My Town: Albuquerque (Route 66)

The Thompsons may have arrived in New Mexico at different times, but they are in perfect concert about its wonder. 

“It’s such a beautiful climate with all four seasons and lots of sunshine,”  Carolyn says. “The southern end of the Rocky Mountains is our backdrop. It’s multicultural, which is another thing we love about being here: the long history of the Hispanic and Native American cultures.” 

Situated a mile high in elevation, the Sun Belt City experiences a mild climate with an average of 310 days of sunshine annually. 

“There is a lot to look forward to in the fall here in New Mexico,” Carolyn says. “Perfect weather—sunshine, cool nights, the colors changing. We don’t get the bright reds here, but we get the golds of Aspen and other native trees. The air is crisp.” 

The Thompsons associate two particular New Mexico aromas with autumn: pinion wood burning in fireplaces and roasted green chiles. 

“The way crabs are a big part of Baltimore, green chiles are like that in Albuquerque,” Ken says. “The best ones in the world come from the Rio Grande Valley. And this time of year, when they’re harvested, all the grocery stores and some of the park stands will have big barrels where they’ll be roasting these things by hand outside. It smells wonderful.”

The Thompsons love many of the city’s restaurants, but say the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center particularly stands out because of its talented head chef and inventive menu.

One of the most notable outdoor attractions is the Balloon Fiesta, which happens every October for 10 days, though it was canceled this year. More than 600 balloons from all over the world descend on—and rise over—Albuquerque each year.

The area is a hiker’s delight. The Sandia Peak Tramway takes visitors 10,300 feet up to the Sandia Mountains’ summit and offers views of the city and the Rio Grande Valley. From the top, trekkers can see Santa Fe in the east. Less-adventurous travelers can also walk along the Bosque Trail and through the Elena Gallegos Open Space, which are closer to ground level and flat. 

Albuquerque is home to a plethora of museums. The Thompsons suggest the art and geology museums at the University of New Mexico, the Albuquerque Museum and the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. 

In the evenings the couple will sometimes drive along Route 66. They could, in fact walk there, since they live four blocks from it. 

“The iconic Route 66 is just a pleasure at night,” Carolyn says. “So much of the neon has been restored. It’s just a pleasure to take yourself back in time.”