Santa Fe sits at the base of the Pajarito Plateau, high on the plains of northern New Mexico. At 7,200 feet above sea level, this crossroads of culture and government is the highest state capital in the US. It is also a melting pot of Puebloan, Spanish, Mexican, and American culture, making it one of the most unique places to explore.
So much has been written about “The City Different” that it’s hard to decide what to highlight. Santa Fe’s roots date to before 900 CE when the area was occupied by indigenous Tanoan peoples. They lived in numerous Pueblo villages along the Rio Grande.One of the earliest known settlements in what today is downtown Santa Fe.
Don Juan de Onate led the first Spanish effort to colonize the region in 1598, establishing Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico as a province of New Spain. Under Juan de Oñate and his son, the capital of the province was the settlement of San Juan de los Caballeros north of Santa Fe near modern Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. In 1610, Santa Fe was designated as the capital of the province, which it has almost constantly remained, making it the oldest state capital in the United States.
Today Santa Fe is a mecca for art lovers, photographers, and those in search of some truly unique food. The blend of native, Spanish, and European cuisines has led to New Mexico being one of the most unique culinary experiences on the planet.
You can spend weeks in and around Santa Fe, exploring the city’s history, art, and dining. Day trips along the Turquoise Trail, the high road to Taos, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Bandelier, and Los Alamos are just a few places outside city limits to explore. Pecos National Historic Park is an excellent place to explore the high-country scenery, breathe in juniper, and learn a bit of history. Glorieta Pass Battlefield tells the story of the battle of Glorieta Pass which was fought March 26–28, 1862 in the mountain pass west of Pecos Pueblo, along the route of the Old Santa Fe Trail. Confederate forces were en-route to take Union-controlled Fort Union, and were fought to a standoff by militia raised in the New Mexico and Colorado Territories.
https://www.nps.gov/peco/index.htm
Georgia O’Keeffe fan? There’s an excellent museum in Santa Fe. You might also want to head out to Abiquiu and explore her studio and homestead. She created many of her landscapes in the russet landscape of this stunning area.
While you’re in the area, head over to Ghost Ranch. Dinosaur afficionados will enjoy the paleontology museum on site. Learn about Coelophysis and the paleontology work at the facility.
https://www.ghostranch.org/activities/the-ruth-hall-museum-of-paleontology/
An equally engaging anthropology museum tells the story of early settlers in the area.
https://www.ghostranch.org/activities/florence-hawley-ellis-museum-of-anthropology/
While you’re there, strap on your hiking boots and head up the Chimney Rock trail. The view from the top is worth the climb and you peer out across the plateau.
If you want to plan a trip to Northern New Mexico, I recommend heading over to the Santa Fe visitors’ bureau. From there you can consult websites galore and craft an itinerary that sparks your interests.
Be sure to remember that at over 7,000 feet, Santa Fe can get real winter weather. It also enjoys summer monsoons, spring winds, and every possible high plains weather condition. And it’s dry. Relative humidity is extremely low. Drink lots of water! Enjoy sangria at a rooftop cantina. Eat lots of sopaipillas. With honey. And enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of The City Different.
