Discovering Gay Albuquerque, One of the Southwest's Most Underrated Destinations

I've lived in the sunny, high-desert city of Albuquerque since 2005 (and resided in Santa Fe for several years before that). As one who spends half my life traveling all over the world, I consider myself very fortunate to live somewhere that's always a pleasure to return home to - the weather is great year-round, the cost of living is low, and there's lots to see and do. To be sure, this city of nearly 500,000 that sits in the shadows of the spectacular 10,600-foot Sandia Mountains is less famous as a tourist destination than its much smaller cousin to the north, Santa Fe. But Albuquerque is a terrific, affordable, and scenic place to visit, and it has the most visible gay scene in New Mexico, including several gay bars and nightclubs and numerous gay-friendly cafes, galleries, and B&Bs. So if you're headed to New Mexico, don't skip over Albuquerque - any visit to the Land of Enchantment deserves at least a couple of days here.

For the rundown on what's where in Gay Albuquerque, check out my gay guide on the "Duke City". And also take a look at my story on underrated gay cities, in which I name Albuquerque among the top 10 in the country.

Here, too, are articles describing the nightlife scenes in gay Albuquerque and gay Santa Fe.