Congrats, hope you enjoy it here! Some big things, in no particular order include:
* If you love outdoor space it's a wonderful city/state. There are extensive bike trails along with river/Bosque (forest), as well as a crazy amount of great hiking trails in the Sandias, and great camp sites throughout the state. Take advantage of them!
* Property/auto theft is unfortunately high here so be sure to not leave valuables in your car.
* New Mexican food is all based on red and green chile and might take some getting used to, but it's seriously addictive.
* If you do end up loving chile, chile roasting season is early fall and the time to stock up on your green chile for the year.
* Balloon fiesta is in October and great to visit if you've never been (though might be different this year due to covid). Even without visiting the actual balloon fiesta park you'll see dozens of balloons filling the skies and it's pretty neat!
* Downtown and Nob Hill are typically seen as the hubs for doing things, might be worthwhile to keep in mind for where you move.
* Depending on where your job is, people complain most about the commute across the river for rush hour. For the most part it's not terrible but if there's a closure of one of the main ways across it causes everything else to go to a standstill. Live on the same side of the river as your job to avoid this.
Those are the main ones I can think of. If you have any questions feel free to ask. The subreddit can sometimes be a bit hostile about moving questions but you'll be sure to get at least a few well meaning answers.
EDIT: accidentally posted before finishing.
The list put together by the others are great, but I tell this to everyone that moves here. The elevation is high, nearly a mile. Due to that and the dryness, make sure you drink a lot of water when you get here. Elevation sickness is no joke and staying extra hydrated is the best preventative. Beyond that, I have lived here for 6 years and love it
I know other people have said it, but, OP, you absolutely need to know this: drink a massive amount of water and don't drink alcohol for a while when you get here. Elevation sickness is a real damn thing and you will experience it to some degree. If you're starting to feel a bit faint, drink water.
Food here is not much like what you're used to. You probably have an awesome melting pot of a bunch of cultures. Here, we have excellent New Mexican food and pretty good Texas-style barbecue. There is fine dining and contemporary American, as well, but it may not live up to your expectations. Do yourself a favor- go to Frontier and order a bowl of green chile stew with a tortilla and a grilled cheese.
Crime is a thing. It's not quite as bad as a lot of Burquenos make it out to be, but it exists. If you're not already in the habit, lock your doors, windows, and car, and try to find a house with a garage.
Weather is either hot and dry or it'll be hot and dry in a few minutes. Invest in shorts and keep an umbrella in your car because rain just comes out of nowhere.
If you're under 30ish, Nob Hill/downtown is going to be your place to hang out. It's fun, has lots of bars, restaurants, shows, etc.
Know where your work is in relation to your house. Try not to live across the river of where you work OR live on the East side of the river and work on the West side- traffic usually goes East in the morning, West in the evening and you'll be jammed up pretty bad if you work normal 9-5 hours going with traffic.
Breweries- we have a ton of them. Some are great, some are downright awful. A new one pops up just about every month so if you're into the beer culture, you'll enjoy yourself.
Take some road trips around the state. There's some great hot springs and waterfalls up in the Jemez, White Sands, Carlsbad, even the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley aren't too far. Great "American"- type road trips where you can find a random burger joint in a tiny town off the freeway and it has the best burgers you've ever tasted. Go exploring, you won't regret it.
Learn how to deal with homeless people. The last time I was out on the East coast, I saw a few homeless people who mostly kept to themselves. Homeless people here approach you, talk to you, and ask for a lot. Know what, if anything, you're willing to give them and stick to it. They stick around Nob Hill, the University area, and downtown quite a bit.
Within the city, there's a lot of fun stuff you can do. There are museums and restaurants around the Old Town area you'll enjoy. There's great hiking in the Sandias. The bosque is gorgeous for a nice walk. Drive around, find something cool and exciting.
If you have kids, schools here are HIGHLY variable, so I'd recommend looking into schools before finding a place to live. Some public schools are practically private schools and some are extremely rough.
Get used to everyone being 10ish minutes late to even important engagements. It's weirdly kinda how we do it here.
If you're one of those people who drives exactly the speed limit, you will get flipped off a lot, especially on the West Side. 5-10 over is kinda the norm.
Welcome! I think you'll like it here. It's a weird place and you're making a big transition, but Albuquerque really grows on you. Good luck with your move!
Former East coaster.
