Albuquerque is famous for its ballooning, museums, and Route 66
By Eileen Ogintz
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — We’re admittedly a little early. The 100th anniversary of Route 66 isn’t until November 2026. But here in Albuquerque NM on Central Avenue, there’s plenty to see and celebrate right now.
In fact. The 18-mile stretch here is the longest continuous urban stretch in the country complete with neon signs, unique restaurants, fun shops, and places to stay along the “Mother Road.”
That includes the new ARRIVE Albuquerque Hotel, set in the downtown core of New Mexico’s largest city. Located on Central Avenue (U.S. Route 66) in downtown.
Albuquerque, overlooking the city’s landmark Robinson Park, ARRIVE Albuquerque has reimagined a six-story 1965 historic property with 137 guest rooms, a seasonal pool and swim club, and DWTNR Cocktail Bar & Lounge, a signature restaurant popular with guests and locals who come for comfort food (burgers, queso dip, wedge salads…) and cocktails. ARRIVE is pet-friendly and our pooch is greeted with a bed, water and food bowls and a toy that looks like a camera (For Route 66 snapshots perhaps?)
Albuquerque is famous for its public art and ARRIVE Albuquerque continues that tradition with an exterior mural by Nani Chacon, a local artist.
DWTNR’s modern retro personality comes to life with mix-and-match fabric patterns, bold tile accent walls, a fountain feature and greenery for a carefree, irreverent sensibility.
Poolside, more southwestern elements such as patterned tiles, rattan lounge accents and contemporary outdoor furniture and lighting add an airy, natural element to sunbathing and lounging in the heart of the city.
I love the floral upholstered headboards, the vintage art, and the mid-century inspired furniture, and mid-century touches like old-fashioned radios.
AT DWTNR, the menu is a mix of American comfort food (like you traditionally would find along Route 66) and some Pan-Asian offerings including potstickers, coconut shrimp toast and teriyaki chicken. I loved that there seemed as many locals celebrating TGIF as visitors on the patio.
ARRIVE Albuquerque is the fifth hotel in the ARRIVE by Palisociety portfolio, that include ARRIVE locations in Austin, TX; Wilmington, NC; Memphis, TN.; and Palm Springs, CA.
This is really a great central location in downtown Albuquerque whether you are here for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. That is the world’s largest international ballooning event drawing hundreds of hot air balloons from around the world. Some 300 balloonists live here, drawn by the “Albuquerque Box”, a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape that allows balloonists to control their adventure.
In fact, at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum at the edge of the 360-acre Balloon Fiesta Park, interactives enable you to create your own balloon (want it to be like an elephant, dragon or cowboy) with your own design and name and then watch it fly and then return to earth in the famous Albuquerque Box on a giant screen.
This museum is a great place to learn more about weather, clouds, climate, and the history of ballooning that dates back to the 18th century.
It’s terrific to see how different cultures and passions are at work here—there is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (NM is home to 23 tribes and pueblos), galleries showcasing Native American art and the National Hispanic Cultural Center. The City, over 5000 feet above sea level, was founded in 1706 as a Spanish colonial outpost where you still see plenty of adobe buildings in Old Town.
Food here is another measure of how cultures have come together—chiles, the state’s biggest crop, layered with beef, bison, squash, corn, beans in all varieties of dishes. But you also will find influences—and restaurants from around the world, including the artisanal Sawmill Market, New Mexico’s first food hall with an outdoor Yard dining and play space. Come for corn, tacos, ribs, sushi, French dip sandwiches, pizza, cocktails and more…
Locals as well as visitors flock to 66 Diner for fries smothered in queso or cheese, fried okra, burgers, and New Mexico favorites like Pile Up –pan fried potatoes, bacon, chopped green chili, eggs, cheddar cheese and, of course, red, or green chili sauce. Perhaps Frito pie? Milkshakes (How about caramel apple or Tom’s Pink Cadillac, sundaes, and all varieties of pies. Come hungry!
A little Route 66 History: The road stretches from Chicagoo to Santa Monica, spanning 2,400 miles and passing through eight states. This was the road those fleeing the Dust Bowl drove West in the 1930s and later, transporting troops and supplies during WWII.
In the 1950s, this became the major road for car-crazed Americans on road trips with all varieties of attractions—everything from teepee shaped motels to frozen custard stands, reptile farms and fast food, including the first McDonald’s in San Bernardino, CA.
President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal helped complete Route 66 and John Steinbeck coined the term “Mother Road.” This generation of kids, of course, knows it best from the animated Cars movies, Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park with Piston Peak, a new area inspired by Cars, coming to Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom with a National Park twist.
There will be Route 66 celebrations throughout 2026, once again celebrating the communities—like Albuquerque—that it passed through. And there is no better time as many of us are looking to enjoy road trips closer to home.
The big question here- do you want green or red chili on your eggs or burger? Ask for Christmas—that’s both.