Like many who acquired married throughout the first 12 months of the pandemic, our plans shifted half a dozen instances. The journey addict that I’m, nevertheless, it was suspending my Santa Fe bachelorette that made me the saddest. So when it was lastly time to make up that journey, I researched all of the issues to do in Santa Fe and added just a few additional days so I had each solo tripping time in addition to enjoyable with a few of my closest pals.
I’d chosen Santa Fe for my bachelorette as a result of I needed a spot that was new to me, considerably centrally situated given the place everybody was coming from, had a great combine of outside actions and tradition and scrumptious meals, and wasn’t a solely ingesting and partying vacation spot. And it didn’t disappoint.
I spent a bit of over 5 days in The Metropolis Totally different, and there are such a lot of issues to do in Santa Fe that I’d’ve fortunately stayed for one more week. Bucketed by class, listed here are my favourite experiences so you possibly can choose and select to create your good Santa Fe bachelorette social gathering — or simply any lengthy weekend in Santa Fe!
The place to remain in Santa Fe
Santa Fe isn’t a very huge metropolis, with its sq. mileage solely barely greater than that of San Francisco. The place to remain in Santa Fe relies upon closely on whether or not you might have a automobile.
After I acquired to Santa Fe for the solo portion of my journey, I needed to ensure I used to be someplace inside strolling distance to a lot of the essential spots on the town.
So I picked this darling spot downtown known as The Parador. Set in a 200-year-old farmhouse and doubling as a non-profit artist house, the resort was cozy and vibrant, lively and spirit. (True to its inventive nature, the visitor room additionally got here with two artwork postcards that now adorn my fridge!)
When my pals got here, we acquired a automobile so we may get outdoor and discover.
We initially booked a spot downtown however needed to transfer to a smaller place simply exterior of downtown when COVID modifications made the group smaller than anticipated. We had a built-in DD although, so having to drive all over the place didn’t find yourself mattering.
If you would like a variety of nightlife although or simply don’t need to need to drive to get to all the nice issues to do in Santa Fe, I’d counsel staying downtown.
When to go to Santa Fe
Regardless of standard perception, Santa Fe just isn’t a desert. It’s truly a semi-arid steppe.
Meaning its acquired chilly winters (snow included!) and heat although not blazing summers. Low winter temps usually stick with the excessive teenagers, whereas summer time common highs are within the mid-80s.
In different phrases, you possibly can go to Santa Fe mainly any time of the 12 months. If you select to go to principally depends upon your preferences and what you’re in search of.
We went within the autumn, which is named maybe one of the best time to go to Santa Fe due to its nice climate, decrease than summer time resort charges, and a calendar stuffed with festivals.
We ended up lacking Santa Fe competition season as a result of there was just one weekend that labored for everybody after planning towards a complete lot of postponed bachelorettes and weddings. I’d like to return someday although throughout one in all its festivals.
Spring is much like fall by way of resort charges and climate, whereas summer time is costlier and warmer (although it has a few of the festivals, too!)
Winter presents a light escape for these from the blustery Midwest and New England states and offers nice snow sports activities alternatives within the close by Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Discover Santa Fe on foot
Okay, onwards to sharing my favorites among the many many issues to do in Santa Fe.
I’ve all the time been a fan of exploring new cities on foot, and it was no totally different with Santa Fe.
Strolling round city is a good way to see the panorama, structure, and flora that makes Santa Fe so distinctive. It’s nicknamed The Metropolis Totally different largely because of its melange of cultures, starting from its native roots to its Spanish and Anglo influences.
Take within the adobe-style properties which can be synonymous with southwestern structure, search for the intense pink strings of hanging chile peppers — often known as chile ristras — and take a look at the colourful native crops of the New Mexican steppe.
These are greatest explored should you wander a bit of exterior of the principle vacationer areas. Strolling by way of the streets of Santa Fe, with solely a common course and no actual plans, I used to be reminded of a mixture of locations, together with the colourful streets of Mexico Metropolis‘s Coyoacan and the leisurely tempo of life in Seville.
In fact, should you choose much less roaming, there are many locations to discover on foot in downtown as effectively.
Like many cities with Spanish affect, Santa Fe is residence to a number of spectacular church buildings. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is the principle one, a towering church you can’t actually miss should you spend any period of time in downtown Santa Fe.
