The_NM_TX

Anybody that knows me knows that sports are a very important thing to me. Whether it is baseball, football, or especially college football I can always sit down and watch a game at any time. Living in Denver it was very easy to be a sports fan, at any time of the year there was a game to watch. Not even from the major sports, there was even two options for professional lacrosse. So, moving down here was a little bit of an adjustment. Thankfully as the time passed by, I did discover a form of football I honestly didn’t even know was still around. Indoor football. So when I found out that Albuquerque had a team I was excited about going to my first game, which of course had to be the home opener. So on a Saturday in March, I was eager about my first experience of the Duke City Gladiators. With ticket in hand, I headed to the Rio Rancho Events Center excited about seeing my first live Indoor Football League Game. The home opener was the Duke City Gladiators vs. the Frisco Fighters, and it...

  The one constant I have said is that nature is everywhere and easy to get to in New Mexico. Hiking here does not have to be well thought out, and planned in advance. The fact that it can be an impulse decision and in under an hour you can find yourself at a trailhead. But even I was surprised to discover a state park with a nature center, and ample walking trails within Albuquerque, more specifically Los Ranchos. But that’s exactly what I discovered when I went and explored the Rio Grande Nature Center and Bosque walk.  This is a very unexpected hike that you cannot miss. As Candaleria Road ends, turn right and you are in the parking lot here. $3.00 gets you access to the nature center, visitor center, and trails. Note that there is a side trail prior to the actual park entrance for bikes and dogs, but you are not allowed in the nature center if you choose that route. I paid the small fee and began exploring. Once you get to the Bosque there are a couple directions you can g...

  I am used to hiking being where one wakes up early, drives for a long time to a remote wilderness area, and explores some great scenery. It’s great and I love every aspect of it, but I was surprised to discover two things about hiking here. The first is that in general the drive isn’t nearly as far as you would think. The other is that it is not just hiking, but a lot of these trails and areas have so much history incorporated into them. One of my first discoveries of this was north of Albuquerque in the small town of Bernalillo when I first visited the Coronado Historical Site.  Now while this is more of a walk than a hike it is still totally worth checking out, and the amount you learn while walking is so interesting. The site dates back to 1540 where Coronado was searching for gold, and instead discovered what is now known as the Pueblo Indians. Through visiting all of them he didn’t discover gold, but instead was able to survive this expedition through their help, and ri...

  Once I finally got settled in, one of the first things I wanted to do was go hiking, and check out the trails in and around Albuquerque. One of the first places I knew I had to check out was the Petroglyph National Monument, because one thing I love is how history and hiking go hand in hand here. So after a brief visit to the visitor center where I thought the trails were, I got back in my car and headed out in search of my first stop. That happened to be the Boca Negra Canyon.  After paying my dollar to get in and the trek to the parking lot I knew I made a smart decision in starting here first. The hike itself is short, but slightly strenuous due to the unpredictable terrain, but the views and experience more than make up for it. The fact that this trail and hike allows guests to get up close and personal to these ancient petroglyphs is nothing short of amazing. Even more impressive about this one is there is not a hike to get to them like in the other trails, they are imm...

  As much as people know me as a craft beer fan, I also do occasionally enjoy a glass of wine. Also, like with craft beer I prefer to drink local wines. Lucky for me one of the first wineries I tried when I moved down here not only has a great tasting room, but it also grows all their grapes in New Mexico. With vineyards in Corrales, Bosque Farms, and the South Valley, as well as multiple tasting rooms this is as local as it gets for a winery. So when that craving for a glass of red hits, I always crave Sheehan Winery.  I first discovered Sheehan while I was staying in Red River. Their small tasting room offered a great variety of wines, and a patio to take in the scenery. It did not disappoint, and it was very exciting to discover their tasting room while in Old Town. The Old Town tasting room is nothing short of beautiful. It is spacious with bottles everywhere to take home, and of course to taste or enjoy a glass there. There is a upper level for wine club members, and a co...