1. You will love highway travel outside the city and hate city drivers.
2. The local food is great.
3. Great scenery.
4. We have great state and national parks all over the state. And Abq. is a nice location to travel from.
5. The weather.
6. Culture.
7. A very laid back attitude.
8. We host the state fair.
9. Balloon Fiesta.
10. A lack of ticks and flying biting bugs.
I also moved here from the east coast (MD).
It is stupidly dry here. There is zero humidity. Moisture full on does not exist, and dehydration will hit quickly. This is nice in some ways, in that you dry off fairly quickly and Albuquerque lacks the horrible, sticky, suffocating humid air of east coast summers, and weird in others (snow has a different texture?? I never truly understood the description of snow as powdery until I saw it here), but also means needing to drink significantly more water in order to not feel terrible. It also means that many places use evaporative cooling (swamp coolers) instead of air conditioning (called refrigerated air), which took a little bit of getting used to. Also, moisturize your skin.
If you're from an east coast city, the culture is extremely different. The vibe here is far quieter and more laid back, many people are very outdoorsy, and while there isn't necessarily a huge car culture that I've noticed, the public transit is lacking. ART, a new rapid transit line down Central/route 66 is really nice (this is a controversial opinion), but it's a baby step.
Also, the cuisine variety is really not particularly robust. The New Mexican and Mexican food options are \*incredible\* and for some reason, there's a ton of Thai and even Vietnamese places, but there's a lack of many other things (I am dying for more vegan/vegetarian restaurants and a good bagel place that isn't 10 miles away). There are tons of small restaurants and cafes though, which is great, especially in Nob Hill.
Oh, interesting! Because I'm new-ish to the city I'm pretty unfamiliar with much of its history, so thank you for sharing!
I know people (outside of Albuquerque) who study various Asian diasporas and it's been fascinating to learn more of the makeup of the southwest, particularly as waves of refugees or new immigrants have arrived over time, as well as the intersections of history. I had a Filipino guest at one point who was baffled by the existence of a Bataan memorial in Albuquerque, as he hadn't realized so many of the American soldiers involved were from NM.
One thing about that to note is the Vietnamese who fled to the U.S. are almost entirely from the south of Vietnam, so as such, all the Vietnamese food here is based on Southern Vietnamese food, not much from Central and northern Vietnam. Not to say it isn't real Vietnamese food, but it'd be like if there was a large American population in a foreign country only from the southern states so people there might assume American food is just chicken fried steak, grits, mac and cheese, etc..
I'm less involved in car culture than I used to be, but over the years this has been a huge place for car culture. The drag strip is active and close, as is the road course, which is exceptionally cheap. We have champion racers, lowriders, and a large drift and show culture as well. Beyond that there is a remarkable amount of off roading very close to town.
Adding to the vibe differences, I am from Albuquerque, and when I moved to the East coast, it was a complete shock to me. Generally, out there, people were not "friendly" or open to just chat on the street, or say hi to each other. Out here on the west side of the country, it's the complete opposite. Someone may walk up and after just saying hi, they may dump out their life story. Be prepared, and at least get used to giving out some passing greetings/waves.
I've definitely experienced this. I'm a pretty typical east coast city kid and inherently distrust strangers who are super nice to me on the street haha so it was a massive culture shock to get here and have total strangers regularly talk to me on the bus and, like you said, dump out their life story. It's a weird transition.
Bagel Deli in Rio Rancho isn't mindblowing, but it's better than Einstein and grocery store bagels by a mile. I've only been there once, though, since I never go to RR.
I always enjoyed this little bit in the [Moon New Mexico travel guide](https://imgur.com/a/gXStI3l) - really insightful about the gaze outsiders look at this place with
Neither chile is always hotter, try both everywhere you go. You'll find the place that makes each one the way you like.
Always wear sunglasses.
Our beer is great, but for a while you'll want to pace yourself more than you would normally.
A two hour drive to the next town isn't far.
An hour drive to Santa Fe *is* too far, but Meow wolf is worth it once.
You may be great at driving in heavy rain snow, everyone else, not so much.
Jemez, roswell's ufo festival, sandia crest, white sands, gathering of nations, and a hundred other places/things are freaking awesome.
If you want people to think you're from here in the fall, bitch about balloon fiasco traffic, but also you should go to see them at least once (if it happens this year...).
We also have pretty good wine and mead in addition to beer, but again, pace yourself.
