Best Things To Do In Santa Fe
Santa Fe offers so much—a diversity of outdoor activities, culture, museums, fine dining, and shopping. You can spend a lifetime exploring new adventures. Here a few of my favorites. Santafe.com is also a great source of information about all things Santa Fe.
Outdoors
Hiking and Biking
www.alltrails.com/us/new-mexico/santa-fe
Santa Fe is surrounded by majestic open space and miles of trails. Hiking soothes my soul. My favorites are Dale Ball Trails, Atalya Mountain Trail, Sun Mountain Trail, Piccacho Peak, and the Rail Trail for biking.
Santa Fe Botanical Garden
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santafebotanicalgarden.org
Wander through the gardens celebrating our rich biodiversity, with changing exhibits of sculpture from artists across the nation. They host classes so you can learn to create your own Southwestern garden.
Ski Santa Fe
facebook.com/SkiSantaFe
skisantafe.com
Skiing is one of my passions. Located just 16 miles from downtown, Ski Santa Fe offers 83 trails with 1,725 vertical feet of skiing, a base elevation of 10,350 feet and an annual average of 225 inches of snowfall. I’d love to show you this great, friendly mountain
Bandelier National Monument
facebook.com/BandelierNPS
nps.gov/band/index.htm
Explore a 1.4 mile loop trail through excavated Ancestral Pueblo dwellings among sheer-walled canyons. Kids love scrambling up ladders into the caves, searching for petroglyphs. The Tsankawi section, a smaller but no less fascinating site, is 12 miles from the main section of the park. with a 1.5 mile mesa trail. The monument also includes 23,000 acres of designated Wilderness.
Culture
Canyon Road
santafe.com/galleries/
In just a half-mile walk along Canyon Road, the heart of the city’s famed art scene, you’ll find more than a hundred galleries, artist studios, shops and restaurants. Lively art openings are a Friday night tradition. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon.
Loretto Chapel
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www.lorettochapel.com
This spiritual, architectural, and historical wonder is steps away from the Santa Fe Plaza. Learn about the mysterious legend of the Miraculous Spiral Staircase while you marvel at this charming chapel.
Meow Wolf
facebook.com/MeowWolfSantaFe
meowwolf.com/visit/santa-fe
The permanent exhibit created by a collaborative group of young artists is a treat for all ages! The mysterious multiverse of Meow Wolf blends interactive art installations with a fantastical fun house in “House of Eternal Return.”
Santa Fe Farmers Market
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santafefarmersmarket.com
At this year-round market, you’ll find produce at the peak of freshness, meet local growers, discover local crafts, and enjoy live music and kid’s events. It’s truly a gathering place for the community. Tuesday and Saturday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Santuario de Chimayo
www.holychimayo.us
www.chimayoarts.com
www.ranchodechimayo.com
It’s my tradition to walk to The Santuario de Chimayo on Good Friday. The National Historic Landmark and shrine is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage centers in the country. Also visit the Chimayo Trading and Mercantile for traditional arts and crafts, and Rancho de Chimayo, an old-world restaurant serving traditional New Mexican cuisine. It’s a wonderful day trip any time of year.
History
https://historyinsantafe.com/
The rich history of Santa Fe is presented on this website, written by Ana Pacheco, the former Santa Fe City Historian and the author of eight books on New Mexico history. You’ll find over 40 videos and dozens of articles on our history and culture. You can also book a 2.5 hour walking tour that recaps 400 years of history, narrated by Pacheco, whose family settled in Santa Fe in 1692.
Museums
Museum Hill
This group of four museums celebrate art from our region and from around the world, including the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian and (my favorite) the Museum of International Folk Art. There is a wonderful café on premise for an easy lunch and each museum houses its own gift shop.
New Mexico History Museum
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www.nmhistorymuseum.org/
The New Mexico History Museum, opened in May 2009, shows the history of Santa Fe and New Mexico for the last 400 years, with permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum complex includes Palace of the Governors. Dating back to 1610, it’s the oldest public building in continuous use constructed by European settlers. Under its portal on the Plaza, Native American artisans sell handmade jewelry and other crafts. Behind the adobe walls, visitors can find interpretive galleries and the Palace Press.
SITE Santa Fe
facebook.com/sitesantafe
sitesantafe.org
SITE Santa Fe brings a modern, innovative experience to the art scene. Since 1995, SITE Santa Fe has presented more than 90 contemporary art exhibitions, and works by hundreds of emerging and established artists from around the world. It’s located in the Railyard, walking distance to shops and restaurants.
Georgia O’Keeffe
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www.okeeffemuseum.org
Georgia O’Keeffe iconic images of the New Mexico landscape have inextricably linked her to the state. The small museum holds the world's largest collection of O'Keeffe's work with more than 3,000 of her paintings, drawings, and assorted works. Continually changing parts of the collection are on view throughout the year. This beautiful site is located right downtown.
Bradbury Science Museum
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www.lanl.gov/museum
The Bradbury Science Museum in downtown Los Alamos focuses on the history of the Los Alamos Laboratory, and exciting science and technology. More than 40 interactive exhibits include information on the Laboratory’s national security mission and research on life sciences, achievements in space, supercomputing, energy and the environment.