Where to stay for orientation

WayOutWestMom
Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:04:28 +0000

UNM doesn’t run any shuttles to any of the local stores, unfortunately. Shuttle service is largely confined to the main campus, South Campus/Redondo (The Pit, football stadium and married student housing located near University Blvd and Cesar Chavez), UNMH (med/law school campus, aka North Campus, located north of Lomas Blvd.) and the NM RailRunner train station downtown.

To get around town, you will need either to rent a car. (There’re Zipcars in campus.)

Or use the ABQ city buses.

[Bus Routes & Schedules — City of Albuquerque](Routes & Schedules — City of Albuquerque)

Like many western cities, ABQ sprawls. Fortunately it’s mostly laid out in a grid. (Areas are designated by NE, SE, NW, SW. The North-South divider is Central Ave [old US Route 66]; the East-West divider is I-25.)

The big shopping areas are the Winrock/Coronado/Uptown Malls area near Indian School Rd and Louisana Blvd NE; along Paseo del Norte NE (not compactly located, but spread out along 5 miles or so); and Nob Hill—within walking distance of east of campus along Central Ave.

Nob Hill is mostly restaurants and funky student-oriented shops. There are no chain stores except for Urban Outfitters. (This is by design. The Nob Hill area has been designated for independently owned stores.)

There are other shopping areas, but they’re much farther away—Cottonwood Mall area in Corrales/Rio Rancho.

The nearest BBB is at Winrock Mall. The other BBB is on Paseo de Norte near Ventura.

There’s WalMart at Menaul and San Mateo, but it’s too far to walk from campus.

I’m a long-time resident of ABQ. D1 graduated from UNM and is currently a med student at UNM SOM. (D1 lived in the dorms for a couple of years of undergrad so I can answer questions about the dorms.)

If I can answer any questions–please ask!