Red rock country. Delicious food. Beautiful art and fascinating history.
Itineraries
Eat & Drink
El Farol
A tapas restaurant and bar featuring live music and flamenco since 1835 with a great rooftop bar.
Marble Brewery
In Albuquerque’s crowded craft beer scene, Marble is a standout. The beers are interesting and tasty, and they’re served up at reasonable prices in a neat downtown brewpub. The staff is friendly, and they also offer house-brewed ciders and hard seltzers.
La Boca
Excellent Spanish Tapas in Santa Fe. It is not large so reservations are suggested.
Radish and Rye
Farm-to-table cuisine offering upscale, Southern-inspired dishes as well as an amazing bourbon collection (75 bourbons and whiskeys) which are a nice break from tequila.
Geronimo
This restaurant is the star of the Santa Fe fine dining scene. It’s also probably the prettiest restaurant in Santa Fe with open fireplaces and a beautiful bar.
Sazon
With a menu filled with locally sourced products, Sazon serves up high-end Mexican cuisine, all served with a medley of moles. Enjoy a flight of agave while you’re at it.
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Dr. Field Goods
Farm-to-table comfort food in the heart of Santa Fe. A casual spot with a butcher shop and bakery attached and plenty of local beers on tap, you can’t go wrong with a meal here.
Standard Diner
Salads, sandwiches, brunch, entrees, and more with a distinct New Mexico twist. Full bar serving local drafts, margaritas, and other cocktails. A great spot for a meal any time of day.
Brixens
Brixens serves up tasty American cuisine with a strong New Mexico influence. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of craft beers (cans and bottles only; no drafts, unfortunately) and cocktails in a neat downtown space. Hours Tuesday – Thursday: 11am – 10pmFriday & Saturday: 11am – 11pmSunday: 11am – 10pmClosed Monday
El Pinto Restaurant
El Pinto serves up tasty New Mexican food in a beautiful hacienda setting. Sit outside in the garden area if you can. The restaurant also offers an extensive tequila and margarita menu, and local draft beers are reasonably priced.
Coyote Cafe
Casual and inviting atmosphere with Southwestern cooking offering a rooftop with top-notch cocktails.
Santa Fe Brewing Company
New Mexico’s original craft brewery, and now the largest brewery in the state, it offers up some interesting beers.
Thirsty Eye Brewing Company
Neat spot offering house-brewed and guest drafts, as well as coffee and local art.
See
Georgia O’Keefe Museum
Georgia O’Keefe was from New York but fell in love with New Mexico and did most of her painting here. This is the best museum of her work anywhere – right off the main plaza and a must see in Santa Fe.
Taos Pueblo
This is an amazing place. For 1000 years people have been living in the large multi story adobe building that is a UNESCO world heritage site. Be sure and take a tour (every 20 minutes starting at 9am). Be aware that while the Pueblo is open daily it does close for various tribal activities – check the website. The tour only takes about 30 minutes but we highly recommend a visit here.
Museum of International Folk Art
This is the worlds largest collection of folk art and a fascinating place to visit. Its main gallery has objects from over 100 countries and includes dolls, masks, toys, garments, paintings. Per the museum, there is no one definition of folk art, and so it hosts quite the collection of items. If you’re visiting in July don’t miss the International Folk Art Market.
Loretto Chapel
This is a cute little church in Santa Fe that is famous for its staircase. That’s right – the spiral staircase has quite a story behind it.
New Mexico History Museum
New Mexico has a long and interesting history – from Native Americans living here for thousands of years to the Spanish Colonial era to the early US frontier to building the first atomic bomb – and this museum does a good job of explaining it all. Well worthwhile.
Bandolier National Monument
People have been living in the canyon at Bandolier for 11,000 years and this National Monument is an amazing place full of cliff dwellings set in a spectacular canyon. From Mid May to October you will access the canyon by frequent and convenient shuttle bus (other times you’re with your car). Be sure and take […]
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Palace of the Governors
Originally constructed in the early 17th century as Spain’s seat of government for what is today the American Southwest, the Palace of the Governors chronicles the history of Santa Fe as well as New Mexico and the region. This adobe structure, now the state’s history museum, was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1960 and an American Treasure in 1999. It is part of the New Mexico History Museum.
Millicent Rogers Museum
Millicent was a wealthy heiress and socialite who moved to Taos in 1947 and started collecting southwestern art. Her home has been converted to a museum which now houses a large collection of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo-American art, with a specific emphasis on northern New Mexico and Taos, New Mexico pieces.
Canyon Road
In a town famed for its art, this is the place with all of the galleries. Even if art galleries are not your thing, you really need to wander along and check out the scene. There’s lots of cafes in this area as well, which is perfect for a meandering break. You can walk, drive, […]
Kit Carson House
The story of Kit Carson is the story of the American Frontier. Carson lived much of his life in Taos when he was not out trapping and guiding and this Spanish colonial house-turned museum was where he lived and has a collection of many of his belongings.
Ten Thousand Waves
Inspired by Japanese Onsen (hot springs) this spa/hotel is set in 20 wooded acres near Santa Fe. You need not stay at the resort to visit the hot tubs. Book a hot tub ahead via the website. They also offer up a full list of spa services.
Do
Meow Wolf
This place is awfully hard to describe. In gist, it’s an immersive and interactive museum based in fantasy. You’ll be immersed in art installations, videos, music, and “extended reality” (yup, that’s from off their website). Part museum, part semi-escape room (think secret passages and portals to magical worlds) it’s an extremely unique not-to-miss experience.
Sandia Peak Tramway
Just about a twenty minute drive from downtown Albuquerque, the Sandia Peak Tramway will take you to the top of Sandia Peak, which towers over the city at an elevation of about 10,300 feet. The views are incredible, and there are hiking trails up top as well.
Margarita Trail
We’re going to call this an activity – this tour takes you through Santa Fe’s best specialty-crafted margaritas while you restaurant/bar hop through the city. It actually explores 45 of Santa Fe’s best margaritas (good luck with that). You can actually get a paper Passport or download the app (see link below) to learn about […]
Stay
Casa Cuma
This is a great B&B very close walking distance to the main square in Santa Fe with extremely nice hosts.