Heading West
Discovering New Mexico’s tween and teen
appeal in Albuquerque.
by Megan Mayo and Michelle Nelson
PARENTGUIDE
News May 2006
Even though New Mexico is the fifth largest
state by landmass in the country, it remains
one of the nation’s most sparsely populated
states. The Albuquerque Metro area, with just
over 753,000 residents, surges with energy,
yet it epitomizes New Mexico’s neighborhood
feel. Situated in the high desert at an average
of 5,000 feet, Albuquerque offers a fantastic
year-round climate with mild temperatures
and low humidity. In sum, Albuquerque, New
Mexico offers something for any family with
adolescents— from year-round outdoor
adventure and sunshine to great wildlife,
museums and shopping.
As a four-season destination with 310 days
of sunshine per year, Albuquerque provides
visitors with endless outdoor activities under
a beautiful blue sky. Get a bird’s eye
view of the city by riding the Sandia Peak
Aerial Tramway from 6,500 feet to more than
10,000 feet in 15 minutes! Once at the top,
there are trails for hiking and exploring,
and on a clear day you can see more than 11,000
square miles.
Albuquerque is considered the Hot Air Balloon
Capital of the World with balloon rides available
throughout the year. A balloon ride high above
the city is unlike any other experience, as
you float peacefully over the scenery. The
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta,
the world’s largest balloon festival,
takes place each October with more than 700
balloons in the sky at a time!
If your family enjoys outdoor adventure, then
hit the trails. Bike trails crisscross the
city, while terrain for hikers and bikers
of every skill level is abundant on Sandia
Peak. During winter months, the Peak also
offers skiing and snowboarding just minutes
from the city.
Curious about nature’s wild side? Venture
into the Albuquerque Biological Park, which
includes a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden.
The Rio Grande Zoo has become one of the leading
zoos in the nation. The Albuquerque Aquarium
features a large Gulf shark tank, an eel cave
and a tidal pool. The Rio Grande Botanic Garden
has regional plants in the Desert Pavilion
and a Mediterranean Pavilion with plants from
around the world. The Children’s Fantasy
Garden provides a trek through larger-than-life
elements of nature, such as a gigantic pumpkin
and vegetables that only Superman could lift!
The new Rio Grande Heritage Farm is fun for
families to learn about life along the river
in the 1920s, like the roles of farming, livestock
and apple orchards.
During the summer months, take a wild ride
on The Rattler, New Mexico’s first super
coaster at Cliff’s Amusement Park. Sports
fans take advantage of cool summer evenings
with a AAA baseball game— here’s
some teen trivia, the Albuquerque Isotopes
got their name from a Simpson’s episode.
Or, basketball fans can cheer on the Albuquerque
Thunderbirds basketball team, a new addition
to the NBA Development League.
As you and your family venture indoors, you
will discover excellent museums surrounding
the original city center in Historic Old Town.
Even teens and tweens who don’t think
they are into museums will appreciate ¡explora!—
an interactive science discovery center, the
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science—
with its massive dinosaur displays, or the
National Atomic Museum— where visitors
learn the ins and outs of atomic energy (as
well as a little history along the way). Don’t
miss the American International Rattlesnake
Museum, which is home to the largest collection
of live rattlesnakes in the world. Visitors
can test their bravery by holding a live snake!
Speaking of history, New Mexico is home to
22 Indian tribes. Visit the Indian Pueblo
Cultural Center to better understand New Mexico’s
culture, as well as the lifestyles of the
area’s earliest civilizations. Kids
especially enjoy watching the weekend Indian
dances, which are often performed by teenagers,
or learning how to make bread in a horno,
an outdoor oven. While the shopper in the
family strolls through the gallery and gift
shop, the history buff can roam the exhibits
to learn about the history of the various
tribes. Also, don’t miss the Petroglyph
National Monument on the west side of the
city, a site providing a peek into the past
as onlookers hike through ancient etchings
created by Native Americans thousands of years
ago.
After a long day of adventure, families in
Albuquerque benefit from a vast array of dining
options. Mild or fiery, there’s nothing
like New Mexican cuisine! Add some spice to
your life by ordering your chile “Christmas,”
and you’ll get both red and green chile
on your plate. If New Mexican cuisine is not
your fancy, there are many other options including
fantastic milkshakes and cheeseburgers at
the 66 Diner.
Albuquerque represents a special family destination
with activities and attractions fit for visitors
of all ages. Teens and tweens looking for
unique accommodations near Albuquerque, where
they can enjoy teen spa treatments, horseback
riding and a chance to learn how to make Native
American pottery and adobe bricks, should
convince their parents to stay at the Hyatt
Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa.
Located on a Native American resort between
Santa Fe and Albuquerque, the Hyatt Regency
Tamaya now boasts a family fun expert to ensure
teens and tweens take advantage of the Resort’s
many fun activities and the Srai-Wi (meaning
to gather and share with children) Family
Program.
For those interested in understanding Native
American culture with a hands-on approach,
the Resort offers engaging activities such
as Pueblo bread baking, Native American storytelling
and archery. Meanwhile, outdoor enthusiasts
in the family can take advantage of horseback
riding, nature hikes and hot air balloon rides.
For youngsters enticed by a spa experience,
the Tamaya Mist Spa offers teen and preteen
focused spa treatments, including herbal wraps,
massages, facials and body glows.
Activities at Tamaya continue after dark.
Families can gather around an outdoor fire
pit to whip up the indulgent S’mores
creation of marshmallows, chocolate and graham
crackers. While families roast S’mores,
a member of the Pueblo shares “Stories
Under the Stars.”
For teens and tweens looking to explore New
Mexico according to their own whims and tastes,
the family fun expert and staff can plan a
personalized daytrip to surrounding towns
and attractions. With its central location
between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, the Hyatt
Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa serves as an
ideal gateway for experiencing New Mexico’s
art, culture, sports and shopping attractions.
The Resort now also offers customized Explore
New Mexico driving itineraries. The itineraries
follow four themes: outdoor adventures; Native
American culture featuring tours to neighboring
pueblos; shopping, arts and museum tours;
and golf on the Santa Fe Trail. With rental
cars available on property, the Resort can
get your family to your locale of choice,
as kids and parents alike learn how each tourist
attraction, cultural site and scenic landscape
adds to New Mexico’s mass appeal.
Megan Mayo is the public relations specialist
for the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors
Bureau. Mayo fell in love with the city when
she moved to New Mexico three years ago. When
she’s not working to promote the city,
Mayo enjoys photographing the beautiful landscape
and escaping to the mountains for skiing,
hiking and biking. Michelle Nelson works at
MMG Mardiks, the public relations agency that
represents the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort
and Spa. For more information on planning
a New Mexico vacation, visit www.itsatrip.org
or call (800)284-2282.