Maybe I’ve seen too many church buildings through the years, however this cathedral was not notably spectacular. It was, as an alternative, Cathedral Park subsequent door that I discovered extra attractive.
Residence to a sanatorium within the Eighteen Eighties, the park is now a quiet refuge within the bustling downtown, with towering timber providing shade to these stress-free on the greens or on the benches that line the park. I discovered it a pleasant place to relaxation toes that had walked too many miles and to get pleasure from a snack whereas folks watching.
If you’re inquisitive about church buildings, Loretta Chapel is understood to be a greater go to than the cathedral because of its helix-shaped spiral staircase. I skipped it although, once more, having seen many a spiral staircases in church buildings elsewhere, helix-shaped or not. (There may be additionally a price to enter Loretta Chapel.)
Final and never least, be sure that to search out your self the lovable burros (donkeys) of Burro Alley, a homage to an animal lengthy vital within the area.
Immerse your self in Santa Fe’s museums
I’m an enormous fan of balmy, sunny days, but when it will get too scorching (or too chilly!), then it’s the proper time to go to one in all Santa Fe’s many museums. The artwork museums, specifically, are part of Santa Fe’s id.
I began my journey by visiting Santa Fe’s Museum Hill, making my means up there on foot by way of Previous Santa Fe Path. (Throughout non-COVID instances, there’s a Santa Fe Pickup Shuttle that goes up there. I discovered the two-mile stroll, with a slight incline, to be actually nice after breakfast.)
On the high of the hill sits the 4 museums that give it its identify: the Museum of Spanish Colonial Artwork, the Museum of Worldwide People Artwork, the Museum of Indian Arts & Tradition, and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian. The Santa Fe Botanical Backyard can be situated there.
You might really spend two full days up on Museum Hill should you needed. As a lot as I really like museums, I choose to combine it up a bit as an alternative of spending complete days at museums. So I picked two to go to, beginning with the Museum of Indian Arts & Tradition.
Sadly, one of many essential reveals was underneath renovation once I visited, nevertheless it was nonetheless actually fascinating to see the reveals on new artwork from indigenous artists in addition to historic silver jewellery from native nations.
The spotlight of my go to was a particular exhibit known as Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass. No images are allowed, so I’d encourage you to go to and see it in particular person.
There are dozens of gorgeous glass artworks representing all the things from animals vital in native cultures to “woven baskets” — stuff you’d by no means anticipate to see in glass! All artworks are by indigenous artists, save for just a few by the well-known Dale Chihuly, who was key to introducing glass artwork to native communities.
Subsequent up on my checklist was the Museum of Worldwide People Artwork.
I received’t lie, it was very totally different than what I anticipated. However it was so cool to see how totally different cultures around the globe categorical themselves artistically in non “classically-trained” methods. It jogged my memory that artwork is for all folks, not simply these skilled or acknowledged as artists.
There was even a really time-appropriate artwork exhibit that includes COVID-related artwork!
I didn’t really have curiosity within the Museum of Spanish Colonial Artwork (as a result of, colonizers), and easily ran out of steam to go to the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian and the Santa Fe Botanical Backyard.
Should you’re extra gong-ho on visiting all of them although, Museum Hill presents loads of alternatives to take a break in between museums. Take a aware breather strolling the labyrinth or seize a chunk or beverage on the Museum Hill Cafe. Or simply sit on one of many benches dotting the Museum Hill plaza.
In fact, you possibly can’t point out Santa Fe and museums with out speaking concerning the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, which we visited on the final day of our journey.
Like many, I’d discovered about Georgia O’Keeffe’s well-known flower work, however her inventive spectrum was a lot broader than that. I actually loved the format of the museum — self-guided audio excursions by way of your cellphone — in addition to the format that confirmed you her phases of inventive exploration as she went by way of numerous phases of her life. My favorites had been most likely her southwest-inspired items!
Maybe much less well-known, although actually probably the greatest issues to do in Santa Fe, is a “museum” of a unique sort: Meow Wolf.
This immersive artwork expertise means that you can turn out to be a part of the artwork, feeling like a hands-on museum for adults (although youngsters are permitted apart from particular 21+ occasions). The psychedelic neon colours and various artwork varieties add to the expertise, as does the storyline of the complete museum, which I admittedly didn’t fully observe or care to observe.
I selected this picture to offer you a way with out making a gift of the highlights. Meow Wolf is really an expertise that’s pleasant in each means!
