Travel guide for CSU football fans heading to Albuquerque for New Mexico Bowl

From a fan's ability to travel standpoint, it doesn’t get much better than the New Mexico Bowl for CSU.

The Rams have a happy history in the bowl in Albuquerque, winning in exciting fashion in 2008 and 2013, and it’s a relatively easy trip for fans in Colorado.

Colorado State University is back in the New Mexico Bowl, this time to face Marshall on Dec. 16.

It’s an opportunity for fans to make a mini-vacation out of seeing their team play. Here are some attractions to consider for your trip whether you're flying or driving.

From Fort Collins, it’s a pretty simple drive south on Interstate 25 to Albuquerque. The 500-mile trip takes just more than seven hours.

If you want to make a road trip out of it, here are a few potential sight-seeing detours to consider, along with tips on what to do once in Albuquerque.

More: Colorado State football bowl game: TV, ticket, travel and game information

Great Sand Dunes National Park — For a detour to the sand dunes on the southern edge of Colorado, take Interstate 25 south to Walsenburg, and then take U.S. Highway 160 west to Colorado Highway 150. Go north and follow the signs.

It will be chilly this time of year, but that allows you to hike the dunes without the sand scalding your feat. For extra fun, bring a snowboard or skis to cruise down the dunes.

The views around the dunes are breathtaking. Make the time to take this detour; you won’t regret it.

Other options — If you go to the dunes, take the short additional detour to the Colorado Gators Reptile Park in Mosca. The unique park allows visitors to view alligators, reptiles and birds.

From Mosca, you can head down U.S. Highway 285 to Taos and Sante Fe on your way to Albuquerque. These two art-friendly towns have their own unique history and culture. Visitors can shop downtown or head out to visit some of the great outdoor trails in the area.

More: Personalized Fathead among best college football bowl gifts

In Albuquerque — There’s no shortage of things to keep you busy. Here are a few highlights:

Food — First and foremost, red or green? That’s the state question of New Mexico. No matter what type of chile you prefer, make sure to get your fill. If you can’t decide, go Christmas-style with both types. A few spots to consider eating at are Mary & Tito's Café, Farina Pizzeria, Frontier Restaurant and The Grove Cafe and Market.

First and foremost, red or green? That’s the state question of New Mexico. No matter what type of chile you prefer, make sure to get your fill. If you can’t decide, go Christmas-style with both types. A few spots to consider eating at are Mary & Tito's Café, Farina Pizzeria, Frontier Restaurant and The Grove Cafe and Market. Beer — From one craft brewing hotbed to another. New Mexico has an emerging brewery scene, and there is no shortage of local beer to try in Albuquerque. The state’s tourism website even has a handy map of the breweries. A variety of craft brews can be found on the New Mexico True Ale Trail.

From one craft brewing hotbed to another. New Mexico has an emerging brewery scene, and there is no shortage of local beer to try in Albuquerque. The state’s tourism website even has a handy map of the breweries. A variety of craft brews can be found on the New Mexico True Ale Trail. Free skiing — If you’re going to the bowl game, you can also ski for free afterward. In connection with a Ski New Mexico promotion, a ticket from the New Mexico Bowl can be redeemed for a free lift ticket Dec. 17-24. Present your game ticket at a ski area ticket office for a lift ticket to Ski Apache, Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito Mountain, Red River Ski Area, Angel Fire Resort, Sipapu Ski Resort or Sandia Peak.

Tramway — Consider checking out the Sandia Peak Tramway. It carries you 2.7 miles and goes to an observation deck atop the 10,378-foot Sandia Peak. The tram is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Tickets are $25 for adults.

Consider checking out the Sandia Peak Tramway. It carries you 2.7 miles and goes to an observation deck atop the 10,378-foot Sandia Peak. The tram is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Tickets are $25 for adults. Tis the season — The annual River of Lights in the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden is live with more than 500 displays. It was named one of the “15 most spectacular holiday light displays in the U.S.” in 2016 by “The Active Times.” Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12) and it’s open 6-9:30 p.m. daily.

Breaking Bad — The TV show set in New Mexico gathered a cult-like following and visitors to Albuquerque can check out sites from the show. There are official paid tours at www.breakingbadrvtours.com/around the city, or fans can do a self-guided tour with roadtrippers.com/trips/10314584. Twisters is a local chain that played the role of Los Pollos Hermanos on the show and remains a popular stop.

The TV show set in New Mexico gathered a cult-like following and visitors to Albuquerque can check out sites from the show. There are official paid tours at www.breakingbadrvtours.com/around the city, or fans can do a self-guided tour with roadtrippers.com/trips/10314584. Twisters is a local chain that played the role of Los Pollos Hermanos on the show and remains a popular stop. Culture — For a view of Hispanic culture, head to the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque to explore the 4,000-square-foot Mundos de Mestizaje. This digitized mural depicts thousands of years of Hispanic history and highlights diverse cultural connections. Visitors can also experience Flamenco Tablao inside Hotel Albuquerque. Performances are nightly on the weekends and feature a world-class lineup of artists.

Game tickets — Of course the impetus for the trip is the game itself, as CSU takes on Marshall at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Tickets from the CSU allotment can be purchased for $40 at CSURams.com/tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at gildannewmexicobowl.com.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.