Awesome Facts About the World’s Tallest Roller Coasters

Adrenaline junkies love seeking out the highest, fastest roller coasters at any amusement park, but some of these rides are crazier than others. Here are a few unbelievable facts about the tallest roller coasters in the world.

  • The Steel Dragon 2000 coaster in Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land measures in at a whopping 318 feet high and 8,133 feet long, which makes it the longest steel coaster in the world. Even more impressive is its insane price, however: The coaster required extra steel to make it earthquake-proof, totaling $50 million!
  • Since 2005, the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey has held the title of the tallest roller coaster in the world. It stands 456 feet tall and drops riders at a stomach-churning 128 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds.
  • If you prefer upside down roller coasters, the roller coaster with the most loops is The Smiler in England’s Alton Towers park. Although its name sounds sweet and innocent, this coaster boasts a whopping 14 loops.
  • If speed is more your thing, the world’s fastest roller coaster is, predictably, located at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. This bright red, Ferrari-themed coaster reaches speeds of 150 miles per hour in just five seconds.

World's Scariest Roller Coasters [Travel + Leisure]
Awesome Roller Coaster Facts: The Tallest One, Fastest One, Most Loops & More!
[Fun Times Guide]
8 Record-Breaking Roller Coasters from Around the World [Thrillist]

Lucky 66 Bowl: Shoot for a Strike at This Hip Bowling Alley

Lucky 66 Bowl is a popular bowling alley in Albuquerque that offers a fun, modern take on the retro sport. Inside, the bowling center features well-maintained wooden lanes complete with bumpers for the little ones. Colorful murals line the walls, and there is even a full-service pro shop that offers shoe and ball rentals included with the cost of your game. In addition to bowling, Lucky 66 has a billiards area with pool tables and other fun games, while outside there is a sand volleyball court with volleyball leagues for of-age guests.

If you want to enjoy a drink with the festivities, pop into the attached Dewar’s Pub, a bar with affordable drinks and fun karaoke on the weekends. With lots of discounts for seniors and military personnel, bowling at Lucky 66 Bowl might be one of the most affordable ways to have a good time near Broadstone Towne Center!

Lucky 66 Bowl
6132 Fourth Street NW
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 345-2506
www.lucky66bowl.com

Order From the Chalkboard Menu at The Grove Cafe & Market

The next time you’re wondering where to have lunch in Albuquerque, pop in to The Grove Cafe & Market. This European-style cafe is sparse and modern inside, with cozy wooden tables underneath the exposed beams in the dining room.

Charming chalkboard menus display the restaurant’s ever-changing menu. For breakfast, you’ll find hearty oatmeal, eggs, and a seemingly endless assortment of fresh-baked pastries, while the lunch and dinner menus offer kale salads and gourmet sandwiches that are anything but ordinary. Like any good cafe, The Grove employs skilled baristas who prepare a mean espresso that pairs perfectly with any meal. Whether you want to catch up on work or socialize over lunch with friends, you can do both at this local favorite!

The Grove is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

The Grove Cafe & Market
600 Central Avenue SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 248-9800
www.thegrovecafemarket.com

High Finance Restaurant & Tavern: Take the Tram to Dine at 10,378 Feet

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience in Albuquerque, High Finance Restaurant is a great choice. To get to this sky-high eatery, you first have to take a tram more than 2.5 miles up through several climate zones before finally reaching the restaurant, which is situated at an elevation of 10,378 feet!

Once you reach the restaurant, with its handsome bar and wood decor, you’ll dine on gourmet burgers, New York strip steaks, and hearty pasta dishes. Look out over the incredible view as you enjoy lunch or dinner at this popular local eatery, and be sure to order a glass of wine or a stiff cocktail with your meal.

Make a reservation at High Finance at the restaurant’s convenient website. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

High Finance Restaurant & Tavern
40 Tramway Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122
(505) 243-9742
www.sandiapeakrestaurants.com/high-finance

Please Picky Eaters With These Healthy Fast Food-Inspired Recipes

You love the burger and fries at your favorite fast food restaurant, but you also know that too much grab-and-go food can take a toll on your health—and your waistline! If you’re dealing with a brood of picky eaters, these recipes will satisfy those fast food cravings, without all of the saturated fat.

Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders with Five Spice Barbecue Sauce [Good Housekeeping]
While regular fast food chicken tenders are deep fried and served with sugary sauces, this oven-baked alternative is just as tasty, but a whole lot healthier. Use Panko bread crumbs, sesame seeds, and a Chinese five-spice powder to create a crispy, Asian-inspired breading for the chicken, and then serve them with your own homemade barbecue sauce that’s free of unnecessary fat and calories.

Healthy Chocolate Banana Shake [abeautifulmess.com]
A thick, creamy milkshake from the local drive-through is a truly delicious indulgence, but it certainly isn’t the best thing for your waistline. This fruit-filled alternative is made with a whole banana, but it still packs that chocolatey punch that you love about traditional shakes.

Spicy Barbecue Chickpea Burgers [ohsheglows.com]
Hearty, protein-rich chickpeas hold this burger together, but the spicy barbecue sauce gives it a boost of flavor that's so good, you won’t even miss the meat.

From Veggies to Soaps, Downtown Growers Market Takes Local Shopping to the Next Level

Every sunny Saturday morning for nearly two decades, Downtown Growers Market has been transforming Albuquerque's Robinson Park into a hub for fresh food, live music, and local art. From the end of April through the beginning of November, the region's farmers and culinary artisans come out to sell their products directly to customers—and chat with them in the process.

As local musicians set an upbeat soundtrack in the background, browse the many booths at Downtown Growers Market. You can grab a hot cup of house-roasted coffee and a breakfast burrito at Java Joes (just around the corner from the market in a permanent location) and then pick up organic, GMO- free fruits and veggies from Amyo Farms. Grab beautiful stoneware pots in which to store your findings from Pottery by Karin. You can even find fresh herbs and plants at Crack Pot Herbs, colorful bouquets at Jemez Mountain Flowers, and locally sourced, herbal beauty products at South Valley Soap.

Downtown Growers Market
Robinson Park
8th Street and Central
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 243-2230
downtowngrowers.com
www.yelp.com/biz/downtown-growers-market-albuquerque

Go Laser-Tagging or Go-Karting at Hinkle Family Fun Center

For nearly 20 years, Hinkle Family Fun Center has brought the people of Albuquerque together in a spacious 14,500-square-foot facility. Its owners know a thing or two about family bonding, considering that they're all part of the namesake Hinkle clan. Gene E. Hinkle and wife Betty debuted the spot back in 1994, and it's been offering families a rainy-day alternative to playing outside ever since.

Many locals flock here with their little ones for the bumper cars alone, which are ringed with glowing neon lights in a mirrored, low-lit arena. The space is evocative of the laser tag gym right upstairs, another popular attraction for families who have slightly older kids. Tackle a mission in the laser tag arena or play a round of mini golf at Hinkle Family Fun Center. Go-karting, paintballing, and the rock-climbing are also on tap at the family fun center, so there's a little something for everyone.

Hinkle Family Fun Center
12931 Indian School Road
Albuquerque, NM 87112
(505) 299-3100
www.hinklefamilyfuncenter.com
www.yelp.com/biz/hinkle-family-fun-center-albuquerque

Happy Independence Day!

We hope everyone enjoys a fun and relaxing time with family and friends as we celebrate America's freedom.

Vinaigrette: Freshly Plucked Produce in Every Forkful

Ask an employee at Vinaigrette where the ingredients in your beautiful, colorful salad come from, and they'll have a pretty good idea. Most of the vegetables hail directly from the farm cultivated by Vinaigrette's owner Erin Wade, sprawling across 10 acres in Nambe (about 20 miles north of Santa Fe). She grows the produce organically and ships it straight to her restaurants, so that the veggies are served within hours of being plucked.

Locals can taste the difference in the high quality ingredients, particularly in the popular Nutty Pear-fessor salad. Like all of the entree salads on the list of signature dishes, it features a unique blend of sweet and savory ingredients: grilled Bosc pears, toasted pecans, bacon, and Maytag bleu cheese over a bed of greens, all tossed with ruby port vinaigrette. Try it topped with hibiscus duck confit. You can also opt for a more classic salad (think Greek or Caesar) or take a chance on one of the seasonally inspired salads, which are just as carefully prepared as the standard entrees.

Vinaigrette
1828 Central Avenue
Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 842-5507
www.vinaigretteonline.com
www.yelp.com/biz/vinaigrette-albuquerque-2

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father's Day! We hope all of the Dads out there have a great day with loved ones! Let us know how you plan to help Dad relax today!

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