Located in the high desert, 7000 feet above sea level, Santa Fe and Taos are surrounded by red cliffs and dessert landscape. Known for its arts, adobe architecture, and heritage of Spanish, Mexican, and Native American influence, the southwest makes a fantastic destination – there’s amazing history, food, and scenery. It’s a great place for a long weekend but we suggest spending more time as there’s so much to see.
Length: 6 days
Transportation: Rental car
Best Guide Book: Moon: Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque
Day 1
- Fly into Albuquerque
- Pick up rental car and drive to Santa Fe (1h drive)
- Wander Canyon Road
- Museum of International Folk Art
- Dinner – La Boca
- Lodging – Casa Cuma B&B, Hotel Santa Fe, or The Inn of the Anasazi (splurge) (night 1/5)
Day 2
- Explore the Old Plaza
- Georgia O’Keefe Museum
- Margarita trail and eat along the way
- Lodging – same place (night 2/5)
Day 3
- Drive to Taos (1h30 drive)
- Taos Pueblo
- Old Plaza
- Kit Carson House
- Millicent Rogers Museum
- Rio Grande River Gorge bridge
- Drinks – Santa Fe Brewing Company
- Dinner – Sazon or Dr. Field Goods
- Lodging – same place ( night 3/5)
Day 4
- Bandolier National Monument (47m drive each way)
- Spa at Ten Thousand Waves
- Kakawa Chocolate House
- Dinner – Geronimo or Radish and Rye
- Lodging – same place (night 4/5)
Day 5
- Choose between:
- Meow Wolf
- Hiking – Aspen Vista Trail (need not go all the way to the end/top) or Canyon Trail at Tent Rocks
- Georgia O’Keefe Museum and Georgia O’Keefe Ghost Ranch
- Drinks: rooftop of Coyote Cafe
- Dinner: El Farol
- Lodging – same place (night 5/5)
Day 6
- Drive to Albuquerque (1h drive)
- Fly home
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to the southwest! Arrive at Albuquerque airport, pick up your rental car, and make the short easy drive (1 hour) to Santa Fe, one of the oldest towns in the United States. It was founded 10 years before the pilgrims landed in Plymouth, and was the capital of the Spanish “Kingdom of New Mexico,” the Mexican province of Nuevo Mejico, the U.S. Territory of New Mexico, and currently (since 1912) the State of New Mexico. To the north the Taos Pueblo has been continuously occupied for over 1000 years. All in all there is a lot of history to explore along with beautiful scenery – this is a gorgeous part of the country and considered part of red rock country.
Art has been a big part of Santa Fe for years. Georgia O’Keefe (among other painters) moved here; she did most of her art while in residence (you’ll visit her museum tomorrow). Today get a taste of the local art scene with a wander down the mile long Canyon Road gallery district and get lunch on your way at one of the local cafes. If you still have time and energy after that, hop in your car and drive out to “museum hill” where there are several art museums. We think the best is the Museum of International Folk Art, the largest folk art museum in the world and well worth a visit.
For dinner, head to La Boca for great tapas for dinner (be sure and check out the sherries).
Check into your lodging. We liked Casa Cuma B&B which is well-situated just a few blocks from the central plaza. Other options include Hotel Santa Fe or The Inn of the Anasazi which is more of a splurge.
Day 2
Today is a day to explore old Santa Fe. Start by wandering down to the Old Plaza, the center of town for over 400 years. Fronting the plaza on the north side is the Palace of Governors, currently closed for renovations, and part of the very good New Mexico History Museum which gives you a great overview of all that history. From here it is not far to the miraculous staircase of the Loretto chapel. Afterwards head to the nearby excellent Georgia O’Keefe Museum – the best museum of her work anywhere in the world and worth at least an hour if not two.
In the late afternoon/early evening enjoy Santa Fe’s Margarita trail, eating along the way. This app/paper passport covers 45 bars/restaurants that offer up Santa Fe’s best margaritas. Let us know which is your favorite! Some of the best include The Dragon Room, Bar Alto, and The Staab House Bar.