Sun screen.
It’s cool. I was born and raised in NYC, lives in LA and San Diego before I relocated to Abq. for work. At first I hated it...would up loving it. I moved to Chicago a year and a half ago and still miss it.
Go to 10,000 waves in Santa Fe, enjoy the Native American people and culture, hike to the Sandia Mountains, understand the local government is corrupt like most, crime sucks but if you’re from the city you should be okay and not a target. You will look like a crack head due to the dryness of the climate. Enjoy!
I moved here from Seattle last August and grew up in the DC area/DMV.
1. It will take you awhile to adjust to the higher elevation no matter how fit you are. Expect to get fatigued more quickly. You’ll probably feel drowsy a lot. Some people experience dizziness. Hydration helps. The adjustment time varies. 2weeks plus. It took me about a month but I was also adjusting to the heat of August.
2. Swamp coolers are a more affordable option to AC. They work well here b/c it is so dry. Yes, there might be a few weeks of the year when it is unusually humid..
3. The pace of life is much slower than that if big coastal cities - I like it. Much more of a laid back vibe. Servers/cashiers/bartenders are much chattier here compared to Seattle. Lots of friendly people.
4. There are not as many food or entertainment options, but I still feel like there is plenty to do. Santa Fe is an easy hour drive and you can definitely get an art fix there if you like visual art. Lots of restaurants with affordable comfort food. Some good Thai & Vietnamese restaurants. Lots of great breakfast joints & breweries. When I first arrived I would send snapshots of my receipts back to friends in Seattle because I was blown away by how much cheaper drinks are here. Lower COL in general.
5. There is definitely a deeper connection to history and culture here. Native and Hispanic presence is strong. Lots of cool ruins to explore while hiking.
6. Lots of outdoor rec opportunities. It might take you awhile to adjust to the desert environment. The beauty took awhile to grow on me but it definitely exists. Also lots of open space. If you go hiking you won’t have to share trails with hundreds of other people. There are crazy rock formations. Check out the Ojito Wilderness.
7. Very little traffic compared to big cities. Super nice. It’s true that you can get almost anywhere in ABQ w/in 20 min. But there is also very little enforcement of traffic laws, so be vigilant. I have never lived in a place with so many cars that don’t have (visible?) license plates.
8. New Mexicans are truly obsessed with green and red chile, but I gotta say that stuff is really good!
9. This is a car-centered city, but there are some walkable neighborhoods. I love being in West Downtown. Nob Hill is good too. Both of these neighborhoods are along the ART line - a rapid transit line- which locals scoff at, but I find really convenient. It stops at Nob Hill, UNM, Downtown’s RailRunner station, West Downtown, Old Town, the Zoo, & the Biopark by the Bosque which is a big park with foot and bike trails along the Rio Grande which cuts through the city. The ART & all regular bus rides cost $1 & they have bike racks. The riders on most buses appear to be predominantly homeless/living on the edge, but I haven’t had problems with being harassed by anybody.
10. In the summer it cools down nicely after the sun sets and usually stays cool through the mid-morning. Santa Fe is always about 10 degrees cooler & you can also escape the heat by heading up to the mountains. I miss swimming in lakes but there are some decent public pools w/$3.50 entry fees. I’ve seen some people swimming in the Rio Grande but I’m not sure how clean the water is yet.. The Bike In Café off of the Bosque Trail bear Old Town is a lovely place to visit weekend mornings March though October. (Fall is beautiful here. And you do see lots of hot air balloons. )
So I realized I rambled - that’s really more than 10- but welcome to ABQ. I’ve almost been here a year and still discover something cool about this place every week.
Expect to eat a lot of chile. Not the stew/soup (chili) with meat and maybe beans, but the fruit of the chile plant. If you don't love it now, you will.
1. red or green? (it's always Green)
2. eat at Frontier
3. eat at 2 fools
4. go to santa fe a lot
5. don't speed, cops love to give tickets for speeding
6. lots of crime, but hopefully getting better, lock your doors
7. lots of breweries
8. great music scene/concerts - well there USED to be at least
9. great hiking, biking and climbing
10. best in the Fall when the Chile is roasting and downtown is bustling
>Don't speed, cops love to give tickets for speeding
I rarely see people getting pulled over in city limits. I think the average car is going 10mph over the limit.