Meow Wolf has totally different installations in different cities as effectively, however the Home of Everlasting Return in Santa Fe is the unique. Extremely suggest reserving tickets forward of time, particularly on the weekends!
Hike the New Mexican panorama
One of many causes I selected The Metropolis Totally different for my bachelorette was as a result of there’s good mountaineering in and close to Santa Fe.
Two of the highest choices for mountaineering in Santa Fe are literally nationwide monuments: Bandelier Nationwide Monument and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks Nationwide Monument.
Tent Rocks has truly been closed throughout most of COVID, so we didn’t get to go to there. However Bandelier Nationwide Monument was my first alternative anyhow, and it was a implausible place to go to.
Positioned ~50 minutes west of Santa Fe, Bandelier Nationwide Monument combines mountaineering with tradition. There are greater than 70 miles of trails throughout 33,000 acres of canyonland and mesa nation so that you can discover.
What drew me to it although is that it’s also the location of ancestral Pueblo settlements. You possibly can see and discover dwellings carved into the cliffs and think about petroglyphs on the rock face.
On one other day, we took our mountaineering out to the Rio Grande. We explored Rio Grande del Norte Nationwide Monument, trying out totally different trails and ultimately discovering our means right down to the Rio Grande itself.
After, we went to search for one of many many pure scorching springs within the broader Santa Fe area. Black Rock Sizzling Springs is close to the John Dunn Bridge and homes three thermal swimming pools on the fringe of a crisp and chill Rio Grande. Stress-free in these scorching springs made for an ideal finish to our day earlier than we drove again to Santa Fe.
Loosen up at a spa
If pure scorching springs within the wild are much less of your factor otherwise you merely don’t have the time or a automobile to get outdoor, there are many spa experiences in Santa Fe as effectively.
Due to COVID, I hadn’t had a therapeutic massage for years by the point I acquired to Santa Fe. I had just a few additional hours earlier than my pals arrived, so I booked a therapeutic massage and a physique scrub at Absolute Nirvana Spa. Tucked away on the finish of a residential avenue, the spa has a small backyard space and therapy rooms dotting the property. It was heavenly and simply what I wanted.
I didn’t have a automobile that day and didn’t need to take two $60 Ubers, however should you needed extra expansive spas, there are two famend choices: Ten Thousand Waves and Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort. Each are a bit of exterior of city correct.
Ten Thousand Waves is a couple of 15-minute drive northeast of city, impressed by Japanese mountain scorching spring resorts, whereas Ojo is about 25 minutes driving distance southwest of city, pulling spring water into their thermal swimming pools and providing extra of a New Mexican excessive desert vibe. Each provide day therapies and passes and are full-scale inns which can be good for a staycation.
Buy groceries
Buying just isn’t one thing I like basically, however I do just like the act of it once I’m in new locations, even when I purchase completely nothing. That is very true in locations stuffed with taste and tradition, like Santa Fe!
Santa Fe has loads of buying choices, from extra mainstream shops across the Santa Fe Railyard to boutiques off of the historic plaza downtown. It additionally has two very particular buying experiences.
The primary is Santa Fe’s Native American Artisans Portal Program. Every day, underneath the portal of the Palaces of the Governors, native artisans promote their handcrafted objects. Jewellery is the most typical, with pottery and textiles coming intently behind.
All the pieces is handmade by the distributors or their relations, and whereas a bit of haggling is OK, don’t anticipate to get jewellery items with treasured gems for a fiver. These are genuine items, in spite of everything — they usually’re undoubtedly higher priced than comparable items in shops close by.
The opposite Santa Fe buying expertise to notice is Canyon Street.
Canyon Street is probably residence to as many artwork galleries as non-art shops, although I suppose artwork buying remains to be buying. In a means, a stroll down Canyon Street is as a lot an artwork stroll as it’s buying. One among my favourite spots was Kay Modern Artwork, the place the origami sculptures of Kevin Field completely delighted me.
There are additionally loads of meals choices on Canyon Street, plus a really peaceable wine tasting room.
I spent a lazy two-hour stretch on the Ahmyo Wine Backyard, ingesting New Mexican wine and studying my e book. Tucked away from the principle stretch of Canyon Street behind an artwork gallery, the spot provided me an opportunity to expertise New Mexico wines with out driving out to the wineries themselves, and it had a desert oasis backyard with sculptures as well.
