Albuquerque is one big party this fall

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Christine Sarkis

If you looked at the homepage yesterday, you already know that Albuquerque is SmarterTravel.com’s destination of the month for October. Why? Two words, one English, one Spanish: Balloon Fiesta. Hot air balloons, wine, and fireworks; a little something for everybody.

Coincidentally, I just got information about another Albuquerque fall event, only this one is in September. It’s Globalquerque, a world music and culture festival that will officially take place on September 23 and 24, but will be preceded by a week of preview events. It looks like most of the daytime events, which include dance classes, instrument making, and music, are free. The evening concerts are ticketed events, but include multiple performances. Tickets are a fair amount cheaper if you buy them in advance, and there are discounted rates for kids under 17.

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