5 Reasons To Make Santa Fe Your Next Trip

Santa Fe, New Mexico is a beautiful historic city renowned for its Pueblo-style architecture and for being a creative arts hotbed. Here are five reasons why Santa Fe should be your next stop.

Art

Santa Fe is truly an epicenter for art. You need to check out Canyon Road, Santa Fe’s historic art district, with over a hundred art galleries and studios. A visit to the O’Keeffe Museum offers insight into Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings and her creative process. She spent a lot of time working in Santa Fe and you can tour her home and studio as well. If you want to learn more about the history of Santa Fe, check out the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Museum of International Folk Art.

Culture

I have received a lot of questions about whether or not Meow Wolf is worth going to. If you don’t know, Meow Wolf is an immersive art exhibit but it’s unlike anything you’ll ever experience and it is completely worth it. Make sure that your purchase tickets online ahead of time and get there early because the line will seem daunting at first. You should also check out Loretto Chapel, a former Roman Catholic church that is known for its unusual staircase that visitors have flocked to for years. Mystery surrounds the identity of the builder, the type of wood used, and the physics of its construction.

Shopping

The Plaza is one of my favorite parts of Santa Fe. It is entirely walkable with winding streets featuring charming boutiques, bookstores, restaurants and art galleries. Blocks of unique shops extend from the Palace of the Governors, the most historic area of the city. Local Native artisans sell their wonderful creations under the portal which is a time-honored tradition.

Eating

For a Santa Fe staple, head to The Pantry. The lines that wrap around the building, at times, are worth it for that Durango omelette (trust me on this). For all day breakfast, and the best french toast of your life, try Plaza Cafe Southside. If you really want to put yourself in the heart of Santa Fe, you need to try La Plazuela. If you’re looking for drinks, check out Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen for 100 varieties (yes, you read that right) of margaritas.

Hiking

Within an hour of Santa Fe, there are two incredible places to go hiking. Southwest of Santa Fe, lies Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. It features hiking trails among slot canyons and cone-shaped tent rock formations. Northwest of Santa Fe, lies Bandelier National Monument. The monument preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans of a later era in the Southwest.

One last thing that I want to share with you. I don’t normally share reviews of accommodations but my absolute favorite place to stay in Santa Fe is the Silver Saddle Motel. It’s affordable, adorable and you really get a sense of place here (this is not a sponsored recommendation).

Safe travels,

V.

Red Gypsea