque a very strong technology-oriented community. More recently, the film industry has become an economic presence.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE CITY?
There’s the Rail Runner, the visitor and commuter train between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Then there are the studios, which have been exceeding all expectations in the number of productions being filmed in Albuquerque. The TV series In Plain Sight is filmed here, and it is doing critically very well, but the biggest emphasis is on feature film production.

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR THE CITY?
Albuquerque has been New Mexico’s only major convention destination. The convention industry is very competitive, and cities are constantly upgrading their product. With this in mind, we’re discussing a $400 million project to attract the larger trade show business, including a 12,000-seat event center and a 550-room headquarter hotel, as well as improved downtown retail development.