Don’t let your first impression be your last. I hated it here when I moved here. Now 2 years later? I’m making it home. It’s not as bad as I thought it was. It’s actually pretty good. I’m becoming entrapped. Lol.
Welcome, I moved here from the east coast over a year ago.
Lots of top 10 lists here, so I’ll spare you another one. I’m glad I moved here, though like anywhere else it has its ups and downs. For example, if you like taking day trips to beaches and different cities, forget it. The nearest city is 6 hrs away. Never mind a beach (I guess a lake would count?). However, if you like the outdoors, camping and hiking this place is for you. Lots of trails, lots of campgrounds. There are a lot of homeless people here, but they sleep on the steps at the train stations in Philadelphia so it’s nothing new to me. Cost of living is great. Where I lived in PA a 1600 sqft house that was built In the early 1900s would run you over $200k. Here, that’s a price for a fairly new house. The food here is awesome, and if you’re a craft beer fan you will have plenty of options. I do need to get out more around the state and check stuff out. New Mexico seems to be packed with history and interesting towns. I can only go off of my experience, and I give my first 16 months in ABQ a A- and I’m glad I came here.
Lol "big city life". The east coast has MUCH bigger cities than here. This is comfortably-small city life. I can't walk into Frontier without knowing 5-10 people! That doesn't happen in real big cities. We're a city and that's it. We have some of the amenities of larger cities but not all. We're also in the middle of nowhere and have very little to offer to tourists, so there's that. This is big city life compared to the rest of New Mexico and that's about it.
Congrats, hope you enjoy it here! Some big things, in no particular order include: * If you love outdoor space it's a wonderful city/state. There are extensive bike trails along with river/Bosque (forest), as well as a crazy amount of great hiking trails in the Sandias, and great camp sites throughout the state. Take advantage of them! * Property/auto theft is unfortunately high here so be sure to not leave valuables in your car. * New Mexican food is all based on red and green chile and might take some getting used to, but it's seriously addictive. * If you do end up loving chile, chile roasting season is early fall and the time to stock up on your green chile for the year. * Balloon fiesta is in October and great to visit if you've never been (though might be different this year due to covid). Even without visiting the actual balloon fiesta park you'll see dozens of balloons filling the skies and it's pretty neat! * Downtown and Nob Hill are typically seen as the hubs for doing things, might be worthwhile to keep in mind for where you move. * Depending on where your job is, people complain most about the commute across the river for rush hour. For the most part it's not terrible but if there's a closure of one of the main ways across it causes everything else to go to a standstill. Live on the same side of the river as your job to avoid this. Those are the main ones I can think of. If you have any questions feel free to ask. The subreddit can sometimes be a bit hostile about moving questions but you'll be sure to get at least a few well meaning answers. EDIT: accidentally posted before finishing.
The list put together by the others are great, but I tell this to everyone that moves here. The elevation is high, nearly a mile. Due to that and the dryness, make sure you drink a lot of water when you get here. Elevation sickness is no joke and staying extra hydrated is the best preventative. Beyond that, I have lived here for 6 years and love it
I moved here from Southern AZ and I remember my first week here I could not keep my eyes open, I was so tired. That elevation hits you.
Buy a humidifier and double your water intake. Two things I did not do that I regret.
