rickey&Liz’s Non-difinitive guide to Santa Fe
Food
Coffee: Betterday (Brisket Burrito), Ikonic (on Lena Street),
Coffee and pastries: Clafoutis, Dolina, The Bread Shop
Tacos: Taco trucks on airport road are cheapest and most authentic, El Chile Toreado is a taco truck nominated for a James Beard award
Burger: Lotta Burger near downtown is like our In&Out, Shake Foundation is real good, the Violet Crown (movie theater) also has great burgers and beer
Cocktails: La Reina, at El Rey the motel, cool design, cozy spot and great drinks, As Above, So Below in the Railyard - distills their own.
Radish&Rye: great food, amazing whiskey drinks
Dive Bar: The Matador (downtown)
Indian: Paper Dosa (sister restaurant of bay area one with similar name)
Pricey but delicious mexican-ish food: Paloma (great cocktails)
Jamacan Vegan Food Truck (one of my favorites): Ras Rody
La Choza: obnoxiously classic New Mexico establishment, The Shed (same, but just off the plaza), Tomasitas - also great.
Lunch Spot: Counter Culture (open 8am - 3pm)
Stuff to do
Meow Wolf! Reserve tickets ahead of time, go on a week day if possible, less kids and families. Check their show listing. - they sometimes have great music at night which can be the best way to see the exhibit AND music.
Double Take - get your bolo tie and cow boy boots here, great selection of western wear, some designer labels and regular thrift all in one spot
Folk Art Museum - the Girard Collection! Objects from all over the world
Botanical Garden - well groomed garden. excellent high-desert specimens
Site Santa Fe - contemporary art
The Plaza - people watching, native art, epicenter of Santa Fe
Farmer’s Market - at the Railyard - Saturdays and Wednesdays
Art Vault - private collection of contemporary art, free admission,
Where to stay - hotels/motels
El Rey - hip, Route 66 style motel
Ten-thousand Waves - pricey, Japanese style onsen, hotel and izanami
Where to Stay - camping
Dispersed camping, East of Town towards/in the Mountains (Free, no bathrooms):
Pacheco Canyon - many options through the canyon.
Roadside Camp towards Pacheco Canyon - might need 4wd to pop up onto camp. Road leading to camp is fine
note - Pacheco Canyon leads to ski area road. study map to see this. AWD is recommended but not essential (a subaru could do it but maybe not a camero)
Dispersed camping, west of town towards/in the Desert (Free)
Buckman Road to Diablo Canyon and the Rio Grande - many options for several miles, mostly on the north side of road.
Diablo Canyon (has bathroom)
Cheap Campgrounds (can just drive the Hyde Park road towards the ski area - if one after another is full, camping at the ski area is always an option - that's the end of the road. 10,000ft)
Big Tesuque Campground (up towards ski area). Real pretty, aspens, trails, etc.
Ski Area - Can go here if Big Tesuque is full
Hyde Park - might need reservations.
Runs/Hike/Bike
Short/Medium
Atalaya/Picacho - (8 miles) these are the foothill mountains directly west of Santa Fe. The trail system leading up to them is called Dale Ball trails.
Sun Mountain - quite short (two miles) but will give you a great view of the city and Rio Grande Valley
La Tierra - a different trail system at the north edge of town. Network of trails that stay low in the piñon and juniper.
Chamisa, Borrego, Bear Wallow - 10-miler with a selection of trails off the Hyde Park Road
Big Tesuque/Aspen Vista - the first real taste of the high mountains - always water flowing, beautiful Aspen trees, quite popular (for New Mexico).
Nambe Lake - Six mile out-and-back from the ski area.
Diablo Canyon - can be very hot in. the summer. Nice winter hike. Watch for Rattle Snakes.
Long
The Anatoli Loop - 17 miles: From the Ski Area - Windsor/Raven’s Ridge/Deception/Lake Peak/Penitente Peak/Spirit Lake/Katherine Lake/Santa Fe Baldy and back to the Ski Area
Glorieta Baldy 15 miles (I prefer to do this on a bike - good one from town)
Shaggy Peak - fun, scramble peak, east of town. Can be accessed from Canada de los Alamos or from I-25 near Glorieta - the route shown here is from I-25.
Truchas Peaks - a small cluster of 13,000ft+ peaks. Mildly technical up top.