A jogger trots along the River Loop Trail shielded by the shade of shimmering cottonwoods. A peloton blasts down a paved road along the Rio Grande, decked out in day glow spandex. An older lady sits at a bench on the riverbanks, meditating on the lazily moving river. A classroom of hyperactive eight-year-olds run through the fascinating exhibits at the Visitor Center, amazingly absorbing a good 30-33% of what is being explained at every station. These are some of the many scenes you will encounter at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, a wonderful destination-point for people of all ages and interests, and homage to the Southwest’s staff of life, the Rio Grande.
Located in Albuquerque’s North Valley on Candelaria and Rio Grande Blvd the Rio Grande Nature Center is part of a bosque, or cottonwood forest by the wetland bordering the river. It boasts some 270 acres of woods, meadows and farmland with native grasses, wildflowers, willows and of course, cottonwoods. The park’s hub consists of the Visitor Center which was designed by Albuquerque native-architect Antoine Predock, and contains many exhibits on the area’s riparian environment.
And the flora and fauna do not disappoint. The animals provide the eye candy, with a huge range of species: everything from toads to beavers and great horned owls to woodpeckers. When I stopped by the Visitor Center I had the pleasure of watching a family of turtles from the comfortable air conditioned Predock-designed Observation Room.
If meditating on a slow-moving group of turtles (also known as a “bale”) isn’t your speed there are many other active ways at the Nature Center to enjoy the Rio Grande. The Riverwalk Trail and Bosque Loop Trail provide one-mile and 0.8 mile hikes, respectively through open meadows, heavily wooded areas and along the river. The paved road along the Rio Grande provides the perfect bicycle superhighway for those who want to go real fast.
The Nature Center realizes the vital role that the Rio Grande plays in the Southwest’s ecosystem. Since it is the fourth longest river system in North America, measuring some 1,248 miles long, it makes sense that Albuquerque holds it in such grande regard. My own video Sutter Sugar of The Sugar Team is my own tribute to the Rio Grande Nature Center and the Rio Grande, yet another example why I live to live here in Albuquerque!:
Enjoy this fun and insightful little video about Albuquerque’s cultural icon, the National Hispanic Cultural Center!
Please enjoy this presentation of The Pit, Albuquerque’s premium venue for the Lobos of University of New Mexico!
On Albuquerque’s Museum Row we have the privilege of enjoying Explora! Albuquerque’s science museum designed to appeal to scientists (or budding scientists!) of all ages. Please enjoy our little presentation that touches upon some of 
received an energy audit and had numerous evaluations by engineers, and it was determined we would need 30 photovoltaic solar panels or a 9.81 kWh (kilowatt hour) solar system to offset our energy use through the course of the year.
There is nothing more satisfying than watching your electric meter move in reverse. Living here in the Sunbelt where according to the Current Results Website we average 278 sunny days in Albuquerque, it’s no surprise to see a meter connected to a solar system spinning backwards. And because I entered into an eight-year contract with my electric company, their buy-back rate is guaranteed during that period. Of course, there is speculation the rate will go down, but no one knows for sure.
The installation itself only took five days. We have a flat roof so we decided to get a “ballast system.” This is where the frames that sustain the panels are held in place by cinder blocks (rather than bolted in) and are designed to withstand winds up to 120 miles per hour. The result is a gorgeous design with 30 photovoltaic panels feeding into two inverters that convert solar energy into alternative current (AC). This converted energy leads to the Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Meter that, of course ultimately ties into the electric company’s meter.
