Westside Albuquerque, NM

As with much of Albuquerque, the Outer West Side was originally home to Native Americans before the Spanish built settlements in the 1700s. The land had many uses over the centuries, although until the later half of the 1900s, these were predominantly rural. The urban areas expanded to the foot of the cliffs of West Mesa. Designation of Petroglyph National Monument in 1990 halted the westward urban expansion.

Museum seekers travel to central Albuquerque, where numerous museums exist, including the Albuquerque Museum, the Rattlesnake Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Other than at the Petroglyph National Monument, the arts are also represented more in the big city, with downtown's gallery's, music venues and theaters the most practical options for seekers of art. The monument hosts a number of annual events, such as the Zuni Carving Show, featuring handmade stone carvings.

Los Cuates has been serving Mexican comfort food since 1980 and remains a neighborhood staple, known for its sweet and spicy salsa. Green chile stew and enchiladas are a staple along the Coors Boulevard corridor. Flix Brewhouse pairs movies with craft beer and pub food nearby.

Coors Boulevard and Paseo del Norte Boulevard provide quick access to I-25 and I-40, and driving is the primary way to get around. ABQ RIDE buses run fare-free, and the Downtown Rail Runner station is about an eight-minute drive.

Bordering the neighborhood, the Bosque cottonwood forest connects to the roughly 16-mile Paseo del Bosque Trail for walking and cycling. Tingley Beach offers fishing ponds a few minutes away, and the Open Space Visitor Center features an educational garden. Petroglyph National Monument's volcanic trails are also close by.

Life in the Outer West Side costs slightly less than the average in Albuquerque, with a one-bedroom apartment renting for right around $700 per month. Transit riders pay $1 per bus ride or $2 for an all day pass. Drivers pay about 15 percent less than the national average for a gallon of gas. When out at a local pub, patrons pay around $3.50 for a pint of beer.

Coors Boulevard is where retail gathers in Westside. Small shopping plazas and local businesses provide options for those looking to stay close to home.

Few Albuquerque neighborhoods put volcanic monument trails and a major shopping corridor this close together as Westside.