Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
248
Inexpensive
Flying Star Cafe
Kids
CAFE/BAKERY The Flying Star Cafe makes good on its
promise of uptown food with down-home ingredients. It's a fun and friendly place with
excellent contemporary international food. But beware: During mealtime, the university
location on Central Avenue gets packed and rowdy. The selections range broadly, all
made with local and organic produce, when possible. You can choose from 16 different
breakfast options ranging from homemade soups and salads to sandwiches and pasta (and
pizza at the Juan Tabo and Rio Grande locations). Try the Rancher's Melt (New Zealand
sirloin sautéed with green chile, with provolone and horseradish on sourdough) or the
Buddha's Bowl (sautéed vegetables, in ginger sauce, with tofu over jasmine rice). Flying
Star also has locations at 4501 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE (
&
505/275-8311
); 8001 Menaul
Blvd. NE (
&
505/293-6911
); and 4026 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (
&
505/344-6714
).
They don't serve alcohol, but they do brew up plenty of espresso and cappuccino. Kids
enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and their own selections from the menu. Though hours
vary for each location, they are all open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
3416 Central Ave. SE.
&
505/255-6633.
www.flyingstarcafe.com. All menu items under $15. AE, DISC,
MC, V. Daily 6am-11:30pm.
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WHAT TO SEE & DO
Albuquerque's original town site, known today as
Old Town,
is the central point of inter-
est for visitors. Here, grouped around the plaza, are the venerable Church of San Felipe
de Neri and numerous restaurants, art galleries, and crafts shops. Several important
museums are close by. Within a few blocks are the 25,000-square-foot Albuquerque
Aquarium and the 50-acre Rio Grande Botanic Garden (near Central Ave. and Tingley
Dr. NW), both well worth a visit.
But don't get stuck in Old Town. Elsewhere, you'll find the Sandia Peak Tramway, the
new Balloon Museum, and a number of natural attractions. Within day-trip range are
several pueblos and significant monuments (see “Touring the Jemez Mountain Trail,”
later in this chapter).
Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
Kids
Take an interesting jour-
ney into New Mexico's present and past in this museum on the outskirts of Old Town.
An expansion has brought new gallery space, filled with impressive changing exhibits.
Most notable for me are works from the museum's art collection, which includes canvases
by Fritz Scholder, Peter Hurd, Ernest Blumenshein, and Georgia O'Keeffe, as well as
contemporary woodwork by Luis Tapia. Downstairs take a trip through history, repre-
sented by an impressive collection of Spanish colonial artifacts. Displays include Don
Quixote-style helmets, swords, and horse armor, a 19th-century house compound and
chapel, and gear used by
vaqueros,
the original cowboys who came to the area in the 16th
century. In an old-style theater, two films on Albuquerque history are shown. An
Old
Town walking tour
originates here at 11am Tuesday to Sunday during spring, summer,
and fall. A gift shop sells books and jewelry, and a cafe serves upscale sandwiches and
soups. Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours here.
2000 Mountain Rd. NW.
&
505/243-7255.
www.albuquerquemuseum.com. Admission $4 adults, $2
seniors 65 and older, $1 children 4-12. Tues-Sun 9am-5pm. Closed major holidays.
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