We were just wandering through Albuquerque, no particular plan, when we turned the corner onto Coal…read moreAvenue and stumbled across it--Mario, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong, all pixelated and proud, stretched across the side of a building like they had punched their way straight out of 1985. At first, I thought maybe my childhood was hallucinating. But no, there was Mario mid-jump, fists in the air. Peach standing tall like the 8-bit queen she is. And Donkey Kong looming off to the side, barrels and all. The colors popped against the weathered brick, and even though you could tell the wall had seen better days, that just made it cooler--like the mural had leveled up after a few boss fights with graffiti and sun damage. Turns out it used to be a Pac-Man wall, but somebody tagged it, and the original artist came back to give it a Nintendo makeover. Respect. The vibe is pure throwback joy. Cars zipped past without noticing, but we stood there for a while, grinning like we'd just found a secret warp pipe in real life. We snapped a few pics, and some random guy yelled, "It's-a me, Mario!" from across the street. I don't know if he was drunk or just having a good time--but honestly, same. In a city full of hidden gems, this mural felt like a one-up mushroom: small, unexpected, and absolutely worth finding.

Soooo no more is Donkey Kong but Mushroom. Looks pretty new. Sucks tagging F's it all up. Like,…read morecome on, respect the art ! It's a cute surprise for the family. We pulled over & it was cool. I am soooo in love with New Mexico. We are full time RV peeps & have traveled 8 states now & New Mexico has my heart.

I've passed by this guy so many times to and from concerts, school, and working on films I never…read moreactually took the time to stop and see this him or her (not sure) up close. My what a beauty it is see how massive it truely is. It was much taller than mme that's for sure. This was my second to last stop for my oddities in Albuquerque series and this guy has been on my list from the start. I am so glad I actually parked my vehicle, walked up, and shared a moment to take in its New Mexican beauty. A truly unique site you don't find just anywhere. I love that it's here at home. Don't worry this snake won't eat you... yet anyways. I'm not much a fan of snakes in general but this one is officially my favorite one!

Tucked into the heart of Albuquerque, the "Greetings from Burque" mural feels like the city giving…read moreyou a big, colorful hug. Painted in the classic postcard style, each giant letter in "BURQUE" is filled with vibrant scenes--hot air balloons, desert landscapes, Route 66 signs--that scream New Mexico pride. The wall pops with color, and you can't help but smile when you see it. It's the kind of spot where you instantly pull out your phone for a photo--even if you weren't planning on stopping. Locals drive by it every day, but it still manages to catch the eye like it's the first time. Whether you're a lifelong New Mexican or just passing through, the mural says what everyone feels: welcome to Burque--stay awhile.

Burque is a term the locals use for the city. The mural is…read morelocated in a cool Nob Hill shopping district of Albuquerque, NM. The mural is painted on the side of the building with coffee shop. It is right on old Route 66 which is now Central Avenue. We love these vintage postcards murals, and we try to find them in every major city we visit.

Welcome to Albuquerque! This public work of art sits at the…read moreentrance to the Duke City along I-40. Keep an eye out for it, because it can be easy to miss with all the scenery. The work of art was created by artist Gordon Huether in 2003. He made the sculpture out of salvaged F-16 fuel tanks! The yucca is the state flower of New Mexico, and they really get about this big out here! The yucca is a shiny metal, from such highly buffed aluminum aircraft parts. At night, it's lit up with changing colored lights, so it looks otherworldly. It makes a cool statement of the part that the Air Force has played in Albuquerque's history. Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories are just a few miles from this sculpture. The sculpture is part of the 1% Art initiative of the City of Albuquerque, where they pledged a single percentile of the city's budget to big public works of art like this one. The U.S. Department of Transportation, and the State of New Mexico also chipped in on this one. It's a great work of public art!

This place is on the I-40 route westbound coming into Albuquerque. At night it lights up different…read morecolors. This is a very unique piece of art along I-40 for travelers who are coming into Albuquerque. I don't know if this is solar powered but it's always cool to look at during the day or at night.

At first glance, it's just a series of bright red arches along a sidewalk in Albuquerque--but walk…read moreunder them, and suddenly you're part of something sculptural, almost sacred. The repeating serpent-like shapes cast shifting shadows, and the further you go, the more it feels like a portal or procession. It's oddly immersive for a piece of public art that doesn't say much--because it doesn't have to. You feel it. The name "Kolowisi" refers to the Zuni water serpent, and once you know that, the entire piece ripples with deeper meaning. A tribute to movement, spirit, and story. Definitely worth a stop, even if it's just for a short walk that feels strangely important.

Kolowisi! This giant steel serpentine sculpture sits along…read moreLomas in Albuquerque. It straddles the sidewalk, making the pedestrian walk along inside the coils of the snake. It's reminiscent of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan water god. Kolowisi is the water sperpent god of the Zuni Indians. The god Kolowisi saved the Zuni Indians from the giant flood and led them to the top of their sacred mountain. When the Indians were on top of the mountain, the water serpent god gave them gifts of food and water and seeds. The water god lives in lakes, reservoirs, wells, puddles and any body of water. He's kind of like the Loch Ness Monster that lives in Cochiti Lake or the Rio Grande. The water snake can change forms, like water into any shape it wants to. The City of Albuquerque relies heavily upon the water spirits, so it's an appropriate sculpture. This snake is painted what I would call 'enchilada red,' it matches the red sauce that makes Albuquerque food so great. You can't miss it. The artist is Andrew Shows. The city does a grand job of keeping it in good condition, free of graffiti and grime.

