Tour Through the Southwest: Albuquerque, Hot Air Balloon Capital of the World

This week Angel Fire Vodka is in Albuquerque, NM. We happen to be here for Restaurant Week, but there's another event each year that has really put this vista on the map (and it has nothing to do with Breaking Bad).

Albuquerque is the hot balloon capital of the world and home to the biggest and most respected hot air balloon competition, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Every October, over 1,000 hot air balloons dance in the clouds above the town for over a week.

How did Albuquerque earn such a prominent place in the world of air ballooning? It all has to do with a little something called, the “Albuquerque Box”. Here's a bit of knowledge for you: the “Albuquerque Box” is a set of predictable wind patterns allowing balloon pilots to launch their craft in town, ride down the valley, catch another wind current and drift back north landing back at the starting point.

So there you have it. AFV will be there too in October (maybe even up in the clouds).