Sunday 6 November 2016

Albuquerque's Best - The Mauger Estate B&B



While we usually bring you great information about the city, or fabulous recipes, or outstanding accommodations and service, today we bring you an historic recap of one of the city's finest bed and breakfasts.  The Mauger Estate B&B is centrally located in the heart of the city, and has a rich history.  This property is on the city's historic walking tour:

http://www.visitalbuquerque.org/things-to-do/tours-sightseeing/walking/plaza-to-plaza/ .  A rare and exceptional pet friendly bed and breakfast, with one dog friendly room in the main house and two dog friendly townhouses, dogs and their owners love our delightful accommodations and amenities.

The story of the Mauger Estate history is enchanting and makes this Albuquerque B&B a great find.

Maude Talbot, the daughter of a local tavern owner and wholesale liquor distributor, ordered the residence constructed in 1897 at a cost of $1,600. Maude soon returned to her native New York after selling the home to William E. Mauger and his wife, Brittania. The Maugers’, a prominent Boston family, purchased the property in 1907 for $4,350. In 1912 they bought the lot to the west and added the two-story sleeping porch. 

W.E. Mauger owned the Raabe & Mauger Hardware store on 1st Street, but his primary business was buying raw wool from the Indians and shipping it back to Boston for resale. The Wool Room, now a gracious bedroom on the B&B's second floor, was originally an office for the wool business records.

W.E. Mauger died in April of 1923 and Brittania Mauger continued to live at the Estate until 1932. Mrs. Mauger then moved to a smaller house on Maple Street where she died in 1970 at the age of 102.  The residence was sold after the Mauger’s passed, and was poorly maintained for many years.  It was almost condemned when it was bought by Richard and Utta Carleno and beautifully restored in the early 1980’s.

The Mauger Estate B&B is a classic example of Queen Anne style architecture. It has been brilliantly restored with careful attention to detail, preserving many of the original features including etched glass and finely refinished woodwork. The inn features a parlor/sitting room, a beautiful indoor-outdoor dining room, stunning suites and cozy bedrooms (including one with a special doggy door and private yard), and a sunny breakfast room in what was once the home's sleeping porch.

The Estate was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.  Come see us soon and experience why so many people return to this beautiful historic bed and breakfast, where sleep is delicious!

Tuesday 13 September 2016

It’s a Fun and Festive Fall in Albuquerque!



The air has turned crisp in the evenings and mornings, fall flowers are vibrant and the skies are filling with hot air balloons.

We love fall at the Mauger, and Albuquerque has much to entertain, from the State Fair to the Duke City Marathon, there is something for everyone.

We begin the season with the New Mexico State Fair, September 8th  – 18th, 2016.  With a great entertainment line up, rodeo, carnival, local food and much more, the State Fair is on the “do not miss” list.  http://www.exponm.com/default.aspx

Following the State Fair is New Mexico’s 12th Annual Celebration of World Music and Culture, called Globalquerque!  September 23rd – 24th, 2016  http://globalquerque.org/schedule.html  This event offers FREE day programming on Saturday for families and adults, including workshops on music and folklore, crafts, and live performances. 

The next fun fall event is the spectacular Balloon Fiesta.  This event fills the skies with hot air balloons from around the world and marvels everyone, from babies to seniors, this event is a favorite for thousands.  Over 600 hot air balloons launch in the mornings and glow in the evenings, with great food, activities, entertainment and fireworks, this event should be on your bucket list!  http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Concurrently with the Balloon Fiesta is the top ranked Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival.  September 30th – October 2nd, and October 7th – 9th  http://www.riograndefestivals.com/festivals/balloon-fiesta-show/
This is a shoppers’ and collectors’ paradise.  The juried art show features 200 artists from all over the nation.  The event offers entertainment, music and a culinary arts tent.

Soon after the wonderful Balloon Fiesta is the Duke City Marathon (and ½ Marathon).  This race is ranked as one of the top 25 races in the world and is a Boston Marathon qualifier.  There is an event for everyone on October 16, 2016!  Bring the family to the 5K Walk, 10K Walk, 5K Run, 10K Run, ½ Marathon or the all-time challenge of the full Marathon or Marathon Relay.  The events benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of New Mexico. http://www.dukecitymarathon.com/marathon.html

The Mauger Estate B&B offers a scrumptious festival for your palate, such as our sweet potato biscuits, pumpkin apple scones, and Mediterranean frittata, and pumpkin chocolate chip bread to name a few.   Come see why sleep is delicious at the Mauger!


Thursday 4 August 2016

Day Trips from Albuquerque - Part 4: Go West for Some of the Best

Sacred and secular, old and new, desert and hills – New Mexico is a state of contrasts, making it rich in its diversity of food, culture, terrain and attractions.
The varied offerings of three of the cardinal directions that make perfect day trips from Albuquerque have already been discovered, leaving the western part of the state as the final frontier to explore in this Land Of Enchantment.