Take a day journey from Santa Fe
Since we had a automobile as soon as my pals arrived, we determined to take advantage of it by taking a day journey from Santa Fe to Taos.
There are two methods from Santa Fe to Taos: on the scenic Excessive Street to Taos and by way of the much less scenic however quicker Low Street. As you possibly can think about, we selected to take the scenic route on the best way there and the quicker route on the best way residence.
The Excessive Street to Taos is attractive, a scenic drive by way of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The panorama modifications from excessive desert to forests, with small villages dotting the trail.
One city that we stopped at was Chimayo, roughly 40 minutes from Santa Fe. It’s residence to El Santuario de Chimayo, a pilgrimage vacation spot that’s stated to have therapeutic powers very like Lourdes in France. (In reality, it’s typically known as the Lourdes of the Southwest.)
The village can be identified for its weaving households, the Ortegas and the Trujillos, although their workshops weren’t open after we visited.
Like I stated earlier, I’ve visited extra church buildings and cathedrals than I can rely. Along with the sanctuary, Chimayo can be residence to the Santo Nino Chapel. Had been they particularly particular to me? No. However I can nonetheless admire that this sleepy little city is particular to so many and that its supposed therapeutic powers have been held sacred by the Tewa Indians lengthy earlier than the church buildings had been constructed.
If I’m fully sincere, the precise city of Taos was a bit of little bit of a letdown to me. It felt extraordinarily touristy, and we determined to go away after a perfunctory stroll round downtown. I want to return to Taos someday to ski although!
Whereas city itself was a little bit of a bummer, there are attractive outdoor spots and actions even when it’s not ski season. Go to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge or hike the Rio Grande del Norte lands and hit up a scorching springs like we did.
Want different choices for day journeys from Santa Fe?
For energetic choices, go to Bandelier Nationwide Monument or Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks Nationwide Monument like I shared earlier.
Massive Georgia O’Keeffe fan and couldn’t get sufficient simply on the museum in Santa Fe? Make a journey to Ghost Ranch, her residence in Abiquiu. It’s about an hour and quarter-hour northwest of Santa Fe.
For these in search of extra scorching springs, maybe essentially the most well-known is Jemez Springs. There, you possibly can soak within the pure swimming pools and expertise native life and tradition on the close by Jemez Pueblo.
And naturally, you possibly can all the time try Albuquerque. Whereas New Mexico’s largest metropolis isn’t as liked because the inventive darling that’s Santa Fe, Previous City Albuquerque nonetheless deserves a go to, as does its museums and church buildings. We solely had about an hour there earlier than we needed to head to the airport, however I’d like to return someday for its scorching air balloon competition, which is held every October.
Feast at one of the best eating places and bars in Santa Fe
It shouldn’t be a shock that this final part among the many greatest issues to do in Santa Fe can be essentially the most intensive. There’s nothing I really like greater than consuming and ingesting my means by way of a brand new place.
It was no totally different on this journey.
To maintain prices manageable on this bachelorette, particularly since our wedding ceremony was additionally a vacation spot wedding ceremony, we made some meals at our rental. However once I was by myself and after we had been on the town, we made positive to take a look at a few of Santa Fe’s greatest bars and eating places.
Earlier than I get to my suggestions, it is best to know earlier than going to Santa Fe that chile is a staple in New Mexican meals, and also you’ll usually be requested “pink or inexperienced” when ordering an area dish. That’s pink chile or inexperienced chile.
Neither is especially spicy in my view, however somewhat smoky for pink chile and herby for inexperienced chile. Should you’re unsure which to decide on, you possibly can all the time order each by asking for “Christmas fashion”. I did that each single time — each is best than one, proper?
Okay, listed here are the Santa Fe eating places and bars that I’d suggest:
Greatest breakfast and low outlets in Santa Fe
On the lookout for a light-weight breakfast? Head to Sage Bakehouse. This tiny little bakery serves up fresh-out-of-the-oven candy and savory items. And once I say “mild” breakfast, that’s should you can maintain your self to solely consuming one factor on the menu.
Whereas Sage Bakehouse actually has espresso, head to Iconik Espresso Roasters in order for you espresso to be the star of your breakfast. Iconik has loads of wholesome eats along with its drinks, and it doubles as a well-liked working spot.
