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!

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 11^th-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.

Mauger Estate B&B - Take A Step Into The Past

The year may be 2016 but you can explore a different year right now. If you are thinking of a trip to Albuquerque New Mexico, why not take a small step back in time to the Mauger Estate B & B (pronounced major). Found in downtown Albuquerque, the Mauger Estate is a Queen Anne Victorian home built in 1897, and set in a neighborhood of equally fascinating older homes.

A wide covered porch with inviting chairs greets you.  This warm, welcoming property encourages you to slow down and take a break from the hectic day to day race and put your feet up. Here, you’ll sit back, relax and sip lemonade quietly on the porch. Beautiful architectural details from the past emphasize the slower pace of that bygone era. Walk through the nearby streets lined with these historic older homes and mature trees that speak of a rich and wonderful history.

Step into the home where traditional details beckon you to relax at a slower pace. Rich woodwork, etched glass and the decor of past elegance flirt with your senses and tease you with a past romantic era. Once escorted to your room with a private bathroom, you can relax and enjoy moments of quiet restfulness yet be spoiled with modern comforts and amenities.

You can easily rejoin the modern world with a few steps to a fitness center or a nearby restaurant to taste a bit of New Mexican cuisine. The present is never more than a few steps away as you walk down Central Avenue (Route 66) to enjoy the nightlife and sample the beverages of the many breweries of New Mexico. 

After a pleasant night’s slumber, wake to the aroma of locally roasted coffee and homemade breakfast. Eat inside or if weather permits, sit outside and enjoy your breakfast in the warm New Mexican sunshine. Eggs, pastries, New Mexico green chile and fresh fruit abound to tantalize your appetite and energize you for the new day.

If you wish to indulge in culture, walk or drive to nearby Old Town Plaza experiencing a part of New Mexican history while visiting local shops, or the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. If nature is your preference, you are also minutes from the Botanic Gardens/Aquarium and the Albuquerque Zoo. Bike or walk along the scenic Rio Grande Bosque Trail, or visit a beautiful nearby park. 

Visit the past with a stay at the Mauger Estate Bed & Breakfast while you complete your business or simply relax in Albuquerque.