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Santa Fe NM stop en route to Colorado
Posted on 6/11/25 at 8:11 pm
Posted on 6/11/25 at 8:11 pm
We drive from Houston to Breckenridge every summer and spend about three weeks there. Our typical drive is to stop in Amarillo, and continue on to Breckenridge the next day.
Always wanted to visit Santa Fe. I have a few extra days to play with this time and was wondering the board’s thoughts on going out of our way (by about 2.5 total hours) to spend 2 nights in Santa Fe.
Is it worth it? What are some things we could do with one full day and 2 nights?
Will be with one kid (age 3) and a dog.
Always wanted to visit Santa Fe. I have a few extra days to play with this time and was wondering the board’s thoughts on going out of our way (by about 2.5 total hours) to spend 2 nights in Santa Fe.
Is it worth it? What are some things we could do with one full day and 2 nights?
Will be with one kid (age 3) and a dog.
7
Posted on 6/11/25 at 8:29 pm to skewbs
Some people love Santa Fe and some people like me think it's nice enough but not that interesting a place. I would much rather spend 2 nights in Salida We can make Santa Fe in 9 hrs from Dallas, same distance/time to Marfa and I would rather go to Marfa/Big Bend
This post was edited on 6/11/25 at 10:06 pm
Posted on 6/11/25 at 9:52 pm to skewbs
Santa Fe is fantastic
Take the sky rail and do a sunset ride (might have been my favorite experience of all). The most incredible sunset you’ll ever see
Bandolier is about an hour away and is cool to check out the cave dwellings
Food scene in Santa Fe is incredible
The Compound, Geronimo, Sazon, and La Choza were our favorites
There’s also a great food truck (James beard nominee) El Chile Toreado
Grab a chocolate elixir at Kakawa (the chile was our favorite)
Meow Wolf is fun to mix things up.
We white water rafted and hit up wineries on the way back but that was about 45 min or so away
Plenty of breweries to check out
We stayed at La Fonda. Great location. Our room had a terrace overlooking the Loretto Chapel which is known for its mysterious staircase
Our favorite place to grab cocktails was Los Poblanos Bar Norte
Take the sky rail and do a sunset ride (might have been my favorite experience of all). The most incredible sunset you’ll ever see
Bandolier is about an hour away and is cool to check out the cave dwellings
Food scene in Santa Fe is incredible
The Compound, Geronimo, Sazon, and La Choza were our favorites
There’s also a great food truck (James beard nominee) El Chile Toreado
Grab a chocolate elixir at Kakawa (the chile was our favorite)
Meow Wolf is fun to mix things up.
We white water rafted and hit up wineries on the way back but that was about 45 min or so away
Plenty of breweries to check out
We stayed at La Fonda. Great location. Our room had a terrace overlooking the Loretto Chapel which is known for its mysterious staircase
Our favorite place to grab cocktails was Los Poblanos Bar Norte
Posted on 6/12/25 at 7:09 am to Zappas Stache
quote:
I would much rather spend 2 nights in Salida
some of the things you people come up with....goodness. Santa Fe is awesome for a weekend, you will have a good time and feel like you've seen it all and never need to return. You can walk around the Plaza, drive up to the ski resort above town, Tent Rocks, and eat everywhere.
Posted on 6/12/25 at 9:07 am to skewbs
Carlsbad Caverns NP and Great Sand Dunes NP aren't far off your route.
Agree
One of the few NP areas that I haven't visited. How would you compare to Tetons or Yellowstone? (if you've visited those parks)
quote:
I would much rather spend 2 nights in Salida
Agree
quote:
same distance/time to Marfa and I would rather go to Marfa/Big Bend
One of the few NP areas that I haven't visited. How would you compare to Tetons or Yellowstone? (if you've visited those parks)
This post was edited on 6/12/25 at 9:20 am
Posted on 6/12/25 at 9:41 am to skewbs
My wife and I just spent a few days in Santa Fe and enjoyed it quite a bit. With that said, we didn't have a three year old with us, so I imagine nice restaurants, museums, and art galleries aren't necessarily going to be the ticket
Posted on 6/12/25 at 9:51 am to skewbs
Yes. Worth it. Santa Fe is basically our second home, as we have friends there who we house sit/swap with fairly frequently and we just end up there often.
With a 3 year old, I would look at the Railyard area as there's a lot of "play space" adjoining restaurants and night life. Already had some good recommendations on food with La Choza et. al. I'll recommend:
Dolina bakery
Cowgirl Hall of Fame for food (has a playground for kids in the back).
The Shed or La Choza (sister restaurants).
El Chile Toreado is a good recommendation
El Parasol (it's a dive, but the tacos are amazing and fresh fried)
I'm not sure that Meow Wolf is really great for a 3 year old, but it's a good attraction.
Tesuque Village Market (for food) in combination with the Shidoni Sculpture park, which is out that way, s a good thing for a kid as well.
