Real Food Traveler’s Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor takes his long-time love of the city to create this guide to adventures that can be discovered in and near the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Save this article to Pinterest to help you plan your own adventure in Santa Fe. Photo: Sena Plaza on Palace Avenue by TOURISM Santa Fe. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.
Adventures In and Around Santa Fe, New Mexico
For decades I have traveled to Santa Fe and each time I find new ways to enjoy The City Different’s array of experiences, from its unique indoor spaces to the surrounding outdoor landscapes. Here are some personal favorites to help you plan your adventures.
Acknowledgement
All of Santa Fe is built on the land of ancestral Pueblo peoples who called this place home for thousands of years before the arrival of the Spanish and American settlers. I acknowledge their history and their continued presence here and survival as a unique culture. I appreciate the opportunity to share this space with them and their ancestors.
TIP: “The Plaza” refers to the square park at the heart of the old city and is commonly used as a reference point for giving directions. Keeping the Plaza as your reference point, you’ll never get lost exploring Santa Fe!
The Plaza in the heart of Santa Fe is beautiful anytime of year. But it’s especially magical during the holidays. Photo by Courtney Drake-McDonough.
STROLLING AND SHOPPING IN SANTA FE
As one of the oldest European settlements in the United States, just strolling the walkable center city is a unique experience. Established in 1610 as a Colonial Spanish outpost, Santa Fe’s original adobe structures near the Plaza still exist; today, they host galleries, restaurants, and shops in shady courtyards. Placards describe historical significance. Native American artisans sell their beautifully handmade arts and jewelry along shaded walkways. All around the Plaza, shop windows display goods, from western clothing (cowboy boots, hats, and fringed leather jackets), to art, to t-shirts, to over-the-top turquoise jewelry costing thousands of dollars. Sidewalk cafes and treat shops dot the Plaza and the side streets. At night, for a taste of the city’s Spanish cultural influences, head to one of the venues offering Flamenco performances. EntreFlamenco provides a stylish cabaret atmosphere; tickets sold for show-only or dinner/show.
There are a variety of places and ways to shop in Santa Fe. Photo: Shiprock Santa Fe turquoise jewelry. Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe.
Must-see sights near The Plaza: Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Loretto Chapel’s floating staircase, Palace of the Governors; one of America’s oldest houses and nearby San Miguel Chapel (oldest in Santa Fe). Pop into hotel lobbies for glimpses of art and southwest architecture.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Photo by Courtney Drake-McDonough.
An artsy strolling zone sprawls along Canyon Road. Numerous galleries offer art in all forms – paintings, sculptures, jewelry, etc., and styles from Southwest to cutting edge contemporary. Cafes and restaurants provide relaxing spots to refuel between stops. At Christmas, it transforms into something magical. Read more about our joyous holiday stroll here.
Wiford Gallery Santa Fe Sculpture gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Photo courtesy TOURISM Santa Fe.
Hungry for more? See what it’s like to do the Farolito Walk along Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
The Railyard is a sprawling historic district to stroll and explore. A year-round Farmers Market with local produce and artisans is the centerpiece, sharing the area with art galleries and studios, a movie theater, eateries, and gardens. Walk or bike the Acequia Trail to see the Railyards and learn about the historic acequias (canals) used for irrigation.
Santa Fe Railyard Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe.
TIP: Check out La Choza for delicious New Mexico fare (see our article about local foods). Second Street Brewery serves up good beers and pub fare.
Hungry for more? Learn about the cuisine of the region through the Cooking School of Santa Fe.
CULTURE HOPPING IN SANTA FE
Santa Fe hosts an impressive array of cultural experiences for a city of about 89,000. Some of them are clustered near the Plaza and others require a short drive; here are a few.
Walkable to the Plaza
Georgia O’Keefe Museum: Get to know the city’s most storied artist and enjoy a small collection of her art. The museum is a top attraction so reserve tickets in advance. A massive expansion is underway and will open in 2028.
New Mexico Museum of Art: Housed in a 1917 Pueblo Revival structure, the collection is modest and varied. On a recent visit, the galleries hosted a retrospective for a mid-century artist, pottery, and the permanent collection depicting the peoples and landscapes of the southwest.
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts: Across from the Cathedral, just off the Plaza, this impressive Pueblo style structure with vibrantly painted columns is a wonderland of artistic exploration. It opened my mind to the history and mindsets of the original peoples.
