New Mexico—it’s hard for me to find words that describe you. Your depth, your complexity, your extremes, your magic. My first visit to this state felt like a storm—beautiful and powerful and all-consuming in a way. Eerily similar to the monsoons that hit without warning in the Chihuahuan desert. Simultaneously everything I was expecting and nothing at once.
New Mexico is a state that mysteriously flies under the radar for most travelers, hiding its mystic beauty and inevitably problematic circumstances just under the nose of the rest of the country. I think the best way to describe New Mexico is simply this: a microcosm of America. The culture, the beauty, the deep-seated issues are eerily representative of the the U.S. as a whole, both the glamorous and the unsettling.
This is a state rich in natural beauty, wildlife and diversity but so stricken with problems in spite of them. Otherworldly sand dunes, chile peppers dotting every dish, ancient volcanic landscapes, lavender fields, coyotes howling in the night, mountains that rise up out of nowhere. Couple this with the drug trade, struggling immigrants, crime, addiction, poverty. I always say that travel should be an educational experience, and my time in New Mexico both inspired me and opened my eyes.
New Mexico needs to be met with an open mind. It’s very much a state that takes you on its own terms. The weather, the beauty, the kind locals, the heat-inducing food—all make New Mexico a place to be experienced. I saw more in three days in New Mexico than I did weeks in other places. New Mexico is an adventure worth taking.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is New Mexico’s cosmopolitan city, brimming with art galleries, upscale boutiques, world-class restaurants and luxurious spas. The city is filled with history and is a melting pot of Spanish, Mexican, Native American and southwestern culture. Where else can you find churches from the sixteenth century, stunning geological formations and a thriving modern culinary scene all in the same place? If you’re looking for a relaxing retreat that allows you to escape the ordinary and experience a whole new state, Santa Fe is the getaway for you.
The Santa Fe Shortlist
Stay
- Hampton Inn Santa Fe—South $—Brand-new hotel in Santa Fe that perfectly captures the Santa Fe aesthetic; only 10 minutes from downtown Santa Fe!
- La Fonda on the Plaza $$—Historic hotel with incredible dining experiences and beautiful views of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assissi; the only hotel on Santa Fe’s famous Plaza
- Ojo Santa Fe $$$— One of the best spa resorts in the area + features the largest saltwater pool in Santa Fe; sister property to world-famous Ojo Caliente near Taos
Explore
- Palace of the Governors—explore the history of Santa Fe; this building was originally constructed in the 1600s as a government building for the Spanish; Native American artisans sell their creations outside the Palace of the Governors every week
- Meow Wolf—world-famous interactive art exhibit; a must-see when you’re in Santa Fe! $18 admission fee
- Georgia O’Keefe Museum—dedicated to the art and legacy of New Mexico’s most influential artist, Georgia O’Keefe; $13 admission fee
- New Mexico Museum of Art—amazing collection of Southwestern and local artwork; $12 admission fee ($7 for New Mexico residents)
- Oldest House/De Vargas Street House—adobe house claimed to be the oldest building in Santa Fe (dating back to the 17th-century); free entry
- Santa Fe Art Institute—one of the best museums in Santa Fe for local art
- Ten Thousand Waves Spa $$—a Japanese Spa inspired by mountain hot spring resorts in Japan; one of the most unique spas in North America; spa prices range from $39-$200
- Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument—one of the best hiking spots near Santa Fe; known for it’s cone-shaped hoodoo tent rocks; great for photos; $5 admission fee
- Pecos National Historical Park—historical site featuring a New Mexico pueblo; amazing sunset photoshoot location; free entry
Eat + Drink
- Sky Coffee $—cute aesthetic coffee shop in Santa Fe’s railyard
- Kakawa Chocolate House $—best place in Santa Fe for Native American drinking chocolate
- Tia Sophia’s $—one of the most famous New Mexican cuisine restaurants in Santa Fe; known for their breakfast burritos, chile dishes and sopapillas
- La Choza $—sister restaurant to The Shed; Santa Fe locals’ choice for chile; pro tip—order your dish “Christmas” style for a mix of red and green chiles
- The Tea House $$—international teahouse on Canyon Road; also serves breakfast and dinner
- The Shed $$—my favorite restaurant in Santa Fe; James Beard award-winning New Mexican cuisine; grab a table on the patio and order the blue corn enchiladas with red chile and kale salad with pine nuts (a New Mexican specialty)
- Modern General $$—best brunch spot in Santa Fe; specializes in healthy entrees and pressed juice
- Cafe Pasqual’s $$—a Santa Fe institution; serving seasonal and organic New Mexican dishes
Shop
- Canyon Road—iconic street comprised of over 100 art galleries, local boutiques and restaurants
- Sante Fe Vintage—one of the best vintage shops in Santa Fe for window shopping
- Shiprock Santa Fe—art gallery with beautiful Navajo rugs for sale; you’ve most likely seen this place in your Instagram feed before
Photograph
- Loretto Chapel Staircase—considered a miracle because of its unknown origin; its woodworking and construction defy physics; one of the best photo spots in Santa Fe
- St. Francis Basilica of Assissi—one of the only European-designed churches in the U.S.; stunning architecture; the park next door is the perfect place to relax and soak up the Santa Fe vibe
- San Miguel Chapel—oldest church in the U.S.
