Planes, Trains & Autos

Hey Guys!

This post continues our time in Albuquerque…Our travel dates were Oct. 4 – 11.

Read Day 1 here & Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

We were up bright and early to arrive at the hot air balloon festival before the mass ascension kicked off at 7 am.

Mass ascension is when all 500+ balloons launch from the Balloon Fiesta Park. It usually takes about 2 hours for all the balloons to launch.

We had heard that if you didn’t leave early enough, you could get stuck in traffic for up to two hours!

Click here to read about the festival’s park & ride if you’re not interested in driving yourself

A photo of the schedule of events.….we attended the festival on Oct. 5th.

After getting dressed, we headed out around 5:30 am.

Our hotel was located 10 mins from the Balloon Fiesta Park….we were pleasantly surprised when it only took us 25 mins to get to the park.

There were police everywhere directing traffic….they definitely had it down to a science!

Tip: The cost to park is $20 & it’s cash only

We had made it early enough to see part of the drone show.

After being directed on where to park, we headed to the entrance gate.

It was cold and the walk to the front gate took approx. 10 mins from the parking lot.

Tip: Take a picture of where you park because the parking lots are huge!

Finally arriving to the entrance….

The crowds were insane!

Tip: Be sure to purchase your tickets online so you don’t end up standing in long lines to purchase them.

At 6 am, the Dawn Patrol show kicked off….the is one of the signature early morning events at the festival. It’s where a small group of specially selected balloon pilots inflate and launch their balloons while it’s still dark, creating a magical glow against the pre-dawn sky.

The dawn patrol originally started in 1978 when balloonists developed lighting systems to fly in the dark.

Dawn Patrol serves a practical purpose as well; those early balloons give pilots on the ground a sense of the wind speeds and directions at different altitudes before hundreds more balloons lift off for the mass ascension.

On mass ascension mornings, the dawn patrol show — often choreographed with music – begins with inflation around 5;45 am and launches shortly after sunrise….so get there early if you want to see it!

It was so beautiful!

Tip: There is no guarantee that the balloons will be inflated …..it’s all dependent upon the weather….and the day before we arrived, none of the balloons were able to ascend due to the weather.

At 6:30 am, the Krispy Kreme Morning Glow started.

The morning glow is a pre mass ascension glow event ….It’s a group of balloons that are inflated and tethered to the ground and then lit up like giant lanterns.

Pilots fire their burners so the colorful balloons light up against the early morning sky.

I wanted to get as close to the balloons as possible so we pushed our way through the crowds to get to the balloons so we could watch them being inflated.

Balloon Fiesta park consists of 360 acres….the grassy area, where the balloons are launched, is 80 acres.

We couldn’t believe how many people were there!

Tip: There are very few places to sit so you will either have to stand or you can bring blankets and/or chairs. You can also bring in food….no glass or alcohol is allowed. No smoking or pets unless it’s a service animal. Click here for frequently asked questions about the festival

Attending the balloon festival for the first time was unlike anything we had ever experienced. Instead of watching from a distance, we found ourselves walking right among the balloons as they were laid out across the field!

It was so cool!

The balloons towered overhead as they inflated, their colors growing brighter with every blast of fire!

Everywhere we turned, another balloon was taking shape…..some classic and elegant, others playful and whimsical — all preparing to rise at once.

When the launches began, it felt almost surreal. Balloons lifted off one by one, drifting gracefully upward until the sky slowly filled with color.

Looking up and then back across the field, we were surrounded — balloons overhead, balloons beside us, balloons still inflating behind us. There was no single “best” place to stand as the magic was everywhere!

Walking among the balloons and watching them ascend from just a few feet away is an experience that’s both peaceful and awe inspiring ….and one we will never forget!

The balloons dotted the sky like a handful of skittles tossed into the air!

We couldn’t stop taking pictures of all the unique balloons!

Of course, we couldn’t resist taking our photos with all the balloons in the background.

Walking around the field taking pictures of the balloons.

After walking around for about 3 hrs, we decided to grab something for breakfast.

There were tons of food vendors set up at the festival!

We decided on a muffin and coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts.

After enjoying our breakfast, we walked over to check out the remote control balloons.

They were really cool to watch.

We then decided to leave and head to our next stop of the day.