The colorful, painted columns outside of IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) are a popular place for photos. Photo by Courtney Drake-McDonough.
Short Drive Required
Museum Hill boasts a collection of impressive facilities, including:
Located in a former grocery store back in town, Meow Wolf is not a museum but an immersive art experience. Come prepared to crawl and climb your way through a story while solving a mystery. Or just meander through and be amazed!
Meow Wolf. Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe.
El Rancho de Las Golondrinas, a living heritage museum, with structures dating back hundreds of years to the Spanish Colonial period, a short drive into the rolling countryside around Santa Fe. I only discovered this place in 2026 when attending the fantastic Santa Fe Wine Festival (where I sampled New Mexico wines from some from the oldest vineyards in the US, planted by Spanish monks!). See how frontier colonial Spanish settlers lived and speak to actors dressed in historically accurate garb and doing things like weaving wool colored with plant dyes and baking delicious breads in earthen ovens.
El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. Photo by Courtney Drake-McDonough.
Santa Fe Opera takes place in a dramatic facility north of the city, where the landscape becomes part of the story. Unforgettable performances at sunset. Open air, wind and rain sometimes sweep in, adding drama to the stories told on stage. Learn about the experience from our 2026 article.
The Santa Fe Opera House is very dramatic and is built for high-quality acoustics. Photo by Courtney Drake-McDonough.
Day drive from Santa Fe…
Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch – Anyone with a love for Georgia O’Keefe’s art must visit these places, about an hour northwest of Santa Fe. Advance reservations are required to visit the O’Keefe home in Abiquiu; the tour is popular, so book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Ghost Ranch may be visited without reservations; however, to tour the landscapes she painted and for a glimpse of the exterior only her home/studio, advance reservations for a guided tour are required.
Santuario de Chimayo – This sacred site is heavy with history and meaning. Nearby, vendors sell local chile pepper powders, including the beloved Chimayo Pepper; I purchased a variety of them, from sweet to smoky to spicy, and enjoy using them in many dishes!
TIP: Tucked into the canyons north of Santa Fe along highway 68 are small vineyards and wineries; La Chiripada is the state’s oldest winery. Stop in for a taste and grab a bottle for later. Fun fact: vineyards were planted in New Mexico in the 1620s, a century before California.
Santuario de Chimayo photo by Jimmy McDonough.
HIKING AND SKIING IN SANTA FE
A quick drive east of Santa Fe, the Sangre de Cristo mountains offer miles of hiking trails through national forest land with views of the valleys and mesas below. In winter, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing is possible. Ski Santa Fe has some of New Mexico’s highest trails, from the base at 10,300 to a peak of over 12,000 feet, only 16 miles from the Plaza.
Combing natural beauty and human history, an exceptional hiking experience is about 30 minutes northwest of the city at Tsankawi, part of Bandelier National Monument. Tracing the face of a rocky ridge are trails that were used by the ancestral Pueblo peoples over thousands of years. Smoothed by countless climbs, the sandstone immortalizes the footholds of those people. Walk in their steps and enjoy the spectacular vistas, imagining their lives here. Petroglyphs and small caves are part of their cultural story. Tsankawi is a short but challenging hike with steep stretches and wooden ladders to climb. Unforgettable.
TIP: Tsankawi is fully exposed with no shade. If hiking in summer, arrive early to avoid the highest temperatures, wear sun protection and bring plenty of water. In winter, the trail can be icy and slippery.
This is just a taste of what the City Different offers. I didn’t even get into the numerous festivals that fill the streets. The official Santa Fe website is an excellent resource for trip planning.
Sweeping views from Tsankawi, part of Bandelier National Monument. Photo by Jimmy McDonough.
A visit to Santa Fe rewards with so many unique experiences. It may be tempting to try and do it all in one visit. Trust me, slow down and be present. Allow your mind to ponder the history of this place. Plan a return visit at a different time of year. The fall brings glorious warm sunny days followed by crisp evenings and the colors of the cottonwoods and scrub oak blaze against the vibrant blue New Mexico sky. Winter days are sunny and cool, with chilly clear nights, perfect for gathering around a fire for star gazing. Maybe, like Georgia and me, you’ll fall in love with Santa Fe.
-Story by Jimmy McDonough, Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor
Please note: As is common practice in this industry, we were hosted for portions of our visit to Santa Fe, however, all opinions are honest and based on the author’s opinion for the purpose of informing our readers.
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