TheMapPinJunkie

TheMapPinJunkie

Monday, January 25, 2016

Destination Dash - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Today's Destination Dash features Albuquerque, New Mexico, a place that always surprises me. It is easy to navigate, has plenty to do for people across all demographics, and features art, history, science, archaeology, and plenty of outdoor opportunities. I've had the chance to visit ABQ (the airport code) for client business many times and have always been lucky to have time to explore. This list represents my 'must-do' activities for those of you who have limited time to visit. All of these could be accomplished in one day, assuming you are full of energy and well-nourished on strong coffee. :)
photo found on the Albuquerque Visitor's Center webpage -Getty Images
Name: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Population: 557,169 (2014 est.)
Flight Time: from LAX, 12 hr 55 minutes
Etymology of the name: Version 1: albus quercus meaning "white oak" in honor of Spanish Duke of Albuquerque. Version 2: the Galician word albaricoque, meaning "apricot". The apricot was brought to New Mexico by Spanish settlers. Supposedly, the original settlement was established near an apricot tree and became known as La Ciudad de Albaricoque. As frontiersmen were unable to correctly pronounce the Galician word, it became corrupted to "Albuquerque.
Special Note: This is where Bugs Bunny should have taken a left turn in 1945. :)

My top 5 things to do in Albuquerque:

1. Visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Their mission statement says it all: "To preserve and perpetuate Pueblo culture and to advance understanding by presenting with dignity and respect,
the accomplishments and evolving history of the Pueblo people of New Mexico".
Recommended time - 2 hours.

2.  For something completely different....visit the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. Here you can learn about the Atomic Age and the influence of nuclear energy on the past, present, and future. A perfect place to take those interested in science, aviation, and history. If you have children, check out the kid-specific exhibits.
Recommended time - 2 hours.

3. Albuquerque BioPark Botanic Garden - If you only one day in ABQ, make this one of your destinations! They have a zoo, a botanic garden, a aquarium, and facilities for fishing and boating. Events throughout the year, family-friendly, and easily accessible. If that doesn't convince you, this place was names as one of the top 12 botanic gardens in the country by the Travel Channel!
Recommended time - 2 hours or more.


4. Petroglyph National Monument -  For the outdoorsy among you, this place offers a great place to stretch your legs and see ruins, artifacts, and petroglyphs. It is one of my favorite places in Albuquerque. Start your visit at the Visitor's Center to get an overview of the locale, maps, and plan your day.
Recommended time - at least 2 hours. 

5. Old Town Albuquerque - Beyond the Indian Pueblo center, it is a bit touristy here, but makes for a great place to have a bite to eat, window shop and get a sense of the culture of the area. A highlight for me is the San Felipe de Neri Church, dating back to 1706 (current version built in 1793).
Recommended time - 1 1/2 to 3 hours.

There is so much more to do in ABQ, including hiking the Sandia Peak, taking the tram over the same, the international hot air balloon festival, taking in a minor league baseball game, and more. Hopefully, this will get your planning in motion. Albuquerque makes a great destination for a weekend or longer so consider adding it to your trip list.

 Peace, love, and travel!

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Belated Happy New Year! 2016 Travel Goals

Wow, the month of January is almost over and I am just now getting around to my second 2016 blog post? What a sad state of affairs. I'd like to blame it on preparation for far-flung travels or that I won the billion-dollar PowerBall jackpot, but neither is true. I've just been enjoying  life beyond the PC, iPad, cellphone, television, etc.

January is when a lot of people make resolutions. Not me, I make goals. Resolutions are great, but I find that I have a stronger chance of reaching a goal than sticking to a resolution. Goals are fun for me; I make them SMART and then it becomes a game.



Here is my list of 2016 travel-related goals (in no particular order):
1. Do more local travel - in-town, in-state, regional, etc. I find that when I have time to travel, I rarely consider staying local. This is a shame, because while my city is not D.C., NYC, or SF we do have some great museums, restaurants and unique things to do. GOAL: Be a backyard tourist and visit a local destination at least once per quarter.

2. Organize all the travel ephemera gathered over the past 25 years - ticket stubs, maps, currency, etc. I have two boxes full of cool little artifacts that I've tucked between the pages of guidebooks, into camera bags and pockets. It needs to be sorted and presented in a way that lets me enjoy it from time to time and gets it out of the cardboard boxes. I love this idea from Martha Stewart: travel ephemera boxes (photo at top). GOAL: Create two boxes every quarter. That won't get me finished until 2018 but it's a good start.

3. Look to the North - Canada. As someone who has been to 6 continents, it is almost laughable that I've never been to Canada. Sorry, Mississauga, you don't count. As I start to plan short trips for 2016 and 2017, I've started to consider Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax as jumping-off points for a Canadian adventure. GOAL: Book a long weekend in Vancouver to occur by November 30th, 2016.

4. Print my travel photos - I am woefully behind in printing my photos from Australia and New Zealand, so to add to our gallery wall, I need to get in gear. GOAL: Select the 5 best photos to print and frame by March 1st, 2016.

5. Take the dogs on a road trip - It has been years since we took the dogs on a road trip so before any more time passes, we'll pack the car, load up the pups and hit the road. The last time we went to Bahia Kino and the dogs played in the waves for hours. Perhaps, this time the mountains beckon? GOAL: Plan and execute a road trip with the dogs by September 30, 2016.

That's a pretty good list, I think. What about you? What travel goals do you have for 2016? Share them in the comments.
peace, love, and travel!

Saturday, January 2, 2016

#Backyard Tourist - Taking Advantage of Local Sightseeing Opportunities

To start the new year and enjoy the last of my time away from work, we've been doing a lot of hiking and walking the dogs. Today was no exception and we spent time at the San Tan Mountain regional park, which is just a short drive from the house. In fact, the only photo I took today was the shot below which is a view of the San Tan Mountain from just beyond our driveway. On the way home it occurred to me I took no photos and, being such a gorgeous day, I thought that was a travesty. So, we pulled over onto the shoulder of the road, I jumped out of the car, turned around, and took this shot. 

It was a lovely day with warmer temperatures and surprisingly few people. Here is what the Maricopa County website has to say: San Tan Mountain Regional Park consists of over 10,000 acres, the southeast Valley park and is a fine example of the lower Sonoran Desert. The park ranges in elevation from about 1,400 feet to over 2,500 feet. Goldmine Mountain is located in the northern area, with a spectacular San Tan Mountain escarpment in the southern portion of the park. The vegetation changes from creosote flats to dense saguaro forest. Various types of wildlife may be observed, including reptiles, birds, and mammals.

One of my goals for 2016 is to enjoy more local sightseeing opportunities. I love to travel and am quite neglectful about taking advantage of all Arizona has to offer. Today was a step in the right direction!  Two days down, 363 days to go!