If you would like one thing a bit of heftier within the morning, I completely adored Cafe Pasqual’s. This little nook spot serves up hearty New Mexican and Mexican meals all day lengthy however is very beloved for its breakfast.
the huevos motuleños
As soon as I tasted the huevos motuleños, which incorporates sautéed bananas along with the anticipated eggs, tortillas, beans, and chile, I understood why. It was completely delicious. (I do know the bananas sound a bit of bizarre, however belief me, it really works. It truly jogged my memory a variety of the meals in Colombia and Cuba.)
The colourful decor inside and the communal tables additionally add to the vibe.
Greatest lunch and dinner eating places in Santa Fe
For lunch and dinner, there are so so many choices round Santa Fe. These are those that I ate at and would suggest, and there have been so many who I merely didn’t have the time to strive.
I are likely to go for native flavors when I’m touring, therefore the similarities beneath. However I’ll name out why every was particular to me.
And earlier than I neglect, each single one in all these locations has each indoor and out of doors seating, so that you all the time have a alternative between air conditioned rooms or having fun with your meal underneath the New Mexican solar (I’m undoubtedly a fan of the latter!)
First up: Paloma.
Paloma calls itself Mexican-inspired, and that it actually was. From the decor to the scrumptious meals, Paloma jogged my memory of Mexico Metropolis, which was the final place we visited earlier than the pandemic hit.
Seeing huitlacoche on the menu introduced me again to the streets of Mexico Metropolis, the place I ate a lot good meals, together with a variety of huitlacoche tlacoyos. The Diablo Margarita, with rayu mezcal, lime, cassis, and ginger, was additionally a standout. (P.S. Sit on the bar should you can!)
One other spot that made my coronary heart and abdomen ever so content material was Tomasita’s. It is a Santa Fe staple, serving northern New Mexican delicacies for greater than 40 years.
My entree was mouthwatering, although what made Tomasita’s stand out for me is that every one entrees are served with a scorching and recent sopaipilla.
I really don’t know the right way to clarify how a lot I really like bread of all types, and I used to be so excited to see this fried dough bread include my meals. I had a tough time ending my entree due to having too many meals in as many hours, however you greatest wager I didn’t depart a single morsel of sopaipilla behind.
Tomasita’s is in downtown Santa Fe, however not within the coronary heart of the historic plaza the place extra of the bars and nightlife are. If you would like a spot there that serves nice New Mexican meals, try La Choza.
Like Tomasita’s, La Choza has all the good New Mexican specialties. No matter you order there although, be sure that to get their queso. It’s bowl-licking good!
Undecided should you’re feeling Mexican or New Mexican? Zacatlan Restaurant serves up each. I went for a moist burrito smothered in Christmas chile simply to ensure I acquired each.
If you would like New Mexican delicacies however have choosy eaters with you, Palacio Cafe is one other great place to take a look at. This tiny little family-owned cafe is throughout from the cathedral and has a menu of New Mexican favorites proper subsequent to cold and hot sandwiches and salads for many who don’t like or don’t need extra New Mexican meals.
Greatest bars in Santa Fe
Whereas we didn’t go to Santa Fe simply to drink, we undoubtedly made positive to have our share of margaritas. And you’ll’t discuss ingesting and bars in Santa Fe with out speaking concerning the Margarita Path!
Similar to how Bend has its Ale Path, Santa Fe has its Margarita Path. Hit sufficient of the 40+ spots on the path and you’ll earn prizes along with reductions.
So the place to on the Margarita Path?
My favourite spot was Coyote Cafe & Rooftop Cantina. I truly had dinner right here someday as effectively (nice duck quesadilla), nevertheless it was the Hatch Inexperienced Chile Margarita and rooftop views and vibes that make the place.
For a extra upscale expertise, head across the nook to Secreto Lounge, the place the Smoked Sage Margarita just isn’t solely a gustatory delight but in addition comes with a elaborate bartending smoke present.
Need one place the place you possibly can strive a number of various kinds of margaritas? Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen boasts greater than 100 margaritas on their menu.
The aforementioned La Choza and Tomasita’s are additionally on the Margarita Path, and also you greatest wager I had some at each locations!
General, Santa Fe was the proper vacation spot for my bachelorette. From nice meals and drinks to superb tradition and outdoor expertise, I couldn’t have requested for a greater lengthy weekend with my favourite girls.
