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Welcome to the Land of Enchantment! Sometimes I have one of those trips that makes me slow down, put my phone away, and just experience a place — New Mexico was one of those. I spent four days across Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos to put together this guide to the top things to do in the American Southwest. Everything from walking alongside alpacas, standing in organic lavender fields, eating authentic New Mexican cuisine, gallery-hopping on Canyon Road, glamping under the stars, buying handmade jewelry from local Native artisans, and soaking in natural hot springs was simply magical.
SEE ALSO: 15 Best Things To Do In Santa Fe
Here’s my New Mexico travel guide to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos!
Table of Contents
What to pack for New Mexico
- Sunscreen
- Lotion, heavy facial moisturizer & lip balm — the climate is so dry here
- Windbreaker or heavy sweater — the wind picks up and a cold front can roll through fast (it even started snowing on us in Santa Fe!)
- Hat
- Scarf
- Sandals + comfortable walking shoes
- Water bottle — drink lots of water!
Albuquerque, New Mexico
My first stop was Albuquerque, to stay at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm.
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm
This darling inn was such a relaxing, organic experience — learning how the lavender is grown in the greenhouse, watching the guinea fowl gossip, trying to pet the alpacas, shopping the farm shop, and field-to-fork dining at Campo. Los Poblanos has 25 acres, formal gardens, lavender and vegetable fields, and historic farm buildings dating to a 1932 design, with 50 guest rooms in classic New Mexican style. The lavender blooms mid-June through July, so I highly recommend planning a visit then.
Koko Tip: At Campo, order the achiote grilled ribeye and the Los Poblanos honey cake.
4803 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, lospoblanos.com
Albuquerque Museum
This museum preserves the art of the American Southwest and the history of Albuquerque and the Middle Rio Grande Valley.
Good to know: Open Wed–Mon 9am–5pm (closed Tuesdays). Small admission, and it’s free on Sunday mornings (9am–1pm) and the first Wednesday of each month.
2000 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, cabq.gov
Sawmill Market
New Mexico’s first artisan food hall, with 20+ vendors — coffee, New Mexican food, pasta, desserts, flowers, gifts, and more. There’s a big outdoor space, The Yard, with a cute camper serving frozen drinks.
1909 Bellamah Ave NW, Albuquerque, sawmillmarket.com
Sandia Peak Tramway
Ride 2.7 miles up to 10,378 feet on the Sandia Peak Tramway — the world’s third-longest single span — for an 11,000-square-mile panoramic view. There’s the TEN 3 restaurant at the top, and in 2026 the tram is celebrating its 60th birthday.
Tickets: Adults $34; seniors, military & teens 13–20 $29; youth 0–12 $24 (plus a small grounds fee). Open daily 9am–8pm, weather permitting — buy online ahead.
30 Tramway Rd NE, Albuquerque
RELATED: Things To Do In Albuquerque
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Our next stop was Santa Fe, just a one-hour drive from Albuquerque.
Ojo Santa Fe (formerly Sunrise Springs)
This serene wellness resort — now part of Ojo Spa Resorts — sits on 77 acres of gardens, walking paths, and spring-fed waters about 20 minutes south of downtown. Days fill with yoga, meditation, hiking, puppy play, and horticulture and culinary classes, and there are no TVs in the rooms so you can truly unplug. The silkie chickens in the coop are adorable and hilarious.
Good to know: Casitas and garden-view rooms, an on-site spa, open-air soaking, the Blue Heron Restaurant, and a saltwater pool. Day soaking passes available (first-come, first-serve, 10am–10pm); it’s a 13-and-older resort.
242 Los Pinos Rd, Santa Fe, ojosparesorts.com
Hotel Santa Fe
Immerse yourself in the Pueblo spirit of Santa Fe at Hotel Santa Fe — the only Native American-owned hotel downtown, opened in 1991 and developed with the Picuris Pueblo. Choose a traditional room with handcrafted Southwestern furnishings, or splurge on The Hacienda, with 35 lavish rooms, a private butler, and daily breakfast. The on-site Amaya restaurant highlights Pueblo and Northern New Mexican flavors, and there’s even tepee dining on the patio (check current hours and reserve ahead).
Amenities: complimentary downtown shuttle, pet friendly, outdoor pool & hot tub, spa, fitness center.
1501 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, hotelsantafe.com
Where to eat in Santa Fe
Café Pasqual’s — This humble downtown café serves famous New Mexican food with fresh, seasonal, organic ingredients. A James Beard America’s Regional Cooking Classics honoree — there can be a wait, but it’s totally worth it. We came for breakfast and it was incredible.
What to order: huevos barbacoa con chile d’arbol salsa and the corn pancakes.
121 Don Gaspar Ave, Santa Fe
Modern General is also a cute spot for breakfast and coffee.
Kakawa Chocolate House — Even if you don’t usually like hot chocolate (like me), Kakawa will blow you away. This chocolate house specializes in fine, hand-made drinking-chocolate elixirs. The Aztec was incredible, but my favorite was the American with a dollop of organic whipped cream.
