I may need to spend a Sunday in Albuquerque (arriving Saturday evening, leaving early Monday morning). Is there anything interesting to see in the city? I have already picked up a guidebook from a local library, but can't say that anything sounds particularly good.

Is there any kind of public transportation in the city?

Albuquerque's just a city. Skip it and head up to Santa Fe. The best place in the Central U.S. to hang out and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells! Lots of fun art galleries, architecture and history.

I'm sure others disagree, but that's my two cents.

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"There are those who travel, and those who travel well."

Albuquerque has a nice old town section.If possible stay in that area. There's always balloon rides (highly recommend), skiing at Sandia Peak (assuming you are going soon) and (if interested)a nice casino right below the ski area.
I also highly recommend time in Santa Fe.

There's a cable car up to the top of the mountain which gets a good view.

I agree with the others. Take the tram up to the top of Sandia Peak, even if you don't ski. It will be a memorable experience. Also, take a drive to Santa Fe. It is well worth the drive. Old town in Albuquerque is another possibility too.

As someone who was stuck there for six weeks in Sept/Oct 2003, let me tell you, theres not a whole lot to do. However since you are only there a couple days heres what I found:

1. Santa Fe: went twice - hated it both times, mind you I'm not an artsy fartsy guy so that definitely skews my opinion, but there isn't jack squat to do there, nothing you can't see in Old Town

2. Old Town - I stayed at the Sheraton Old town and walked through OT, its good for dinner basically, to gift shop for junk, but for an afternoon, its worth killing some time there.. If you like to run, the Rio Grande River is roughly a mile from the OT sheraton, it has a trail running along it that is a nice run, and in the summer the botanical gardens are there, and a butterfly sanctuary which was cool

3. Sandia Peak, now this is awesome, the tram ride is incredible, I would love to see it this time of year. there's a restaurant at the top too, pricey but its worth it. You can hike (in the fall anyway) the top of the mountain ridge too.. this was my favorite


4. Downtown - Forget it.. nothing there, vacant at night and on the weekend

5. Hyatt Tamaya Resort - a neat place to kill a couple hours and have a drink or bite to eat
http://tamaya.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

6. Casino's, a ton of the west on I-40

7. Balloons - not sure if they go this time of year, but it is the balloon capital of the world and they will sell you a ride if you want. It would be so cold this time of year though

hmmm I'll edit if I think of anything else

Old Town is fine, but the college area (UNM) is really nice and so is Padilla's restaurant (local, yummy and cheap) and the Frontier Room (open 24 hours a day).

I like the UNM campus, lots of John Gaw Meem buildings and the like.

Too bad you are not there long enough or in the correct season to spend a day wandering around Las Vegas, New Mexico. I love that place.

lala

I absolutely agree that there isn't much to do in Albuquerque. Although I am sure the tram ride would be worth it. The Sangre de Cristo mountains are very tall there, and I think it must be a breathtaking ride.

See, I do think Santa Fe is worth the hour's trip to see. It's an easy ride up the highway (watch the speed limit... those NM State Troopers looove to get you). The center of Santa Fe is a really beautiful square. Walk out on some of the tangential streets and there are some lovely restaurants tucked away. Stroll past the Indians selling jewelry on their blankets. The Church is from the colonial era, and beautiful. I'd say it was worth a couple of hours time.

Rita

I thought of the UNM campus as well. When I was there I went to two UNM football games and the area was hopping pretty good, but any other time it was kind of dead. So I didn't mention it as I didn't know how it would be in the winter.

I notice no one answered your question about public transportation.

I had a car but when I went to the NM state fair, I took the bus to avoid the parking hassles the hotel warned me about. The bus was easy and cheap. They do have a bus system, but I don't have a clue as to how extensive the network is and how often it runs.

Looks like Sandia Peak, Old Town and possibly UNM are now on the need-to-see list.
I would like to see Santa Fe, but is there a public transport way to get there, since I would rather not rent a car.
I found a bus company called T.N.M. & O. COACHES, INC , but they only seem to offer about 3 buses a day in each direction with not particularly good schedules. Too bad Amtrak doesn't seem to run between the two cities.

I also found quite a bit of info on the in-city buses at http://www.cabq.gov/transit/tran.html .

[This message has been edited by yevlesh2 (edited Jan 29, 2004).]