Fun - do you know where to find it?

What can you do for fun in Albuquerque?

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What in the world can one do for fun in Albuquerque? Lots! Including the most recently opened Unser Racing Museum, Albuquerque has nineteen museums, http://www.itsatrip.org/visitors/. I am planning to visit them all, but my little sister, who is my frequent museum partner likes going back to the same museum over and over again - the Museum of Science and Natural History. Her favorite area is the large dinosaur exhibit. She ladores getting her picture taken with this exhibit.

Then, there's the zoo, another of my little's favorite places. The Albuquerque zoo is one of four facilities that make up the Albuquerque Biological Park that is an environmental museum. The other three facilities are the Albuquerque Aquarium, The Rio Grande Botanic Garden and Tingley Beach. The zoo, pleasantly laid out on 64-acres, offers close-up views of exotic and native animals and is a great treat for kids and adults alike! The biological park is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

My little sister, at age 8, is a bit young for geo-caching, but I have friends who are avid players of this reinvention of treasure hunt. They love the outdoors and enjoy hiking the many trails along the Rio Grande, in the Petroglyph National Monument, and the Sandias. For now, my little sister and I simply enjoy the parks and walking the trails of the lower foothills.

If we can ever make it past the crowds, we will, one year, attend the main Pueblo attraction of the year, the Gathering of Nations. Until that happens, we can settle for the feast days and celebratory activitiesa of the dozen or more pueblos in our immediate neighborhood.

Many small galleries are always open. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, art and craft shows and fairs are ongoing. My favorite are exhibitions are the neighborhood art or craft shows where artists open up their home studios and galleries for one-day or weekend tours. Similarly, I like the home and garden shows when architects and gardeners get to show off their talent and we get to admire their beautifully staged homes and gardens.

Of course, the show of all shows is the balloon fiesta in the October. Even though it lasts two weeks, we plan for it because it seems to go very quickly.

Our list of things to do would not be complete without mention of our sports events. If you are coming to Duke City, as we affectionately call our city, learn to say, Go lobos! And mean it.

Don't forget that one of the great attractions of living in Albuquerque is that you are always an easy day trip away from more great places with more art-music, galleries of sculptors, weavers, painters- great skiing, in Santa Fe, Chimayo, Taos, Angel Fire, Los Lunas, Las Cruces, Mesilla, Belen.

Many of these events are free. Whether free or not, they are great resources for a BS (Big Sister). Knowing about these resources help me organize outings with my little. Being a BS is fun with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico. http://www.bbbs-cnm.org/ .