Destination Guide : New Mexico

The last, big kid-free trip that Trent and I took before our year of travel was to New Mexico. I’ll admit it, I was influenced by influencers. It seems like everyone I followed on Instagram was headed to Santa Fe and I wanted in on the fun. And I do not regret it at all! New Mexico was so fun to travel through. We saw a lot of the state in only 4 days. It’s crazy to think about only traveling somewhere for four days after slow, long term travel. But, especially without kids in tow, we were able to see so much!

Here are our favorites from 4 days on the road through New Mexico…

OUR ROUTE : Landed in Albuquerque and spent one night at Los Poblanos Ranch. Road trip from Albuquerque to Santa Fe via a quick trip to Los Alamos. 2 nights in Santa Fe. Road trip back to Albuquerque to fly home.

STAY : Hands down, our favorite stay was Los Poblanos Ranch in Albuquerque. I can’t wait to revisit this beautiful space. Set on 25 acres of a lavender farm, this inn has 50 guests rooms and a wonderful restaurant onsite. We only spent one night in Albuquerque and the remaining three in the capital. In Santa Fe, I found a small, guest house on the outskirts of town through Airbnb. We loved how quiet it was in the neighborhood. It also made for a great area to run through the hills for Trent. I, on the other hand, spent every childfree morning sleeping in!

GETTING AROUND : For a road trip through New Mexico, a car is obviously a necessity. But I would recommend getting a car even if you’re only visiting Albuquerque or Santa Fe. To be able to really see each city, it’s the easiest way to get around. Also, parking is relatively easy to find in each city.

THINGS TO KNOW : When I pictured New Mexico, I thought red rocks, deserts, and sunny days. But Santa Fe is in the high desert which means it gets cold, especially at night. Both Albuquerque and Santa Fe get snow. Also, Albuquerque sits at high altitude (over 5,000 feet) so if you get altitude sickness easily, be prepared. We visited in September during Fiesta de Santa Fe. As much as we loved to see the celebrations and shop in the festival’s street markets, it meant that Santa Fe was crowded, parking was hard to find, and many shops were closed. As when traveling anywhere, take a look at the destination’s holiday calendar before booking.

EAT

CAMPO - The restaurant onsite at Los Poblanos Inn was better than we imagined. And we had high hopes for it! We dined there for afternoon snacks when we arrived, dinner, and breakfast. We loved that our server invited us back into the kitchen to let us wander around and check out their operation. As restaurant directors, we loved this touch! Reservations are a must.

THE SHED - Possibly the most popular dining spot in Santa Fe. This place gets packed. Great Mexican food and margaritas.

MODERN GENERAL - Great breakfast spot in, you guessed it, a modern dining space.

CAFE PASQUAL’S - Mexican food in a colorful, “busy in the best way” setting.

CASA CHIMAYO - Sadly, Casa Chimayo is no longer around in restaurant form. The pandemic brought on a pivot for the company and they are now a market. Visit and support them in their new venture!

DO

TEN THOUSAND WAVES - During our drive from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, we made a pit stop at Ten Thousand Waves. This is such a special place! Japanese-style onsens, meditation areas, and massage rooms. They even have a restauarnt and hotel onsite. We opted for a soak in the onsens and a couple’s massage. Getting a massage while traveling really takes it from a trip to a vacation for us.

KASHA-KATUWE TENT ROCKS - Hoodoos created by volcanic eruptions and shaped like cone tents. We hiked through these rock formations for a couple of hours on our way back to Albuquerque to fly back home. Our kids would love hiking here and it’s definitely easy enough for younger kids. One day! (Currently closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.)

BIKE RIDES - While staying at Los Poblanos, we borrowed biked (a complimentary activity at the inn) and road down river paths. It was a great way to get moving after our flights before we headed to the pool for a cocktail!

JEMEZ FALLS - The best of hiking. An easy, quarter mile “hike” and you are rewarded with a waterfall view! While it wasn’t quite the hike we were used to, it was a great road trip stop to stretch our legs.

LOS ALAMOS - Our resident history buff, Trent couldn’t wait to visit Los Alamos, the site of the Manhattan Project. We visited Bathtub Row, a street of houses where Dr. Oppenheimer’s home was located.

SEE

BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT - The cliff dwellings of Bandelier National Monument was the number one thing that I was looking forward to visiting in New Mexico. And it did not disappoint! I felt like a kid, climbing up the ladder and sitting crossed legged inside of the dwelling. Just another place that we cannot wait to return to with our kids.

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI - I have visited a lot of cathedrals. So it’s always a fun surprise when the cathedral decor is really unique and embodies the feel of its hometown. Pop in for a quick visit after lunch at The Shed.

GEORGIA O’KEEFFE MUSEUM - I was lucky enough to study Georgia O’Keeffe’s art throughout my elementary school art classes. We spent a couple of hours walking through this museum dedicated to her work and learning about her fascinating life. If you are a big fan of O’Keeffe, you can also visit her home, Ghost Ranch, in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

DRINK

BELL TOWER AT LA FONDA - The most picturesque bar in town. Located on the rooftop of La Fonda, a historic hotel that is a destination in its own right.

ANASAZI BAR - Don’t have the cash to drop on a high end hotel room? Grab a drink at the hotel bar and check out the hotel’s property afterwards, like we do!

BAR AT HOTEL ST. FRANCIS - Easily my favorite hotel decor and the first place I would stay if money was no object (or I booked on points!). Their outdoor bar is a great place for a late night drink.

LOS ALAMOS BREWERIES - We enjoyed a beer while visiting the houses on Bathtub Row. Now, we don’t remember which brewery we visited. It was either Sidetrack Brewing Company or Boese Brother’s Brew Co. Either way, both look like a great option!

Have you been to New Mexico? What did you love there?