Let me just start by saying we love spending time every December in the beautiful city of Santa Fe. It’s been our tradition for about 11 years now. My husband and I love to stay close to the square so we can walk around and look at all the shops, take a trip to Ten Thousand Waves Spa, and try and visit at least one new place each year.
December 2017 wasn’t any different. We booked a hotel right off the square, and after getting settled in, we headed off to start exploring a place to get some lunch. There is never a shortage of restaurants, but if you don’t get in early you may have quite a wait. We headed to the cafe on the square and really lucked out, they sat us right away.
We had a wonderful time in Santa Fe as we always do, and this time we added a day trip to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa. It’s about an hour or so from Santa Fe, but it’s not a bad drive. Although we didn’t really know what to expect, it was a definite treat! You pay a set fee to use all the mineral tubs for the day. So we started at the beginning, and spent a few hours soaking in tubs, having a mud bath, and just relaxing. We loved it!
We generally spend at least one day strolling around the square and the town, looking in all the shops to see what they have to offer. We also, frequent some of our favorite eating places. If you are going out for dinner, make sure to have a reservation or you may have a difficult time getting in.
Here are a few of our favorite watering holes in case you are wondering:
- Cafe Pasqual’s
- Radish & Rye
- The Bull Ring
- Vanessie Santa Fe (love the piano bar and drinks, but the food is great too)
- The Pink Adobe
- Izanami (at Ten Thousand Waves)
- Il Vicino Wood Oven
Pizza - Osteria D’Assisi (wonderful Italian food)
- Pranzo Italian Grill
If you are looking for some things to do while you are in town, here are a few suggestions:
- Meow Wolf – it’s a great museum that is wonderful for all ages.
- Ten Thousand Waves – a wonderful Japanese spa, but you will need transportation to get there from town.
- Camel Rock Monument – you will need a car to get here, but it’s quite the sight.
- Loretto Chapel – a very beautiful church. You won’t want to miss the spiral staircase that was built without nails, dowels or any visible support.
Hopefully you enjoy exploring Santa Fe and the surrounding areas as much as we do every year
Great travel tips! Thank you!