Do You Know the Way to New Mexico?

The first thing we did when we landed in Albuquerque was make our way to the Sandia Peak Tramway. The tram is the perfect way to experience the beautiful landscape of New Mexico — taking you up 10,378 feet to the crest of the Sandia Mountains and an astonishing 11,000-square-mile panoramic view.

PSA: If you’re like me and usually only used to the like 300 feet elevation in Connecticut, definitely drink plenty of water before you leave for your trip as well as during your stay. I brought a foldable reusable water bottle that fits everywhere with me.

As a couple of art-lovers, our theme for this trip was definitely art, and Downtown Sante Fe delivers, that’s for sure! We spent this day traversing the city, visiting the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Art on the Plaza (highly recommended!), as well as visiting a few churches. The Loretto Chapel Miraculous Staircase is definitely something to visit if you’re interested in a little mystery! Downtown Santa Fe is also a great place if you are looking to purchase jewelry from local artisans. There are plenty of artists around the Santa Fe Plaza selling beautiful handmade metal and turquoise jewelry. I came to Santa Fe with a mission of purchasing a few pieces, and it didn’t disappoint.

Visiting the Taos Pueblo World Heritage Site (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) was number one on my list of things to do in New Mexico, and I am so glad we did. Located about an hour and a half from Santa Fe, the Taos Pueblo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the USA. The main part of the buildings were constructed between 1000 and 1450 AD! You’re able to walk among the buildings and go inside ones that are open to the public as businesses. There’s a cafe serving coffee, tea and fry bread, and many artisans selling jewelry, pottery, weavings and other handmade wares. It’s an absolutely beautiful place to visit!

On the way back to Santa Fe, we made a detour to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge — which is a definite stop worth taking! It’s definitely not for the faint of heart (or those scared of heights), but a really cool pitstop.

At night, we had the best dinner at Joseph’s Culinary Pub. I 10000% recommend making a reservation here on your next trip to Santa Fe. The menu is about 99% gluten-free (which I appreciated). Abuela Nora's organic chicken posolé verde and the duck confit pad Thai was to die for. Also, all of the desserts are gluten-free. I had the butterscotch pudding — because who doesn’t love fresh homemade pudding?

On the way back to our hotel, we had to stop at this quirky monument down the road called Camel Rock — a large pink sandstone camel who looks over the highway — because why not?

During our, pretty much, final day in New Mexico, we visited the Poeh Cultural Center & Museum and the Canyon Road Arts District in Santa Fe. According to their website, “the Poeh Museum strives to promote cultural preservation through curation, exhibition and interaction with all Pueblos. As a critical resource for promoting and preserving Native American Pueblo art and culture, the Poeh Museum is a unique treasure in American history. With a primary focus on the artists of the six Tewa-speaking Pueblos of northern New Mexico, its programs focus on preserving traditional and contemporary Pueblo art and culture.”

The Canyon Road Arts District is located in Downtown Santa Fe and features numerous art galleries and shops that you can pop in and out of as well as art along the streets. There is so much to do and see!