Colorado State University Athletics
What to do in Albuquerque on Bowl Weekend
12/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 9, 2008
By Melinda Swenson
Dept. of Web Communications
Now that the Rams have won their bowl bid, it's time for fans to start thinking about fun things to do while in Albuquerque, New Mexico - the 300-year-old city with a southwestern flare - nicknamed the "Duke City" after a Spanish duke.
Friday evening
After the 4:30 p.m. pep rally on Friday, Dec. 19, at the University of New Mexico stadium, it will be time for an evening out on the town. You might collect family and friends for a dinner at Seasons Rotisserie & Grill, rated as "consistently excellent" by the Toque Tally Restaurant Review of top restaurants. Seasons may remind you of the wine country with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and exhibition kitchen. Ask to be seated in the rooftop Cantina overlooking Old Town.
Another choice is the Gold Street Caffe, set in an historic downtown garage that was renovated into a stylish San Francisco-style bistro with the original, exposed brick walls. The establishment serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
http://www.999dine.com/nm/goldstreetcaffe
Saturday morning
If you're an early riser, you may want to return to Old Town on Saturday morning to see it in daylight. With a coffee cup and scone in hand, you can wander the central plaza, a serene village with quiet, hidden patios, winding brick paths, gardens, and balconies. Unique items from around the world, as well as those distinctively Southwestern, can be found in more than 130 shops and boutiques.
After a stroll through Old Town, you'll still have time to attend CSU Alumni Association's pregame tailgate at the University Stadium. The event begins at 9 a.m. To register for the tailgate, visit http://csualum.com/bowl.
Game time
The bowl game starts at 12:30 p.m. Remember to bring your creature comforts - stadium blankets and seats, hand warmers and hats, just in case. The average high in Albuquerque in December is 48 degrees. So grab a hot chocolate at the concession stand and join the other green and gold fans inside the University of New Mexico stadium as the CSU Rams take on the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Rounding out the weekend
If you plan to stay in Albuquerque for the remainder of the weekend, here's a list of attractions to choose from, depending on the weather and the kinds of activities you enjoy.
The Albuquerque Aquarium and Rio Grande Botanic Garden is a place where you can discover aquatic habitats, including a walk-through eel cave and a 285,000-gallon shark tank. The Botanic Garden showcases the natural environment of the Rio Grande Valley through specialty gardens as well as desert and Mediterranean conservatories. There is also a children's fantasy garden to explore. 2601 Central Ave NW, (505) 764-6200. Open Tue-Sun 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $4.50 adults, $2.50 seniors and children 3-12. Under 3 free.
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/aquarium
The Sandia Peak Tramway, lifts you from the Sandia foothills through five natural life zones to the top of the Sandia Mountains, more than 10,000 feet above sea level.
The Indian Pueblo Culture Center is owned and operated by the 10 Pueblo Tribes of New Mexico. Visit the museums, galleries and gift shops where over 300,000 visitors annually experience the culture, art, and history of pueblo life. Children are welcome to join hands-on experience in the Pueblo House Children's Museum.
You can explore an ice cave, stand inside a "live" volcano, or ride the "Evolator" back to the age of dinosaurs at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science one of the premier natural history museums in the country. Discover a great collection of massive dinosaurs while you watch technicians work on actual fossils. You can also experience the Dynamax Theater with its multi-story screen and super sound system. Step into the Time Machine and stop by the Lode Star Center that includes a high-tech, 175-seat theater, telescope and planetarium.
http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org
The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History has permanent displays on the city's history along with traveling art exhibits from around the world.
The National Atomic Museum offers displays and movies on the development of atomic energy and weapons as well as the latest advances in energy research at this fascinating museum.
At the Petroglyph National Monument, take a historical hike among 15,000 ancient rock drawings which date back thousands of years. The 7,100-acre monument contains some of the nation's largest natural displays of prehistoric artwork. Anasazi nomadic hunters etched various drawings and messages onto the black basalt boulders of the escarpment just west of the Rio Grande. This is an adventurous, educational experience. Visitors can take a ranger-guided tour that can last up to two hours or explore various trails on their own. The monument is open year round.
Rio Grande Zoological Park has everything from rare and exotic animals to comical and common species. The zoo offers award winning natural habitat displays of white tigers, polar bears, big cats, great apes and just about everything else that came off Noah's Ark. Feeding times for the sea lions and seals are 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily.
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/zoo
Tickets to the game The best seats available for the game are available through the CSU ticket office. Purchase in person at the McGraw Athletic Center ticket office, via telephone at 1-800/491-RAMS, or at http://ev8.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:COLOSTATE:F08:F08:&linkID=colostate&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=.
If you are unable to make it to the game in person, you can still support the effort by purchasing tickets that will be donated to either the CSU Band or a bowl-designated charity. Donation opportunities are tax-deductible are available at https://advancing.colostate.edu/Modules/giving_a.asp?1095.
Learn more about the New Mexico Bowl by visiting http://www.newmexicobowl.com.