A few more pictures of the hot air balloons

The festival is divided into two sessions….a morning session which is typically from 4:30 am to 11 am and the evening session, which is usually from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Each session has their own different experiences ….however, check the schedule because evening sessions happen on select days over the event’s 9 day run.

If you purchase a ticket for the morning session and leave the park, you will have to pay again if you come back for the later session. If you purchase the morning session and don’t leave the park, you can see both morning and afternoon sessions.

As we were leaving the park, we spotted these two signs and couldn’t pass up getting a photo in front of them!

We also spotted the festival’s official merchandise tent so we couldn’t leave without purchasing a t-shirt!

After our purchase, we headed to our car.

A map of the park

Another sign we spotted on the way out

The entrance gate was now a lot less crowded as we were leaving!

Our next stop would be El Malpais National Monument.

El Malpais is famous for its lava flows, cinder cones and sandstone bluffs.

The drive would take 1 hr 15 mins.

As we were driving, we realized that we were driving alongside an old lava flow!

The lava flows in this region were created by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago.

These lava flows stretch across a broad area creating a vast terrain of black basalt rock.

Arriving to El Malpais…

Our first stop would be the Sandstone Bluffs.

The Sandstone Bluffs in El Malpais are a striking geologic and scenic feature on the eastern edge of the monument where ancient sedimentary rocks form high cliffs and overlooks the volcanic terrain below.

The bluffs are layers of sandstone that formed long before the volcanic eruptions that created much of El Malpais. These rocks were laid down during the Late Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs walked the area.

The bluffs sit high above the lava flows and provide one of the few panoramic overlooks in the monument, showing dark basalt lava fields below and distant peaks like Mount Taylor on the horizon.

These lava flows are from 2500-3000 years ago and the overlook gives sweeping views of the flow that appeared to go on for miles!

There are no formal trails here but you can walk along the cliff tops and around the sandstone exposures. However, be very cautious of steep drop offs!

These rock depressions, called Tinaja, hold water and support wildlife and insects in the area.

Tip: There are restrooms and picnic tables located at the bluffs

The rock formations here were really cool!

There were cacti everywhere!

Of course, we couldn’t leave without taking a few photos in this stunning area! 😉

A few more shots of the area

After leaving here, we headed to our next stop but pulled over when we spotted these old ruins.

There were no signs explaining what the structure used to be but after doing some research, it’s most likely an old homestead.

Settlers and ranchers moved into the area after the U.S. acquired the territory in the 19th century.

Small stone or adobe houses were built, often near water sources or flat land for grazing livestock.

Many of these structures were abandoned as families moved on, leaving behind stone foundations, partial walls and collapsed roofs.

After leaving here, we continued our drive.

The area is incredible!

We passed the sign pointing to the Acoma Zuni Trailhead. The trail is 7.5 miles one way and traverses over old lava flows.

The road wound through towering sandstone formations!

Our next stop would be the La Ventana Arch.

The trail to the arch is only 1/4 mile one way on a gravel trail.

There are signs along the trail that tell you about the area.

We saw lots of flowers and cacti along the short trail.

Arriving to the arch…you have to look closely to make it out!

La Ventana arch is one of New Mexico’s largest natural arches!

Wind and water eroded away the softer parts of the sandstone cliff, leaving behind a spectacular arch tucked away in a small canyon.

I wanted to walk further to get a better shot of the arch but there was a small wooden fence preventing us from going any further. 🙁

After leaving here, we continued our drive.

As we were driving, we started seeing the rugged, black rock that was created by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago..

So, we pulled over to get a closer look.

The stark black lava fields were formed when molten basalt lava welled up from deep beneath the earth’s crust.

Some of these flows are ancient while others, like the McCarty’s Flow, are only about 3,900 years old.

It was so cool to see it up close!

Click here to read all about the lava flows in this area and the cinder cones

After taking several pictures, we continued our drive.

We passed so many incredible rock formations!

After driving for a while, we decided to turn around and head back to Albuquerque.

We had spent approx. 2 hrs in this area but there’s several things we didn’t get to see due to running out of time….like the lava tubes, cinder cones, hikes such as the El Calderon trail and more.

We passed the entrance to the visitor’s center and decided to pullover to take a photo in front of the park’s sign.

After our quick photo, we continued our drive.

Passing more lava on the way

It was right next to the road!

