

Santa Fe is also a jumping-off point for visiting the state’s 19 pueblos (traditional villages of the Pueblo people). Head northeast to Hyde Memorial State Park for camping, hiking and Nordic skiing. Several museums, as well as the Santa Fe Botanical Garden and a café are clustered at Museum Hill. All of it goes up in flames when the human effigy of Zozobra and associated collection baskets are set on fire. Bring your divorce decree, mortgage completion documents, parking tickets, and photos of people you don’t want to see. Somewhat reminiscent of this experience is another event that brings together people and fire: Every Labor Day weekend at Fort Marcy Park, Santa Feans celebrate the Burning of Zozobra, a century-old festival where people purge themselves of whatever paper is causing grief. Christmas is a magical season to mingle with locals singing carols and drinking hot chocolate around the campfires that give a warm glow to Canyon Road and its offshoots. On the portal of the Palace of the Governors (home of the New Mexico History Museum), meet friendly Native American artisans who gather most days to sell everything from bracelets to belt buckles.Įven if you’re not a shopper, don’t miss the galleries, shops, and cafés along Canyon Road. Francis Cathedral, Loretto Chapel (dating back to 1882), and La Posada de Santa Fe resort and spa.Ĭheck out the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, a required stop if your New Mexico itinerary includes the artist’s stomping grounds at Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu. Take your time discovering the many historic attractions of the state capital that are conveniently clustered in one area: The Plaza, Palace of the Governors, St. Old Santa Fe is best explored up close and personal. The Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Rio Grande, runs through the city, adding charm to the benches and picnic sites where you can watch the world go by. Streets in the historic district, narrow and crooked, invite closer inspection on foot. The grand mix of its people - Hispanic, Indigenous, Anglo-European - contribute to the cosmopolitan vibe. Maybe that has something to do with so many buildings being continuously occupied back to the 1600s: Santa Fe has had centuries to refine its attractions.

With its four-season environment, pick your favorite time of year to discover why Santa Fe is not only the ultimate destination in New Mexico, but one of the most appealing small cities in North America.įor a place with such a small population (83,000), it packs a punch.

It pleases the eye and delights the palate. It’s compact enough to feel intimate rather than overwhelming. The city that means “Holy Faith” tops the list of any mention of best places to visit in New Mexico because it is exceptional in all the ways that matter to tourists. Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues. What’s around your next corner? The following list of best places to visit in New Mexico provides some clues. New Mexico satisfies many tastes, from adventure seekers to romantics who find bliss in peaceful solitude. Bring home a piece of New Mexico that can be purchased in a Pueblo gift shop or one of the galleries lining Canyon Road in Santa Fe: an authentic Navajo rug, a whimsical kachina doll, or an eye-catching bracelet made of silver and turquoise that will be the envy of your friends. You will return home energized by skiing in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Taos, kicking up dust from your bike or horse on a high desert trail near Gallup, or navigating a rafting trip on the Rio Chama in Georgia O’Keeffe Country near Ghost Ranch.Įnrich yourself with cultural experiences in all directions of this Four Corners state. Much like flocks of sandhill cranes that arrive at the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge on the Rio Grande each October, tourists migrate to New Mexico to feed a part of themselves. Starry night skies are a dream for tourists seeking the absence of light at White Sands National Park. This feeling of anticipation and inspiration awaits you in New Mexico - the Land of Enchantment.Īrtists treasure the unique quality of light in New Mexico’s high desert - illumination that greets you each morning as you look out from your adobe hacienda in Santa Fe, or gaze upon the glowing Organ Mountains above Las Cruces at day’s end. Looking straight ahead, there’s a bend and you can’t wait to see what’s around the corner. We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )
