Santa Fe: The Perfect Weekend Getaway
Santa Fe New Mexico is the perfect location for a mini vacation or weekend getaway. Founded in 1610 and sitting at 7199 ft this high desert state capital is unlike any town in the US. Its downtown core is Adobe clad and reminiscent of its early days. With a population of 87,505, it’s small enough to explore in just a few days but big enough to have a wide variety of sites and activities. From skiing and hiking to art studios and centuries-old buildings Santa Fe has a little something for everyone.
Where We Stayed
As decades-long Marriot Bonvoy members, we always check Marriott properties first whenever we are looking for hotels. La Posada de Santa Fe, A Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa is a historical property that began as an 1880s mansion. The restaurant, bar, and a few guest rooms are housed in the original historic building. The remainder of the resort is spread over the six-acre property.
Set just off the plaza, La Posada de Santa Fe is an easy walk to the plaza, art galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and museums.
Where We Ate
We split our time between visiting family and sightseeing so we didn’t get to try as many restaurants as we typically would while on a weekend getaway. We did get to sample a few spots for lunch and a pretty spot on the plaza for drinks. Not surprisingly restaurants near The Plaza are BUSY on weekends. It’s a good idea to plan ahead and make a reservation if possible.
The Burrito Company– A counter service restaurant on The Plaza the Burrito Company features enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, and sopapillas highlighting authentic New Mexican flavors The restaurant offers plenty of indoor seating and a patio for sunny days.
La Fonda Del Sol – This restaurant isn’t officially in Santa Fe (located approximately 25 miles north in Espanola)m but if you are on one of the many scenic drives in the area this restaurant is worth a stop. The staff is super friendly and recommended Gorditas, the house specialty, so we had to try those of course! Order a sampler platter to try as many flavors as possible!
Rooftop Pizzeria and Draft Station – Located in The Santa Fe Arcade the Rooftop Pizzeria offers a pretty view of the Plaza from its outdoor balcony. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try the pizza (maybe next time), but we did get to try a few local beers and admire the nighttime view from the balcony
Where We Explored
Santa Fe Plaza – The Plaza is the historic downtown center of Santa Fe and the perfect place to start a visit to the historic city. The plaza area is teeming with boutiques, shops, restaurants, and galleries and is just steps away from most museums and historical buildings.
New Mexico History Museum – This museum is conveniently located near the Plaza and is a must-stop for anyone interested in learning more about New Mexico History. Having a background in local history provides context and is a great foundation for learning more about Santa Fe and New Mexico. The exhibits are chronologically organized (my favorite!) and give visitors an easy-to-navigate history of the state and its inhabitants through the years.
Palace of the Govenors – The interior of the Palace of the Govenors is accessed via the New Mexico History Museum. The building has been in use since 1610 (the longest in US History) and was the original capital of New Mexico. As of January 2022, parts of the interior were under renovation so there wasn’t a lot to see, but it was interesting to learn about the building’s history and to walk through a seventeenth-century building (which are scarce in the US and pretty much nonexistent west of the Mississippi). Outside of the building, Native American craftspeople sell a wide variety of handmade items.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi – The Cathedral was built between 1869-1887 in the Romanesque Revival style. The current cathedral sits on the same site as churches dating from Santa Fe’s founding in the early 1600s (destroyed in the Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680) and rebuilt following in 1714-1715. A small adobe chapel from the 18th-century church remains and houses Our Lady La Conquistadora. Brought from Spain in 1625, she is the oldest representation of the Virgin Mary in the United States.
San Miguel Chapel – The San Miguel Chapel is the oldest church in the United States, built around 1610. Hours are limited, so it may be necessary to plan your day around visiting the church’s interior. If you miss the opportunity to look inside the exterior of the church is quite interesting and a pretty photo op. The website has extensive information about the history of the church, interior photos, and details about the artwork found inside.
The Loretto Chapel – The Loretto Chapel is home to the famous “miraculous stair”. Considered miraculous because it has two 360-degree turns with no visible support. The chapel was built in the Gothic Revival style and was modeled after Saint Chappelle in Paris. At $5 per adult, the price is a little steep for a peek at the staircase, but if you like architectural “miracles” or are interested in woodworking, it might be worth $5.
Bandelier National Monument – Bandelier National Monument is a pretty, hour-long drive from Santa Fe’s Plaza and features ancient Pueblo structures dating from 1150. The Pueblo loop trail, a short 1.4-mile easy trail, allows visitors to view highlights such as Big Kiva, petroglyphs, and cliff dwellings. Visitors also have the opportunity to climb wooden ladders into some of the dwellings and get a glimpse of ancient Pueblo life. A guidebook is available for a small fee at the park store and provides detailed information about the trail’s 21 numbered sites.
Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway – An easy 30-minute drive starting at The Palace of the Governors and ending in the parking lot of Ski Santa Fe, provides visitors with beautiful views of snow-covered mountains in the winter and fiery aspen trees in the fall. There are several overlooks where drivers can stop, take in the scenery, and snap pictures of the stunning vistas.
On My List for Future Visits
There is so much to see and do in Santa Fe that you might feel like you need to return for a second visit. We did our best to hit the highlights but still felt like we missed a few things.
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum – We actually tried to visit the museum but didn’t realize that timed-entry reservations were required. I feel like more and more museums are moving in this direction so always check several days (even weeks) in advance to secure a reservation.
Canyon Road – This half-mile, strollable road in Santa Fe features more than 100 art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture – Features Native American art and cultural exhibitions
Museum of International Folk Art – Houses the largest collection of International Folk Art in the world
New Mexico Museum of Art – Home to more than 20,000 works of art emphasizing artists working in the American Southwest
Ski Santa Fe – My first ski experience ever was 14 years ago in Santa Fe. I’m not sure my knees can handle skiing, but the views from the top are spectacular and I would love to get up there and ski down at least once more in my life.