1050 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, kakawachocolates.com
La Choza — Hands down my favorite meal in New Mexico, and it makes my all-time top ten. La Choza is popular, so the wait can be long — add your name, head to the bar for a Pasa de Oro margarita, and order the queso and salsa duo. The blue corn enchilada plate is what they’re known for; get it with carne adovada (pork was better, IMO), and don’t skip a basket (or two) of sopaipillas — little pillows of heaven. Pull them apart, pour the honey inside, eat, smile, repeat.
What to order: margaritas, the enchilada plate with carne adovada, sopaipillas, and posole.
905 Alarid St, Santa Fe, lachozasf.com
La Reina — For drinks, hit the tequila-and-mezcal bar La Reina inside El Rey Court, a Route 66 motor court built in 1936.
1862 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, elreycourt.com
Shop & explore Santa Fe
My friend Paige of Midland Shop has been to Santa Fe many times and shared her favorite spots with me:
- Palace of the Governors on the Plaza — where Native artisans sell their wares daily. Some pieces are surprisingly inexpensive, and you can find real gems (I bought a handmade gold-and-copper cuff here!).
- Rainbow Man — great for vintage turquoise and Edward S. Curtis photographs.
- Keshi, across from the St. Francis Hotel — authentic Zuni art, jewelry, and carvings. Pick up a carved fetish of your spirit animal.
- Andrea Fischer Fine Pottery — the best pottery from the working Pueblos.
- Shiprock Santa Fe — out-of-this-world vintage turquoise and Navajo rugs.
- Loretto Chapel — see the famous “miraculous staircase.” It’s a beautiful sight.
- Santa Fe Vintage on Palace — best vintage ever.
- Georgia O’Keeffe Museum — the largest collection of her work anywhere.
- Canyon Road — quirky art galleries and boutiques.
If I had more time in Santa Fe, I’d spend a solid 3 to 4 hours on Canyon Road exploring all the galleries and boutiques — there are over 250 art galleries in the city!
Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return
If you’re in Santa Fe, you have to visit Meow Wolf. Don’t be fooled by the strip-mall exterior — inside is a psychedelic, 70-room funhouse you climb and crawl through. It’s nearly impossible to photograph, and that’s the point: you go to *experience* it.
Tickets: Pricing now varies by date and time (generally from around $45) — book online ahead, and note it’s cashless.
1352 Rufina Cir, Santa Fe, meowwolf.com
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs
One of my favorite experiences in New Mexico was soaking at Ojo Caliente — it actually started snowing while we were in the hot springs. Established in 1868, it’s one of the oldest natural health spas in the country, and one of the only springs on Earth with four different minerals: lithia, iron, soda, and arsenic, in naturally sulfur-free water. There are a dozen communal pools at varying temperatures.
Day soaking pass: $45/person Monday–Thursday, $65/person Friday–Sunday and holidays (10am–10pm; locker and towel included). Note: the Arsenic Pool is temporarily closed for enhancements, with 10 other pools open.
50 Los Banos Dr, Ojo Caliente, ojosparesorts.com
SEE ALSO: 11 Top Hot Springs In Santa Fe
Taos, New Mexico
Our third and final stop was Taos — about an hour and a half from Santa Fe.
Hotel Luna Mystica
Glamping under the stars at Hotel Luna Mystica was the perfect way to cap off our New Mexico trip. It’s a vintage trailer hotel and campground out on the Taos Mesa, where each remodeled trailer and airstream has its own personality and outdoor deck. The temperature dropped to 20 degrees that night, but I was warm and toasty inside — and if you step out in the middle of the night, you can see the entire Milky Way and hear the coyotes howling.
25 ABC Mesa Road, El Prado, hotellunamystica.com
Earthship Biotecture
Step into Earthship Biotecture and you’ll feel transported to another planet. An Earthship is a solar home made from natural, sustainable, and recycled materials — even the water is collected on the roofs and filtered for different uses. I was in awe of the architecture, built with glass bottles and aluminum cans.
Earthship Way, Taos, earthshipglobal.com
Taos Ski Valley
Nestled deep in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos Ski Valley offers gleaming slopes for skiing, snowboarding, and more.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is a steel deck arch bridge soaring high across the Rio Grande Gorge. You can drive across it or walk out onto it — I took the photo above with my drone.
El Prado, NM
Where to eat in Taos
Taos Cow — A beloved local ice cream shop (since 1993) using fresh cream from a New Mexico dairy. Try the piñon — sweet cream ice cream with roasted piñons and caramel. I loved mine with a second scoop of lavender. They now have two locations (Arroyo Seco and Taos).
483 NM-150, Arroyo Seco
Taos Mesa Brewing — Right next to Hotel Luna Mystica, the “Mothership” pours a dozen house beers on draft with tacos, a dance floor, and live music nearly every night.
Taos Mesa, El Prado
RELATED: 3-Day Santa Fe Itinerary
