Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Trip Journal

The biggest balloon festival in the world, plus days of sightseeing to and from Albuquerque. Get a trip preview here and join us next year, we depart October 3, 2026. Very soon we’ll start reservations for 2026.

October 4, 2025 Saturday

Our departure day and we are on our way for a much anticipated vacation. It’s a travel day stopping at Pizza Ranch for lunch and driving to Kearney Nebraska for the night. A very windy day with the temperature hitting 90. Tonight we stay at the Holiday Inn.

October 5, 2025 Sunday

It was sunny most of day but cooler. In North Platte, we stopped at Bailey Yard. It is the worlds largest classification yard. Each day an average 139 trains come through and the railroad crews sort 3000 cars splitting the cars up to send them to the proper destination. Some locomotives stop for maintenance, repairs and fuel. Each month they go through 20 million gallons of diesel fuel. Tonight we stay at the Drury Inn in Colorado Springs. After we checked in, we had some rain and a light batch of hail.

October 6, 2025 Monday

It was a foggy morning. Pikes Peak was no longer visible and the Garden of the Gods lacked their luster. All in all it was a fun morning and we looked forward to the Royal Gorge Bridge. At the gorge we rode the gondola cars across the gorge and some daring folks took the zip line back. It was cool with light winds and the sun came out just as we left. This afternoon we rode the bus to Alamosa, had dinner and checked into the Hampton Inn.

October 7, 2025 Tuesday

A great day weather-wise and fantastic fall sightseeing. The sun made the bright aspens pop with color surrounded by different varieties of pines and ground cover. The train was a relaxing way to see the mountains at a comfortable pace. After 5 hours with a lunch stop we met the bus at the summit and went to our hotel, the Ohkay Casino.

October 8, 2025 Wednesday

It was a light jacket day until we arrived in Albuquerque. In Santa Fe, a local expert led us on a city tour starting at the Capital. The only round capital building in the USA, at the center was the state seal in fine materials embedded into the floor. Back on the bus we went to the start of the Santa Fe Trail commemorated by a huge sculpture of a wagon and settlers. In the plaza square we had lunch and time for fine shopping. In Albuquerque we stopped at the Indian Pueblo Culture Center for demonstration of American Indian Dances. We stay two nights in Albuquerque at the Holiday Inn Express.

October 9, 2025 Thursday

Morning, and we knew we were in for a great day. Excellent weather and the balloons launched on time in the beautiful sunshine. So many amazing shapes. Later, a trip to Old Town Albuquerque and lunch at a restaurant with some of the most unique surroundings with great food at Bucca Di Beppo. Tonight we’ll go back to the Balloon Festival..

October 10, 2025 Friday

The balloons took to sky for us one last time as we left Albuquerque. We made a scenic drive on Route 66 in Tucumcari on our way to Dalhart Texas. At the XIT Museum, there was a treasure of home artifacts, ranching displays and a dust bowl exhibit. It was a great afternoon break. Tonight we stay in Liberal Kansas at the Comfort Suites.

October 11, 2025 Saturday

This morning was sunny and warm as we arrived in Dodge City Kansas at the Boot Hill Museum. The new museum is modern with many interactive displays. Front street was a mixture of western storefronts, exhibits from the 1800’s complete with the Long Branch Saloon. The Boot Hill area had a replica cemetery, photos from Gunsmoke and Miss Kittys orange dress. We had an entertaining show put on by “Miss Kitty and her crew followed by lunch. Tonight we stay in the Kansas City area at the Hampton Inn.

October 12, 2025 Sunday

Our last day and another interesting stop this morning at the Amish Country Store in Lamoni Iowa. We only stopped for a short time and they had some many high quality items for sale. After shopping, back on the bus for lunch in Des Moines at the Pizza Ranch. Right now everything is great and we should be home on time.

Trip Journal

October 4, 2025 Saturday

October 5, 2025 Sunday

Starting out the day

Nebraska Highway

Our Group

Our Group

Golden Spike North Platte

Golden Spike North Platte

Golden Spike North Platte

Golden Spike North Platte

Drury Inn Colorado Springs

Drury Inn Colorado Springs

October 6, 2025 Monday

Garden of the Gods Park

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock

Garden of the Gods Park

Balanced Rock

Garden of the Gods Park

Balanced Rock

Garden of the Gods Park

Royal Gorge Gondola

Royal Gorge Bridge

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Royal Gorge

Royal Gorge Bridge

Royal Gorge Gondola

Colorado Highway

Colorado Highway

Colorado Highway

October 7, 2025 Tuesday

Cumbres Toltec Locomotive

Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

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Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

Cumbres Toltec Train

Fall Mountain Scenery

Fall Mountain Scenery

Fall Mountain Scenery

Fall Mountain Scenery

Fall Mountain Scenery

Fall Mountain Scenery

Fall Mountain Scenery

At the Summit

At the Summit

Fall Mountain Scenery

Fall Mountain Scenery

October 8, 2025 Wednesday

Santa Fe State Capital

Santa Fe State Capital

Santa Fe State Capital

Santa Fe State Capital

Santa Fe State Capital

Santa Fe State Capital

Santa Fe State Capital

Santa Fe State Capital

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

Loretto Chapel

Loretto Chapel

Loretto Chapel Miraculous Staircase

Loretto Chapel

Cathedral

Chilis

Indian Pueblo Culture Center