- Bandelier National Monument—beautiful canyon with petroglyphs and cave dwellings; $25 per vehicle for seven-day admission
- Jemez Springs—hot springs with mesa views
- Four Season Rancho Encantado—gorgeous resort with lavender and teepees for photography
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is so quintessentially New Mexico. I feel like I have a personal connection to Albuquerque from watching Breaking Bad, but the city has so much more to offer than Walter White’s legacy. Albuquerque is filled with retro charm from Route 66, lots of historical sites, a daring culinary scene and scenic views and natural beauty just a short drive away. If you’re visiting Santa Fe, add on a day trip to Albuquerque in your itinerary—it’s worth the trip.
Explore
- Breaking Bad Filming Locations Tour—Albuquerque is known for being the prime filming location for the hit AMC show, Breaking Bad. You can even take a full self-guided tour of the show with this map of filming locations, from Walter White’s House to Los Pollos Hermanos.
- Old Town Albuquerque—Historic Old Town founded in 1706
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta—this world-famous balloon festival is held just outside of Albuquerque every October
- Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm—beautiful inn and working farm with gorgeous lavender fields and alpacas; perfect for a relaxing stay just outside of Albuquerque
- Albuquerque Museum—dedicated to American Southwest art and the history of Albuquerque; $6 admission fee
- Turquoise Museum—features some of the rarest turquoise jewelry pieces in the world; the entrance makes for beautiful photos; $16 admission fee
- La Luz Trail—trail with panoramic views of Albuquerque; this hike is intense and spans 8-9 miles, but is considered the best hike in the area
- Sandia Peak Tramway—the best view of Albuquerque from the Sandia Mountains; this tramway offers panoramic views of the city; on a clear day, you can see most of New Mexico from the top of the peak; $25 admission fee
- Petroglyph National Monument: one of the best ancient historical sites in the area; $1 admission on weekdays/$2 on weekends
Eat
- Owl Cafe—The Owl Cafe is my favorite Route 66 stop in Albuquerque. This place just oozes retro charm and hospitality. Order the green chile cheeseburger with sweet potato fries—New Mexico is known for them!
- El Pinto—a local favorite and hangout of the Breaking Bad cast during filming; known for their chile dishes; the largest New Mexican cuisine restaurant in the state
- 66 Diner—authentic 50s diner on Route 66; known for their burgers, shakes and retro desserts; one of the cutest stops on the route!
Billy the Kid Scenic Byway
The Billy the Kid Scenic Byway surprised me in the best way possible. This road winds through New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest and is full of the history and culture of the Wild West. This is the land of famous outlaws, pioneers and true cowboys. If you find yourself venturing from Roswell down to White Sands or Las Cruces, you’ll experience some highlights of the byway. If you choose to spend a day exploring the byway, here are the places you shouldn’t miss:
- Ruidoso—ski-town; home to the byway’s official visitor center, The Hubbard Museum of the American West and the famous horse-racing venue of Ruidoso Downs
- Lincoln—an authentic Old West town; site of a significant battle in the Lincoln County War with Billy the Kid
- Fort Stanton—one of the best-preserved 19th-century forts in the country
- Capitan—birthplace of Smokey the Bear; check out Smokey the Bear Historical Park during your visit
White Sands National Park
White Sands is unlike any place I’ve ever visited before. The majesty of this national park really sneaks up on you and doesn’t fit the typical mold of what you might expect. You can drive for hours, passing by small towns on two-lane roads through the mountains, before you reach a little town called Alamogordo. You have to look hard for the small sign and outpost pointing towards White Sands. Once you pass the entry gate, these majestic white sand dunes start to rise up out of nothing. And it’s as if you’ve set foot on another planet.
