Arrive at Albuquerque’s Sunport airport; transfer directly to Santa Fe. If you want old-school style, stay at La Fonda—it’s that much easier to get to bed after dinner at The Shed nearby and a margarita in the hotel lobby bar.
Downtown Santa Fe
Start with a breakfast burrito at Tia Sophia’s, then stroll around the plaza. Depending on your interests, visit the history museum at the Palace of the Governors or the New Mexico Museum of Art. Pop in to see the free art collection at the State Capitol, then cruise the galleries on Canyon Road, finishing up with drinks and tapas, and maybe even dancing at El Farol.
Get an early start to Bandelier National Monument, followed by a late lunch at JoAnn’s Ranch O Casados in Española. In late afternoon, return to Santa Fe to stroll around the Railyard district, followed by a happy-hour margarita at Cowgirl BBQ. Have dinner at Joseph’s or La Boca.
New Mexico’s beautiful Bandelier National Monument. Photo © Mark Byzewski, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Drive to Taos via the low road, detouring to the pilgrimage site of Chimayó. Stop for lunch at Zuly’s in Dixon. In Taos, head straight to Taos Pueblo. Admire the sunset at the Rio Grande Gorge, then head to the Adobe Bar at the Taos Inn for a margarita and head up the road for dinner at The Love Apple or Orlando’s.
In the morning, have breakfast at Gutiz or Michael’s Kitchen, and, on your way out of town, stop by San Francisco de Asis Church. Drive back to Albuquerque via the high road past Truchas and Las Trampas, then along the Turquoise Trail, stopping for lunch in Madrid and at Tinkertown Museum.
View from Sandia Peak, Albuquerque. Photo © FalkonV311, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
In Albuquerque, take a sunset ride up the Sandia Peak Tramway. Enjoy dinner and drinks downtown.
Have a big breakfast at The Frontier and, if time allows, stroll around Nob Hill before catching your plane out of the Albuquerque airport.
Excerpted from the Fourth Edition of Moon Santa Fe, Taos, & Albuquerque.