After seeing a sign for Old Rte 66, we decided to take a short detour and drive the old route.

The detour was only like 3 miles long and then put us back on the interstate.

After arriving back in Albuquerque, we headed back to Old Town to walk around.

View a map of Old Town here

On Sundays in Old Town Plaza, vendors set up along the sidewalk and sell their handmade jewelry, crafts and other local goods. This is part of what’s called the Old Town Portal Market—a longstanding artisan market along the east side of the plaza.

There was a lot more activity going on today than there was yesterday.

We saw lots of low riders, motorcycles, and antique cars cruising around the small square.

We also discovered that on Sundays, they have Salsa dancers that perform in the gazebo.

These are local dancers and visitors alike that gather to dance to Latin music.

Every 2nd and 4th Sunday, the Tango Club of Albuquerque hosts a traditional Argentine tango dance event.

We hung out at the gazebo for a while watching the dancers glide across the stage with such effortless grace.

After leaving here, we noticed that the doors were open to the San Felipe de Neri Church so we decided to take a peek inside.

Inside was very simple, with thick adobe walls, wooden beams overhead, and a beautiful old altar.

Part of the church was set up like a museum and displayed historic items from the church..

After exiting the church, we saw a stand set up selling fry bread so we just had to try it!

Fry bread is basically dough that is made from flour, salt, water and baking powder and fried until puffy and golden.

It is deeply rooted in history, originating as a staple for Navajo and other tribes during forced relocation, and is frequently served at powwows or as “Navajo tacos” topped with beans, meat, and cheese.

We first had these when we visited South Dakota in 2024, but they were topped with beans, meat and cheese…..these were fried and served with honey and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

They were just ok…they would have been better had they been served hot and we couldn’t find any honey to put on them.

After eating our fry bread, we continued our walk, checking out shops along the way, browsing colorful pottery, handmade jewelry and local art.

The shops were full of colorful merchandise! So many cool and unique items.

After browsing the stores, we headed to the nearby Sawmill Market to have dinner.

The walk from Old Town Plaza to the market took approx. 15 mins.

We passed the statue of Don Francisco Cuervo Y Valdes who was the founder of Albuquerque in 1706.

Arriving to the market

The Sawmill Market is a mix of food stalls, local art and unique shops.

The market was buzzing with energy as we walked through…this is a popular place in Albuquerque and you could tell by the crowds.

We wandered through the market trying to decide what to eat.

See a list of the restaurants here & read reviews for the market here

We settled on burgers from a place called Dr. Field Goods.

I wasn’t impressed….the burger was way too salty and I ended up not eating half of it.

Read reviews here

After we ate, we checked out the desserts from some of the vendors, and wow, did they look amazing! — but, we decided to skip dessert and head back to our car.

On the way back to our car, we passed the Black Bird Coffee House and decided to stop in and order a coffee.

The place was really cool on the inside.

I ended up ordering a vanilla latte and I can’t remember what the hubby ordered but the coffee was really good!

Read reviews here

After getting our coffee, we headed to our car.

My hubby was ready to head back to the hotel but I really wanted to go back to the hot air balloon festival because that’s what we had planned our trip around….in the end, I won and we headed back to the Balloon Fiesta Park. 😉

Not to mention, I was in no hurry to get back to that hotel..…yuck!

On the way to the park, I spotted the moon and it looked huge!

I later discovered that it was a super moon!

I was trying to snap pictures as we were driving!

We arrived back to the park around 6:45 pm and had to pay another $20 to park.

Tip: Don’t forget, they only accept cash to park.

After getting parked, we made the decision to just stand along the fence and watch from a distance instead of paying to go back inside the park.

We actually had better views alongside the fence!

We arrived just as the Balloon Glow was going on ….

The balloon glow is one of the signature events at the festival….it’s where dozens of hot air balloons are inflated on the ground, then their burners are lit in sync.

The balloons glowed like huge, colorful lanterns against the dark sky!

After the balloon glow, the next scheduled event was the skydivers!

The guys jumped from the plane and ignited fireworks mid-air, putting on an unforgettable display!!

It was incredible to watch!!

Next, was the drone light show….it too, was very cool!

The drone light show is a high tech spectacle where hundreds of LED equipped drones fly in synchronized patterns, lighting up the sky with shapes, colors and even iconic New Mexico symbols.