Steeped in history, Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a wonder, a city that blends the old and the new.
Santa Fe’s clear blue skies, ideal natural light, expansive landscapes, and ease of living have long drawn artists and others seeking a creative community for years. Justly famous for its arts scene, the city has no fewer than 20 museums, 300 galleries, and a destination-worthy opera house.
Santa Fe is also a city rich in Native American and Hispanic culture, which influences every corner of the city. It was settled by the Spanish more than 400 years ago, and before that, indigenous people built still-existing pueblos and farmed the land.
Culture practically oozes out of Santa Fe, and while it might not be at the top of your bucket list, this city is worth your time and attention. For all the creatives and history fans, Santa Fe is a city you’ll be captivated by and is worth a trip.
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
People who are aware of the artist Georgia O’Keeffe might assume that the influential artist was from New Mexico, as she’s often associated with the state. It’s usually a big surprise for many Georgia O’Keeffe Museum visitors to learn that she was actually from Wisconsin and lived in New York City for two decades.
The small but worthwhile museum about her life and art features wonderful examples of her iconic flower and skull paintings, as well as Manhattan skyscrapers and Machu Picchu painted in her recognizable style. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you’re interested in a visit.
Meow Wolf
Santa Fe’s most popular attraction is the House of Eternal Return, a trippy, sci-fi funhouse created by a team of artists called Meow Wolf. More than a million people have explored this Victorian home, built inside a former bowling alley, with the backing of Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin.
Not an ordinary house, here you can walk into a refrigerator, dive into a clothes dryer, and duck into a fireplace to discover enormous fuzzy aliens or a tree house and play a laser harp or a free arcade game. This fun-for-everyone concept has been so successful that it’s expanded to other cities like Denver, Colorado.
Canyon Road
One of America’s most famous art destinations is Canyon Road, a picturesque, winding street lined with art galleries, artists’ studios, and jewelry and design stores. With 100 and counting, it has the highest density of art galleries in the United States.
Flowering trees, cactuses, and sculptures enhance the beauty of the century-old adobe buildings. Works for sale include not only paintings but also sculptures, photography, ceramics, jewelry, metalwork, and textiles. Art styles also vary, as do the subjects.
Native American Market
Under the portal walkway of the Palace of the Governors, groups of Native American artists sell jewelry, pottery, textiles, and crafts daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The artisans authorized to sell here must both demonstrate technical mastery of their craft and be a member of the state’s 23 federally recognized Native American tribes, pueblos, or nations. This program has operated successfully for decades, and this market is a reliable and reputable way to purchase the exquisite handiwork of local Native Americans.
New Mexico History Museum
European history began in the 16th century, but indigenous people had lived in the area for thousands of years before. Spanish explorers constructed the Plaza and Palace of the Governors in 1610. The Spanish were expelled in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, but returned and held the area until Mexico won its independence in 1821.
Santa Fe then became the capital of the province of Nuevo Mexico until the end of the Mexican-American War, when the region was turned over to the U.S. The American possession became the 47th U.S. state in 1912.
The New Mexico History Museum is the ideal place to gain an understanding of this state’s unique and complex history.
Tomasita’s
Santa Fe is known for its food, so you’ll want to put some time (and room in your belly) aside on your trip to sample local cuisine. Tomasita’s has been serving classic New Mexican dishes for 50 years. Plus, it’s locally owned and operated.
The authentic, from-scratch food is served with sopaipillas, a local take on the bread and butter put on tables in restaurants across the country. Sopaipillas are puffed bread, fried and crispy yet light, and accompanied by house-made honey butter. Tomasita’s does not take reservations, so try to go at off times during the day.
Visit Pueblos
Pueblos are culturally significant historic Native American settlements, and there are several near Santa Fe that you can actually visit!
One of the oldest pueblos in the Southwest, dating back to circa 1250, Tesuque Pueblo is located ten miles north of Santa Fe. There are approximately 800 people who live in this stone and adobe multistory village on 17,000 acres of land in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Residents are primarily farmers and artists, and they celebrate annual events such as field blessings and feast days. Before you visit, call ahead and make sure the spot is open to the public that day, as some days and times it’ll be closed to the public.
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
If you’re looking for culturally accurate and inclusive displays of Native American art, this is the place to go. This museum, one of several on Museum Hill, in its own words, “tells the stories of the people of the Southwest from pre-history through contemporary art.”
Here you’ll find art and crafts, including jewelry, baskets, pottery, and textiles. As it’s also the keeper of the state’s archaeological artifacts, there are also displays of ancient items that shed light on the ways of life of the area’s earliest people.
