Albuquerque, NM

united states

Albuquerque sprawls across New Mexico's high desert at 5,300 feet, where I-40 and I-25 intersect in the state's largest city. The Sandia Mountains rise dramatically to the east while volcanic mesas frame the western horizon. Long-distance travelers use I-40 for coast-to-coast journeys and I-25 to reach Santa Fe or El Paso, while locals navigate Central Avenue (old Route 66) and Tramway Boulevard. Every October, the world's largest balloon festival fills the skies with hundreds of hot air balloons.