Looking to talk to someone about the best things to do in Albuquerque? Stop by one of Visit Albuquerque’s Visitor Information Centers. The friendly people who work at these centers offer information about the city and the surrounding region. One center is located in historic Old Town, and one is located on the arrivals level of the Albuquerque International Sunport.
These visitor centers couldn’t operate without the hard work of dozens of Visit Albuquerque volunteers like Dave Fontaine. He’s been volunteering at the Sunport Visitor Information Center for more than 16 years. It’s a busy job that keeps him on his toes.
Visit Albuquerque volunteer Dave Fontaine
“It's not as simple as just the wayfinding or the information about Albuquerque,” Dave said. “Sometimes it's just helping people who are new to the airport. Older or younger, it doesn’t make any difference.”
Both visitor centers are packed with information. You’ll find maps of Albuquerque, brochures about different attractions and events in the city, and information about day trips outside of Albuquerque. The best part is all of it is free.
“We want travelers to take advantage of what we have, and that’s what I think is the bottom line for what we end up doing,” Dave said.
Sunport Visitor Information Center/Photo Credit: Riley Russill
Nothing replaces the face-to-face interaction with one of the knowledgeable volunteers. People like Dave know virtually everything there is about the city. He can even answer questions about other places folks may be traveling to outside of Albuquerque.
“I want to know first how long are you going to be here and where did you fly from,” Dave said. From there, he can help people navigate the city and find activities and restaurants that suit their preferences. He does have a few first recommendations.
“If you only have three hours here, what should you do? I get out the Discovery Map and I circle Old Town,” Dave said. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway are two other top recommendations from Dave.
Old Town Visitor Information Center/Photo Credit: Riley Russill
While the Visitor Information Centers have “visitor” in the name, they aren’t just for out-of-town tourists looking for things to do. The centers are also useful to residents looking for something new in the city.
“Even if you've lived here for 25 years, there are so many places that you haven’t been, so I can do something with people who come in who are from Albuquerque,” Dave said. “You're selling Albuquerque to Albuquerqueans as well as promoting Albuquerque to other people.”
Stop by one of the Visitor Information Centers the next time you’re in Albuquerque. Open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., find the Sunport Visitor Information Center at the bottom of the escalators on the baggage claim level. The Old Town Visitor Information Center is located at 522 Romero Street NW.
