Cottonwood Heights - Albuquerque, NM

Cottonwood Heights occupies land originally part of the Alameda Land Grant from the king of Spain in 1710. The land remained rural until the suburban population of Albuquerque expanded to the northwest through the 1970s. Development of the adjacent Cottonwood Mall in the 1980s brought Cottonwood Heights and several nearby neighborhoods into their current residential suburban form.

The closest museums to Cottonwood Heights are Balloon Museum at Balloon Fiesta Park 5 miles to the east and the Food Museum 4 miles southwest, both of which regularly exhibit themed art. Further museums in downtown Albuquerque include the Rattlesnake Museum and New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

A number of art galleries operate a few miles north along Highway 528, and the Cottonwood Mall hosts a number of events throughout the year, including the annual New Mexico Book Co-op.

Only a handful of fast food chains and a Chinese restaurant operate in Cottonwood Heights, although adjacent neighborhoods, especially around Cottonwood Mall, provide a range of dining establishments, from national chains to local diners, cafes and pubs.

Cafe Bella Coffee serves a rotating menu of sandwiches made with locally sourced ingredients, pastries from local artisan bakeries and a full range of hot and iced coffee. The cafe features monthly poetry readings, ongoing art exhibitions by local artists and live music every Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m.

Ironwood Kitchen provides family friendly dining with a selection of Mexican cuisine and American diner classics, including originals such as green chile stew, several breakfast burritos and a vegetarian burrito. You can order breakfast, lunch or dinner at any time of day, and the restaurant uses primarily natural New Mexico grown ingredients.

Nightlife in the area centers around the Cottonwood Mall shopping area, with several other bars and pubs along Highway 528 and along Southern Boulevard a few miles to the north, including a couple of breweries that feature taprooms and restaurants. Multiple bars provide live music on the weekends.

The sports bar Slate Street Billiards houses 15 pool tables and 10 dart boards, with free use of the tables on Mondays from 9 p.m. to closing. The establishment hosts a variety of regular events, including karaoke, trivia games, open mic nights and live music. Standard pub food and 21 beers on tap satisfy your dining and drinking needs, with specials during happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 12 to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Nearly all travel in Cottonwood Heights occurs via the automobile, although buses, Uber and taxis service the area. Little opportunity for hailing a cab exists. Major roadways include Golf Course Road, Ellison Drive and McMahon Boulevard, with nearby Highway 528 connecting drivers to Interstate 25 about 6 miles east.

Residential streets are safe for walkers and bicyclists, although few walkable destinations exist. Dedicated bicycle lanes exist on most major roads, and a handful of riding trails occur to the east and the northwest. Residents park for free on residential streets and at local businesses.

No parks exist within Cottonwood Heights, although a short drive brings you to a number of parks, as well as the Desert Greens Golf Course, which features a driving range and 18 hole course. Adult green fees range from $27.50 on weekdays to $36.50 on weekends.

An arm of the Petroglyph National Monument, which sits above the city of Albuquerque on a series of mesas, includes many desert hiking trails, as well as the opportunity to explore an estimated 24,000 petroglyphs carved by Native Americans and early Spanish settlers. The Alameda Open Space, east across the Rio Grande River, provides a number of trails along the river and through rows of cottonwood trees, as well as numerous scenic picnic points.

Closer to Cottonwood Heights, numerous small parks intersperse the suburban residential areas. Paradise Meadows Park features a playground equipment and picnic tables, while Tuscany Park houses a basketball court in addition to a playground. Hunter's Run Park includes a playground and horseshoe pits. Eagle Ranch Park caters to athletes with multiple basketball and tennis courts.

The city of Albuquerque hosts a number of events at parks throughout the city. The largest event in the city's park, the renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, takes place only five miles east of Seven Bar Ranch at Balloon Fiesta Park.

Life in Cottonwood Heights costs slightly below average for the city of Albuquerque, although house sales average slightly above the county average. A one bedroom apartment rents for just over $650 per month. Transit commuters pay $1 per bus ride or $2 for an all day pass, while at the pump a gallon of gas costs about 15 percent below the national average. Patrons at local pubs pay about $4 for a pint of beer.

While few shopping establishments exist in Cottonwood Heights, just to the east the Cottonwood Mall shopping area houses a wide selection of chain stores, boutique clothing retailers and local specialty shops.

Grandma's Music & Sound carries everything musicians of all levels need, including a wide selection of instruments, accessories and live performance equipment. In-house experts provide lessons for guitar, voice, percussion and keyboards. A local destination for over 30 years, the shop also sells professional quality recording equipment and repairs instruments and equipment.

Just a few miles south on Golf Course Road brings pet owners to Boofy's Best for Pets, which specializes in natural pet foods and supplies, including raw foods for cats and dogs. The store carries a full line of natural and holistic supplements to ensure your pet lives a long and healthy life. Boofy's also hosts events throughout the year, including charitable drives, pet adoptions and pet photo sessions.

Smith's meets the neighborhood's grocery shopping needs, with a number of other stores within a short distance of Cottonwood Heights, such as Costco, Sam's Club and Albertsons. The La Montanita Co-op Market specializes in local, bulk and organic foods. You can pick up local farm fresh produce, meats and goods from seasonal farmers markets throughout Albuquerque, with Corrales Growers' Market and Los Ranchos Growers' Market the closest to Cottonwood Heights.