Day 3
Today we recommend a drive to the (relatively) nearby town of Taos (1h30 drive). Taos is a town at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and is home to a nearby famous ski resort. It has also been an artist colony for 100 years and is home to one of the longest continuously inhabited communities in the United States (the Taos Pueblo).
Start you day with a visit to the Taos Pueblo, built more than 1000 years ago and still an active community today. You can visit, but remember it is a real home to many people – respect their homes and your time there. Poke around – when you see open doors, they’re typically small shops or places to eat. Do not climb on roofs or enter closed areas. There are tours every 20 minutes – be sure to take one to get a better understanding of this unique UNESCO world heritage site and its occupants.
From the Pueblo head back to town and tour the Old Plaza – with basically the same layout as it had in the old frontier days (though the shops and restaurants have changed a bit). We suggest that you take the short stroll to the Kit Carson House. Carson was a famous frontiersman and scout and when not out camping in the wilderness spent much of his adult life in Taos. You can get a good idea of what life was like here during the frontier days as well as more information about his interesting history.
There are several art museums in town including the Harwood Museum, Taos art museum, and Millicent Rogers Museum – many of them in prior artists homes. We liked the Millicent Rogers Museum, but pick one to enjoy.
From here it is a short drive the the Rio Grande River Gorge bridge which spans a 600 foot gorge with the Rio Grande river far below.
From here head back to Santa Fe. For pre-dinner drinks stop by the Santa Fe Brewing Company. After drinks head to Sazon or Dr. Field Goods for dinner.
Day 4
Today grab you car and head northwest to Bandolier National Monument (47m drive each way). This is a beautiful canyon with an easy walk past quite a few ruins of prior cliff dwellings. In the summer months there is a good bus system that takes you from a parking area into the canyon (in the winter/spring you drive yourself). With driving and walking allow at least a half day.
On your return check out the Japanese style onsen (hot springs complex) in the hills outside of town at Ten Thousand Waves. You can stay here but the spa/pools are open for visits as well – consider advance reservations though they may not be necessary.
If you like chocolate, before dinner visit Kakawa Chocolate House. A specialty chocolate company in Santa Fe, you can sip on a chocolate elixir made of the very best organic cocoa, enjoy a history of drinking chocolate that spans Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican, Mayan, and Aztec eras.
If you want to buy some authentic southwestern jewelry you can peruse shops this afternoon. The Rainbow Man, which opened in 1945 and is lodged in a house from the 1600s, has jewelry from the 1800s and collection of folk-art. La Bodega’s owner, Teal McKibben, is an expert on tribal art and has a store filled with silver and turquoise bracelets. Or if you’re looking for leatherwork, head to Desert Son or Nathalie.
For dinner enjoy Santa Fe’s premier dining restaurant – and arguably the prettiest restaurant in town – Geronimo (you’re on vacation so enjoy the splurge). If you want a slightly less fancy option, head to Radish and Rye.
Day 5
Today you get to decide which option sounds the best to you.
The first option is a visit to Meow Wolf. Read the link for a description and then dive into the experience.
The second option is a choice of hikes that we recommend. If you’re visiting in the fall, take the Aspen Vista Trail for some gorgeous fall aspen views (if you don’t want, you don’t need to go all the way to the end/top). This hike works any time of the year, however. Another great hike any time of the year is the Canyon Trail at Tent Rocks
A final option is to delve more into Georgia O’Keeffe’s works both at her home and studio as well as at her Ghost Ranch. You can tour both, see more of her art, and at the ranch do some hiking or even a trail ride.
Head to the rooftop at Coyote Cafe for pre-dinner cocktails. For dinner, enjoy tapas at El Farol.
Day 6
Drive to Albuquerque in time for your flight, bid farewell to the southwest and fly home.
