EP8: Santa Fe, New Mexico
A work trip brings us to Santa Fe, but we took advantage of some extra time to do some fun things including some art classes and a hot air balloon ride!
Getting There: Fly into Albuquerque and drive the old Highway 14, which is a National Scenic Byway called the Turquoise Trail. We fueled up for the day at Cabra Coffee.
Sandia Crest: Approximately 30 minutes up the mountain off the highway, but worth it for a nice hike and views over the Rio Grande Valley.
Madrid- Funky, eclectic, artsy town for art, crafts, restaurants, etc. We ate at the Refinery 14 and it had a lovely setting with delicious and organic food and drink.
Santa Fe: We stayed at the La Posada de Santa Fe, a charming boutique hotel only blocks away from the main plaza and which had a stunning Adobe exterior and an interior that featured art by local artists. To familiarize yourself with the Old Town, take a morning walk through Commemorative Park. Not only did it have lovely views overlooking the town and to get a lay of the land, but the circular walkway was lined with historical markers giving you snippets of information in chronological order to better help you understand the complicated history of the area/state. Very nice! Then, take an evening Ghost Tour for a lively rendition of the same history, but with a thrilling dose of the supernatural to really make it memorable. There are a number of different tour companies to choose from, just Google “Santa Fe ghost tours” and choose which one fits your intersts, budget, timeline, etc.
Kakawa Chocolate House: A specialty coffee house with a passion for ancient/historic drinking elixirs including ones from Pre Colombian/Mayan/Aztec/Colonial American eras. Also has cases full of handcrafted and delicious chocolate treats!
Loretto Chapel: Home of the “Mysterious Spiral Staircase”. Who mas the man who made it? How did he have such skill to make it without nails? Where did he get the spruce used in the staircase?
Gruet Tasting Room in the Hotel St. Francis: We appreciated the sparkling wines with vines that originated from France! Delightful experience.
Prairie Dog Glass: You get to create your own glass piece, can choose a bowl, drinking vessel, vase, etc. you get to choose the color and the artist leads you through the process.
Tumbleroot Pottery Pub: Craft cocktails with a side of arts and crafts! You get a glob of clay to play with while you relax. The cocktail trio was delicious!
Santa Fe Balloons: Hot air balloon ride! They picked us up in the 5 o’clock hour at our hotel and the drive to the launch area was 45-60 away. Typically always a.m. rides because the winds are better. Be sure to ask a lot of questions, discuss expectations, etc.
Meowolf: The original location, with over 70 rooms created by local artists, you can’t even imagine how kooky the interior is! It is wildly fantastical and fun, great for photos. Can be tricky for people of questionable mobility.
Chamayo: A great hike, but wear sunblock, (not much shade) and bring lots of water!!! You can use an app like All Trails to help you determine which hikes would be best for you.
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