If youβve ever looked at photos of hundreds of hot air balloons floating over the New Mexico desert and thought, that canβt be real, let me tell youβit absolutely is. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that somehow manages to exceed the hype.
This annual event draws pilots and visitors from all over the world for nine days of early mornings, glowing nights, and everything in between. Itβs colorful, chaotic, and completely magical. I spent several days at the Fiesta, and Iβm here to share exactly how to make the most of itβwhat to expect, what to pack, and how to experience it the easy way.
Getting the Observation Deck tickets at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum was hands-down one of the best decisions we made. Everyone with the Albuquerque Balloon Museum Foundation was so kind and helpful from start to finish.
Letβs start with the biggest perkβparking. Normally, parking for the Balloon Fiesta can be pure chaos. Weβre talking people walking over a mile in the dark or waiting for school buses at Park-n-Ride lots. But with the Observation Deck tickets, you get museum parking, which is literally right next to Balloon Fiesta Park. You can stroll over instead of hiking a mile before sunrise, which felt like a luxury.
Once inside, youβre welcomed into a heated room overlooking the field while you wait for the events to start. For anyone wondering: yes, itβs cold. Like Tennessee girl in the desert realizing she shouldβve brought one more layer cold.
Your ticket also helps a great cause. Since itβs a fundraiser for the museum, 40% of the ticket price is tax deductible. Itβs a feel-good splurge thatβs totally worth it.
We went on a Thursday morning, which I highly recommend. Wednesdays and Thursdays are noticeably less crowded than the weekend, but you still get the full morning show. Our day went like this:
The Observation Deck crew partners with local restaurants to cater breakfast, and this yearβs lineup featured Slate Street CafΓ©. Breakfast, catered by Slate Street CafΓ©, was hearty and exactly what you want at 6 a.m.βfresh fruit, pastries, housemade carne adovada, crisp bacon, biscuits and gravy, and all the βfixinsβ (as we say in Tennessee). You could build the perfect breakfast burrito while watching the balloons lift off in the distance.
From the deck, youβre close enough that the balloons drift right over you. You can watch the first few illuminate the sky, then warm up indoors while the sun rises and the rest launch. Itβs the best of both worldsβfront-row views without the frostbite.
When youβre ready, hop the shuttle over to Balloon Fiesta Park. Walking among the balloons is pure magic. I was honestly shocked at how close you can getβno ropes, no barriers, just you and hundreds of massive, colorful balloons floating above. Itβs one of those rare experiences that actually feels surreal in person.
After exploring the field, we wandered through rows of vendors selling handmade goods, New Mexican art, and every balloon-themed souvenir imaginable. I bought a beautiful turquoise necklace (because when in New Mexicoβ¦) and a tiny ceramic hot air balloon that I now consider my good luck charm.
We caught a bit of live entertainment, including traditional dancing, then took the shuttle back to explore the museumβanother perk included with the Observation Deck ticket. The museum itself is well worth the visit, even outside of Fiesta week.
If youβre planning your own visit, I wrote a separate deep dive on this experience you can check out here: Observation Deck at the Balloon Museumβit covers every detail from what to expect, pricing, and how to snag these tickets early.
The Balloon Fiesta offers both morning and evening sessions, and theyβre totally different experiences.
The mornings start earlyβlike βset your alarm for 3:45 a.m.β early. Youβll want to be parked by 4:30 a.m. to beat traffic. The early wake-up call is worth it for the Dawn Patrol and Mass Ascensionβhundreds of balloons rising together as the sun hits the Sandia Mountains. Itβs one of the most photogenic moments of the entire event.
Evening sessions are all about the Balloon Glow. The balloons stay grounded but light up in unison, turning the field into a glowing rainbow. Add live music, food, and fireworks, and itβs a total vibe.
Our evening session was supposed to include:
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans and rain canceled most of itβbut at least we got some seriously good food out of it.
