The_NM_TX

  Being from Colorado craft beer is part of the culture one lives by, and I was very relieved to see that culture translate to New Mexico. Also, just like in Colorado there are always those bucket list breweries that must be checked off. Those breweries that paved the way for craft breweries in the state, and the ones that are still going strong today. So, it was only a matter of time until I paid that brewery a visit, and it couldn’t be one of their multiple locations, but instead the original. Of course, I could only be talking about Santa Fe Brewing.  Now to clarify this was not my first trip to Santa Fe Brewing, I went years ago the first time I came for fiesta. I enjoyed it then, but upon my most recent visit I was surprised how much this brewery had expanded. I was surprised how much this place had changed and grown. The new interior is nothing short of beautiful with the large windows, merchandise shop, and large bar to order any assortment of Santa Fe Beers or cockta...

  The first time we featured coffee was strictly coffee shops in Rio Rancho, and they were both fantastic in their own ways. Well as time passes comes the opportunity for more exploration, and the discovery of new coffee shops to try. Once again, these coffee shops were both unique with great offerings for coffee fans of all types. So, without further ado here are two more coffee shops worth checking out in the Albuquerque area.  Suenos Coffee: When I first saw Suenos I thought it was cool that there were multiple coffee food trucks in the area. Then I decided to try them, and quickly realized it was way more than a coffee truck. It is a full-on walk-in coffee shop, in a trailer, attached to a pickup truck. Walk up the ramp, and you will forget you are in a trailer, with its wood floors, counter, and friendly baristas to greet you. While they have a full menu of classic espresso drinks including lattes, mochas, I naturally went with my go to which is the cold brew. I was no...

  Since moving down here one of the towns I have absolutely fallen in love with and myself driving too a lot is Corrales. This is a great small town that seems to have everything.  Just driving through it the scenery is great. Stopping for a beer at Ex Novo is always on the list. So why would I be surprised to find a great hike in this town also? Well at the Corrales Bosque there is just that, and this choose your own adventure hike is a must do for hikers of all skill levels.  When you first approach it there is no parking lot, instead just park along the road leading up to the gate and walk in. The hike itself is not difficult, and the 7.4-mile loop can be as long or short, and as strenuous as the hiker chooses. Walking in though is an instant escape into nature. Instantly there are trees as far as the eye can see, the canal, and a trail that seems to stretch. Hikers can choose to go right or left upon entrance, and given the direction of the Sandia I chose to go left...

  As I have previously stated when I first moved down here, I had to stay in Red River briefly before completing my move. One of the highlights was finding a local brewery along the main street in this small town. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the first time I went, not only did they brew a wide variety of beers, they also had a decent food menu, and on top of that were also a distillery that made their own award-winning spirits. So naturally I frequented a few times, and really came to enjoy trying Red River Brewing and Distillery, a family-owned business in the northern mountains of New Mexico.  The first takeaway I had about this place was just how large it is, and that they need all the space on a daily basis. Clearly this is not just a tourist brewery, but also a place for the local community to go to. The inside is very warm with wood floors, and views of the brewhouse. But there is a reason this place was named best brewery patio. The patio has another outdoor bar...

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...