Living in Albuquerque, New Mexico:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

Lots of traffic, more expensive than what websites say, it’s one big suburb.

The best piece of advice someone ever told me about ABQ was if I was going to ride my bike to work I needed to take my basket and the bike seat in the building with me because people will steal it even if you have the bike fully locked down. If you go to UNM you will get ~ 1-3 phone notifications of a shooting or a gun spotted on campus or the nearby diner per semester.

The Bosque (Spanish word for forest) next to the Rio Grande is filled with trails, and you can paddle in the river itself. Spring is when the soccer season starts so parks are filled with teams practicing. No matter what type of weather or time of year, outside activities are always part of life in New Mexico.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is located along the Rio Grande, the third largest river in the united states, next to the Sandia Mountains. No matter where you are in the city you are only about 15 minutes from being engulfed in nature and beautiful scenery. The state is a former colony of the Spanish and Mexican governments and was the land of the many pueblo people before them.

One of the best parts about living in Albuquerque is the community aspect. Albuquerque has many food banks, animal shelters and homeless shelters to help people that are struggling. In the Mission to Mars project, 4th and 5th graders from across the city get to come together and make their own little colony using blow up structures.

Breaking Bad was set and filmed in Albuquerque, but the show doesn’t completely encapsulate what Albuquerque is actually like. The state is known as the “Land of Enchantment” because once you move here and get to learn the city you’ll never want to leave. Each year the city hosts the balloon fiesta in which people from all over the world come to see hundreds of hot air balloons fill up the morning sky. It is a beautiful sight to see and sometimes a balloon will land near your house.

One moving to Albuquerque must consider the potential danger in doing so. The most populated street is riddled with people who have nowhere to go, yet plenty to do. Often this can present incredibly dangerous situations; the last time I traveled this street, I barely escaped a mugging.

It’s often said that if you don’t like the weather in Albuquerque, wait an hour or so—it will change. A snowy January morning in Albuquerque will more than likely lead to a beautiful sunny afternoon. A stormy and rainy evening will often lead to a morning filled with sunshine. If you’re looking for clear azure skies and fresh desert air, Albuquerque is the place for you!

In October, the city puts on a giant celebration called the Balloon Fiesta. Thousands of balloons, many made in New Mexico, take off into the skis over my city for two weeks. Image waking up and going to work with thousands of balloons crowding over the airspace while you drive. It is an amazing site. Not to mention that the actual grounds where the balloons take off from are filled with people eating and drinking and partying day and night.

Albuquerque lifestyle combines the activities of a big city with the atmosphere of a small town. With a great balance of nightlife and outdoor activities, the Albuquerque metropolitan area offer mountain views and vibrant city culture. The Sunport is the airport in Albuquerque, and offers international flights even though it is small and only has a outlet terminals.

Like Denver, CO, Albuquerque sits at an altitude of approximately one mile above sea level. The high desert is beautiful, sunny, and extremely dry. It is best to bring plenty of sunscreen and water when one comes. The sunny weather makes Albuquerque the perfect location for hot air balloon enthusiasts to fly.

Albuquerque is a wonderful place but it does have its flaws. Crime and poverty are high, and the weather is unpredictable. The culture, food, and outdoors make up for the flaws, however.

Someone moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico should carefully consider several aspects of Burque life before making their decision. First, they should consider whether they’re able to adapt to the rather extreme weather. Cold winters swing into molten summers without warning. Second, they should consider whether they are comfortable with the high levels of crime in the city. From auto theft to homicide, crime runs rampant in many areas of the city. Finally, they should consider the wonderful, blended culture that exists in Albuquerque. The blend of Spanish, Mexican, Pueblo Indian, and modern American cultures has led to a unique community that is amazing to live and work in.