Santa Fe Day Trips: Top 5 Unforgettable Adventures

Santa Fe, which sits high in the New Mexico desert, has this charm. It’s that kind of place people visit and want to know more. However, as lovely as it seems, the surrounding areas, just beyond Santa Fe’s borders, beckon with history, artistry, and breathtaking beauty, too it’s almost as though they hold even more secrets to uncover. Day trips happen to be the answer if you want to make the most of your visit to the City Different. Let’s examine, in no specific purchase order, the top 5 trips from Santa Fe which each offer that peek into the heart and soul of New Mexico, for real.

1. Bandelier National Monument

So, Bandelier National Monument sits just about an hour from Santa Fe and transports you way back into ancient times, literally. You will notice the ancestral Pueblo people that carved homes straight into the soft volcanic rock. That cliff dwellings? They’re the highlight there. You get to wander among them and think, just imagine what life has to have been like centuries back, alright?

The main loop trail is usually easy, and also goes past many of the dwellings, including Long House which really makes you consider how they were constructed. More that is adventurous hikers should climb some ladders into Frijoles Canyon; Alcove House seems really worth it as a stop with those stunning views, right? Be that as it may, keep an eye on weather conditions; that canyon really can get hot, particularly in summer months.

Beyond only just the cliff dwellings, so Bandelier offers a network of trails through gorgeous canyon landscapes. Actually, keep an eye out for wildlife too. Also you might spot mule deer or canyon treefrogs.

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2. Taos & The High Road

Well, if you seek a blend of scenic splendor and artistic culture, that, a day trip to Taos is that trip for you. That drive itself could be an experience when you travel along the High Road that winds through tiny villages which each have their own unique story and charm. You will definitely love the journey almost as much as you enjoy that destination!

As a matter of fact, Taos seems world famous because of its Pueblo, considered a continuously inhabited community believed, or thought of, to be over 1,000 years of age. It’s a glimpse straight into ancient traditions. That adobe structures and that way those residents live seems to be unlike anything you may see anywhere else, okay?

Nevertheless, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is just breathtaking which offers unbelievable panoramic views, okay? Those art galleries that fill Taos actually provide endless browsing for pretty much unique Southwestern works. Remember to try some traditional New Mexican food at a few local restaurants, since you’re in the area!

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3. Georgia O’Keeffe Country & Abiquiú

Okay, for any art enthusiast really Georgia O’Keeffe Country is kind of a must, right? In some respects, about one hour north of Santa Fe lies Abiquiú, so a place O’Keeffe herself called home and found a load of inspiration. Therefore, take a tour of her home and studio so that way you gain real insight into her life and creative process. What is it like, or will it be like?

Those landscapes that surround Abiquiú, from Ghost Ranch, may really be precisely the places O’Keeffe immortalized in such her paintings. Driving through there is almost like stepping inside her canvas which shows red hills and expansive deserts. In particular, the sense of light is so wonderful here that one truly sees the attraction for why O’Keeffe chose that particular region. Very wonderful to be, that’s a definite.

A bit of planning, that may make for that trip really, truly unique is just a guided tour of Ghost Ranch or, you know, the landscapes which surround this location. I’m sure that these sorts of trips enhance appreciation that visitors experience concerning its artistic and geological qualities.

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4. Turquoise Trail & Madrid

Well, drive along the Turquoise Trail, which happens to be that scenic byway, from Santa Fe toward Albuquerque, so as you discover that historic mining town of Madrid. Seems that trail itself happens to be dotted with quirky shops along with breathtaking vistas of that desert, alright?

By the way, Madrid turned from a ghost town toward this artist colony. Also there seems to be unique galleries and studios here that are fun to explore, naturally. Then, a historic feel still lingers as you stroll on Main Street where you’ll spot the old saloon alongside former coal mining buildings.

Nevertheless, take some time for you, so that you can explore nearby Cerrillos, for instance, where some western films have been shot; actually this particular stop would complement your trip because the film history actually gives context, particularly if there is an interest in, that location’s cultural importance, alright?

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5. Pecos National Historical Park

Well, approximately just 25 miles from Santa Fe, that Pecos National Historical Park does provide really, like this fascinating blend regarding Puebloan after which Spanish colonial history too it’s almost about what they did. Explore this ruins about a ancient Pueblo settlement along with which this remains with a mission chapel both located side-by-side.

It is a relatively compact site. Therefore, I recommend you take a relaxing walk along this interpretive trail with lots of information signage to uncover centuries worth in, cultural exchange.

Also be sure that visitors check outside for available guided tours in those ranger stations because those people offer additional information but additionally really insights not necessarily evident during a walking visit; additionally it usually assists really, greatly really concerning answering visitor-specific questions they have about location stories or archeological finds, usually!

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