| Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an oft cited city | | | | point possible. Stretching from the northeast |
| in American popular culture, probably more | | | | corner of Albuquerque to the mountain's |
| widely known as the point at which Bugs Bunny | | | | highest peak, the panoramic views are truly |
| often lost his way ("I must have taken a | | | | spectacular. To the west and south, there is |
| wrong turn at Albuquerque"), than the | | | | a view of Albuquerque, the Rio Grande and the |
| location of one of the first Microsoft | | | | New Mexico deserts that lie in the |
| offices in 1977 or the crash site of TWA | | | | background. In a northerly direction, there |
| flight 206 in 1955. However, Albuquerque is | | | | are clear outlines of Santa Fe and Taos in |
| home to a large variety of American historic | | | | the distance, and to the south there are pine |
| landmarks and institutions - including the | | | | forests that stretch out across the |
| famous Rio Grande Zoo and the First National | | | | plane.Conveniently, the main tram terminal is |
| Bank Building. Yet towering above all these | | | | situated at the apex of the Sandia Peak Ski |
| landmarks is the Sandia Peak Tramway, the | | | | Area, which is perfect for winter skiing |
| world's longest single span aerial tramway, | | | | holiday-makers. Although the ski area does |
| and an essential stop-off point for any | | | | not operate over the summer, activities |
| visitor to the region.First entering service | | | | continue in the area as over 26 miles of |
| in May 1966, the Sandia Peak Tramway is now | | | | mountain bike trails are made available for |
| over forty years old. When it was first | | | | use. As well as this abundance of recreation, |
| constructed by Swiss company Bell | | | | there are also a variety of restaurants |
| Engineering, it was considered one of the | | | | available at the summit of the Sandia |
| most difficult tramway construction projects | | | | Mountains, including the critically acclaimed |
| ever embarked upon, primarily due to the | | | | High Finance Restaurant, which is said to |
| steep and rocky terrain of the Sandia | | | | offer the best view in New Mexico of any |
| Mountains. Located to the northeast of | | | | restaurant.Visitors to the Sandia Peak |
| Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains are largely | | | | Tramway will find the nearby Homewood |
| situated within the protected area of the | | | | Albuquerque Uptown conveniently placed |
| Cibola National Forest. Its highest point is | | | | accommodation; it offers comfortable suites |
| the Sandia Crest, which stands at 10, 678 ft | | | | in the northeast of the city and is located |
| (3255 m) above sea level. The term "sandia" | | | | in close proximity to the Winrock Mall and |
| means watermelon in Spanish, and this name is | | | | the Colorado Shopping Center. Visitors to the |
| generally believed to have been derived from | | | | Sandia Peak Tramway, therefore, will find it |
| the color of the sunset viewed from the top | | | | is well situated, so that people can enjoy |
| of the mountain range.Popularly known in the | | | | the beauty of the mountain scenery without |
| region as simply "The Tram", the Sandia Peak | | | | being too far away from the luxuries of the |
| Tramway allows visitors to see this | | | | city.Michael is a keen writer living in |
| spectacular sunset from the best vantage | | | | Edinburgh. |