Imagine yourself walking through streets full of adobe houses and vendors selling homemade crafts. If that sounds ideal to you, then you need to travel to Santa Fe. This city has hundreds of art galleries, stores full of turquoise jewelry, and fantastic ski mountains. You’ll be amazed at the unique culture in this space. Find out the best way to spend one weekend in Santa Fe here.
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Back when I was a child, there was a painting above the piano from Santa Fe. I had always dreamed about going there and being amongst the adobe buildings. We recently went with my parents and we had an amazing time. My dad has been a few times, because he loves it so much. Read all about the best itinerary below!
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Weekend Itinerary Santa Fe
Day 1:
Farmer’s Market
Every Saturday of the year, you can find the weekly farmer’s market in the Market Pavilion from 8 am- 1 pm. People come from all over town to see what fresh produce and enticing options are available at the stands that week! This large market is located in a huge building with open air and tin walls. Many of the vendors allow you to try free samples and each place looks better than the last!
One of the most popular vendors in the building is the Intergalactic Bread Company & Space Sauce. This stand has been serving their Mediterranean bread at the local market for years. There are so many different intriguing flavors to try. If you want to get some of this tasty bread, prepare to wait in line. When we went the line wrapped around the stand and was at least 20 people long!
Other Vendors in the Market:
- De Smet Dairy Farms
- Buckin’ Bee Honey
- Cloud Cliff Bakery
- Mi Young’s Farms
- Old Pecos Foods
- & so many more!
Meow Wolf
Once you’ve satiated your hunger, you can thrill your senses by visiting Meow Wolf. Your mind will be blown and you might even get a little confused as you navigate this interactive art installation. Inside the large building, you will get to enter the art work. As you move through it, you are allowed to touch things and play with things. There is even a mystery that you are supposed to solve, however we didn’t have any luck with this. It’s a great family friendly activity!
There are three locations of Meow Wolf throughout the country: Denver, Las Vegas, and Santa Fe. Each one has a different theme with different pieces that are featured in the building. Santa Fe’s is called House of Eternal Return and it is a huge house with many different rooms that you can walk through and explore. The house looks normal when you first enter the installation, but then it gets extremely wild and complicated.Some of the entry ways may even take you to a different dimension and can be found in laundry machines, refrigerators, and closets.
You have to get tickets ahead of time in order to play around in Meow Wolf. Tickets are $49 per adult and $44 per child. Although they are pricey, it’s definitely an experience you won’t want to miss! Unfortunately, you are not allowed to post any photos of the exhibit online or on social media. So hopefully, my words have convinced you to go!
Canyon Road
Santa Fe is an art lover’s mecca. There are hundreds of galleries in town and all kinds of art from modern to classic. While you can find art galleries throughout the entire city, the best place to see them is on Canyon Road. This street is home to more than 80 galleries and studios of all types of art. Here, you can spend the day walking down the street and visiting as many as possible!
You could spend hours walking through every single art gallery, but if you only have a couple hours then you can choose some of the ones that appeal to you most. If you are staying near the main plaza in town, then you can walk from the plaza to Canyon Road in about 15 minutes. Many people choose to walk there, because there is not a ton of parking and it’s a very walkable area.
Great Art Galleries on Canyon Road:
- McLarry Fine Art
- Luca Decor
- Nuart Gallery
- Canyon Road Contemporary Art
- Nedra Matteuccci
- EVOKE Contemporary
- Meyer Gallery
Sunset at Cross of the Martyrs
Are you a sunset chaser? Then, one of the easiest and best places to watch sunset in town is the Cross of the Martyrs. This park is located on the top of a hillside and is lined with historical plaques about the city. You will need to walk up a steep paved path that climbs up the hillside to get to the top. Once you are there, you will be able to see over the city and towards the mountains.
This is a very popular spot to watch the sunset, so don’t expect to be alone. However, there is plenty of space to choose from and you can even sit on the wall that lines the park. It’s a peaceful way to end a day in Santa Fe.
Day 2
Bandalier National Monument
Head out on a little half day trip to Bandelier National Monument. This monument is about a two hour drive outside of the city, but it’s one of the most incredible places to see. It preserves ancient indigenous cliff dwellings that have been around for hundreds of years! Walk the trails in the monument and learn about these ancient people and their villages.
One of the coolest things about visiting this monument is that you are able to climb ladders and walk into some of the cliff dwellings. Make sure to be respectful and follow all the rules, because people have gotten injured in the past. Since you are just taking a half day trip, then you should walk the Pueblo Loop Trail, which showcases incredible dwellings and provides a good overview of the area. You will want to wear comfortable walking shoes for this adventure!
Walk Around Santa Fe Plaza
In the center of Santa Fe’s historic area, you will find Santa Fe Plaza. Shops, restaurants, and street vendors line this Plaza on all sides. It’s one of the main attractions in town and you cannot miss visiting this incredible area!
Spend your time walking into the adorable shops, looking at jewelry, visiting more art galleries, or grabbing a drink on a rooftop that overlooks the Plaza. It’s a wonderful way to spend a few hours and get a feel for the area. Also, it’s a wonderful place to people watch, which is one of my all time favorite activities!
Visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Georgia O’Keeffe is probably one of the most famous people to ever reside in Santa Fe. She is an incredible artist and her influence is still seen throughout the city. Also, she is one of the most notable abstract artists of all time! You cannot leave town without visiting her art museum, which showcases her art and teaches you about her life! It’s one of the highlights of any visit to Santa Fe.
The museum is located in the historic area of Santa Fe, so you can easily walk there from the plaza. Right now, you have to get reservations in advance to visit. These sell out quickly, so make sure to plan in advance to get your ticket online so you don’t miss out!
Where to Eat
There is no shortage of food options to choose from, but you’ll have to choose wisely for one weekend in Santa Fe. We had some of the most inventive and delicious meals I’ve had in a long time when we visited this amazing town! You will probably want to choose your restaurants beforehand so that you can get reservations. Although some of the smaller places are easy to walk in.
Restaurant Highlights:
- Sazon– Time and time again, people will say that this is the best restaurant in Santa Fe. If you are looking for something fancy and unique then you’ll want to go here.
- Counter Culture Cafe– This adorable cafe has an impressively large menu with so many delicious options to choose from. Also, there is a fantastic patio to sit on if there is nice weather! We had amazing sesame noodles, mouthwatering sandwiches, and hearty soup!
- Maria’s New Mexican– You have to try the New Mexican specialties while you are in town. Maria’s has a menu of over 100 different margaritas and serves great New Mexican dishes!
- Sassella– From the same chefs that started Sazon, Sassella is also a must visit. One of the best and most exciting meals that I have ever had. They created an incredibly unique Italian menu with dishes that you can’t find anywhere else. Although it’s a bit pricey, it’s worth it!
- Paper Dosa– People crowd this restaurant during the evenings for delicious Indian food. Try to make a reservation ahead of time so that you can get a spot here.
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this itinerary!
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