If you go to Bandelier, would also recommend checking out the Vallez Caldera and going to the East Fork of the Jemez trailhead right past it and hiking and wading that. Really accessible and beautiful hiking trail that would be good for a 3 year old (could probably have a stroller on it if necessary)
Wild to me that people think that Salida is culturally as interesting as Santa Fe. I can see it if you really love the mountains and mountain towns (I do), but Santa Fe, culturally, is far more intersting, imo. Huge blend of different ethnicities, a unique foodway, tons of arts/crafts, insane art gallery scene (like people come from all over the world to buy art there) and a lot going on at all times.
With a 3 year old, I would look at the Railyard area as there's a lot of "play space" adjoining restaurants and night life. Already had some good recommendations on food with La Choza et. al. I'll recommend:
Dolina bakery
Cowgirl Hall of Fame for food (has a playground for kids in the back).
The Shed or La Choza (sister restaurants).
El Chile Toreado is a good recommendation
El Parasol (it's a dive, but the tacos are amazing and fresh fried)
I'm not sure that Meow Wolf is really great for a 3 year old, but it's a good attraction.
Tesuque Village Market (for food) in combination with the Shidoni Sculpture park, which is out that way, s a good thing for a kid as well.
If you go to Bandelier, would also recommend checking out the Vallez Caldera and going to the East Fork of the Jemez trailhead right past it and hiking and wading that. Really accessible and beautiful hiking trail that would be good for a 3 year old (could probably have a stroller on it if necessary)
Wild to me that people think that Salida is culturally as interesting as Santa Fe. I can see it if you really love the mountains and mountain towns (I do), but Santa Fe, culturally, is far more intersting, imo. Huge blend of different ethnicities, a unique foodway, tons of arts/crafts, insane art gallery scene (like people come from all over the world to buy art there) and a lot going on at all times.
This post was edited on 6/12/25 at 10:03 am
Posted on 6/12/25 at 11:08 am to hogfly
quote:
Wild to me that people think that Salida is culturally as interesting as Santa Fe. I can see it if you really love the mountains and mountain towns (I do), but Santa Fe, culturally, is far more intersting, imo. Huge blend of different ethnicities, a unique foodway, tons of arts/crafts, insane art gallery scene (like people come from all over the world to buy art there) and a lot going on at all times.
I didn't say Salida was "culturally" more interesting but yes, I do like the mountain town aspect of Salida. But Salida, too, is becoming more gentrified every time I go. I've been there 4 times over the last 15 years and have seen the change. I've been to SF probably 6 or 7 times the last 15 years and have friends there and in Taos as well who love it. We just had another couple we were good friends with move to SF. I get people love it but my wife and I don't get the same feeling about it.
quote:
Huge blend of different ethnicities
I appreciate that but I get that at home everyday
quote:
a unique foodway
Bot sure what a foodway is but yea, I love the food in Santa Fe
quote:
insane art gallery scene
I find most of the art there highly derivative, overly kitsche and/or blatantly pandering to a certain upscale clientele. Yea, I'm a pretentious art nerd.
Overall, SF is about tourism and it caters to that and while it does have interesting cultural aspects, the buildings, the Puebla and museums, I love the Folk Art Museum, once you've done those then you're left with the city itself which is over run with tourists all vying to get into a handful of great restaurants.
Posted on 6/12/25 at 11:25 am to Zappas Stache
Salida is getting a little gentrified for sure... but don't get me started on the "Seaside of the Rockies" of the South Main/Surf Hotel area in Buena Vista.
Yeah, I don't know. We just got back from Santa Fe again, and were talking about how we, once again, saw things that we hadn't seen before (admittedly, driving out into the surrounding mountains). I will say that a large part of our love for it is that my wife and I went just after getting married and had a pretty magical time there, and our experiences have just built as our kids have been raised there and feel practically like locals as well.
Also for the OP, some other places to try:
Los Poblanos (hip little store, market, and restaurant/bar)
La Mama (unique food and market nspired by the Swedish background of the owner)
Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery: large outdoor space (kid). often has live music.
Rowley's Farmhouse Ales: excellent brewery.
Modern General (let the wife go over there, you hang at nearby Shake Foundation with the kid).
Yeah, I don't know. We just got back from Santa Fe again, and were talking about how we, once again, saw things that we hadn't seen before (admittedly, driving out into the surrounding mountains). I will say that a large part of our love for it is that my wife and I went just after getting married and had a pretty magical time there, and our experiences have just built as our kids have been raised there and feel practically like locals as well.
Also for the OP, some other places to try:
Los Poblanos (hip little store, market, and restaurant/bar)
La Mama (unique food and market nspired by the Swedish background of the owner)
Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery: large outdoor space (kid). often has live music.
Rowley's Farmhouse Ales: excellent brewery.
Modern General (let the wife go over there, you hang at nearby Shake Foundation with the kid).
Posted on 6/12/25 at 12:48 pm to skewbs
We spent a night in Santa Fe last October on our way to Durango. We wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Our target area was the old town shopping area. On the way we passed a high school having an outside market and we pulled in. Everything was handmade by the students. We bought a few things and had a great time talking with the students and their parents. We were underwhelmed with the downtown area. It was shoulder to shoulder and parking was almost nonexistent. We are not turquoise and copper fans. We will never return on purpose.
Posted on 6/12/25 at 1:13 pm to skewbs
quote:
Is it worth it?
What is your tolerance level for really, really shitty "art"?
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