We grabbed loaded carne asada fries from JPβz Concessions, expecting basic fair food. Wrong. They were incredibleβfresh, flavorful, and so big youβll want to share (or not, I wonβt judge). Another must-try is Cornivore Popcorn Company, which Iβm now obsessed with. Their Sweet Green Chile flavor is life-changing. The owner told me the story behind itβhe wanted to create a true New Mexico green chile popcorn, no seeds or stems, paired with kettle corn to balance the heat with sweetness. Itβs the perfect combo of spicy, sweet, and salty, and itβs still their #1 flavor five years later. Itβs also my #1.
Each year, the Balloon Fiesta has a theme, and the 2025 theme, βPainted Horizons,β celebrated the way hundreds of balloons color the New Mexico sky.
If you can, plan to attend at least two sessionsβpreferably one morning and one evening. Weather plays a huge role, and flights can be canceled if itβs too windy or rainy. Out of our four sessions, three were canceled, which made me so grateful we booked multiple.
If youβre doing general admission, you can often buy tickets last-minute, but if you want Observation Deck or Park-n-Ride tickets, book at least four months in advanceβthey sell out fast.
Also, download the Balloon Fiesta app. Itβs the easiest way to access live updates, buy tickets, see schedules, and get text alerts for delays or cancellations.
As for packing: layers, layers, layers. Itβs freezing before sunrise and warm by late morning. Bring camera gear, maybe a foldable chair if youβre staying all day, and a hearty appetite. The local breakfast burritos are legendary.
And if youβre planning multiple days in the area, you can pair this guide with my post 5 Mistakes to Avoid at the Balloon Fiesta (trust me, βDO NOT do the Sandia Tramβ during Fiesta week is one of them). You can also explore more of the city with 3 Perfect Days in Albuquerque: Beyond the Balloon Fiesta for ideas once the balloons land.
Flying into or out of the Albuquerque International Sunport is a pleasant surpriseβit feels more like arriving at a boutique lodge than a typical airport. The adobe-inspired architecture, wooden beams, and local art instantly set the tone for your New Mexico trip.
The rental car process is refreshingly easy: grab your bags, hop on the shuttle to the rental center, and youβre on your way. If youβre traveling during the Balloon Fiesta, give yourself an extra 30 minutesβlines move a little slower when half the worldβs balloon enthusiasts are in town.
Honestly, if airports gave out βmost relaxing terminalβ awards, Albuquerque would win. Read my full writeup of the Albuquerque Airport for all the information.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is one of those rare events that truly lives up to the photos. From the pre-dawn drone shows and glowing balloons to the smell of roasting green chile drifting through the air, itβs an experience that sticks with you long after youβve left.
Go early, dress in layers, plan multiple sessions, and if you can snag Observation Deck ticketsβdo it. Youβll thank yourself later when youβre sipping hot chocolate in a heated room watching the sun rise over hundreds of balloons.
And if youβre extending your trip, donβt miss my guides to Where to Eat in Albuquerque: From Green Chile to Fine Dining, Best Places to Stay for Balloon Fiesta, and Experiences You Canβt Miss During Fiesta WeekΒ to round out your New Mexico adventure.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos donβt capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they donβt know theyβre in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But thatβs also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. π·
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. π·
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes Iβve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Hereβs what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
CafΓ© Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davieβs Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (itβs not ketchup, and itβs better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what Iβd skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
Thereβs a version of Gatlinburg thatβs all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then thereβs the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Hereβs everything worth doing downtown, in the order Iβd do it: ποΈ
β¨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
β¨ Walk the strip mid-morning when itβs still manageable
β¨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: donβt skip it)
β¨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
β¨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isnβt your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. Itβs more of a βhereβs what Iβd actually do if I had one solid dayβ kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. π
If someone told me Iβd spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. π
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and itβs one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it β longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
β¨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
β¨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
β¨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
β¨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. π
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