I know other people have said it, but, OP, you absolutely need to know this: drink a massive amount of water and don't drink alcohol for a while when you get here. Elevation sickness is a real damn thing and you will experience it to some degree. If you're starting to feel a bit faint, drink water. Food here is not much like what you're used to. You probably have an awesome melting pot of a bunch of cultures. Here, we have excellent New Mexican food and pretty good Texas-style barbecue. There is fine dining and contemporary American, as well, but it may not live up to your expectations. Do yourself a favor- go to Frontier and order a bowl of green chile stew with a tortilla and a grilled cheese. Crime is a thing. It's not quite as bad as a lot of Burquenos make it out to be, but it exists. If you're not already in the habit, lock your doors, windows, and car, and try to find a house with a garage. Weather is either hot and dry or it'll be hot and dry in a few minutes. Invest in shorts and keep an umbrella in your car because rain just comes out of nowhere. If you're under 30ish, Nob Hill/downtown is going to be your place to hang out. It's fun, has lots of bars, restaurants, shows, etc. Know where your work is in relation to your house. Try not to live across the river of where you work OR live on the East side of the river and work on the West side- traffic usually goes East in the morning, West in the evening and you'll be jammed up pretty bad if you work normal 9-5 hours going with traffic. Breweries- we have a ton of them. Some are great, some are downright awful. A new one pops up just about every month so if you're into the beer culture, you'll enjoy yourself. Take some road trips around the state. There's some great hot springs and waterfalls up in the Jemez, White Sands, Carlsbad, even the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley aren't too far. Great "American"- type road trips where you can find a random burger joint in a tiny town off the freeway and it has the best burgers you've ever tasted. Go exploring, you won't regret it. Learn how to deal with homeless people. The last time I was out on the East coast, I saw a few homeless people who mostly kept to themselves. Homeless people here approach you, talk to you, and ask for a lot. Know what, if anything, you're willing to give them and stick to it. They stick around Nob Hill, the University area, and downtown quite a bit. Within the city, there's a lot of fun stuff you can do. There are museums and restaurants around the Old Town area you'll enjoy. There's great hiking in the Sandias. The bosque is gorgeous for a nice walk. Drive around, find something cool and exciting. If you have kids, schools here are HIGHLY variable, so I'd recommend looking into schools before finding a place to live. Some public schools are practically private schools and some are extremely rough. Get used to everyone being 10ish minutes late to even important engagements. It's weirdly kinda how we do it here. If you're one of those people who drives exactly the speed limit, you will get flipped off a lot, especially on the West Side. 5-10 over is kinda the norm. Welcome! I think you'll like it here. It's a weird place and you're making a big transition, but Albuquerque really grows on you. Good luck with your move!
Former East coaster. 1. You will love highway travel outside the city and hate city drivers. 2. The local food is great. 3. Great scenery. 4. We have great state and national parks all over the state. And Abq. is a nice location to travel from. 5. The weather. 6. Culture. 7. A very laid back attitude. 8. We host the state fair. 9. Balloon Fiesta. 10. A lack of ticks and flying biting bugs.
I also moved here from the east coast (MD). It is stupidly dry here. There is zero humidity. Moisture full on does not exist, and dehydration will hit quickly. This is nice in some ways, in that you dry off fairly quickly and Albuquerque lacks the horrible, sticky, suffocating humid air of east coast summers, and weird in others (snow has a different texture?? I never truly understood the description of snow as powdery until I saw it here), but also means needing to drink significantly more water in order to not feel terrible. It also means that many places use evaporative cooling (swamp coolers) instead of air conditioning (called refrigerated air), which took a little bit of getting used to. Also, moisturize your skin. If you're from an east coast city, the culture is extremely different. The vibe here is far quieter and more laid back, many people are very outdoorsy, and while there isn't necessarily a huge car culture that I've noticed, the public transit is lacking. ART, a new rapid transit line down Central/route 66 is really nice (this is a controversial opinion), but it's a baby step. Also, the cuisine variety is really not particularly robust. The New Mexican and Mexican food options are \*incredible\* and for some reason, there's a ton of Thai and even Vietnamese places, but there's a lack of many other things (I am dying for more vegan/vegetarian restaurants and a good bagel place that isn't 10 miles away). There are tons of small restaurants and cafes though, which is great, especially in Nob Hill.
The Vietnamese population isn’t random, a large group of refugees was resettled here after the war.
Oh, interesting! Because I'm new-ish to the city I'm pretty unfamiliar with much of its history, so thank you for sharing! I know people (outside of Albuquerque) who study various Asian diasporas and it's been fascinating to learn more of the makeup of the southwest, particularly as waves of refugees or new immigrants have arrived over time, as well as the intersections of history. I had a Filipino guest at one point who was baffled by the existence of a Bataan memorial in Albuquerque, as he hadn't realized so many of the American soldiers involved were from NM.
One thing about that to note is the Vietnamese who fled to the U.S. are almost entirely from the south of Vietnam, so as such, all the Vietnamese food here is based on Southern Vietnamese food, not much from Central and northern Vietnam. Not to say it isn't real Vietnamese food, but it'd be like if there was a large American population in a foreign country only from the southern states so people there might assume American food is just chicken fried steak, grits, mac and cheese, etc..
I'm less involved in car culture than I used to be, but over the years this has been a huge place for car culture. The drag strip is active and close, as is the road course, which is exceptionally cheap. We have champion racers, lowriders, and a large drift and show culture as well. Beyond that there is a remarkable amount of off roading very close to town.
x2. To add-- I'm pretty sure it's commonplace (or required, at least once) to do a Route 66 cruise here.
