Santa Fe

What’s Santa Fe Like?

Santa Fe is a desert jewel. In the midst of miles and miles of mountainous red-earthed scrub desert is this little town of adobe style architecture, numerous art galleries and restaurants, and a relaxed western feel. Originally an area of Pueblo settlement, it was colonized by the Spanish as early as 1598 and became an important point in trade routes. A road called Old Santa Fe Trail travels through the downtown area, past the Plaza that the downtown area is built around, and is part of both the Old Spanish Historic Trail, a trading route that linked the town with Los Angeles in the 1800s, and the Historic Route 66, the highway that traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago, built in the 1930s. Suffice to say, the town is both steeped in history and a modern oasis of art and culture.

The central downtown area is very walkable and you could spend at least a couple of days here just walking around and soaking it in. However, there are interesting spots throughout the larger, more sprawling suburbs, and nearby parks and trails that you may want to visit, for which it would be best to have a car.

MUST VISIT PLACES

Try to make time to visit these:

Santa Fe Plaza - central plaza in historic downtown Santa Fe

Loretto Chapel - home of the "miraculous" spiral staircase

Atalaya Mountain - a mountain peak in Santa Fe National Forest, just outside of town, with several trails for hiking

El Rancho de las Golondrinas - a "living history" museum

Museums & Galleries - Santa Fe has more than 250 museums and art galleries to explore

THINGS TO DO IN SANTA FE

Walk around town

Visit art galleries

Shop for trinkets

Have a margarita

Try the food

Catch some live music

Go hiking

Visit historical sites

SELECT EXPERIENCES

Walk Around Town – The downtown area, that is, the several blocks around the central Santa Fe Plaza, is very walkable. Strolling through this area is probably the best way to see the most of Santa Fe and its culture at once. You could spend a couple of days just letting yourself explore this area.If you do want to go a little further afield without a car, there are buses with helpful QR codes at the stops for schedule and route information.

Visit Art Galleries – One thing Santa Fe has plenty of is art galleries. There are quite a few museums and galleries right in the downtown area around Santa Fe Plaza. There are also some scattered further afield, like Meow Wolf. I’d probably start with the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, New Mexico Museum of Art, or the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, all of which are located near the Plaza.

Shop For Trinkets – Another thing you will find in the downtown area are a number of little shops with unique, artistic doodads of various types, from jewelry and clothing to pottery and even glass lamps. You’ll find shops like these in the Plaza Mercado, right next to the Plaza. There are also offerings by smaller artisans that you’ll find on the side streets.

Have a Margarita – Margaritas are the thing here. I’m not really a tequila girl, but I did try a couple margaritas while in Santa Fe, since they were so widely offered and seemed location-appropriate, at both Tomasita’s and Meow Wolf. They were tasty, for a margarita. There is in fact a Santa Fe Margarita Trail, made up of local places to get a great margarita. 🍸🍸🍸

Try the Food – New Mexico has its own Southwest cuisine, and Santa Fe is a great place to try it out. Sopaipillas (stuffed with meat, or just alone with honey or butter) are a must try. Enchiladas, tamales, burritos, pozole, Frito pie, queso, and burgers are all common on the menu. There is special love for the red and green chile sauces and for hatch chiles in general, everywhere. Try it all!

Catch Some Live Music – Santa Fe Plaza often has a street musician or two playing, which adds a nice atmosphere. There are also a number of other live music venues around town, including The Bridge, Cowgirl BBQ, Tiny’s, Tumbleroot, La Fiesta Lounge, Meow Wolf, and Tesuque Casino.

Go Hiking – To me, this is one of the best things to do in Santa Fe. The town is surrounded by mountains, with both scrub desert and wooded vegetation, depending on exactly where you are. There are several hiker-friendly trails on the nearby Atalaya Mountain, and you can also head out to nearby sites like Tent Rocks or Bandelier to catch some real vistas and ancient ruins on your hike.

Visit Historical Sites – Santa Fe and its surroundings have a deep history, both colonial and pre-colonial, so there’s plenty historical to see. Even just the Palace of the Governors, the St. Francis Cathedral, and the Loretto Chapel in the downtown area near the Plaza would make a good start. At Bandelier you can see ancient ruins of a community of Pueblo natives. I’d also recommend El Rancho de las Golondrinas.

Be Prepared – Santa Fe is high and dry! At over 7,000 feet above sea level it’s not unheard of to get altitude sickness as a visitor (it happened to me!), especially if you come directly from a very low altitude. Symptoms of this can include headache and nausea. Additionally, the air is very dry, so it is particularly important to stay hydrated.

On the other hand, the higher altitude means it can be a little cooler than you might expect, especially in the morning and evening. It’s a good idea to have a cardigan or light jacket handy at those times to keep you comfortable.

TIPS

Order it "Christmas" When you are asked if you'd like red or green chile sauce on your meal, just say you'd like it "Christmas"! This means you get both red and green, and can try them both out!

Your Uber May Be Slow I had the experience of waiting 20 minutes to get an Uber driver confirmed. Just keep in mind it can take longer here. If you have an important time to meet, you may want to schedule the driver beforehand.

Drink Water! Santa Fe is so dry! Even if you are just lounging around town, you need to remember to drink lots of water to avoid getting dried out. This goes double if you are hiking.

Enjoy the Natural Landscape It would be hard not to, but do take time to take in this rocky, mountainous, cactus-dotted scenery. It's unlike what you will see anywhere else.

WHAT TO BRING

Cardigan for those cool mornings and evenings.

Shirt from Classic Rock Couture. For any Southwest mood.

Water! If you're just staying around town you may not need a bottle, but make sure you get enough so you don't dry out.

The Milagro Beanfield War. A classic set in northern New Mexico.

STAY AWHILE

I had only a short visit in Santa Fe this year. I was able to partake in a few of the many offerings around town, although I saw many more that I would liked to have done if I had more time. For that reason, I’d suggest a longer trip of a week or more to take it all in, if you can. Even so, if you just pass through for a few days, it will be well worth it to experience Santa Fe. Here are a few posts I made about my experiences there:

Explore the Everyday

Eating Out in Santa Fe

I consider trying out a city or town’s local foods to be one of the many pleasures and adventures of traveling. That goes especially for Santa Fe, one of the best destinations in New Mexico to sample this state’s particular take

April 30, 2022 No Comments

Sights & Sounds

Meow Wolf

With a name like Meow Wolf, you know you are getting a different type of museum. I visited this modern art installation during my stay in Santa Fe, and it was definitely a different experience. This is the kind of

April 28, 2022 No Comments

Adventure

Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument is actually located in Los Alamos, about 40 miles northwest of Santa Fe, but it is an easy 45 minute drive if you have a car. On the way, you will pass over the Rio Grande, although

April 25, 2022 No Comments

I worked and lived for a little while in the flatlands of New Mexico (near Clovis) in years past, so I was somewhat familiar with the landscape and culture of the area, but with its mountains, red earth, galleries, and loyalty to the historic adobe building style, Santa Fe is an experience apart. Yet, there is much of the culture of the American West here as well, with its focus on enjoying the simple pleasures of the landscape and each other. It’s a breath of fresh air to someone coming from the bustle of larger cities.If you stay longer, there are a range of opportunities to take advantage of, from resort stays at La Posada, the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado or the Inn of the Five Graces, riding horses at Vision Quest or Broken Saddle, or camping further afield at Santa Fe National Forest, Black Canyon, Bandelier, or Taos.

Cat

April 18, 2022