Ultimate Offbeat Guide to Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Candy Lady has been serving up sweets to the local community for three decades, but when the producers of Breaking Bad came knocking, the shop suddenly became known for whipping up batches of the iconic blue "meth" used on the series. Fortunately for us, they've continued producing it, and have made it available to fans in their shop.

Tips: Grab their readily-available "Heisenberg" disguise and the staff will snap a photo of you holding the candy. If you're over 18 (and not easily offended), head to the back of the shop to get a load of the most scandalous chocolate molds you've ever seen.

Founded in 1706, historic Old Town contains some of the oldest buildings in Albuquerque, and they've gone to great lengths in order to keep them looking just as they did hundreds of years ago.

With five museums and loads of historic architecture, a walk through Old Town is like a stroll through the past.. except these days, Old Town is also home to the best grub in town.

Tip: Be sure to take a peek inside the San Felipe de Neri church, an adobe church with walls five feet thick, the oldest building in Albuquerque! And get this - it's still functioning!

The American International Rattlesnake Museum is an awesome attraction that won't just educate you on one of the Southwest's most misunderstood creatures, it'll give you a good primer on just what to do should your run-in with a rattlesnake go south.

Tips: The museum only consists of a few rooms, so you probably won't spend more than half an hour here unless you're lucky enough to meet Bob, the owner, who is a killer storyteller. Come early when the snakes are especially active!

Jose La Rivera, the manager of Twisters, a South Valley burrito joint, counts between 30 to 40 fans a day who pull up in cars and cabs, sometimes straight from the airport, all of them curious to meet the real-life Gus Fring.

The popularity of Breaking Bad has been great for La Rivera, as the fan interest in the restaurant has brought an estimated 10% extra profit to the joint, and loads of new customers excited to sit in the most coveted seat in the place: “Walt’s Booth”.

Tip: When you visit, be sure to have Jose snap your picture next to the huge Los Pollos Hermanos mural.

At the Monte Carlo Steakhouse and Liquor Store, not only will they grill you up the best prime cuts in the state, you can grab a bottle of your favorite spirit. Strangest steakhouse ever? Definitely, but you've gotta give them points for convenience.

Tips: The prime rib is only available after 5PM, so plan accordingly. Wondering about the wine selection? The place is attached to a liquor store - pick any wine in the store and they'll have it corked and brought to your table!

For an authentic Route 66 meal, make a pit stop at the 66 Diner in Albuquerque, where you can load up on classic grub like burgers and fries, strawberry shakes, and the biggest banana split you've ever seen.

The 66 Diner doesn't just serve authentic 50s-style food either, they go out of their way to look the part too. Chrome tables, a jukebox loaded with period-appropriate 45 records, and wait-staff in 50s-style outfits make this a place out of time. In fact, this diner is so accurate, local photography clubs often make use of it for pin-up calendars!

Tip: The sundaes here are comically giant. Get one to share - the banana split has eight scoops!

Do you and your friends want a challenge you'll never forget? How about escaping from a locked room by solving a series of brain-busting puzzles in under sixty minutes?

NM Room Escape offers three distinct challenge experiences that will put your problem solving skills to the test. If you and your team manage to escape in under an hour, you get bragging rights and a special prize.

Good luck!

The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, which is designed to look like a hot air balloon resting on its side, houses artifacts that tell the story of hot air ballooning, from crossing the Atlantic Ocean to crossing the planet.

Tips: Never been on a hot air balloon ride? You can try out their simulator and decide whether the heights are for you.

If you visit during October, you'll be able to catch the awe-inspiring sights of the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, when hundreds of hot air balloons fill the skies above the city.

An amazing attraction for people of all ages, the Tinkertown Museum is the result of one man's obsession with tinkering. Throughout the museum are hundreds of intricate carvings, painstakingly-crafted mechanical doo-dads, and tons of funky coin-operated machines that will be a smile to anyone's face.

While you might have a hard time describing this hidden gem, one thing is for certain: you'll never see anything else like it.

Tip: Be sure to bring a few quarters! Admission to the amazing Tinkertown Museum is only $3, but many of the coolest pieces are coin operated and well worth the scratch.