Why Honeymoon in Santa Fe
Santa Fe offers something rare in American travel: a distinct regional culture you can feel in the architecture, food and art. The blend of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo traditions shows up in everything from the jewelry sold under the portal of the Palace of the Governors to the chile on your plate.
It is also wonderfully compact. The Plaza, the cathedral, the museums and dozens of restaurants are all within a few blocks. Canyon Road's galleries are a short walk away. You can spend a week without a long drive, or use the city as a base for some of the most beautiful road trips in the Southwest.
Finally, Santa Fe is good at rest. Spas and hot springs, quiet adobe inns and big night skies make it a natural fit for couples recovering from a busy wedding.
When to Go
September and October are the best months. Days are warm and sunny, nights are crisp, the cottonwoods turn yellow along the rivers and roasting chile scents the air at markets. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, about an hour away, fills the sky in early October.
May and June are dry and pleasant, with the Santa Fe Opera season opening in late June or early July. July and August bring the summer monsoon, with dramatic afternoon thunderstorms and cooler evenings; it is also the season of the big Indian Market in August, when hotels fill.
Winter is cold, with occasional snow on the adobe. The ski area above town opens in December. The holidays are lovely, especially the Christmas Eve walk on Canyon Road among thousands of glowing farolitos. January through March is the quietest and least expensive time.
Where to Stay
Stay within walking distance of the Plaza if you can. Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, a block from the Plaza, has rooms with kiva fireplaces and a strong regional design. La Fonda on the Plaza, a historic hotel on the corner of the square, is full of hand-painted details and has a rooftop bar with sunset views.
For more space and quiet, Bishop's Lodge, an Auberge Resorts property in the foothills a few miles north of downtown, sits on a large property with trails, horseback riding and a historic chapel.
Ten Thousand Waves, a Japanese-style spa in the hills on the road to the ski area, also has a small inn, with rooms tucked into the pine forest. Couples who love the idea of soaking under the stars every night should look there. Plaza-area luxury hotels often run roughly $400 to $900 a night in high season (approximate).
Romantic Things to Do
Spend an afternoon on Canyon Road, a narrow lane with more than 80 galleries, sculpture gardens and studios. Go slowly and stop for coffee or a glass of wine.
Book a private outdoor tub at Ten Thousand Waves, ideally after dark when the stars come out. Many couples say it is their favorite memory of Santa Fe.
In summer, dress up for the Santa Fe Opera, an open-air theater on a hilltop north of town. Arrive early for a tailgate picnic in the parking lot, a local tradition. Watch the sun set over the Jemez Mountains.
Drive the High Road to Taos, a winding route through Spanish colonial villages, stopping at the Santuario de Chimayó and weaving shops. Or head northwest to Abiquiú and Ghost Ranch for the red cliffs Georgia O'Keeffe painted. Visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum downtown before you go for context.
Getting There and Around
Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF) has a small number of nonstop flights, including from Dallas, Phoenix and Denver. Most couples fly into Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), which has many more routes, then drive about an hour north. The Rail Runner commuter train also connects the two cities.
Downtown Santa Fe is walkable. You will not need a car for the Plaza, museums or Canyon Road. Rent one for day trips to Taos, Abiquiú or the pueblos and for getting to spas and hotels outside the center.
Taos, with its pueblo and mountain scenery, is about one and a half hours north by the main road or a bit longer on the High Road. Many couples spend four nights in Santa Fe and two in Taos.
Food and Drink
New Mexican food is its own cuisine, not Tex-Mex. The central question is "red or green?", meaning which chile sauce you want. Ask for "Christmas" to get both. Green is made from roasted fresh chiles, red from dried pods. Both can be fiery.
Try blue corn enchiladas, carne adovada slow-cooked in red chile, posole and sopaipillas, puffy fried bread served with honey at the end of the meal. A green chile cheeseburger is a statewide obsession.
Santa Fe also has excellent fine dining, often with Southwestern ingredients. It has a strong margarita culture; the city even promotes a margarita trail. New Mexico also has a long winemaking history, going back to Spanish missionaries in the 1600s. Several wineries near Santa Fe and in the Rio Grande valley have tasting rooms.
Honeymoon Tips
- Drink lots of water. The altitude and dry air can cause headaches and fatigue on the first day.
- Moisturize and wear sunscreen. The sun at 7,000 feet is strong year-round.
- Buy jewelry from the source. Native artists sell under the portal of the Palace of the Governors. Each vendor is vetted.
- Respect pueblo rules. If you visit a pueblo, ask about photography restrictions and closures for ceremonies.
- Book opera tickets and Indian Market hotels early. Both sell out months ahead.
- Pack a warm layer. Even summer evenings can drop into the 50s.