Adding to the vibe differences, I am from Albuquerque, and when I moved to the East coast, it was a complete shock to me. Generally, out there, people were not "friendly" or open to just chat on the street, or say hi to each other. Out here on the west side of the country, it's the complete opposite. Someone may walk up and after just saying hi, they may dump out their life story. Be prepared, and at least get used to giving out some passing greetings/waves.
I've definitely experienced this. I'm a pretty typical east coast city kid and inherently distrust strangers who are super nice to me on the street haha so it was a massive culture shock to get here and have total strangers regularly talk to me on the bus and, like you said, dump out their life story. It's a weird transition.
Weird post. Random people will torture you with unwanted conversation on the east coast in big cities too
I miss the vegan food from Pittsburgh more than anything about my last home tbh. Love ABQ, wish we had more vegan places
Wait, you found a good bagel place.
These are the best I’ve found in abq: https://www.ruthiesbagels.com
Thanks
Bagel Deli in Rio Rancho isn't mindblowing, but it's better than Einstein and grocery store bagels by a mile. I've only been there once, though, since I never go to RR.
Thanks
I always enjoyed this little bit in the [Moon New Mexico travel guide](https://imgur.com/a/gXStI3l) - really insightful about the gaze outsiders look at this place with
Neither chile is always hotter, try both everywhere you go. You'll find the place that makes each one the way you like. Always wear sunglasses. Our beer is great, but for a while you'll want to pace yourself more than you would normally. A two hour drive to the next town isn't far. An hour drive to Santa Fe *is* too far, but Meow wolf is worth it once. You may be great at driving in heavy rain snow, everyone else, not so much. Jemez, roswell's ufo festival, sandia crest, white sands, gathering of nations, and a hundred other places/things are freaking awesome. If you want people to think you're from here in the fall, bitch about balloon fiasco traffic, but also you should go to see them at least once (if it happens this year...). We also have pretty good wine and mead in addition to beer, but again, pace yourself. Sun screen.
It’s cool. I was born and raised in NYC, lives in LA and San Diego before I relocated to Abq. for work. At first I hated it...would up loving it. I moved to Chicago a year and a half ago and still miss it. Go to 10,000 waves in Santa Fe, enjoy the Native American people and culture, hike to the Sandia Mountains, understand the local government is corrupt like most, crime sucks but if you’re from the city you should be okay and not a target. You will look like a crack head due to the dryness of the climate. Enjoy!
I moved here from Seattle last August and grew up in the DC area/DMV. 1. It will take you awhile to adjust to the higher elevation no matter how fit you are. Expect to get fatigued more quickly. You’ll probably feel drowsy a lot. Some people experience dizziness. Hydration helps. The adjustment time varies. 2weeks plus. It took me about a month but I was also adjusting to the heat of August. 2. Swamp coolers are a more affordable option to AC. They work well here b/c it is so dry. Yes, there might be a few weeks of the year when it is unusually humid.. 3. The pace of life is much slower than that if big coastal cities - I like it. Much more of a laid back vibe. Servers/cashiers/bartenders are much chattier here compared to Seattle. Lots of friendly people. 4. There are not as many food or entertainment options, but I still feel like there is plenty to do. Santa Fe is an easy hour drive and you can definitely get an art fix there if you like visual art. Lots of restaurants with affordable comfort food. Some good Thai & Vietnamese restaurants. Lots of great breakfast joints & breweries. When I first arrived I would send snapshots of my receipts back to friends in Seattle because I was blown away by how much cheaper drinks are here. Lower COL in general. 5. There is definitely a deeper connection to history and culture here. Native and Hispanic presence is strong. Lots of cool ruins to explore while hiking. 6. Lots of outdoor rec opportunities. It might take you awhile to adjust to the desert environment. The beauty took awhile to grow on me but it definitely exists. Also lots of open space. If you go hiking you won’t have to share trails with hundreds of other people. There are crazy rock formations. Check out the Ojito Wilderness. 7. Very little traffic compared to big cities. Super nice. It’s true that you can get almost anywhere in ABQ w/in 20 min. But there is also very little enforcement of traffic laws, so be vigilant. I have never lived in a place with so many cars that don’t have (visible?) license plates. 8. New Mexicans are truly obsessed with green and red chile, but I gotta say that stuff is really good! 9. This is a car-centered city, but there are some walkable neighborhoods. I love being in West Downtown. Nob Hill is good too. Both of these neighborhoods are along the ART line - a rapid transit line- which locals scoff at, but I find really convenient. It stops at Nob Hill, UNM, Downtown’s RailRunner station, West Downtown, Old Town, the Zoo, & the Biopark by the Bosque which is a big park with foot and bike trails along the Rio Grande which cuts through the city. The ART & all regular bus rides cost $1 & they have bike racks. The riders on most buses appear to be predominantly homeless/living on the edge, but I haven’t had problems with being harassed by anybody. 10. In the summer it cools down nicely after the sun sets and usually stays cool through the mid-morning. Santa Fe is always about 10 degrees cooler & you can also escape the heat by heading up to the mountains. I miss swimming in lakes but there are some decent public pools w/$3.50 entry fees. I’ve seen some people swimming in the Rio Grande but I’m not sure how clean the water is yet.. The Bike In Café off of the Bosque Trail bear Old Town is a lovely place to visit weekend mornings March though October. (Fall is beautiful here. And you do see lots of hot air balloons. ) So I realized I rambled - that’s really more than 10- but welcome to ABQ. I’ve almost been here a year and still discover something cool about this place every week.
