Bugs Bunny often commented that he "should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque", if he had have stayed there instead, he wouldn't have kept bumping into Elmer Thud that's for sure.  He would have also experienced the largest city in New Mexico.

At the turn of the 20th century, Albuquerque thrived and prospered and the town boasted many modern amenities, such as an electric street railway.  This provided the 8,000 inhabitants with good access across the city and some of the buildings from this era still survive.

The popularity of Route 66 brought many travellers to the area and a growth in motels and restaurants followed.  The path of Route 66 changed slightly in 1937, however there are now brown, historical highway markers placed along the pre-1937 route, so those of you with an interest in motoring from that era can follow the original roads.

There are over 300 associations relating to music, dance, film, museums and festivals located in the city.  This means that there is also something happening and any visitor will find an event to suit their tastes, every day of the week.  

Wild Card Wednesdays offer a range of live local music at different venues across the city.  Cultural Sunset Thursdays celebrate the rich cultural diversity in the city and many bars will promote a special theme.  The Old Town is the place to head on Saturdays for entertainment along the patios of the street and the New Mexico Gunfighters Association show off their skills every Sunday.

The Mariachi Spectacular is a five-day celebration of mariachi music.  Held in several indoor and outdoor venues across the city it features performers from Mexico, New Mexico and across the nation. As an observer, you can take part in workshops and gain a great understanding of mariachi music.

There are also events catering for the Hispanic and American Indian community, who were originally occupiers of the area before the settlers moved in.  In fact, Albuquerque holds one of the largest PowWows in the western hemisphere.  More than 3,000 dancers, singers and drummers from 500 tribes across Canada, the U.S., Central America and South America attend the event, which takes place at the end of April each year.  . The event includes the Miss Indian World pageant, and the Indian Traders’ Market.

The good news for anyone wishing to visit Albuquerque is that the climate is usually dry and sunny, with low humidity.  This occurs for most of the year, more than 300 days a year on average, and extended period of overcast clouds are rare. However winter is best avoided, as snowfall is common and temperatures can drop drastically between day and night.

In short, Albuquerque offers much for any traveller.  Go and explore the city for yourself and you'll find a hidden gem.  Bugs Bunny didn't know what he was missing.