Four Nights in Santa Fe

After flying into Albuquerque International Sunport, pick up your rental car for the one-hour ride to Santa Fe. Check in to the Bishop’s Lodge; unpack and explore the property. Grab a spot by the pool (and possibly a cold frosty beverage), and your fave beach read… vacation and all the relaxation begins now. Itching to break out and start seeing the sights? RESIST. This weekend is for slow travel, savoring each moment as it comes. Dinner at SkyFire caps off the day.

Start your day with a hike on one of the dozens of trails Santa Fe has to offer. Local favorites include the Dale Ball trail system, Sun Mountain, or the Atalaya Trail. It’s a great way to earn your breakfast burrito, which was ensconced in New Mexican cuisine at Tia Sophia’s in 1975. Stop there for brunch and a history lesson. Stroll around the plaza, taking time to fully appreciate the beauty of the Basilica and the surrounding architecture. Stopping by the Shed for dinner? Make sure to present IN PERSON at 4:00 PM to get your name on the wait list.

Time to put that rental car to good use! After the requisite breakfast burrito (Blake’s Lotaburger is a locals’ recommendation), head northwest to Bandelier National Monument. More hiking and history awaits you here. If cliff dwellings are your jam, consider the Puye Cliffs as an add-on (open from 8:00 to 4:00, with access only by guided tour). Lunch at the Pig and Fig in White Rock before heading to Los Alamos to visit the birthplace of the nuclear bomb. Dinner back downtown at the historic Plaza Cafe.

If your trip includes a Saturday, don’t forget to stroll the Farmer’s Market in the Railyard District, or consider the morning, guided bird walk at the Randall Davy Audubon Center east of town. The pace of Santa Fe is slow and relaxed. Don’t feel the need to fill your days with constant activity. Outdoor art installations pop up around every corner, especially on Canyon Road, home to dozens of art studios on a half-mile stretch.