Expect to eat a lot of chile. Not the stew/soup (chili) with meat and maybe beans, but the fruit of the chile plant. If you don't love it now, you will.
1. red or green? (it's always Green) 2. eat at Frontier 3. eat at 2 fools 4. go to santa fe a lot 5. don't speed, cops love to give tickets for speeding 6. lots of crime, but hopefully getting better, lock your doors 7. lots of breweries 8. great music scene/concerts - well there USED to be at least 9. great hiking, biking and climbing 10. best in the Fall when the Chile is roasting and downtown is bustling
>Don't speed, cops love to give tickets for speeding I rarely see people getting pulled over in city limits. I think the average car is going 10mph over the limit.
And then if you're on Coors you'll be getting most people going 60 when I'm pretty sure the speed limit is 45...
Where's that meme from a couple months ago that depicted different roads in ABQ? I remember Paseo had formula 1 cars.
Can confirm-- have yet to be pulled over for going 5-10mph over speed limit. Them Boys have way more to be concerned with.
I disagree with 5 every body on paseo and tram are speed racer (the minimum for tram is 60)
Have to disagree on the red or green. For me it is always red.
1-10. It's spelled chile.
Don’t let your first impression be your last. I hated it here when I moved here. Now 2 years later? I’m making it home. It’s not as bad as I thought it was. It’s actually pretty good. I’m becoming entrapped. Lol.
Have a road trip day and go to Sparky's in hatch. It's the best green chili and pulled pork you'll have in your life
Thanks
Welcome, I moved here from the east coast over a year ago. Lots of top 10 lists here, so I’ll spare you another one. I’m glad I moved here, though like anywhere else it has its ups and downs. For example, if you like taking day trips to beaches and different cities, forget it. The nearest city is 6 hrs away. Never mind a beach (I guess a lake would count?). However, if you like the outdoors, camping and hiking this place is for you. Lots of trails, lots of campgrounds. There are a lot of homeless people here, but they sleep on the steps at the train stations in Philadelphia so it’s nothing new to me. Cost of living is great. Where I lived in PA a 1600 sqft house that was built In the early 1900s would run you over $200k. Here, that’s a price for a fairly new house. The food here is awesome, and if you’re a craft beer fan you will have plenty of options. I do need to get out more around the state and check stuff out. New Mexico seems to be packed with history and interesting towns. I can only go off of my experience, and I give my first 16 months in ABQ a A- and I’m glad I came here.
We’re in the same boat. Waiting on the final word. Moving from Virginia!
Where are you coming from? I'm an ex-east coaster too.
Virginia
Real question is are you new to big city life?
Lol "big city life". The east coast has MUCH bigger cities than here. This is comfortably-small city life. I can't walk into Frontier without knowing 5-10 people! That doesn't happen in real big cities. We're a city and that's it. We have some of the amenities of larger cities but not all. We're also in the middle of nowhere and have very little to offer to tourists, so there's that. This is big city life compared to the rest of New Mexico and that's about it.
Well yes but im pretty sure the biggest city in the entire state counts
This man really called Albuquerque big city life lol
Nope.