Albuquerque’s semi-desert climate allows residents to enjoy the great outdoors year-round. Popular activities in the city include hiking and biking in the nearby Sandia and Manzano Mountains, as well as walking or rollerblading through the Paseo del Bosque Trail, a 16-mile multi-use route situated in the city. The Sandia Peak Ski Area, which reaches over 10,000 feet above sea level at its peak, provides year-round recreation options.

If you enjoy hitting the links, Albuquerque has plenty of options for you, including four city-run courses as well as the state’s top-ranked course, Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club—one of the only public courses in the country to receive a five-star rating from Golf Digest readers. Albuquerque also has nearly 300 parks, comprising 43 square miles which is about 23% of the city's total area—one of the highest percentages among major U.S. cities.

A cultural hotbed, Albuquerque boasts no fewer than 300 creative organizations, museums, festivals and associations. The New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair has been held annually since 1961, and annual music-based events include the Clovis Music Festival and ¡Globalquerque! Local museums of note in Bernalillo County include the Albuquerque Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science while Live music venues include Isleta Amphitheater, Tingley Coliseum, Sunshine Theater and the KiMo Theater.

The unofficial hot air ballooning capital of the country, Albuquerque hosts an international balloon fiesta that takes place at Balloon Fiesta Park every October. This city also has a botanical and zoological complex—the Albuquerque Biological Park, which consists of the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, the Albuquerque Aquarium, Tingley Beach and the Rio Grande Zoo.

Albuquerque Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in the nation, provides educational services to almost 100,000 children across the city. Albuquerque is home to the University of New Mexico (UNM), the largest public flagship university in the state. UNM includes a School of Medicine which is well-regarded nationally. Central New Mexico Community College meanwhile, is a government-funded junior college which primarily services new high school graduates as well as adults returning to school.

Professional baseball and soccer teams call Albuquerque home, with both squads competing out of the 11,124-seat Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park. The University of New Mexico’s NCAA Division I football program’s home games are played at University Stadium which has a capacity of 39,224 while its men’s and women’s basketball programs hit the floor at an arena known as “The Pit,” which can accommodate 15,411 fans.

Several major highways pass through Albuquerque, including I-25 and I-40. The city is served by two airports—Albuquerque International Sunport (primary) and Double Eagle II (secondary). Public transportation in the city includes a commuter rail line known as the “New Mexico Rail Runner Express”, as well as a metro bus service known as “ABQ RIDE.” Albuquerque also boasts a well-developed bicycle network that’s utilized by cyclists to get around town.

Renowned for its inimitable cuisine, Albuquerque has an active restaurant scene offering dishes from all over the world as well as local fare such as green chili and various southwestern dishes. Popular retail centers in the city, meanwhile, include the Old Town Shopping District, ABQ Uptown, the Cottonwood Mall, the First Plaza Galeria and Nob Hill.

New Mexico hosts four military bases: Cannon Air Force Base, Holloman Air Force Base, Kirtland Air Force Base, Los Alamos Demolition Army Base and White Sands Missile Range Army Base. These bases are all large, ranging from 50,000 acres to 3,200 square miles.