Museum of International Folk Art
The world’s largest collection of international folk art comprises more than 135,000 items, ranging from paintings to toys, representing over 100 countries.
Explore the four wings to discover items including African masks, Indonesian shadow puppets, flamenco dresses, and Turkish ceramics. Displays interpret the items in the context of their cultural use and shed light on traditions across the globe.
As one would imagine, Spanish Colonial Art and Contemporary Hispano and Latino Art are particularly robust areas of the collection.
The Pantry
At least one morning during your trip to Santa Fe, you should try and eat breakfast at The Pantry.
First welcoming customers in 1948, The Pantry serves breakfast all day. It’s open daily until 8:30 p.m., and in addition to its famous breakfast burrito and chilaquiles, you can also get a hearty dinner of chicken fried steak or a snack like chili cheese fries or Frito pie.
There are now three locations in the city: the original, plus The Pantry Rio downtown, and The Pantry Dos on the south side.
Santa Fe Opera
On the radar of opera buffs around the world for the quality of its productions as well as its scenic setting, the Santa Fe Opera presented its first season in 1957.
The open-air theater is situated in a natural amphitheater spanning 155 acres, offering commanding views of two mountain ranges. A diverse repertoire in a season that runs from June through August usually includes a mix of old favorites and new compositions.
The opera offers opportunities to enhance your experience, including behind-the-scenes tours and talks about performances.
Santa Fe Railyard
An urban planning triumph, the Santa Fe Railyard development features an arts district, a farmers’ market, a children’s play area, a park, a plaza, and a rail trail. It’s also still an active train station with service between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Here you can see a movie, pick up a souvenir at a shop or gallery, grab a bite, and try a locally made beer at a brewery.
Ski Santa Fe
If it’s never occurred to you that there’s skiing in Santa Fe, you’re not alone. It comes as a surprise to many that the city sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet, making it the highest capital city in the United States (Denver is 5,280 feet).
Only 16 miles from the center of the city in the Santa Fe Forest, Ski Santa Fe is open from Thanksgiving through Easter and rarely has lift lines.
Rodeo de Santa Fe
Santa Fe hosts 80 major annual festivals and events. If you’ve never seen a rodeo, try to visit in June for the Rodeo de Santa Fe.
First produced in 1949, this is one of the top 60 PRCA Rodeos in the U.S., often featuring 500 contestants, including many world champions.
Daily events include bull and bronc riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and “Mutton Bustin’, which is when children ride sheep. In addition, you can cheer on the participants in the Exceptional Rodeo that’s open to children and adults with physical and mental differences who rope hay bales and ride stick horses.
New Mexico Museum of Art
Part of the Downtown Arts District, just west of the Plaza, the New Mexico Museum of Art is another museum in Santa Fe that has an impressive collection of works by Georgia O’Keeffe.
Other artists represented in the collection of more than 20,000 artworks include Ansel Adams, Bruce Nauman, and Gustave Baumann.
Its building is architecturally interesting as it’s modeled on historic mission churches in a style called Pueblo Revival. It opened in 1917; a newer addition, the Vladem Contemporary Annex, opened in 2023 in a former warehouse.
Horseback Riding
Don your cowboy gear and giddy up to Broken Saddle Riding Company near Santa Fe in the historic mining town of Cerrillos. Trail rides in Cerrillos Hills State Park provide sweeping vistas of the high desert.
The Tennessee Walkers and Missouri Foxtrotters are well-trained, and guides share interesting information about the area.
Margarita Trail
Not only does Santa Fe take its food seriously, but its margaritas are also worthy of global attention.
Dedicated margarita drinkers will want to head out on the Margarita Trail and make their way through the 50-plus drinks listed. Or you could use this list as a guide to some unusual and outstanding beverages.
How about the hatch-chile-infused Norteño Margarita at Coyote Rooftop Cantina or the Cowgirl Cadillac Margarita at Cowgirl BBQ featuring organic reposado, Grand Marnier, fresh-squeezed orange and lime juice, and a red chile salt rim?
Santa Fe Farmers’ Market
One of the best farmers’ markets in America, the one in Santa Fe draws 150 vendors to the railyard every Saturday morning.
In operation since 1968, the market is a vibrant place where you can sample and photograph chiles, tomatoes, peaches, and other fresh produce, as well as agricultural products like meat and eggs.
Buffalo Thunder Casino
You probably didn’t come to Santa Fe to gamble, but an evening at one of the area casinos can be a fun distraction.
The Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Casino Resort is 15 minutes from downtown. You can amuse yourself here with 1,200 slot machines, keno, poker, a race book, and more.
<p>The post Santa Fe’s Coolest Experiences for First-Time Visitors first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>