Sante Fe

The hotel happened to have mid-week deals, so I snagged two nights at a discount. The location of the hotel was not what I expected. However, immediately when walking into the lobby I was captivated by the southwestern style and intentional beauty. The art on the walls bore earthy brown tones, the lounge was stunning and contained a round, wood-burning fireplace, and my room was like an apartment (a huge perk when you are driving for over a week across the country). This was definitely a place that made me feel rested.

While exploring the grounds, I uncovered coves and gardens filled with roses and vines. The contrast of green to the white stucco was brilliant. I was so intrigued by the landscaping and architecture of this facility. I decided to use the workout room to expel some energy from driving, and then take a dip in the outdoor hot tub.

In the morning, I used the breakfast vouchers provided by the hotel to eat at a local restaurant. I knew I wanted to explore the city that day. I decided to share my location on social media to see if anyone had suggestions. I received a tip about visiting a nearby natural landmark called Tent Rocks. I decided very last minute to take a trip just 45 minutes from the city to one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.

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When I came back to the city, I realized I did not want to drive my “trailered” car downtown. I needed a transportation plan, so I walked a mile or so to a nearby coffee shop and surveyed my next move. It was there that I remembered I’m a city girl who used to ride the bus to work. The bus system seemed cheap and easy to use. I was able to purchase an “unlimited rides” ticket for the day (just $2.00) and headed downtown.

Downtown Santa Fe was so full of life! The large square was filled with Native American culture and many people selling local handmade work. I enjoyed chatting with the makers and seeing photos of some of their processes- they cut, weld, and set all of their pieces, some from large blocks of raw material. There are plenty of shops accessible in the area. The prices were pretty high but so was the quality of the work. Many of these stores host bundles of handmade materials by local Native American artists.

After purchasing some one-of-a-kind gifts, and a personal bucket list item (Turkish rug), I grabbed my phone to choose where to eat. After reading some blog posts, I settled on a very highly-rated restaurant called Cafe Pasqual’s. This cafe has been featured in the NY Times and the LA Times. It was very quaint and because of my timing, I was able to get a seat without waiting in the usual long lines that develop for this spot! The food was delicious!

After eating dinner, I headed back to the hotel to end my night with much-needed rest. My time allotted for exploration during this long journey home came to a close and the next two days included driving…. and driving.

I am so grateful I chose to make a stop in Santa Fe and it will be added to my list of cities to return to.