For an experience that will bring you back 1000 years in time, drive an hour west of Albuquerque on I-40 to the Acoma Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America. Built upon a 367-foot sandstone bluff, the Pueblo is home to 4800 people and 250 dwellings, none of which has running water, sewer systems, or electricity. Also within the Pueblo you will find the San Esteban del Rey Mission, a Catholic mission constructed in 1629.

Educational tours and cultural exhibits are offered at the Sky City Cultural Center and Haaku Museum. Pottery making demonstrations are provided, and a visit to the gift shop is an absolute must for anyone desiring to purchase authentic Native American art and jewelry. To take the 90-minute tour of the Pueblo, you must buy tickets at the Center, and photography and dress code rules apply.

If you’re in the mood for extremes, then a trip just under two hours west of Albuquerque to the Ice Caves and Bandera Volcano is in order. Located in the west central Zuni Mountain range along the Continental Divide, these natural landmarks can both be reached within an hour’s walk of each other along an ancient lava trail lined with twisted Juniper, Fir, and Ponderosa Pine trees. There is even gemstone mining for the younger members of the family, and a trading post with a shaded picnic area provide opportunities for souvenir shopping and a relaxing outdoor lunch.

Continuing your education and appreciation of nature’s gifts drive thirty miles west of the caves and volcano to the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, a refuge for displaced, unwanted and un-releasable wolves and wolf-dogs. You can watch, meet, and even feed these majestic creatures by booking a tour in advance, with your visit supporting the rescue and lifetime sanctuary and care of these animals.


For a day trip that will whet your archeological thirst, head 180 miles northwest of Albuquerque to the Aztec Ruins National Monument. A preserve of the 11th-century Ancestral Puebloan structures in New Mexico, this monument allows visitors to step back in time and take a self-guided tour of this three-story archeological site. You can walk through the Great House and original rooms, admiring the stone masonry and wooden roofing still intact. You even get to enter the ceremonial Great Kiva, used for religious and purification purposes. There is also a museum, a garden, native plants walk, and interpretive programs.

Monday 11 July 2016

Day Trips from Albuquerque Part 3: Go East – A Feast For Your Soul



The Land of Enchantment has vast and varied tourist options in every direction, with something to entertain and enthrall everyone. In the third of this four-part series, attractions and activities east of Albuquerque will be explored, with each day trip providing ideas of how to best experience the uniqueness and beauty of New Mexico.

Just thirty minutes northeast of Albuquerque you will find the Sandia Aerial Peak Tramway, where you can ride for 15 minutes almost 3 miles up the side of a mountain whose treasures include deep canyons, granite rock faces, aspen groves, pine and oak trees, and a myriad of wildlife. On top of the mountain, you are treated to an 11,000 square-mile view of New Mexico, which you can enjoy while setting off on a hike or dining in one of the restaurants atop the peak.

If you choose to hike the Sandia Mountains, there are a variety of trails to choose from both at the Tramway summit and within 30 to 60 minutes’ drive of Albuquerque. Many of the hikes begin in cactus country and wind their way up to mountain meadows teeming with wildflowers. A past haven for Apache warriors, gold miners, and bandits, the Sandia Mountains are also a sacred place for the Pueblo Indians and a 37,000-acre wilderness that provides a relaxing respite from the city.

For a taste of blue waters, old byways and Billy the Kid, head east on I-40 a little over 100 miles, where your first stop is The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa. This lake, born of a geological phenomenon called The Santa Rosa Sink, is an oasis in this harsh land of sand and sagebrush. With visibility at 100 feet, swimmers, scuba divers and sightseers can delight in this cold crystal-clear water year-round.

If you’re in the mood for some Wild West nostalgia, head southeast on NM 84 from Santa Rosa for 45 minutes to Fort Sumner, where, in 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned down Billy the Kid. Competing museums and grave sight locations vie for tourists’ attention, and if you’re in the area the second week of June, you can participate in the town’s Tombstone races.

If a trip down Route 66’s memory lane is more your style, then head east for an hour on I-40 from Santa Rosa to Tucumcari, where you will encounter a dinosaur museum, an historical museum, a Route 66 museum, and the world’s largest mural dedicated to Route 66. Photo opportunities abound here, with the best one being the Route 66 Roadside Attraction in front of the city’s convention center.

For more active pursuits, consider taking a day trip to Ruidosa, a town 180 miles southeast of Albuquerque that is surrounded by more than a million acres of National Forest and wilderness, providing countless hiking, mountain biking, and horseback trails for hours of outdoor fun.  You can also try your luck at one of the areas three casinos, wager on the ponies at the track, or spend time wandering through the town’s eclectic shops. And for a taste of Wild West excitement, consider seeing a Flying J Wrangler show replete with gunfights, a Chuckwagon dinner and show.

