Step off the plane, breathe in the high desert air, and behold the grandeur of the surrounding Sandia Mountains. Your gateway to New Mexico might well be the airport to the state's largest city: Albuquerque. Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Santa Fe 2. At Bandelier National Monument, 40 miles northwest, marvel at cliff dwellings and petroglyphs dating back 11,000 years.Īccommodation: Top-Rated Resorts near Santa Fe, NM Join the Good Friday pilgrimage to El Sanctuario de Chimayó, 27 miles north in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Santa Fe is also a jumping-off point for visiting the state's 19 pueblos (traditional villages of Native American 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. Southwest architecture in Santa FeĮven if you're not a shopper, visiting the galleries, shops, and cafés along Canyon Road is still a worthwhile thing to do. On the portal of the Palace of the Governors (home of the New Mexico History Museum), meet Native American artisans who gather most days to sell everything from bracelets to belt buckles. The construction of the mysterious helix-shaped spiral staircase within the chapel, built without any known means of support, is believed to be a miracle.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. Francis Cathedral, and La Posada de Santa Fe resort and spa.ĭon't miss the opportunity to visit Loretto Chapel, a Roman Catholic church dating back to 1878. 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 diverse mix of its people, including Hispanic, Indigenous, and 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. There are things to do here all year round.įor a place with such a small population (88,000), Santa Fe packs a punch. With its four-season environment, there's never a bad time 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. 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. Santa Fe Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe Plaza Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refugeġ. What's around your next corner? Find clues on our list of the best places to visit in New Mexico. There are cultural attractions in all directions of this Four Corners state. You will return home energized by skiing in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Taos, kicking up dust from your bike or horse on trails near Gallup, or rafting on the Rio Chama in Georgia O'Keeffe Country near Ghost Ranch. Much like sandhill cranes that arrive at the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge on the Rio Grande each October, tourists visit New Mexico to feed a part of themselves. Visit White Sands National Park to see how brilliant starry night skies can be in the absence of light. It's easy to understand why artists have flocked to New Mexico when you see the quality of the light in the high desert as you look out from your adobe hacienda in Santa Fe each morning, or gaze upon the glowing Organ Mountains above Las Cruces at day's end. The best places to visit in New Mexico satisfy many types of travelers, from adventure seekers and creatives to romantics who find bliss in solitude.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |