If you’ve ever come to Albuquerque just for the Balloon Fiesta, let me be the one to tell you—you’re missing half the magic. This city has so much personality beyond those early-morning mass ascensions. Think lavender fields at sunrise, chile-roasting stands that make the whole street smell like heaven (and maybe make you cough just a little), neon Route 66 signs glowing after dark, and some seriously good food tucked into the most unexpected places. I spent a full week here around the Balloon Fiesta and realized how much this city shines long after the balloons have landed. Here’s exactly how to spend a week in Albuquerque, from Fiesta mornings to farm dinners, a Santa Fe day trip, and all the green chile goodness in between.
Arrive at Albuquerque International Sunport, which might just be the most welcoming airport in America. The architecture, wooden beams, and Southwestern art make it feel more like a boutique hotel than an airport—and yes, there’s often live music in the terminal. If you fly during Balloon Fiesta week, just budget a little extra time for the rental car shuttle and crowds.
Check into Hotel Chaco, your home base for the week. It’s right across from Sawmill Market and within walking distance to Old Town, with modern Southwest design and the kind of details that make you want to move in—comfy beds, balconies, and a rooftop restaurant you’ll be visiting later.
Read my full review on Best Places to Stay for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta blog here.
Ease into the trip with lunch or drinks at Sawmill Market, a huge restored lumber warehouse turned food hall. You can browse stalls like The Polenta Bar for ice cream pops, Tulipani for handmade pasta, and Rose Bar for a cocktail. It’s relaxed, local, and full of energy—perfect for your first afternoon in town.
When the sun dips behind the Sandias, head upstairs to Level 5, Hotel Chaco’s rooftop restaurant and lounge. Order the butternut squash ravioli or pistachio tres leches and watch the sky fade from pink to desert gold. It’s the ideal low-key first night before the early Fiesta wake-up.
Your first Balloon Fiesta morning kicks off before sunrise. Head to the Observation Deck for a more relaxed view away from the crowds. Bring layers, grab a hot coffee, and watch as hundreds of balloons illuminate and lift into the sky—it’s pure magic.
For all the information read my Ultimate Guide to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Afterward, warm up with brunch or lunch at Church Street Café in Old Town. This historic adobe building serves classic Southwestern dishes—order the Navajo Taco or Handmade Tamales and don’t miss the sopapillas with honey.
Spend the afternoon wandering the shops and streets of Old Town. Start in Plaza Don Luis for photos, jewelry at House of Citrine Blue, pottery at Oaxacan Zapotec House, and unique finds at Old Town Antiques. Pop into La Choco for a salted caramel treat or Loveweld for a chic hat or necklace.
Here are the Best Things to Do in Old Town Albuquerque.
End the day with dinner at Mesa Provisions, one of Albuquerque’s standout modern spots. The menu rotates seasonally, but you’ll find locally sourced dishes like green chile braised short ribs, creative small plates, and house-made cocktails that rival anything you’d find in Santa Fe. The vibe is cozy but elevated—a perfect contrast to the casual daytime exploring.
Start at The Grove in East Downtown for fresh pastries, lattes, and that Croque Madame you loved—just plan to arrive early to beat the line.
Next, drive to Chile Konnection for a true taste of New Mexico. The smell of roasting Hatch chiles fills the air the moment you pull up. Stock up on powders or sauces, then head to the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden for a peaceful stroll among desert blooms and sculpture gardens.
At Tin Can Alley, everyone gets to pick their own flavor. Try Guava Tree arepas, SA BBQ nachos, or a slice from Amore Neapolitan Pizzeria (get the Chile P—it’s wild). Finish with mini cupcakes from Cake Fetish—the lemon and German chocolate are top tier.
Cool off by renting kayaks or paddleboards and drifting along the Rio Grande. It’s one of the most scenic (and peaceful) ways to see the city.
Head back for an Evening Glow at Balloon Fiesta Park—balloons lit like lanterns, music, and fireworks to close it out. Afterward, grab a late bite on Route 66. The 66 Diner serves classic milkshakes under neon lights, or stop at Dog House Drive-In for hot dogs and root beer floats, made famous by Breaking Bad.
Here is my ultimate Route 66 Neon Light Scavenger Hunt.
Spend an unhurried day at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, just north of downtown.
Start with breakfast at Campo, featuring ingredients grown steps from your table. Then stroll the gardens, visit the lavender fields, and browse the Farm Shop for soaps, honey, and gifts.
Book a treatment at the Hacienda Spa, sip lavender lemonade, or lounge by the fireplace—it’s the calmest corner of Albuquerque.
Return to Campo for dinner. Order the sweet-potato pierogi, Monticello Salad, and butter pecan semifreddo. As the sun sets over the fields, you’ll understand why this place is pure magic. (Interlink to “Campo at Los Poblanos Review.”)
Take the scenic Turquoise Trail north to Santa Fe. It’s about an hour each way, with mountain views and quirky stops like Madrid Village along the route.
Wander the Santa Fe Plaza, browse Canyon Road’s art galleries, and step inside Loretto Chapel to see the miraculous spiral staircase.
Both serve beloved New Mexican fare—enchiladas smothered in red or green chile.
Head back to Albuquerque for a relaxed evening—maybe revisit Sawmill Market or enjoy a quiet drink at Level 5.
This is the moment everyone dreams about. Hundreds of balloons lift off together against the sunrise. Dress warm, bring coffee, and get there early—there’s nothing like it.
Grab a breakfast burrito at the park afterward and soak in the view one last time.
Head back to Old Town to stop by Golden Crown Panadería (yes, the one from Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives). Grab empanadas, biscochitos, or their famous green chile bread, then walk over to NM Tea Co. for a loose-leaf souvenir.
Drive northeast to 10004 Cielo Azul Place NE to see the UFO Spaceship House—it really does look like a flying saucer landed in someone’s yard. Snap a photo from the street and move along.
End the day with dinner at Farm & Table. You already know this one’s unforgettable—the homemade shrub drinks, that perfect bruschetta, the melt-in-your-mouth bison short rib. Watch the sun drop behind their garden, then drive to West Bluff Park Overlook for panoramic night views and twinkling city lights.
Here is my full review of Farm & Table.
Your last morning deserves flaky pastry perfection. Order a breakfast burrito and cherry cruffin at Flying Roadrunner Bakery and say hi to owners Shawn and Erika Farr—two of the kindest people you’ll meet.
Before you head home, make one last local stop at Petroglyph National Monument. Walk the easy trails and spot ancient carvings etched into volcanic rock—thousands of years of history overlooking modern Albuquerque.
End your week with a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway. Go mid-afternoon for fewer crowds, then settle in for dinner at Ten 3, the mountaintop restaurant with panoramic views. Watch the city lights flicker on as you toast to an unforgettable week in New Mexico.
Before you head to Albuquerque, make sure to read my 5 Mistakes to Avoid at the Balloon Fiesta — it’ll save you some serious stress (and early mornings).
If you want a quick summary:
For full comparisons, insider pros/cons, and booking tips, check out my Best Places to Stay for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta guide.
A week in Albuquerque is the perfect mix of color, calm, and chile. You’ll see the balloons, sure—but you’ll also taste the city’s best food, wander historic streets, and find peace in lavender fields and mountain sunsets. It’s a city that surprises you with how much there is to do, and even more with how it makes you feel. Whether you come for Fiesta week or any other time, Albuquerque delivers something truly New Mexico: vibrant, grounded, and unforgettable.
Sky Ranch Lodge, Sedona. Booked it for the location, stayed for the sunsets.
This is not a five-star resort with ten restaurants and a spa menu the length of a novel. It’s a family-owned boutique hotel on Airport Mesa that knows exactly what it’s good at: red rock views from basically everywhere and one of the best sunset spots in town, private, with maybe four other couples instead of a crowd.
We booked a Premier Rim Room and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Watched the sunset from our own patio one night and it’s still one of my favorite moments of the whole trip.
✨ Six acres of botanical gardens to wander morning and evening
✨ Pool + hot tub that hit exactly right after a day of hiking
✨ On-site food truck for easy breakfasts and lazy room service nights
✨ Complimentary shuttle so you’re not fighting Sedona parking
✨ Robes, slippers, and a staff that felt genuinely happy to help
Two stays in and I’d book it again without a second thought. This is where to stay in Sedona if you want it to actually feel like Sedona.
Thank you to @skyranchlodge for having us, link in bio for the full review 🌵
Four hours on a train through a canyon you can’t reach by car — such a fun experience! We picked the indoor seats with unlimited access to the open-air viewing car, which honestly felt like the only right call. You’re not stuck in an assigned seat the whole time we bounced between the two, snacks in hand, chasing the best light.
The scenery is the whole point. Red rock cliffs, the Verde River, a 734-foot tunnel, historic trestle bridges views most people visiting Sedona never see, because you literally can’t drive to them.
The charcuterie box that comes with your ticket is shockingly filling ✨ so skip lunch at the Copper Spike Café beforehand, save your appetite for dinner back in Sedona.
Four hours with no stops did start to feel long by the end, but the trade-off for scenery like this? Worth it.
Would I ride it again? Yes. Would I buy lunch first again? No.
Link in bio for the full review cost breakdown, what to pack, and exactly how early to arrive 🚂
I ate chilaquiles while a Cessna taxied past the window, and that’s just a normal Tuesday breakfast in Sedona.
@mesa_grill_sedona sits right beside the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, so along with your food you get red rock views stretching in every direction and a front-row seat to tiny planes lifting off. Chef Mercer Mohr runs the kitchen, serving up Southwestern comfort food from breakfast through dinner, chilaquiles, elevated diner classics, burgers, steaks, seafood, all of it.
The view is what pulls people in the door, but the food actually holds its own. Good enough that this place stays packed with locals, not just tourists passing through on their way to the lookout. It also picked up the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice and OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards, so it’s not just me saying it.
Indoor seating if you want the AC, a pet-friendly patio if your dog’s along for the trip. Either way, get there before plane-spotting turns into a wait for a table.
Link in bio for the full Sedona breakfast roundup ✈️🌵
Confession: my newsletter is where the good stuff lives. Not the polished, edited-for-the-grid stuff, the “here’s the hole-in-the-wall I almost skipped” stuff, the packing lists I actually use, the “don’t book this hotel” warnings before you waste your money on them.
The newsletter is basically me texting you before a trip instead of after one. Sign up and you’ll be the first to know where I’m headed next, plus a few things I’ll never post here.
Link in bio if you want in. ✈️
Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
Full guides linked in bio 🍂
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