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Day Trips from Albuquerque Part 2: South of the (Albuquerque) Border



Continuing the exploration of New Mexico from the central location of Albuquerque, this next part of the series will focus on three different areas in the southern part of the state, allunder 3-½ hours from Albuquerque and each unique to the heritage and culture of New Mexico.

For an eclectic day of sightseeing, begin by driving 90 minutes south to your first stop of the day, the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Located between two mountain ranges and fed by the Rio Grande, this sanctuary is a temporary home to thousands of sandhill cranes, geese, and other waterfowl that migrate here each winter, as well as a permanent home to ancient petroglyphs, lush groves of cottonwoods and willows, and abundant and varied wildlife.

Continuing south to Truth or Consequences, you will find a town famous for its natural hot springs, with a myriad of spas to choose from for a soak and a massage. It is rumored the great Apache chief and shaman Geronimo dipped himself in these healing waters. You can find out more about him, and the area in general, by visiting the Geronimo Springs Museum. And if space exploration is what you’re after, then you must take time to visit Spaceport America for an experience that is out of this world!

The last stop of the day is Hatch, New Mexico. Known as the chile capital of the world, this small agricultural community boasts piles of roasted chilis for the asking year round. And make sure to stop at Sparky’s Burgers, BBQ and Espresso for a green chili cheeseburger and a slice of old-time Americana to top off your day.

For a more leisurely (but no less fun!) day, consider a southern stroll through some tiny towns and the Very Large Array. Heading south on I-25 and then west on US-60, you will come to Magdalena, a hamlet filled with rich treasures, to include a Box Car Museum, a 16th-century mission church, art galleries, and a trading post.

Twenty-four miles westyou will trade small-town charm for the awe-inspiring Very Large Array, one of the world’s first – and largest – astronomical radio observatories. Here you can wander through the visitor center, explore all the exhibits describing radio astronomy, and view antennas and telescopes through both self and guided walking tours.

After immersing yourself in dish antennas, head west for 40 miles to Pie Town to immerse yourself in a dish or two of pie at either Pie Town Café or Pie-O-Neer Café, or both! Sitting on top of the Continental Divide, this settlement has its roots in the dustbowl era, and continues to survive (and thrive) on pure determination and innovation –as a slice of New Mexican Apple Pie with Green Chili and Pinon Nuts will attest to!

Another must-do southern New Mexico experience is a day excursion to Roswell. Two hundred miles southeast of Albuquerque, this is the site of the 1947 “Roswell UFO Incident” in which an unidentified flying object (purported by the Air Force to be a weather balloon) crashed on a ranch during a thunderstorm, spurring decades of theories regarding aliens and government cover-ups. One result of the incident is the International UFO Museum and Research Center on Main Street, where several hours can be spent learning about the 1947 occurrence and subsequent research into extraterrestrial life. Other Roswell attractions include wineries, art museums, and a picnic at Bottomless Lakes State Park.

Tuesday 28 June 2016

Day Trips from Albuquerque Part I: Northern Lights



Day trips from Albuquerque are a perfect way to experience the best of both worlds in New Mexico. Staying in downtown Albuquerque offers a wide selection of dining, shopping and nightlife options by night, while providing a central location from which to explore the myriad activities the Land of Enchantment has to offer by day. This four-part series will provide ideas for every type of traveler wishing to discover the unending delights of this state.

Less than an hour’s drive northwest of Albuquerque is New Mexico’s state capital, Santa Fe.  But since it’s best explored on foot, consider leaving your car behind for the day and taking the New Mexico Rail Runner Express from downtown for a 90 minute ride through the Rio Grande Valley up to the nation’s oldest capital.

The Plaza is the best place to begin your exploration of this city rich in history. The Spanish settlers built their homes here in 1610,with the following centuries seeing riots, revolts, and respite by travelers from the Santa Fe Trail. A great city for history buffs, Santa Fe also boasts the nation’s oldest public building in continuous use, the oldest church, and the oldest house in the United States. But you don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy Santa Fe! In all directions from the Plaza, shoppers, art lovers, and food connoisseurs can find their fill of treasures by spending a day in the city of ‘Holy Faith.’

If you’re in the mood to combine human history with hiking, then a visit to Bandelier National Monument is the perfect place to go. Approximately 2 hours north of Albuquerque, this park’s human history dates back over 10,000 years, where you will find petroglyphs, ancient dwellings, and old masonry walls. With over 33,000 acres of preserved land, there is plenty of hiking, camping, boating, and picnicking opportunities, as well as interpretive programs and even Opera on the Rocks!

If geological history is your thing, or you’re simply looking for more breathtaking hiking trails, then head to Kasha-KatuweTent RocksNational Monument. A joint venture between the Cochiti Pueblo and the Bureau of Land Management, this area is dotted by tall spires of volcanic ash that were formed from eruptions that occurred6 -7 million years ago. And as with any outdoor adventure in New Mexico, don’t forget your sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and plenty of water.