Alegria is ideally situated at the foot of the Sandia Mountains and centrally located for exploration. The development sits beside the state's major river the Rio Grande, which progressed from a string of haciendas in the 1600's to a commercial center of trade among the pueblos and the Mexican settlers in the 1800's. Its colonial heart was called Las Cocinitas. The town's fiestas are held August 9 and 10 when Dance Performers of Los Matachines progress through the town in a spectacular dance drama which dates to the 1600's. Seven pueblos are in the neighboring area of Alegria, too. Each pueblo has a different and exciting history. At different times of the year, each pueblo has a feast day celebration where they encourage visitors to enjoy Native American prepared food and pueblo dancing. In addition, there are three Indian Casinos within a ten mile radius of Alegria, Sandia, Santa Ana and San Felipe. In addition, Alegria is located just five minutes from historical Bernalillo, which is the historical center of the State of New Mexico. Bernalillo was originally an Anasazi settlement before the Spanish arrived here in the 16th century and is one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in North America. The main street in Bernalillo is also rich in history. The street, Camino del Pueblo, is synonymous with three other historical attributes - Route 66, El Camino Real and Old Highway 85. The road, rich in history runs through the town and was the major link with the outside world for several hundred years, connecting Santa Fe to Mexico City. It is one of the oldest historical trails in the United States. The wine grape was introduced here in the 1620's and vineyards flourished in Bernalillo with each family making its own wine. Wine making became a major industry, but floods, drought, and prohibition upset the market. Today New Mexico's wine industry is healthy and celebrates each Labor Day with a wine festival in Bernalillo. Alegria is also fifteen minutes from Albuquerque, which is nestled between the towering Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley. The city of Albuquerque is rich with culture and heritage, breathtaking landscape and equipped with vibrant energy that's indispensable to a fast-growing city. Albuquerque is also a center for tourism, attracting skiers, museum-goers, balloonists, and adventure-seekers of all kinds. Albuquerque's temperate climate, large number of sunny days, proximity to both mountains and rivers and central location along both old Route 66 and, later, Interstate 40 have been drawing people to Albuquerque for years. Some have stayed for a few days, some for a lifetime, but nearly everyone who's ever been here has wonderful things to say about the city. Alegria is also forty minutes from Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is one of the great destination cities of the world. For visitors, meeting planners and adventurers alike, Santa Fe provides an unparalleled quality of life, making it a perfect location for your next vacation getaway, convention or ski trip. Santa Fe is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an altitude of 7,000 feet. The city occupies 33.4 square miles in a valley by the Rio Grande just below mountains that reach to over 12,000 feet. Thousands of acres of national forest and wilderness surround the city, and yet it is only an hour's drive to the Albuquerque International Airport. Known as the "City Different," Santa Fe supports both historic culture and modern technology, while offering an outstanding quality of life for both young and old. It is the oldest state capital in the country, founded in 1610, and at one time all lands west of the Mississippi were governed here from the Palace of the Governors on the Plaza. |
901 Cottonwood Circle |
