It’s October!
I love coffee, beanies, and Becca.
I love fall! Fall brings a couple of really cool things: the chilly weather, warm sweaters, fragrant candles, and the annual balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the end of this page, I have listed some of my FAVORITE places that I discovered while on my adventure. Take a look when planning your own easy, fun, and inexpensive trip! Get that group of best friends, pack into the car, and just drive.
Some tips for the Balloon Festival:
If you are wanting to attend the festival in NM:
1)Buy your tickets early, here https://balloonfiesta.com
*General admission is easy and cheap but if you want a VIP package, you'll want to buy ahead of time on the website because those tickets go very quickly*
2)Morning/evening access to the park will require two different tickets, so depending on what you would like to experience you might need to buy two different tickets. Worth buying both, though!
3)Sit near the white pods on the field, you will not only be safe but also get the best photos.
4) Think fairgrounds. There are lots of cars, it's packed with people, and no outside food or drinks are allowed. Be prepared for crowds in the morning and evening of the event. *you will want to arrive two hours early, but also check the weather and wind speed beforehand. The balloons will not lift off if the wind is greater than 4 to 7mph!*
5)Either wear layers, bring an extra jacket, or grab plenty of blankets due to the fall weather and open field setting. *it gets chilly, so the breakfast burritos and hot chocolate are worth it!!!*
6)Book your hotel/hostel/Airbnb early!!!! These places fill up so quickly a couple of months in advance. The best idea would be when you buy your tickets, book your reservation as well.
Last note: Give yourself a couple of days to explore NM, especially if you have never been to the state. If you need some things to do in between the festival or to fill a couple of days, my favorite locations are below with pictures and addresses. Check them out for yourself, and let me know what you think.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque Old Town (Albuquerque, NM 87104)*Coffee shops, wineries, shops, historic churches // parking can be difficult, think about visiting during the off seasons w/ fewer tourists, or at peaks in the day with fewer people to not have to pay for parking.*
The Sawmill Market (1909 Bellamah Ave, Old Town)
D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro (901 Rio Grande Blvd, NW B-100, Albuquerque NM 87104) *If you would like a nice place for dinner, try here! make a reservation ahead of time; it's a popular spot.*
Casa Rondena Winery (733 Chavez Rd NW, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107) *LADIES, get your cameras ready its the perfect place for pictures!!! Grab a flight and go explore the beautiful vineyard.*
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm (4803 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107) *Everything is farm fresh, you can visit the cutest store, and don't forget to explore the grounds! Grab an early dinner reservation, and one of their amazing drinks, and enjoy the scenery. Book your stay early!*
CASA RONDENA WINERY
LOS POBLANOS HISTORIC INN & ORGANIC FARM
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Albuquerque to Santa Fe is only an hour’s drive away, making it an easy day trip. Buckle in and drive!
Old Town, Santa Fe (100 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, NM 87503)*There are multiple coffee shops, art museums, shops, plazas, and gardens. Very easy to spend the entire day walking around and taking in the sites, but again parking and restaurant waiting times might be longer due to time and season.*
Loretto Chapel (207 Old Santa Trl, Sante Fe, NM 87501)*Since the chapel is no longer a Catholic church, the entrance fee of $5 to see the original staircase with no support center and no nails. A fascinating piece of carpentry, according to the legend…
LORETTO CHAPEL
I took 4 days for the trip and split the journey between 2 other friends. Cost~ $300-400 which included gas, accommodations, food & drinks, and balloon festival tickets. Well worth it. And I’ll be back!
