New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment, a place where couples can have cinematic love story moments and experience amazing sunsets, even more incredible balloon rides, and catch their breath in acres of organic lavender. Here’s your 5-day itinerary to Albuquerque, one of the coolest cities in the Southwest.

OldTownAlb

Day 1

Morning

Jump right into the pool, so to speak, and get some New Mexico in your system by starting the day with huevos rancheros, the quintessential New Mexican breakfast of eggs with beans, cheese, tortillas, and chile. You’ll find it on every breakfast menu in town from the normcore Weck’s to the more sophisticated Grove Cafe.

Afternoon

Head down to Old Town where you can stroll among the historic adobe walls and take adorable photos of each other while drinking third wave coffee from Velvet Coffee House. Then have a nice dinner at Vinaigrette, the salad-and-everything-else palace with locally-grown produce from Nambe. Afterwards go see a play at the Albuquerque Little Theater, where Duke City local Vivian Vance (aka Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy) cut her teeth as an actress. Ticket prices vary but run about $25 for adults.

Plaza

Day 2

Morning

You’re over your flight or your long drive and are ready to raise your heartrate. Wake up a little early, pick up fresh breakfast burritos at Golden Pride (there are three locations, all known for breakfast burritos as well as barbecue ribs and fried chicken) and head over to the launchpad of the hot air balloon you booked in advance from one of several professional hot air balloon companies, like the Rainbow Ryders or World Balloon to get a bird’s-eye view of the city. Tickets will run you roughly $150/person, depending on the time of year. Thusly exhilarated, have lunch at the sophisticated Slate Street Cafe downtown.

Afternoon

Unwind from your flight with a leisurely tour of the Botanical Gardens (and the zoo and aquarium too, if you like) hand-in-hand. It will cost you $12.50 for one part of the park, and $20 as a combo pack. The zoo has frequent midnight musical events and beer fests, or go get barbecue at Powdrells or Rudy’s. For a more high-end experience, get authentic Southern food at the Star Trek-themed Nexus Brewery.

Day 3

Morning

If your hotel offers room service, take advantage and have breakfast in bed. Otherwise pop down to the Albuquerque fixture Flying Star (there are several locations) for brunch and then lounge by the pool or, better yet, go to the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and get Lemongrass Dry Brush massages ($165/person).

Afternoon

Thus recovered, spend the day exploring Nob Hill, shopping at Day of the Dead haven Masks y Mas, Gertrude Zachary, and Ojo Optique. You’ll have seen some eateries on Nob Hill that intrigue you, like Street Food Asia, Scalo, or Zacatecas Tacos + Tequila, so drop in for a little international dinner. Then maybe pop back to the hotel for some dressier togs and spend the evening in Albuquerque’s balmy night air on the rooftop patio at Imbibe or at cocktail haven Zinc.

GhostTown

Day 4

Morning

Get breakfast and coffee at the award-winning The Shop on Nob Hill and head out to Petroglyph National Monument, about twenty minutes from the city by car, to see the Three Sisters (Albuquerque’s inactive volcanoes) before the hottest part of the day. It will cost you $1/car to go. After all that hiking you’re going to be starving. Hit up The Standard Diner for an upscale Route 66 Americana eating experience.

Evening

You had your exercise today, so head downtown to let your hair down. Have dinner at Tucano’s Brazilian Grill if you’re hungry (practically unlimited meat brought around on skewers and an encyclopedic salad bar) and then pop over to Albuquerque’s downtown rock clubs, the Launchpad or the Sunshine Theater, for a concert. Tickets range from $10 and up depending on the band. For a pre-concert, locally-brewed Belgian beer, hit up Duel Brewery’s vast downtown taproom.

DowntownAlb

Day 5

Morning

For your last day in the Duke City, check out of your hotel and check into Los Poblanos Lavender farm in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque (roughly twenty minutes away from downtown) where you can bask in the aroma of acres of organic lavender fields. But before you settle in to relax, drive a few miles down the road to Casa Rondeña winery and have a tasting in their cask room.

Evening

Say goodbye to New Mexico with margaritas and dinner at the farm-to-table restaurant at Los Poblanos, then fall asleep to gentle lavender-scented breezes. Don’t forget to visit their gift shop for one-of-a-kind balms and lotions on your way out of town.

Tantri Wija

Tantri Wija

Tantri Wija

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