ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- My hubby, Roy, is a golfer, and I'm a walker, hiker, and bicycler. He likes casinos, and I like spas. I tend to favor hot, spicy foods, while he's more of a steak-and-potatoes sort of guy. Nature is my passion, while he likes shopping (no kidding!). He enjoys riding horses, and I appreciate wines and winemaking.

So, if it's true that opposites attract, then we win the blue ribbon. But that also means that we've found the ideal vacation spot with enough diverse activities to keep both of us happy: Albuquerque.

We spent a few days there last spring visiting friends, sharing only evening meals and a hot air balloon ride before we took off in different directions for different pursuits. Along the way, we found that if you're bored in Albuquerque, then it's your own fault.

Despite its reputation for high-fat, high-calorie cuisine, Albuquerque, right on the banks of the Rio Grande and on historic and romantic Route 66, is considered one of the "fittest" cities in the U.S. -- runners, hikers, and cyclists are everywhere -- and since both Roy and I are keen on the outdoors, we discovered that for food and fun, it's all about choices in this desert abode.

Hot air ballooning is big -- really, really big -- in Albuquerque, primarily because of nearly perfect climatic conditions, and we embarked on our journey by first taking a ride with Rainbow Ryders (www.rainbowryders.com) on an early cool spring morning that quickly warmed with the rising sun.

While you can balloon anytime of the year in Albuquerque -- we went in April, soaring quietly through crystalline blue skies -- the city's Balloon Fiesta, a nine-day event that takes place during the first week in October, should be nominated as one of the wonders of the world, as that's when skies virtually explode with more than 700 wildly colored balloons, bedazzling the thousands -- not to mention the locals -- who visit for the festival.

If you've never ballooned, then the Balloon Fiesta is the best time to give it a whirl. Scared of heights? Trust me. You don't even think about your acrophobia as you watch the alchemy of the rising sun transform the desert into blazing jewel-like hues of gold, ruby, and silver.

After our sky-high journey and a quick visit to the Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, hubby lit out for the golf course while I visited the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (www.indianpueblo.org).

The peace-loving Pueblo Indians and their culture, a mainstay of the New Mexico way of life, are presented through a series of historical information and artifacts, including the largest collection of authentic Indian jewelry in the Southwest. The center is only the first door in learning about the extensive, fascinating, and mysterious Pueblo culture that is prevalent throughout the entire state.

As I soaked up the culture, Roy soaked up the sun by playing golf at Sandia Golf Club (www.sandiagolf.com), which is connected to the Sandia Resort & Casino. Hmmm. A casino connection -- no wonder he and his pals chose the Sandia. Anyway, the Scott Miller-designed course zigzags from 4,900 yards to more than 7,700 yards from the back tees, taking duffers through this Garden of Eden-like atmosphere complete with spectacular views of the Sandia Mountains.

For the next couple of days, his pals dragged him all over the Albuquerque area to play the links, once at the 27-hole Santa Ana Golf Club (www.santaanagolf.com), again at the 27-hole public course at Isleta Eagle (www.isletaeagle.com), and then finally at Twin Warriors (www.twinwarriorsgolf.com).

Time constraints didn't allow him to sample all the courses, which also include Paa-Ko Ridge (paakoridge.com) and the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course (www.unm.edu/(TILDE)golf), but for the courses he played he bragged, "They were wonderful, well-maintained, beautiful, and most of all, fun. Just don't get off the greens, or you're in desert sand. Even with the sand, these are among the best I've ever played."

While he hit, hunted, and chased a little white ball around the greens, I headed for the mountains, literarily. Three friends and I spent an entire day with Steve Williamson of Active Knowledge Bicycling and Bike Coop (www.bikecoop.com). We hiked the Sandia Mountains, all the while crossing streams, sidestepping boulders, traversing trails, and discovering the fantastic desert wildlife and flora and fauna.

We even learned about giardia, a nasty little parasite that lurks in clear, cold mountain waters that otherwise look as pristine as new snow. In other words, said Steve -- once an unfortunate giardia victim himself -- never drink the water, no matter how refreshing it appears.

With our newfound knowledge about mountain hiking safely inscribed in our heads, later that day we headed to the flatlands and used muscles that we didn't even know existed as Steve led us on a fast bicycle ride down the Alameda bike path and around the Rio Grande Nature Center. While I didn't see the elusive Wile E. Coyote, I spotted all kinds of birds I hadn't seen before, including the elusive roadrunner (beep, beep!).

When you visit Albuquerque, bring your sweatpants -- the kind with the stretchy waistband. Just as Southerners know that lard makes the best biscuits on earth, Southwesterners know that it also makes the best tortillas and breads in the world. Don't even think about calories for a few days as you feast on New Mexican, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Native American cuisine likes burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and tamales.

For those like Roy who aren't brave enough for the heat of chili-spiced foods -- your server will always ask the official state question, "Red or green?" (chilies, for those of you having a "duh" moment) -- there are plenty of American, barbecue, and steak-and-seafood restaurants to please everyone's taste buds.

In tandem with delicious and myriad dining opportunities, New Mexico's wine industry flows as easily as the Rio Grande, with several wineries located around the city, including two I visited: St. Clair Winery & Bistro (www.stclairvineyards.com) and Casa Rondena Winery (www.casarondena.com). While the wines aren't quite the caliber of some from, say, Sonoma or South Africa, they are good and definitely worth a try.

Here's a short list of other grand and exciting places to visit and things to do in Albuquerque: historic Old Town and the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History for learning about the city's fabled past; the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science and the Albuquerque Biological Park for exploring the natural side of New Mexico; and the Sandia Peak Tramway for taking a bird's eye view of the city.

There is even talk of prairie dog tourism here (honest!), and it's for those who have never seen a prairie dog but are fascinated by the prospect of seeing the pups pop their heads out of the ground -- so fascinated, in fact, that they are willing to pay for the privilege of seeing the little critters that the locals consider a nuisance. Now, did I not say that Albuquerque was diverse enough for everyone?

Being the inquisitive person I am -- read nosy -- I asked a lot of questions during my stay in Albuquerque and learned there is so much to do here that I couldn't see it all in three months, much less the three days we were there. In fact, I wouldn't mind moving there, if not for the lack of trees and shade, both of which southern ladies like me require much of.

But this is the desert Southwest, after all, and a landscape sans trees and shade is to be expected. And that's something even the prairie dogs can "dig" for all the fun you'll have here.

IF YOU GO:

For more details, visit the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau by visiting www.itsatrip.org ("It's A Trip") or by calling toll-free 800-733-9918.

While we flew on Delta (www.delta.com), Albuquerque International Sunport is served by all major airlines and low-cost carriers including Frontier and Southwest.

Although we stayed at the Marriott (www.marriott.com), most hotel chains are found in Albuquerque.