It was 7:30 in the morning and my boyfriend, Sam, and I had already been up for about three hours. We walked around the large baskets on the ground and watched as people of all ages eagerly climbed into them. The balloons above the baskets began to inflate and to take shape. And then we watched as the balloons lifted off into the sky with the look of pure joy and maybe a little bit of terror on the faces of the people inside. Balloon after balloon floated up into the cloudless sky, each one a unique color and shape. By the time 2 hours had passed, over 500 balloons had lifted off into the sky and it was the most magical sight I have ever seen!
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a must-see, and if it’s not on your bucket list you should go add it right now! The nine day-long festival is located on park grounds where there is an incredible view of the Sandia Mountains. The hot air balloons will only lift off in certain conditions- there can’t be precipitation and the wind needs to be less than 11 MPH, so I recommend giving yourself at least a couple days, if not the entire nine days to ensure you can see the balloons lift off at least once.
We took a huge chance when coming to the festival, and made Albuquerque our last stop on a three-state, ten-day long trip, only allowing ourselves one morning to experience the festival. Fortunately for us, the weather conditions were perfect and we were able to watch the balloons lift off. That being said, it was incredibly stressful and I seriously recommend giving yourself at least a couple days, just in case!
In ideal weather, the balloons will lift off once in the morning and once in the evening. I recommend getting there around 5 am to make sure you get a parking spot. Around 6:30 am, they inflate and light up several balloons, which stand out against the darkness. Then, around 7 am, the mass ascension begins and the balloons begin to lift off. Once all the balloons are in the air, the morning festivities are finished and they have some activities organized for you to watch or participate in. Otherwise, you are free to do whatever you wish! Around 7:45 pm, there is another light show with the balloons and the final mass ascension begins at 8 pm. Apart from that, there are dozens of food stands to get any kind of food you want!
While the festival does have some family-fun events during the day in between ascensions, I recommend you venture off into town because Albuquerque has a lot to offer! Here are some things I recommend to do:
- Take the Sandia Peak Tramway to the top of the Sandia Mountains. I want to point out that you can also hike to the top of the mountains, but taking the tramway to the top is quite an experience in itself! Â The trolley is top-notch, one of a kind, and built by engineers in Switzerland. It is not for the faint-of-heart (it gets really windy at the top!), but is totally worth it!
- Take a stroll through old town and visit the small shops, art galleries, and chocolate shops!
- Grab lunch and try the local fare- We went to Backstreet Grill in Old Town and they have the best guacamole I’ve ever had (seriously, I still dream about it!) and they also have a prickly pear margarita that I don’t think I’ll ever forget (In fact, I may have had 2!)
- Check out the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and learn about the 19 Native American Communities (Pueblos). The restaurant there is also wonderful!
- Head over to the Biopark Botanical Garden- we didn’t make it here, however it was recommended to us by many people.
- Catch the sunset against the Sandia Mountains (in a hot air balloon, on the tramway, or anywhere in town where you have a good view of the mountains). Sandia means ‘watermelon’ in Spanish and during the sunset you will understand why they named the mountains as they have- the mountains turn a pinkish-red color, or the color of watermelon.
Albuquerque as a whole is an incredible, unique city full of vibrancy, culture, and sincerely nice locals. I recommend stopping here even if not for the Hot Air Balloon Festival, because it really is that wonderful! That being said, I highly recommend going to The Hot Air Balloon Festival as it is truly magical and will make you feel like a little kid again!
This blog post was written by the talented Hannah Morth!Â
Hannah Morth is a Personal Business and Life Coach and founder of Limitless Millennials. She specializes in helping millennial minds create, monetize and succeed in their online businesses! And of course, she loves to travel! Join her Facebook group. 
