Santa Fe, NM ~ The Turquoise Trail

Santa Fe is one of my top 5 favorite cities in the world. We flew into Albuquerque and took the Turquoise Trail road to Santa Fe. If you want the fast road just head straight up the I 25N and it will take you right into Santa Fe. If you want to do some exploring on the way, take the I 40E to Hwy 14N. This is the Turquoise trail and will take you to the backside of the Sandia mountains.

The hippie town of Madrid, NM

Once you turn on Hwy 14N, it’s abut 35 minutes ’til you arrive in the town of Madrid. Madrid was once a coal mining town turned ghost town turned hippie art town. It was featured in the movie Wild Hogs and still retains some of the sites from the movie set.

There are lots of souvenir shops, art galleries and a few restaurants. Our favorite is the Mine Shaft Tavern. The food is fantastic and the people watching is world-class. They also have a beer garden and live music on the weekends.

Santa Fe Plaza

The drive from Madrid to Santa Fe is about 40 minutes and takes you past some beautiful farms, the State penitentiary and several look out spots.

Once you arrive in Santa Fe, there is so much to see and do. There are hundreds of art galleries, magnificent churches and amazing food. Our Favorite restaurant and our first stop is The Shed for some green chili. The Shed has been in operation since 1953 and at it’s current location since 1960. The food is authentic New Mexican food and the margaritas are amazing.

No trip to Santa Fe is complete without a Frito Pie. Featured on the Food Network as “one of the best things I ever ate.” You have to visit the five & dime on the Plaza. Head to the food counter in the back and get yourself one, grab a bench in the Plaza and enjoy.

We spent hours strolling around historic Santa Fe Plaza. Here you can browse shops and art galleries and learn about New Mexico’s history and the Native American Southwest. Be sure to visit the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Loretto Chapel. If time allows, a trip to Georgia O’Keefe’s Ghost Ranch is a must. It’s about an hour drive from Santa Fe. This is where she lived and the subject of many of her paintings. You can make this a day trip or stay the night or a week!

A world-class Japanese Spa

By this time, we were ready for a massage and so we called ahead and booked a couples massage at Ten Thousand Waves. It’s about a 15 minute drive from Santa Fe and is a world-class Japanese spa. It has beautiful outdoor hot tubs, a cold plunge and some of the most serene massage rooms you will ever experience.

Hands down, the hottest ticket in Santa Fe is Meow Wolf. This interactive art experience has become a national phenomenon. Be sure to book tickets in advance.

For breakfast, we have two favorite spots. The French Pastry Shop and Creperie that has amazing pastries and crepes and the Burrito Company if you’re in the mood for more traditional NM food.

We always stay at The Inn & Spa at Loretto. The pueblo style hotel has rooms with balconies, shopping and a world class spa.

Santa Fe is an epic jump off spot for several day trips. Click here for the best 5 day trips.

Check out our other blogs for exploring Northern New Mexico!