Academy Acres North Albuquerque, NM

Academy Acres North is located on the west side of what used to be a massive tract that went up into the Sandia Mountains. The Albuquerque Academy remains on a surviving portion of that tract, given to the school by a prominent Albuquerque family in the early 1960’s. The area retains the gentle landscaping of the desert.

Area residents with kids catch a closer look at the aircraft that dot the Albuquerque sky each October at the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum. The museaum features sessions each Wednesday morning with stories, crafts and other fun activities for children up to six years old.

Academy Acres North is populated by some of the city’s homegrown entertainment and dining destinations. Thai Vegan is renowned throughout the city as a vegetarian restaurant that can satisfy the carnivores in your party. It features lunch and dinner specials that can leave you sweating from the heat while craving more. The spot specializes in creating taste-bud-tricking imitations of all kinds of seafood and meat, including the "peppersteak," which is lauded for being carefully cooked and properly presented. Most lunch entrées are less than $12, but visit for dinner, and try a more comprehensive experience for up to $30 per person.

A taste of Italy can be enjoyed under the Albuquerque sun at Trombino’s Bistro Italiano, a staple of affordable and upscale local cuisine since 1979. Large, comfortable booths can be your base as you take on a tasty antipasto platter and a jug of house wine before trying a massive portion of chicken marsala. Lunch is around $15, and dinner entrées can cost up to $30. If you failed to save room for dessert, don’t despair – take the cannoli to go.

For drinks and music, head over to the Barley Room just northeast of the Albuquerque Academy. Tuesday is taco night, and regional and seasonal beers are on tap for around $6. The Barley Room is one of the only bars in the area to feature live music throughout the week. The menu includes bar standards with a twist, such as Gouda tater tots, all for less than $12.

Cinema-seekers love having two theatres nearby to augment the area's nightlife, including Cinemark Movies 8, which features second-run movies for as little as $2, and Century 24 – a more modern complex.

Albuquerque has an expansive and inexpensive transit system with convenient bus routes that can get you anywhere in the city for $2, but residents of Academy Acres North often drive. The area’s proximity to Interstate 40 and ample free parking make owning a vehicle convenient. Uber drivers are also in steady supply if you prefer to be driven around. Taxis are rare, but the public transit system is far-reaching. If you prefer to pedal or hoof it, Albuquerque’s bicycle and pedestrian path system is one of the best in the nation.

Academy Acres North is flanked by two of the largest open space areas in the city. Albuquerque Academy has a public walking trail around the perimeter where joggers and dog walkers can stretch their respective number of legs, and Arroyo del Oso Park has recreation opportunities of just about every sort. A number of ball courts and sports fields, along with a playground and restrooms, adorn its park and golf course. Twenty-seven well-maintained holes featuring rolling fairways and large water obstacles attract golfers to this public facility, and the local dog park and linkage to Albuquerque’s 400 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails attract everyone else.

When the leaves begin to fall, look to the sky for the colors that accompany the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It has been called the most-photographed event in the world, and whether or not that’s true, be sure to grab your camera when you see the airborne collage that frequently features more than 500 hot-air balloons.

With an average rental rate of $627.56, the cost of living in Academy Acres North is slightly higher than other areas of the city. The rolling desert hills of Albuquerque Academy to the east and the green fairways of Arroyo del Oso Park and golf course to the south create a quiet cushion between it and the city, so residents pay a little more for the serenity that comes with less through traffic.

Dining in the neighborhood is not noticeably more expensive than elsewhere in the city – expect to pay around $6 for a beer and $10 for lunch. The Albuquerque transit system can get you anywhere in town for $2, and gasoline is roughly a few percentages less than the national average.

Academy Acres North houses a number of fun and quirky spots for locals. The Hip Stitch sewing lounge lets you tap into your creative side and offers classes for the entire family. Nambe satisfies your taste for Northern New Mexican craftsmanship, selling beautiful serviceware, handcrafted vases and bowls that make perfect gifts.

Locals visit TEMA Contemporary Furniture to find modern pieces with visible European influences. The store's friendly staff personally guide and assist you as you navigate the store's massive showroom featuring thousands of items.

For groceries, locals shop at Whole Foods on the eastern side of the neighborhood and Sprout's Farmer's Market on the west end of town.