Although Francisco Vasquez de Coronado left Albuquerque in disappointment after he realized there was no gold to be found in the area, he still left behind a vast amount of treasure and wealth in the sparsely populated Central Rio Grande Valley. The rich cultural heritage and natural wonders of the surrounding landscape may not have been enough to satisfy Coronado, but to many, Albuquerque is filled with riches beyond any monetary value.
People continue to flock to Albuquerque in modern times in search of land, wealth and treasure, and although there may be no gold, there are still hidden gems pocketing the city that make it one of the better places to call home. Some of those places remain well-kept secrets, and others help to put Albuquerque on the map. From small mom-and-pop shops and family-owned restaurants to hidden parks and playgrounds, there is plenty of treasure for everyone to share the wealth.
The far Northeast Heights is no different, and several people from the area were willing to share exactly where they think the best treasure can be found in their neighborhoods. A question posed on NextDoor asked, “What’s a place you think is a hidden gem in your neighborhood?” Residents willing to share these hidden gems gave the following responses:
Tracy Reynolds of Heritage East replied, “Naan and Dosa Indian Restaurant.” Rebecca DeMoss of Vineyard Estates said, “Budai Chinese Food” and “Asian Pear.” Rhonda Townes of Nor Este responded with “Thai Spice!” and Melissa R. of Heritage East said, “If we are speaking restaurants then I must say … Papa Nachos. It is a little family place which serves very good food. The family that owns it is very welcoming and quite accommodating.”
Family-owned restaurants and eateries are not the only hidden gems in the area. Kara Smith of North Albuquerque Acres I responded, “Desert Ridge Trails Park! There is a play set for my 3-year-old to play on that is well maintained and most of the time there is hardly anyone there! Plus, it’s a 5 minute walk from our house!”
Maya M. of Quintessence suggests the real hidden gems can be found in sweets, drinks and aguas frescas. Her answer? “Crazy Bomb Cups!”, a small shop that sells birthday cake-flavored ice cream, crazy bomb mango cups and other specialty items. Lastly, Christy Burton of Heritage Hills shared a hidden oasis in the North Albuquerque Acres neighborhood. Burton responded with, “Patricia Cassidy Park – not my neighborhood but in the far NE heights.”
