Hi, I'm Monica.
Santa Fe is easy to visit and hard to really see. I'll point you to the green chile, the quiet trails and the spots where the light does its thing, so your time here feels like yours.
Plan my perfect dayPerfect Day Sharing
Photos, recipes, sewing projects and whatever I'm up to around town.
The day, hour by hour.
Slide the sun
Follow the smoke.
In late summer and fall, roasters tumble fresh green chile at the Railyard farmers market on Saturdays. Grab a coffee, then a breakfast burrito ordered Christmas (red and green).
Climb into history.
At Bandelier National Monument, wooden ladders lead into cliff dwellings carved by Ancestral Pueblo people. Pack water and a hat.
Take the trail.
The Atalaya Mountain Trail climbs from town to big views of the whole valley. The Dale Ball Trails are gentler, and great for a first day at altitude.
Wander Canyon Road.
More than 100 galleries and studios, sculpture gardens, hollyhocks and adobe. Go uphill, go slow, and duck into the courtyards.
Walk the farolitos.
On Christmas Eve, Canyon Road glows with farolitos and small piñon bonfires. Any other night, watch the Sangre de Cristos turn red, then find chile and a patio.
Pick a day. Go enjoy it.
My favorite days in Santa Fe, start to finish. No email needed. Just pick the one that sounds like you and go.
Pamper me
A slow, sweet day of good food, beautiful jewelry and warm water.
- Breakfast at Pasqual's
Please try the hot chocolate and the whole wheat pancakes.
- Shop the Plaza for handmade jewelry
Buy Native American jewelry directly from the artists, right in the Plaza.
- Soak at Ojo Caliente hot springs
Book a massage if you want. I personally just enjoy soaking in all the different pools, hanging out on the lounge chairs and reading. You don't need advance reservations if you're just soaking. Food and drinks are available at the restaurant on site for lunch.
- Tesuque Market on the way back
Stop for a margarita, and please try the hot dog!
Ojo Caliente is about an hour north of town, so plan the drive into your day.
Want one made just for you?Art, please
Museums, galleries and two great dinners, one with a wait and one you can book.
- Breakfast at Clafoutis
A family-owned French restaurant that is sooo good.
- Hit any of these museums
- Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
- Museum of International Folk ArtSee the largest single-owner collection of folk art!
- Olive Rush MuseumPlease book a docent tour. It's the best way to enjoy this museum, which is Olive's home on Canyon Road.
- Shop Canyon Road
There are plenty of spots for food and drinks along the way.
- Dinner at La Choza
They don't take reservations, so you may need to wait a while. Just get a margarita from the bar and enjoy the energy.
Check museum hours before you go. Some close one day a week.
Want one made just for you?Nature lover
Fresh pastries, a real hike, a mountain-view drink and pizza you've earned.
- Breakfast at the Chocolate Maven
Watch the pastries being made right in front of you.
- Hike any of these
- Aspen Vista Trail
- Big or Little Tesuque Trail
- Windsor Trail
- Dale Ball Trails (lots of options)
- Atalaya Trail
- SkyFire at Bishop's Lodge
For post-hike refreshment.
- Dinner at Tender Fire Pizza
Great pizza and salads, great after a hike! Reservations recommended, but they do take walk-ins.
The altitude is real. Drink lots of water, and save the big climbs for your second day.
Want one made just for you?Nature lover, but keep it easy
Flowers, gardens, a pretty drive and sunset from a rooftop.
- Breakfast at the Santa Fe Farmers Market
Tuesdays and Saturdays. See all the beautiful produce and flowers.
- Santa Fe Botanical Garden
Try to get there for a free tour. Sometimes you can book a class on making pizza in a traditional horno oven in the garden!
- Go for a drive!
- The High Road to Taos
- Up to the Santa Fe Ski Area
- Bandelier
- Sunset at the La Fonda Bell Tower
Get a cocktail and watch the sky change.
A good first day while you get used to the altitude.
Want one made just for you?George R.R. Martin fan
The Game of Thrones author lives in Santa Fe, and you can spend a whole day in his world.
- Meow Wolf
He helped bring this interactive art exhibit to life. Book early so you have lots of time to try to solve the puzzle.
- Beastly Books
His bookstore and coffee shop.
- Milk of the Poppy
The fantasy-themed cocktail bar he started.
Meow Wolf gets busy on weekends, so a weekday is calmer.
Want one made just for you?More Monica can fit into your day
- Rafting the Rio Grande, late May to July
- Sunrise hot-air balloon rides
- A soak at a Japanese-style mountain spa
- Skiing at Ski Santa Fe in winter
- Meow Wolf on a weekday
- Museum Hill
- The High Road to Taos
- Green chile cheeseburgers and posole
Things I tell every friend who visits.
- Go easy on day one.The altitude is real, so drink water.
- Rent a car.The good stuff is spread out.
- Downtown is walkable.Canyon Road is a mile, uphill.
- Meow Wolf on a weekday.Or late afternoon.
- Leave a few hours unplanned.Santa Fe rewards wandering.
Three easy steps to a day you'll remember.
Tell me about your trip.
Your dates, who's coming, and what you love.
I put together your day.
Hand-picked spots, in an order that makes sense.
You go enjoy it.
No guesswork, no tourist traps. Just Santa Fe.
Good to know.
No. These are personal recommendations, so you explore at your own pace. Each day gives you a plan and the reasons behind it, and you decide what to keep.
For the day trips, yes: High Road to Taos, Bandelier and the Ski Area drive are all outside town. Downtown and Canyon Road are walkable. Plan on a car for at least one day.
If you like being outdoors, start with the Nature Lover day. If you like museums, galleries and dinner out, start with Art, please. If you're first-time visitors and want a little of everything, the first-day plan covers the classics.
Santa Fe sits about 7,000 feet up, so take your first day easy: drink water, pace yourself, and save the big hikes for day two. Every day has a note on what to expect.
Every season has its day. Spring and fall have the mildest weather and the best hiking. Summer is great for early mornings and the High Road. Winter brings snow, skiing and the farolito walk on Christmas Eve.
Yes. Tell me your dates, who's coming and what you love, and I'll build a day around it. Use the "Plan my perfect day" form, and I'll reply by email.
Tell me what you love.
I'll build the day around it and send it straight to your inbox.
Monica's Santa Fe picks, now and then.
An occasional email with new things I'd love to share about Santa Fe food, art, nature, music and more. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
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