Visual Traveler & Chocolate Blog

It had been decades since my most recent previous visit to the magical red rocks around Sedona, Arizona. But last week I spent a couple of days there with a friend and Phoenix resident, while enjoying spectacular weather and stellar blue skies.  ​

Have you ever dreamed of dwelling amid knights and stone archways? Staying in a luxurious Italian villa full of columns and statuary? How about falling asleep in the huge four-post mahogany bed of a Presidential suite - with a hidden door in a library bookcase? What about experiencing a Tahitian Treehouse? Perhaps you would prefer an urban New York Penthouse vibe, or a Colorado Frontier room with wood plank-clad walls.

These are just a few uniquely themed suites - among 56 available - inside the 20+ year old, French-inspired Chateau Avalon Hotel & Spa. My Serengeti room paired African 'wildness' with modern comforts. As I walked in for the first time, a floor-to-ceiling mural full of indigenous wildlife greeted me, including a massive rhino whose face and body appeared almost real. Nestled amid authentic-looking treetops, my queen bed and a flat-screen television awaited at the top of  a rock staircase.

As we entered the hotel, our group admired the massive, iconic Beaumont Fountain, which echoed the hotel's French-influenced exterior. An ornate chandelier and stairway railing in the two-story lobby continued this theme.

Behind the hotel a secluded stone patio with wrought iron furniture flanked cozy landscaping and dense trees, where our group enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. We also checked out the quirky, adjacent d'Nile Lounge, where eight-foot-tall gold Egyptian statues flanked a "quicksand" floor, and a blue-hued cocktail glowed beneath ambient light. The small plate menu perfectly complements customer beverage choices too. 

On my next visit I hope to enjoy more time at d'Nile; plus a hot stone massage and aromatherapy at the hotel's onsite spa - a great way to completely unwind from daily stress. And the best part? It takes less than 25 minutes to reach Chateau Avalon from our home! 

​Disclaimer: As a travel writer I may receive complimentary stays, admissions, meals, transportation, and, occasionally, products I am asked to review. However, I make every effort to report my experiences fairly and honestly.

​Please note these photos are several years old. While they reflected the character of Chateau Avalon during my visit, specific details may have changed.

After writing Route 66-related stories for Missouri Life and KANSAS! magazines (watch for upcoming social media links), I began thinking about previous Albuquerque visits. 'ABQ' is home turf for one of my favorite local restaurants, which operates not far from the 'Mother Road.' 

​A giant salsa jar outdoors and near the entrance to El Pinto Restaurant & Cantina intrigued me. Inside, hanging chiles and massive ceiling beams decorated the hacienda-style building and adobe-wrapped patios.

Jack and Connie Thomas opened El Pinto in 1962, to share authentic recipes from her mother, Josephina Chavez-Griggs. Think classic New Mexican Hatch Chile & Chicharrons, Posole, Huevos Rancheros or Chicken Enchiladas  plus complementary cocktails from among 17 tequila, mezcal and margarita options.

By 1989 the couple's twin sons, Jim and John, took over and expanded the business. Today, New Mexico's largest restaurant serves 1,200 guests amid five patios, three dining rooms, and a cantina.  

In addition, El Pinto's delicious, authentic ​salsa and green chile sauce incorporate more than 100 tons of chiles annually before shipping to grocery stores, nationwide. Crafted onsite since 2001, their salsa has received dozens of awards with recognition from ESPN and the Food Network, to name a few.

It's a perfect place for a memorable meal and a 'must-return' stop on my next Albuquerque visit.

Although this isn't the first time I've written about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, here you will 'experience' the event through images created during our visit, 15+ years ago. Albuquerque's biggest annual 'party' is a feast for the eyes and imagination. In fact, this 'ballooning capital of the world' draws approximately one million people annually.

Gorgeous skies and chilly but pleasant temperatures accompanied our visit. We also enjoyed front-row seats and gourmet meals via special Gondola Club VIP passes, providing extra access to ground operations and fewer crowds jockeying for perfect views. This 'extra ticket' was well worth the splurge!

After sunset, dozens of flattened balloons lined a field beneath sun-tipped clouds and deep purple mountains. Burners ignited, casting temporary light across the darkening landscape while slowly inflating the balloons. A ‘whooshing’ sound accompanied each new blast of air as it entered a balloon. Dancing like giant fireflies, a crimson 'Spiderman' hot air balloon rose beside one with brilliant rainbow stripes, as crowds circulated amid the sea of rip stop nylon.   

Before one sunrise, we hopped a shuttle to the field where more balloons expanded, as flame-generated air filled them. Walking through multi-colored corridors of curved and rippling fabric - before the first flight of the day - felt like walking through a giant children's storybook. 

As dozens of hot air balloons took flight they created an ever-changing kaleidoscope. Amid a cobalt sky they rose like popcorn on a stove, clustering closely before drifting apart. Some flew low enough for passengers to converse with us, while others were only colorful blips on the horizon. Castles to pigs and wicked witches interspersed with more ‘traditional’ balloons in a magical, dizzying array of color and pattern. 

Want to enjoy a hot air balloon ride, yourself? Check out several Albuquerque opportunities here. You can also learn more about Albuquerque's history of hot air ballooning at the gorgeous Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum.