5 (or so) things to do in Albuquerque you probably didn't know about...

Albuquerque is an amazing place, and I am always discovering things that I didn't know existed. Finding that hidden gem of an activity is always a rush and you always debate whether you will share it with your friends, or keep it to yourself and savor it for as long as possible. Here are 5 (or so) things that I think most people in Albuquerque don't know about.

#1: Go-Karting. I don't mean the ones at Hinkle Family Fun Center. I mean honest to goodness full-on 40 MPH go-karts that you can slide sideways in a turn and that pull your teeth out of their sockets with the G's you pull
on the corners. Two providers of this fantastic activity are right here in Albuquerque. Route 66 Karting and Albuquerque Indoor Karting.

I can't vouch for Albuquerque Indoor Karting but I've been to Route 66 Karting and had a blast. There is an emphasis on safety, but also on competition with yourself. You get a print-out of your lap times when you are done, and you can keep track of your progress as a kart driver. Prices are from $15 for 15 laps at Rt. 66, and at ABQ Karting, annual membership is $20 and races for members are $15. Price for non-members is $20.

#2: Ice Skating. Yep, we have a fantastic indoor ice arena, The Outpost, which has recently built a brand new sheet of ice, complete with a loop to skate from one sheet to the other. I think more people are aware of this one, but it's still an underappreciated way to spend a couple hours nice and cool in the heat of summer. Admission is $7-10 and skate rentals are $3.

#3: Paintball. There are actually a few options for this one. You can go to Paintball Action and duke it out on the SupAir ball inflatable field, or you can head over to Hinkle Family Fun Center and play on their smaller field. You can also buy your own paintball equipment and go to a couple of the 'Outlaw paintball' fields where there are no fees to play and no 'field paint' to buy, but there are also no referees and you are fending for yourself. Try a field first! Price varies wildly if you want your own equipment but you should be able to get away with less than $50 at Hinkle or PBA if you rent equipment and buy enough paint to last a couple hours.

#4: Indoor Rock Climbing. Check out Stone Age gym and clamber around on the rock walls. Bring a friend who can belay and you can go to the top. If you come alone, you can boulder up to a certain point on the walls. Day pass is $12.95 or go for happy hour M-F Noon - 3 p.m. & 8:30 - 10:00 p.m. and pay $10.25. Equipment rentals from $2.95 to $5.95.

#5: Big Screen Video Gaming. For those of us that prefer our entertainment on the more slothful side, there is the Ninja Monkey Gaming Center. Who wouldn't want to blast the heck out of your friends on a 10 foot projection screen? Member prices $4/hr, guests are $6/hr, or a day pass for $25.

Bonus #6: Sandia Motorsports Racetrack. We are blessed with an awesome 1.7 mile road course just 14 miles west of downtown. Wallace Bow runs a day open to anyone who wants to bring their car out on the track at least once a month, and Soren Loree of Loree Racing will rent you a Spec Miata to drive on the track, as well as give you lessons on how to go fast! In addition, you could get involved with the Rio Grande SCCA and compete in time trials with your street car, lightly modified car, or even your heavily modified racecar, if you have one lying around. Cost? Expensive. A day out with Wallace Bow's group is around $80 for the day, and a day with Soren is around $300. If you have your own racecar, you already know what an expensive hobby this is!

Don't ever let anyone tell you there's nothing to do in Albuquerque!