Santa Fe & Taos, NM
I recently spent some time out in Santa Fe visiting family and the one thing that always takes my breath away in the southwest is the landscape. Growing up in upstate NY, I was always accustomed to rolling hills of endless trees that changed with the seasons. Then when I was eight, my family took a vacation to Arizona and I got to experience an entirely new world. Now my family tends to focus their time in Santa Fe, but for any new travelers to the southwest, the landscapes all across Arizona and New Mexico are definitely worth a visit (or a few!)
My vacation in Santa Fe was only a few days, but we managed to pack in some great activities, both in town and in the surrounding area. First up was white water rafting on the Rio Grande with Kokopelli Rafting. These guys run a fun and safe program with knowledgeable and well-trained guides. We have been a few times with them and highly recommend them over the other rafting companies in the area.
After rafting we made our way along the high road through the Santa Fe National Forest to see some mountain views as we headed back home. Sadly it was a bit rainy, but the views were still spectacular.
On another day we spent the morning taking a soak in the wonderful pools at the Ojo Caliente spa before making our way through the Carson National Forest. We took a pit stop at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge to take a peek at the dizzying height before making our way into Taos for lunch at Michael's Kitchen.
If outdoor activities aren’t really your thing, spending an afternoon perusing the endless aisles at Camino Real to find southwest style artwork, jewelry, or even furniture is always a treat. And if you love a good flea market, head out US Highway 285 to the Buffalo Thunder exit on the weekends.
To cap off days spent out hiking, shopping, and enjoying the view, make your way into town to enjoy the beauty of the Plaza and the surrounding streets. Take in the beautiful buildings, including the famous cathedral. Weekday evenings in July & August provide free live music outside at the Bandstand and it seems like the entire town comes out to dance and enjoy the ambiance.
I hope you enjoyed this look into the many activities and views available to visitors in and around Santa Fe. For any questions or recommendations, please use the comment section below, and keep an eye out for a Santa Fe Victinerary coming soon!
Keep exploring,
~V
Date & Locations: Saturday, 1 July 2017 - Monday, 3 July 2017 - Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Photos taken with: Nikon D5300, Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8 Lens, Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f3.5-5.6 lens, Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens, and iPhoneSE