Dear friends and family,

Welcome to Albuquerque!

New Mexico holds a special place in both of our hearts. Sarah was born and raised in Albuquerque. Both of her parents also have deep roots in New Mexico. Her dad grew up in Albuquerque, and she has fond memories of visiting Alamogordo, where her mom grew up. Growing up, Ben and his family used to visit New Mexico each summer for his father's summer music festival, and he cherishes his memories of road tripping around the state with his brother and parents. We are excited to show you a little piece of our hearts during your stay. Here are a few of our favorite restaurants and activities around Albuquerque:

For a classic sit-down New Mexican dinner, head down the road to El Pinto. Sarah’s favorite is the rolled cheese enchiladas with green chile. Don’t forget to buy a jar of salsa or chile to take with you! As for breakfast, you have to go to Golden Pride. Often regarded as the best breakfast burritos in town, Ben always goes for the #9.

If it’s just a glass of wine you want, there’s no better place than the Casa Rondeña Winery in the valley of the Rio Grande, where you can sip under the vine-laced pergola. For another great option, head a bit further towards Los Poblanos and enjoy cocktails, food, and the last few late summer flowers of their famous lavender farm.

For a lively atmosphere with plenty of options, you’ll want to go to Tin Can Alley - built out of shipping containers - which features a taproom and eateries, or Sawmill Market, a modern food hall with many dining options, just up the road from Old Town.

Speaking of Old Town, that has to be one of the top attractions we recommend to you. The plaza of the initial Albuquerque settlement from way back in 1706 is a place where we love to go shopping for local jewelry, clothing, and New Mexico souvenirs (grab a bag of dried Hatch red and green chili to take home!). If you’d like a nice sit-down dinner while you’re there, Seasons Rotisserie & Grill would be the place for that.

Another one of our favorites is taking an ride up the Sandia Peak Tramway. One of the longest aerial trams in the world, the crest is a beautiful place for a short hike, or to just enjoy some coffee. Be prepared for the altitude - 10,000 feet at the top! If you can’t make it to the tram, at least catch a sunset while you’re here. The Sandia Mountains (Spanish for watermelon) are named for the deep pink color they turn during a sunset, especially in September.

September marks the time when hot air balloons begin to heavily populate the Albuquerque skies. While we'll be here a few weeks too early for the Balloon Fiesta, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, you can still head down to the International Balloon Museum to learn the history of how the iconic festival came to be. Be sure to look to the West in the mornings while you’re here to see a few hot air balloons in flight!

About an hour away (by car or the Rail Runner), Santa Fe offers world-class art galleries, dining, and museums if you have a free day to head over. We never miss a trip to Santa Fe when we're in town!

And for a few final recommendations to round everything out: who thinks of Albuquerque without thinking of Breaking Bad? There are plenty of guided and self-guided tours you can find if you’d like to visit some iconic sites. The ABQ BioPark offers a zoo, aquarium, and a great botanic garden all on the same campus. Finally, the highly-rated Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is your gateway to learn about the 19 Indian Pueblos in New Mexico - past, present and future.

Thank you so much for being part of our wedding, and we hope you will enjoy your time in Albuquerque!