Travels in New Mexico

I have always envisioned New Mexico as a place of enchantment with spiritual, fulfilled people, a thriving cultural scene and a gorgeous landscape. Like much of life, the real New Mexico was both greater and less than my imagined New Mexico. The landscape is gorgeous, especially when you get out of the big cities and drive along the little highways (the photo is on our drive from Ojo Caliente to Santa Fe on the High Road from Taos). There is so much to explore in New Mexico that four days only allowed me a glimpse of what the state has to offer but I thought I would document all my favorite things.

Diner Culture: Route 66 ran through the center of Albuquerque and left behind lots of roadside hotels and diners. Apparently, cinnamon rolls are quite big there. I had a delicious one at Frontier Restaurant across from the University of New Mexico. They serve breakfast, burgers and New Mexican classics at great prices in an incredible setting filled with college students with hangovers, families and older people.

Spa Time: Ojo Caliente is a great spa with a variety of mineral baths. The setting is gorgeous, the baths feel great and the drive up from Santa Fe is lovely. The standard hotel rooms are not great but the spa has a day rate and would be a great day trip.

New Mexican Cuisine: The food in New Mexico was great, it was hard not to spend all our time thinking about our next meal. The emphasis on local food and chiles makes for some great restaurants, especially in Santa Fe at Cafe Pasqual's and the Sleeping Dog Tavern.

Adventures on Backroads: There are lots of places to explore within an hour of Santa Fe and Albuquerque. We made a trip to Chimayo, a small community on the road between Taos and Santa Fe. We had a great traditional New Mexican lunch at the Rancho de Chimayo, followed by exploring the beautiful adobe Catholic church, El Santuario de Chimayo. There are also lots of shops to see the work of local artisans. The vistas while driving alone made the trip worthwhile and if you see a chili roasting stand on the side of the road be sure to stop.

New Mexican History: New Mexico has a rich history and Santa Fe is a great place to explore it. The New Mexico History Museum is a must see and very well put together with interactive exhibits. The New Mexico Museum of Art showcases some of the art that has made New Mexico famous over the years. We were only able to see part of the New Deal Art Legacy Walking Tour but it seems like it would worthwhile.

Our Hotels: In Albuquerque, we stayed at a great boutique hotel, Andaluz. The hotel has unique decor, comfortable rooms, a great restaurant and a hopping outdoor bar. In Santa Fe, La Fonda on the Plaza is a great kitschy hotel right on the plaza with a great pool and lots of history. If you have only one night in Santa Fe this would be the place to stay. Fort Marcy is a condo hotel a few blocks off the plaza with full kitchens and fireplaces. It would be a great place to stay for a few nights while exploring around Santa Fe.

I look forward to going back and exploring more of New Mexico!