Keep Albuquerque Quirky! This is a weird arts district for ABQ. This is where the free thinkers,…read morethe forward looking populace expresses their local flavor, their nuances of culture that makes ABQ unique. There's all kinds of great murals, public works of art, and awesome shops to check out up in here. It's right down the way on Route 66 from University of New Mexico, so it's a younger, hip crowd that goes here for local grub, shopping, and events. You're sure to find all kinds of old Route 66 memorabilia, or stuff made by local artisans. It's all small local businesses, there are no chains around here as far as I know. You're sure to find some cool foreign grub, a nice tattoo parlor, or a kitschy gift shop that focuses on Abq pride. Parking can be challenging- keep an eye out for private lots or the back streets off of Central Ave.

Nob Hill has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods in Albuquerque. It has a plethora of…read moreunique shops and fantastic restaurants - including a variety of sushi places. It tends to be a little more looked over by the tourists and is host to a lot of students which makes for a fun combination of cutting edge and culture. My favorite place to grab a bite to eat would have to be Sushi and Sake - you can't beat the all you can eat sushi - and the Olo Yogurt Studio has incredible locally made frozen yogurt! Boba Tea is a local hit for a reason and should not be overlooked. The AuxDog Theater has great shows and independent Guild Cinema is always a treat, showing hard to find films with really great popcorn! If you want that cool city vibe of walking the street and strolling into shops and checking out menus for the restaurants, Nob Hill is that place.

There is a huge selection of art, clothing, ornaments, jewelry and anything else you can think of…read more I was in search of a few marigolds for our alter and found them for $1 each. I would have expected more costumes and shirts for Dia de los Muertos. The owner was kind and friendly. Fun to wander around if you are not even looking to buy. There was a steady flow of people. Small business at its best.

Stopped in for a visit! What a crazy shop! The shop features so much Day of the day style stuff…read morefrom figures to art. It's all very cool and the shop is quite large. A cool place to visit!

Go Isotopes! This giant public work of art is in a little…read morepark by Tramway & Central and the I-40 ramp. It's sometimes surrounded by bushes. It looks like a giant hand reaching up into a mess of Zia symbol and atomic electrons. To me, it looks like a baseball mitt catching a radioactive fly ball. I believe that there used to be an eternal flame in the globe in the center of the hand. I don't know how that thing stayed lit, but I suspect it's been blown out long ago. I wouldn't recommend coming and hanging out at this sculpture, but rather admired from afar. There can be homeless encampments along here. It is a friendship park after all, and doesn't everyone need a hand of friendship every now and then? The sculptor was Ted Egri, and it was built in 1984.

Standing a whopping 36feet tall in front of the courthouse, this thing doesn't just sit there…read morelooking impressive--it moves. Water fills one pan, gravity does its thing (or doesn't, in this case), and the entire beam tips in slow-mo like a brass-and-steel seesaw on caffeine The twist? It's backwards. The lower pan fills and rises. It's like justice decided to flip the bird to physics--and maybe society--because sometimes, even laws need to rebel Around the base, you'll find 30 quotes about justice in languages from around the world, embedded in granite blocks like a secret quest for word and wisdom But honestly, the real show happens when the water starts flowing--watch it teeter, totter, and glide with the grace of a flamingo on a tightrope. If you're ever in downtown Albuquerque, swing by the courthouse plaza, watch the water-powered ballet, and let the sculpture remind you: justice might wobble, but it's always entertaining.

You will find this astounding piece in the courtyard of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court…read more It is the amazing work of Evelyn Rosenberg who was commissioned by the New Mexico Percent for Art to do the piece in 2004. It is made of copper, brass, and stainless steel and stands a whooping 36 feet tall. It is a water powered kinetic sculpture, but it was not in operation during my visit. The sculpture is billed as the world's largest scales of justice. You will find metered street parking and commercial lots and garages within a reasonable walking distance for visitors that are driving and would like to get out a get a closer look. This is not a piece that you can really get appreciation for from your windshield anyway, so I highly suggest parking. It defies logic though. The water enters the lowered pan, and when the water fills the pan the scales tip the opposite direction than the laws of physics dictate. If you look closely to the scale's base, you will see 30 quotes that are in different languages and scripts. All the quotes have a justice/law nexus. If you are unable to translate them, don't worry, the translations for them appear on granite blocks planted in the ground near the walkway leading to the scale's base. If you look even closer, you will also notice that under one of the scale's pan is a phoenix, which represents redemption and under the other pan is a dragon that stands for darkness. It if the perfect sculpture for a courthouse. I really, really like it. It is more of a plaza area with the sculpture, walkways, and quotes. I highly recommend checking this place out. It is located downtown and just outside of old Albuquerque. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.