Art Gardenswartz: Outdoor Recreation

In the early 1950s, when Art got his first bicycle, his family lived in the last house on his street, which was then at the eastern edge of the city. Drawn to the mountains (which today mark that eastern boundary), Art hopped on that bicycle and started exploring. He has continued that journey through the New Mexico outdoors ever since. As a young man he ran competitively, played tennis, fished, skied and cycled. In the mid-1970s, like his father and his great-uncle before him, Art opened a sporting goods store, selling much of the same equipment he used. In the early 1980s he ran his first marathon. Today, in his 60s, Art continues to run, ride, swim and compete in many forms of outdoor recreation. In the last couple of years he has won his age group in the XTERRA World Championship triathlon in Hawaii and the Bolder Boulder 10K run.

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Questions & Answers

Q: We will be visiting family in Albuquerque. Our young children want to try horseback riding. Do you have suggestions on a stable we could call.: A: I recommend contacting the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa. The stables at Tamaya are a great option for families - they offer trail rides, hay wagon rides and children's pony rides. It is a beautiful location and should be a fantastic time for both you and the kids. Have fun!

Q: What are the road cycling conditions like in Albuquerque?: A:
Road cycling in Albuquerque is one of my favorite things to do! We have unbeatable scenery and because of our high elevation, you’ll never be left un-challenged. If you decide to visit, be sure to take advantage of the city's network of bike lanes. Albuquerque cycling clubs make scheduled rides each week; for details, check out a local bike shop or visit the New Mexico Touring Society's website at www.nmts.org. The City of Albuquerque Bike Map, available for download at www.cabq.gov/bike, details bike-friendly routes and dedicated bike paths including the celebrated Bosque Trail along the river.

For information on the conditions go to: www.itsatrip.org/albuquerque/golf-bike-ski-spa/bike

Q: My wife and I will be in ABQ this fall. We are avid cyclists – both road cycling and mountain biking – can you give us some tips on what to expect when we come to Albuquerque? What’s the variety like? What kinds of conditions should we plan for?: A: Aahh, a couple after my own heart! I’m so glad to hear you’ll be visiting us in the fall—you couldn’t have chosen a better time of year to experience Albuquerque’s outdoors. Cycling in Albuquerque offers a vast array of different trails and experiences for every level rider. Because of the diversity here, I recommend checking out: http://www.itsatrip.org/albuquerque/golf-bike-ski-spa/bike for detailed information on trails, conditions and what you’ll need to plan for.

Q: Does Albuquerque offer any good RV camping locations?: A: You betcha! Albuquerque is a great place to RV, because you’ll find a ton of RV parks as well as RV rental options. While I don’t personally have an RV, I have family members who bring their RVs when they visit, and they always just rave about the ease of Albuquerque’s RV scene. I recommend going to www.itsatrip.org/trip-planning/RV where you’ll find links and information about campgrounds and RV parks to find the perfect park for you. You’ll also find maps, wireless internet locations in Albuquerque, information on tours and day trips to take while you are here, and an easy-to-print, downloadable PDF of The Albuquerque RV Guide.

Q: My buddy and I are coming into town and are really into the outdoors. We’d like to take advantage of the weather out there, but don’t want to haul our gear with us on the plane. Are there any one-stop-shops we can go to rent all of our stuff?

I certainly don’t blame you for not wanting to haul all of your gear cross-country. What a pain! I think you’ll find that Albuquerque definitely has some great resources to fit your needs. I think your best bet is a company called Active Knowledge (www.activeknow.com) - it’s an all inclusive active adventure company. Active Knowledge will provide all of the gear, logistical planning and transportation. Your specific experience can be tailored to your age, time, fitness level and needs. This is a particularly good option if it’s just you and your buddy—the guides at Active Knowledge are fun and flexible and will allow time in your schedule to stop at a pub for a pint of beer after along day of activity.

Below are some other Albuquerque resources you might find handy:

New Mexico Dual-Sport Adventures (www.nmdualsportadventures.com) offers dual sport rental bikes for exploring New Mexico. From their base location in Albuquerque, you can make your own adventure by exploring on your own or you can rely on a guide to show you some remote hideaways.
Santa Fe Mountain Adventures (www.santafemountainadventures.com) offers customized outdoor vacation experiences. They lead journeys unique to northern New Mexico—hiking, geocaching, whitewater rafting, golfing, horseback riding, mountain biking, fly-fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and a variety of other outdoor and fitness opportunities.
Suntoucher Mountain Guides (www.suntoucher.com) offers mountaineering trips, guide services, and rock climbing lessons.
The Bike Coop (www.bikecoop.com) is a great little shop that sells bikes and bike-related equipment. They also do bike servicing.
Sport Systems (www.nmsportsystems.com) is a comprehensive outdoor store that offers retail and rental goods for just about everything.