Albuquerque Lodging in a Nutshell |
by Wendy Maxey, Managing Editor |
 I’d always pictured Albuquerque as a dusty place where Indians sat in front of teepees making jewelry. My vision, however politically incorrect it may have been, was shattered on my first visit to the city.
While Native American culture is alive and well, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a living, breathing, rather sprawling, metropolis - one with half a million residents and a heck of a lot of hand-made turquoise jewelry.
Albuquerque’s very existence stems from the Rio Grande River, which still is considered the lifeblood of the city. The city’s growth can also be attributed to the railroad, which set up shop in Albuquerque in 1880. However, neither the railroad nor the river have attributed to the city’s boom as much as military research. Albuquerque became a trading center for New Mexico just after WW II.
Nestled beneath the Sandia Mountains in the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque is divided into four quadrants (NE, SE, NW, SW) and accessed via two major highways (I-25 and I-40), which eventually come together in downtown Albuquerque.
Let’s not forget Route 66, or Central Avenue, as it’s referred to in Albuquerque. This legendary road runs east of downtown Albuquerque past the University of New Mexico. Along the way, travelers will get a snapshot of the old Route 66 days as they pass a strip of Albuquerque motels that still stand as they did in the 40s and 50s.
The city’s inner regions include Old Town Albuquerque (historic district), Downtown Albuquerque, (business district), Midtown Albuquerque (shopping district), Nob Hill (the University of New Mexico) and Northeast Heights. Each region has its own unique charm.
Depending on your reason for visiting the Duke City, whether on business or with the family on vacation, this Albuquerque hotel guide will help you pick the perfect hotel for your stay.
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