Tidbits

It would be best to explore Santa Fe and Taos on foot to the extent possible though one can’t do without a car.

Currency is the US Dollar. Can easily use credit cards everywhere as long as you are aware of any foreign transaction fees charged by your credit card company, if you are travelling to the US from elsewhere.

Power outlets in the US are either A or B type plug adaptors with 110 V and 60Hz.

The weather is hot and sunny in summers, cold in the winters. Check out the best time to visit Santa Fe for weather and its events.

About this blog

Writing and pictures by Jyothi Shankar. Also, thanks to Madhu Hithuvalli for the pictures he took! Thanks to Malathy Chandrasekhar from Healthy Indian, for their article on adventures with New Mexican cuisine. You can find the link to this read in the Vegetarian Food section below.

• • Santa Fe Plaza: It is the historic heart of the city with its charming shops, art galleries, and cultural events.
  • Palace of the Governors: This building houses a museum showcasing the history of Santa Fe and New Mexico’s past.
  • Canyon Road: A street lined with art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants, showcasing a diverse range of art styles.
  • Santa Fe Railyard: Vibrant arts and entertainment district, home to galleries, shops, restaurants, and a popular farmers market.
  • Santa Fe Farmers Market: One of the oldest and most vibrant farmers markets in the country. Visit for fresh local produce, artisanal products, and traditional crafts.
  • Loretto Chapel: Known for its “Miraculous Staircase,” and Gothic architecture.
  • San Miguel Chapel: Oldest church, 400 yrs old, in the United States! You will also find the oldest house across the street from this church.
  • Kateri Tekakwitha is the patron saint of Native Americans, as well as the patron of ecologists, environmentalists, and of nature. You will see her statue in front of the St. Francis Cathedral in downtown Santa Fe.

Museums and Cultural

• • The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: This is the artistic legacy of Georgia O’Keeffe, one of America’s renowned artists, through her paintings and exhibits. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (okeeffemuseum.org)
  • Santa Fe Opera: Unique with opera performances in an open-air theater nestled in the mountains. Tickets | Santa Fe Opera
  • Meow Wolf: Immersive art installation that combines art, technology, and storytelling to create a unique experience. Meow Wolf Santa Fe | The Original Immersive Art Adventure
  • Museum Hill: A cluster of four museums, including the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, showcasing art and artifacts from around the world.

There are other places of interest to check here.

Scenic Routes and Outdoors near Santa Fe

• Bandalier National monument: Check out the Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings and Petroglyphs. Climb four wooden ladders to reach Alcove House, situated 140 feet above the canyon floor. Bandelier National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
• Bandelier was home to two groups of Pueblo people, the Tewa and the Keres who spoke different languages. It gives a glimpse into this region’s ancient Native American culture and natural landscapes. What to do?
  • Hike the Main Loop Trail, a 1.2-mile loop that takes you through ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings, kivas, and petroglyphs, giving insights into the lives of the ancient inhabitants.
  • Climb four wooden ladders to reach Alcove House. This alcove dwelling is situated 140 feet above the canyon floor and provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
  • Located separate from the main visitor center, the Tsankawi section offers an additional trail where you can explore ancient ruins, climb ladders, and see petroglyphs.

  Read more on how to make the most of the one day at Bandalier…..

• • Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks Monument: Cone-shaped rock formations, narrow slot canyons, and scenic hiking trails. The Slot Canyon Trail is the primary hiking trail in the monument, through narrow canyons and up to the top of the tent-shaped rock formations. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)
  • Kasha Katuwe is a geological wonder located in New Mexico, USA about 40 minutes from Santa Fe. You must check if it is open to public. It is known for its unique cone-shaped rock formations, narrow slot canyons, and scenic hiking trails. The Slot Canyon Trail is the primary hiking trail in the monument, offering a fascinating journey through narrow canyons and up to the top of the tent-shaped rock formations. The trail is about 1.5 miles long and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. ou can explore the Cave Loop Trail, a shorter loop that takes you through the base of the tent rocks and offers a chance to see smaller caves and unique geological formations. There are other scenic view points too.

• A drive to Vista Grande Overlook
• Sun mountain hike, Atalya mountain hike are popular and the latter is challenging.
• A hike in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains: Enjoy the natural beauty surrounding Santa Fe by hiking on scenic trails in the nearby mountains.

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-mexico/santa-fe-national-forest

https://ilovesantafehomes.com/explore-santa-fes-mountains/

https://casaescondida.com/blog/3-of-the-top-things-to-do-in-the-mountains-near-santa-fe/

https://peakvisor.com/adm/new-mexico.html

• Santa Fe offers is a great destination for hot air balloon rides, with its landscape and views. In September/October there is a balloon festival.
• The High road from Santa Fe to Taos gives some great views of the Sangre de Christo mountain peaks and tiny villages.
• The Low road from Taos to Santa Fe is beautiful as with twists and turns in the mountains, we see the Rio Grande rushing past.

