September 2024 | Issue No. 52

Hello & welcome to my September newsletter, thanks for tuning in again this month! As you may know, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is coming up in a few weeks. What a busy & exciting time of year to be in the city. There are tons of events & experiences that come along with this highly anticipated annual tradition. There are also many year-round local tours that might be fun to add to your agenda, especially if you have family or friends visiting for the 

Fiesta. They are a great way to get a different perspective…even if you've lived here for many years, there may be something new to take away from these experiences. 

If you want a one-stop shop for finding tours that will appeal to several different tastes, maybe a visit to Tour ABQ, Albuquerque Tourism & Sightseeing Factory, is the place for you. They operate from April-October & then offer special tours for the holidays in December.  You can experience their Best of ABQ City Tour by way of ABQ Trolley Co in an open-air trolley. This comprehensive tour includes popular stops like Old Town Plaza, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Route 66, UNM & the Rail Yards, just to name a few.  They are currently offering a special Route 66 Speakeasy Trolley Tour. Tour ABQ also manages booking for the Duke City Pedaler, a 14-passenger party bike that cruises the streets of ABQ making stops at local pubs & other favorite spots. This fun, interactive & eco-friendly “party on wheels” is a favorite for special occasions where something boring just won't do. It's a memorable way to experience the city & get to know friends better, or maybe even add a few new ones. Check out their website for more information & requirements for tours, some may be 21+ years of age.

 

Or if you're into history & all things spooky, the Albucreepy Ghost Walk: Taverns & Tales might be more your speed. With Halloween also around the corner, maybe even bookmark this one for later. This is a walking tour in the Old Town area, complete with stops at bars/saloons as well as history & tales of haunted Albuquerque.

 

Speaking of ghost tours….there are several companies specializing in walking tours that focus on the history & lore of the creepy side of Albuquerque. Another long-standing tour company is ABQTours, located in Plaza Don Luis in the heart of Old Town. This company has been locally owned & operated since 2001. It was the original ghost tour of Old Town & offers both private & public tours & times depending on your interests & schedule. Old Town is widely believed to have a history of paranormal activity from its long & colorful past. Their guides are knowledgeable & weave historical record with humor in these family-friendly 75 minute to 2 hour walking tours. They offer several time slots from 4pm to 10pm for private tours & 8pm & 10pm for public tours. Check their website for information about times & more.

Another popular ghost tour offered in Old Town is the nightly one-hour walking tour by U.S. Ghost Adventures. The company operates nationally in some of the most haunted cities. The Albuquerque tour happens each night at 8pm, starting at the Albuquerque Old Town Visitors Center. This tour explores the haunted history of some of Old Town's popular historic spots, including High Noon Restaurant & Saloon, Church Street Cafe & Bottger Mansion. These are all contemporary dining & lodging establishments with very long histories. You might have a different view of your next meal at one of these local favorite spots after experiencing one of their tours. They also offer bonus, extended tours featuring more haunted locations than the typical nightly version. Check out their website for more information about local & national ghost tours. 

If your interests lie more in the cinematic side of Albuquerque, perhaps a Breaking Bad tour is more your speed. Breaking Bad Luigi's Tours is a 3 hour shuttle tour of 18+ iconic locations around the city featured in the popular tv series. If you live in Albuquerque, you may even learn something new about the city or the show. For many avid Breaking Bad enthusiasts, this tour offers the opportunity for a behind the scenes view & an appreciation for just how important a character Albuquerque actually is to the storyline. Visitors from all walks of life & locations around the world have experienced this tour. The tour guide, Liugi, is passionate about sharing knowledge & experiences & has entertained many passengers along the way. You never know who you might bump into or share a ride with on this highly rated tour. 

For those of you who are looking for unique tour opportunities that also let you get out, enjoy the sunshine, fresh air & some physical activity, Routes Bicycle Tours & Rentals in Old Town is the place to go. They also have a location in Santa Fe & tours that cater to a Santa Fe experience if you are also visiting the Capital city. They offer a different version of a Breaking Bad experience, the ABQ Biking Bad Tour, that lets you visit locations not accessible by any other tour or mode of transportation. Other popular tours include ABQ Coffee & Tea Bike Tours, Historic Riverside Bike Tour, Bike & Taco & an Urban Art Bike Tour. These curated experiences really capture the heart of everyday Burquenos & are perfect for locals & visitors alike. And if you're seeking a different kind Balloon Fiesta experience, they have ABQ Bikes & Balloons. This year, they celebrate their 14th Annual Bikes & Balloons Tour in conjunction with the Fiesta in October. This inclusive experience includes bicycle & helmet rental, private gate-side valet parking & admission tickets to the Fiesta. Bonus features like breakfast, bottled water, hand-warming packets, custom maps, an insider's tour of the Rio Grand Bosque & exclusive goodies & souvenirs make this tour stand out from the others & also helps you create memories that will last a lifetime.

 

If you are all in for the Balloon Fiesta & dreaming of seeing Albuquerque from above, Fly Albuquerque has you covered. They offer routine flights throughout the year, but have some very special flight options that align with Balloon Fiesta. Their Sunrise Festival Flight & Private Festival Flight are unique to October 5-13th & some options offer the crew experience. If you are seeking a truly memorable way to enjoy the Balloon Fiesta, these are excellent ways to make a lasting memory. 

Elevated New Mexico offers experiences catered to your ballooning  needs. Their seasoned pilot has been flying hot air balloons in the Albuquerque & New Mexico area since the 1990s with 100s of hours of flight experience. You can choose from a private sunrise flight or if you aren't feeling quite as adventurous, a tethered/static option might be enough to satisfy your curiosity. You can even book a wedding package for the ultimate memory-making experience. 

Rainbow Ryders is the largest hot air balloon business serving the Southwest since 1983, with offices in Albuquerque, Phoenix & Colorado Springs. They offer sunrise, sunset & dawn patrol flights depending on your preferred time of day. In conjunction with this year's Balloon Fiesta, you can choose from some very special opportunities to experience the magic surrounding the energy of the event. They offer a pre & post-event shared basket balloon ride available three days before & one day after the Fiesta. This is your opportunity to  embark upon a journey with 50 - 100 other balloons in the sky. If your dream is to participate in the event itself, they also have a Balloon Fiesta mass ascension balloon ride & Balloon Fiesta sunset ride. 

September Specials!

I'm excited to share special offers this month from TWO amazing local businesses! Please see limitations/exclusions & end dates for each offer, as they are different. 

This month's special offer comes from our friends at Routes Bicycle Tours & Rentals. You are invited to use code BALLOONWEEK to receive $10/person off any bicycle tour, valid through the end of Balloon Fiesta. Offer ends October 13,2024. They are booking their Bikes & Balloons tours during the Fiesta in addition to offering their regular & themed tours. Visit their website for more information.

The second September special comes from Tour ABQ. You may use code tour10 for 10% off their regularly scheduled tours. This special is NOT valid during Balloon Fiesta (October 5-13), however it is available for you to use from now until December 31,2024, any time other than October 5-13. This includes their special holiday tours during the month of December. Please visit their website for more information about tours & to book.

Nationally, housing inventory levels are at their highest since May 2020 approaching normal levels & the Albuquerque market also continues to make gains in available homes. At the end of the Summer season, we normally see a slight slow down, picking back up after the New Mexico State Fair. This year seems to be holding that trend & we anticipate a strong Fall market with mortgage rates beginning to drop. If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in the coming months, give me a call. I'd love to help you realize your 2024 goals!

Thanks for joining me again here  this month. What are your  Balloon Fiesta plans? There are so many events going on, sometimes it's hard to make room for them all. As always, I'd love to hear your ideas for future newsletters, do you have something local you'd like to know more about? Or do you own a local business & have a discount or offer you want to share to get the word out? Send me a message & tell me about it. I'd love to hear from you. 

See you next month,