June 2021

Wow! It’s been over a year and a half since I’ve last written a travel blog post. The last one was from March 2020 about Austin, Texas, and you can read that here. I also need to update this entire site too. In this blog post, I’ll tell it like a storytime of what we did day by day, instead of listing things of where to go, what to eat, etc., but they’ll all be in the blog. If you would like to skip reading, then go to the bold parts to see the names of the locations that I went to. 

Day 1

We arrived at Albuquerque’s airport on Thursday night around 11pm, and everything was closed. We were probably the last flight that came in that night. The airport was cute and small too! My awesome coworker picked us up, welcomed us with champagne, and dropped us off at the Airbnb.

On Friday morning, we picked up the rental car and went to Target & Trader Joe’s to pick up some water, snacks, and food for the Airbnb and our long car rides (to all the sightseeing). All of the workers were so nice and greeted us good morning. The Trader Joe’s cashier asked if we were from out of town, then gave us one free New Mexico labeled tote bag and then decided to give us three free tote bags! It really made our morning and was a great start to our New Mexico trip!

We drove to Ah Shi Sle Pah Wilderness which is near Bisti Badlands. It was about a 2.5-3 hour drive from downtown Albuquerque, and for the most part, the roads were paved. In the last 30-45 minutes, the road is on gravel, and there were a few houses, random signs, objects such as tires, etc., on the side. It’s in the complete desert; there are no restrooms and barely any civilization. My friends and I took pictures and noted down what we saw to remember it on our way back out. Luckily, the car’s GPS was strong enough, and we had wifi out there – surprisingly! I was pretty nervous about losing signal and being out in the heat. Here are some photos of the road…

The last 15 minutes of the road was not paved road anymore, and it’s all on dirt! The ride was super bumpy and rocky! It was kind of fun but also scary! We finally arrive, we saw the rocks, and it was such a relief since it was about a 10-minute walk down! Luckily, it wasn’t too hot, and there was some light wind. Look at how gorgeous the clouds are!

After taking pictures at the first section, which was called “Valley of Dreams,” we continued down to the next set of rock then, it started to sprinkle. We hurried up, then it started to rain, and we turned back because we were afraid that the car would have been stuck in the dirt/mud! Next thing you know, it started to hail! The weather completely turned on us! We thought it would be 100 degrees, but it was only like 80 or so degrees, then completely turned gray! The wind, rain, and hail were strong because I got 3 small bruises from the hail! We rushed back up, and our car was filled with mud! We drove out, and it stopped raining. Better to be safe than sorry! We took a quick photo at the sign before we left.

After this, we drove to Jemez Hot Springs. It was about another 2-hour drive, and we were happy to be back on a paved road, and it was sunny again! The fee was $25 for an hour, and it was such a cute, relaxing, and quiet location. They have changing rooms, clean restrooms, outdoor showers (with wooden doors for privacy), and lounge chairs. This location is first come, first serve because there are only 4 hot spring pools, and it’s shared with everyone, so if you want a “private” pool to yourself, come on a weekday or off time. We explored all 4 pools and had 1 to ourselves for a few minutes – and this was a Friday afternoon.

After Jemez Springs, it was my turn to drive, and we went to Sawmill Market. Before we arrived at Sawmill Market, I actually received my first speeding ticket ever! The road was pretty empty, and it was nerve-wracking, but I’m glad I had my friends there with me. Now, something you need to know about New Mexico…the speed limit changes every minute! I am not exaggerating. One moment, it will say 30MPH, then another moment 35MPH, 40MPH, back down to 30MPH, then another moment up to 60MPH, 65MPH, then back down again. It’s literally a roller coaster. I’m not sure why, but beware of it! There was a truck parked to the side, and before I even passed that truck, the cop lights turned on, and boom, I was pulled over. It didn’t even look like a cop car either! The choice was either to attend court or pay the fine. I paid the fine online a few days later. Side note: the website made it seem like I had to pay the fine and go to court, but I confirmed with the clerk that I didn’t need to attend court. Phew*
Luckily, this ticket will not be on my records or anything since this area is not connected to the DMV. I am grateful. After this ticket, I was cautious the entire time driving in New Mexico and will continue to drive speed limit anywhere I go. Lesson learned! After that, the drive back was gorgeous with all of the red rocks!

We finally arrived at Sawmill Market, and it was such a lively place! Tons of food choices, a brewery, and cocktail selections. They have a lot of seating indoors, inside, and outside. It’s a great place to go with friends, families, or even have a date night! 

What a long but fun first day!

Day 2

On Saturday morning, we went to the “Welcome to Albuquerque” mural sign in Nob Hill area. It was near University of New Mexico! Seems like a cool area to hang out too.

After this, we went to eat at Church St. Cafe in Old Town Albuquerque with my coworker. Thank you to my coworker for treating us! It was such a pretty place with a lot of decor! The ambience was great and the pozole soup & sopapillas with honey was delicious! I also learned that if you want red & green chile, you say “Christmas”. Adorable, right?!

After brunch, we walked around Old Town Albuquerque for a little bit to souvenir shop and grabbed a sandwich (for our dinner) at White Sands National Park (WSNP). About an hour before you arrive at WSNP, I would highly recommend getting gas because there are about 100+ miles of just nothing until you reach the small town of Alamogordo. We stopped at the WSNP Visitor’s Center to use the restroom and souvenir shop since it closes at 6pm. They sell sleds there to slide down the White Sands for $20. After that, we drove all the way to the end of White Sands (there is a dead-end loop there), parked the car, and enjoyed the magical place. The sand was WHITE and so soft. Luckily, it wasn’t too hot, and there were some clouds with amazing rays. The pictures don’t do it justice. It was truly an incredible place; it felt like heaven! We stayed for sunset, and at 9pm, it got windy! 

After WSNP, we went to the gas station to use the restroom, get gas, and drove back to the Airbnb!

That is the end of Albuquerque, and the trip continues in Santa Fe. You can read that here. I was glad the weather wasn’t crazy hot in late June (it could have been 100 degrees, but luckily, the weather changed on us!). I would definitely come back to New Mexico during October to experience the Hot Air Balloon Festival! #viviansventures

As always, thank you for visiting Vivian’s Ventures. Have you been to Albuquerque? If so, tell me in the comments/reply section about your experience. What should I do when I go back? If you haven’t been, tell me what you are planning to do there. Any questions or comments, let me know. Let’s chat!