Scenic Routes and Outdoors near Taos

• • Drive on Lower road from Taos to Santa Fe and enjoy the beauty of the Rio Grande.
  • Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway starts and ends in Taos, giving views of mountain vistas, picturesque villages, and natural attractions on this scenic drive.
  • Rio Grande Gorge Bridge: Marvel at the dramatic views from one of America’s highest and most iconic steel arch bridges.
  • Carson National Forest: Go hiking, camping, fishing, or horseback riding in this expansive forested area surrounding Taos.
  • Rafting in the Rio Grande river (rapids) or Rio Chama river (calmer)
  • Take a hot air balloon ride: Soar above the landscape and enjoy panoramic views of Taos and the surrounding mountains.
  • In winter, ski at Taos Ski Valley: Hit the slopes in this world-class ski resort known for its challenging terrain and stunning mountain views.

Taos

Arts and Markets, Museum

• • Taos Pueblo: Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a living Native American community with multi-story adobe buildings and a rich cultural history. It is as ancient as 1000 to 1450 AD! People actually still live in this Pueblo and hence it is not open to visitors all the time. For a tour, sure you pick a day when you will be allowed. Taos Pueblo | over 1,000 years of Tradition
  • Taos Plaza: Explore the historic downtown area with its charming shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
  • Millicent Rogers museum. This impressive museum has more than a dozen galleries with some 5000 pieces of Native American and Hispanic art, including furniture, weaving, paintings, pottery and a celebrated collection of Native American jewelry. Millicent Rogers Museum – Millicent Rogers Museum

Being a tourist town, I was extremely surprised that restaurants close fairly early by 9 pm. You are always better off making advance reservations.

The New Mexican cuisine is very flavorful and is a combination of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and American influences. Red and Green Chile are used in various dishes. Common items that come with a vegetarian version and served with chile sauce are Enchiladas and Tamales. Read more about using Red and Green Chiles in the next section on Chiles. For those with no food restrictions there are a variety of options like Posole, Green Chile Stew, Sopaipillas and more.

We had some fab food in Horno on Marcy street and liked their ambiance. Their vegetarian options were wonderful as validated by some of us in our group. Thos who had meat-based dishes loved it too. Another place we liked with very good food and ambiance was Paper Dosa (Indian). After walking on Canyon road we enjoyed pizzas at Upper Crust Pizza. We were unable to get into the most popular restaurant, The Shed which serves New Mexican Cuisine. Try Tomasitas, The Pantry, and the lovely Plaza Cafe’ Downtown for New Mexican food.

In Taos we liked a farm to table restaurant called Manzanita Market both for its food and atmosphere.

We were surprised to see this cafe’ called Sirphey@Bandalier, featuring many Indian based items and flavors – masala burgers, samosas, lassi, veggie masala burgers etc, in addition to the normal fare like elk burgers and cheese burgers that we find in national parks!

Red more about food adventures with New Mexican cuisine at My Spring Chile Adventure – Healthy Indian (healthy-indian.com).

Go to the page on global vegetarian cuisines, you are interested to know more about Enchiladas, Tamales and food from different countries that have made it mainstream.

What about all the Ristaras/red chiles?

New Mexico chile or New Mexican chile was first grown by Pueblo and Hispanc communities from a long time ago. These Ristaras are a symbol of decoration during the harvest months, it is also used for welcome and good luck.

Dried chiles are rehydrated or crushed into chile powder, blended, boiled and strained to make red chile sauce (also just called “red chile”). The sauce, along with green chile, is a staple of New Mexican cuisine. Red chile may be ladled over dishes such as enchiladas and tamales; used as the base for stews, such as posole; or used as a marinade for meat, as with carne adovada. Green chile, however, is most often used in soups and chowders (along with other vegetables or meats), stuffed and fried for rellenos, or used as a garnish on just about everything! (Source: Ristras – New Mexican Red Chiles (visitalbuquerque.org)
It is also known for its green chilis/hatch chilis. Want to know more about those green chilis? A great link here. 

Our trip to Santa Fe and Taos was good fun in a group of eight. We walked a lot in the hilly terrain each day, visiting the sights and sharing different food. Our place of stay, a couple of condos, made it nice to meet up each night and also plan the next day over a drink or two. These condos were in a beautiful hilly location that made us huff and puff to get to it. Our trip to Bandalier National monument was memorable. A hike in the heat followed by climbing up tall and steep ladders. Some made it to the top and others turned back and became the cheering squad. We drove from Santa Fe to Taos via the Upper road to Taos and back from Taos to Santa Fe via the scenic Lower road to Taos. Both are very interesting routes and the lower one specifically was very scenic.

Our day at the Bandalier National Monument as very hot. But we braved the heat with plenty of water and hiked all the way to area and some of us climbed up the three ladders that would take us all the way up.