The sand dunes here are unimaginable and so beyond anything I’ve ever seen in the desert. It’s incredible that this place exists in a nondescript town about an hour from the Mexican border, in the shadow of mountains and summer monsoons. I can safely say that White Sands is now my favorite national park. I love the sense of discovery you feel upon seeing these sand dunes for the first time, almost like you’ve stumbled upon somewhere magical on your own. And you have it all to yourself!
Admission to White Sands is $25/vehicle and is valid for one week. I highly recommend purchasing a National Parks Annual Pass if you plan on visiting 3 or more national parks during a year. The pass covers unlimited admission for one vehicle to all the national parks and national monuments (over 2,00 parks) for an entire year for only $80! This will save you so much if you love visiting the parks or want to return to our favorites later in the year. The admission fee to the Grand Canyon alone is $35 for one visit, so you can really get a lot out of the pass if you plan on visiting multiple parks.
White Sands lies within the largest gypsum dune field in the world, spanning 275 square miles. Outside of the park, the dunes have been utilized as a military testing zone for missiles and explosives. You’ll actually see a military base right before you reach the entrance to the park.
For photography purposes, I recommend visiting early or during cloudy weather for beautiful photos. Although people rave about the sunset lighting here, I don’t feel comfortable recommending a sunset visit to the park. Many people have gotten lost out in the dunes as the sun goes down and end up having to spend the night in the elements with no phone service. So make sure you get your photos early!
I also love how dog-friendly this national park is—Tracker was allowed on the dunes and loved getting to explore! White Sands National Park is so worth the drive—add it to your bucket list!
Roswell
Roswell is known as the kitschy UFO capital of the country. In the summer of 1947, a famous “UFO sighting” and rumored “spaceship” crash occurred in Roswell, putting the city on the map and on the front page of many newspapers. To this day, Roswell is still associated with all things alien. Roswell’s reputation has almost taken on a life of its own, with a larger-than-life little green alien Americana vibe that’s spawned many sci-fi shows.
I always try to be as transparent as possible with you guys. To be perfectly honest, Roswell was not what I was expecting in a bad way. I had read a few travel guides prior to visiting, with bloggers hyping up the town as a must-see and the perfect New Mexico day trip. My experience with Roswell was very different. The town does not live up to it’s reputation.
We decided to book a hotel here ahead of time when planning out our road trip since it was a logical stopping point. If we would have known what Roswell was really like, we would have kept driving. Roswell is a very run-down and crime-ridden place. This isn’t a city I would stay overnight in ever again, and I wouldn’t recommend bringing kids here either. There’s not much of anything to do in the way of sightseeing, and overall I got a very uncomfortable vibe from Roswell. I felt relieved when we headed on to White Sands the next morning.
If you do happen to stop in Roswell on your road trip adventures, there’s one place you have to see. Roswell’s UFO McDonald’s is one of the most unique fast food locations in the world—the whole restaurant is shaped like a spaceship! I loved that you could find unique New Mexican dishes here like green chile cheeseburgers. Make sure to step inside for the full experience! Although I don’t recommend visiting Roswell, there is a lot to be said for its iconic McDonald’s.
Taos
Taos is a quaint resort mountain town only a short day trip north of Santa Fe. The drive up here through the mountains is so gorgeous, and I loved the laidback vibe of Taos. Here are a few highlights you can’t miss during your trip:
- Taos Pueblo—ancient adobe buildings that have been inhabited for over 1,000 years; a must-see in Taos and a great photography spot; $16/person (currently closed due to COVID-19)
- Earthship Biotecture—a fully-sustainable eco-friendly home in the desert; perfect for architecture, interior design and photography lovers
- Rio Grande Gorge + Bridge—fifth-highest bridge in the U.S.; stunning views and a picturesque spot for sunsets
- Taos Ski Valley—the main draw to Taos in the winter: prime skiing! The summer chairlift is also fun in the off-season ($20/person)
- Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs—on the drive back to Santa Fe, stop for a few hours at this world-famous spa in Ojo Caliente; the mud baths are said to have healing properties
- Taos Cow—known for their pinon (pine nut) ice cream, a New Mexican specialty
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