Taylor Ranch - Albuquerque, NM

The founding grandfathers of Taylor Ranch - Gene Shelton, Art Brown and Jose Yguado - once told a fascinating story about moving to the area, travelling around it and noticing the lack of suburban areas. Together they made a plan to expand, and years later, we can thank them for Taylor Ranch becoming an established and thriving neighborhood.

Two must-visit spots in the Taylor Ranch area are Petroglyph National Monument and Unser Racing Museum. The Petroglyph Monument is located on the west side of town. The site preserves a significant number of petroglyphs that are good condition. There are a few short trails to stroll along and an interpretive exhibit that costs only $3 for the day. The Unser Racing Museum is dedicated to the racing legacy of the Unsers and will cost $7 for general admission, $3 for children but under 6 years are free.

There are several small restaurants perched within shopping centers to choose from. Diners can select from traditional American-style cuisine - burgers and pizza, Chinese fare and for dessert…ice cream.

Most Taylor Ranch restaurants are situated between Coors Boulevard Northwest and Winter Haven Road Northwest such as Hannah & Nate’s Market Café, Blake’s Lotaburger, Spinn’s Burger & Beer, China Luck Chinese Restaurant and Cold Stone Creamery.

Hannah & Nate’s Market Café is known for the huevos, pancakes and sandwiches such as the Tuscan meatloaf sandwich. A grilled baguette is topped with a rustic Tuscan meatloaf, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers and jack cheese. The prices at Hannah & Nate’s Market Café are reasonable and you can expect to pay around $7 to $9 for a sandwich selected from the 15 different varieties on the menu.

Spinn’s Burger & Beer likes to brag about being a family restaurant with the best green chili cheese burger in town. The restaurant features local draft beer from Marble Brewery, La Cumbre Brewery and Chama River. Happy hours runs Monday thru Friday, 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., and while you are sampling the beer, try the beer steamed bratwurst. This is also the hot spot for nighttime entertainment and is named one of the best bars in the area.

The Taylor Ranch Express No. 92 bus line runs every weekday from Taylor Ranch into downtown Albuquerque and the University of Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College. Located at Ellison and the Coors Bypass, a park and ride center is available to connect to the Taylor Ranch Express line.

To connect to central and eastern Albuquerque, drivers from the Taylor Ranch area commute across the river at Montano, Paseo del Norte or Interstate 25.

Because of the size of Taylor Ranch and its proximity to central Albuquerque, transit options are bountiful such as biking, carpooling, riding a bus and walking. Getting a cab can be an easy task in Taylor Ranch as plenty of taxi cab companies exist, and Uber is an option in the Albuquerque area.

A few pay parking lots are open to the public such as Piedras Marcadas Park and Basin Parking and Alameda Open Space Parking, which is open 7 am to 9 pm. All city parks also have ample parking and it is always free.

Cycling routes exist from Taylor Ranch to Bernalillo and up Tramway in Albuquerque. This route has average terrain with rolling climbs contouring through rural and urban areas.

Across from the Community Center, Mariposa Basin Park takes up 51 acres. It has paved jogging and walking trails, bike paths and a play area. Basketball court, football and soccer fields, pond, picnic tables and shaded structures make this park the perfect spot to visit regularly. If you prefer tennis courts and volleyball, then head to Sierra Vista West Park. There is even an outdoor pool with a water slide and a small pool for young children. Sometimes just lounging on the grass is all you want to do, and Riverview Park can accommodate this wish. The grassy area is large and there are some small trails.

Taylor Ranch is no stranger to parks; others include Santa Fe Village Park, Mesa View Park, Creighton Park, and George Maloof Air Park (the only park where radio controlled airplanes are allowed to be flown). For the outdoor lover, The Coors/Montano trailhead has paved trails that weave along the river and it is completely dog-friendly. Most area parks are open to dogs, as long as they are on a leash, but there are a few parks that are actually designated dog-parks.

A treat for the whole family is the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. With balloon races, ceremonies, car show and more, this event is a must for locals and visitors in the Taylor Ranch area. Other yearly festivals to check out are Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival and Albuquerque Grecian Festival.

The cost of living in Taylor Ranch is 6.8 percent greater than the Albuquerque average. That’s 5 percent greater than the national average. A one-bedroom apartment in Taylor Ranch costs on average $475 to $575 per month. This leaves plenty of cash for gasoline, which is 7.6 percent lower than the national average. An adult can expect to pay only $1 to ride the bus with one-day to one-year passes available.

The main shopping center in Taylor Ranch, Riverside Plaza at Coors and Montano, has a grocery store, small shops and restaurants. Keller's Farm Store also has a location here where locals can purchase the cleanest, highest quality, farm fresh and natural foods.

Apple Blossoms Florist is the best of the best when it comes to flowers and small gifts. They have been rated one of the top three florists for 2011, 2012 and 2013. But if you are interested in value, then the local dollar store carries all your household necessities as discounted prices.

A great market for locals and newcomers to the Taylor Ranch/Albuquerque area, Rail Yards Market has good food and drinks, and you will be delighted with music and dancing.