Hannah & Patrick

Santa Fe is an easy city to love — art, history, mountains, food, and desert light. In mid-May, the weather is typically sunny and mild (highs around 75 °F), perfect for exploring before or after the wedding. If you're in the Southwest and looking for something to do, here's a list of recommendations. * denote activities we highly recommend.

- Canyon Road Art District: start mid-morning, stroll art galleries and patios with margaritas in hand. - Santa Fe Plaza:* artists sell their wares most days, with more vendors on Fridays and Saturdays. Rooftop bars like La Fonda Bell Tower Bar*, Tumbleroot Pottery Pub*, or Secreto Lounge for signature cocktails. - Loretto Chapel:* world-famous for its “Miraculous Staircase”; a stunning spiral staircase built in the 1870s with no visible means of support and crafted entirely of wood without nails or a central column. - Railyard District:* modern bars, breweries (try Second Street Brewery or Santa Fe Brewing Taproom), and live music. - Browse at Double Take* consignment shop that sells vintage and designer clothing, jewelry, and shoes. - Spa Day at Ten Thousand Waves: Japanese-style spa nestled in the hills; book a soak or treatment.

Close to Santa Fe - Bandelier National Monument:* cliff dwellings and canyons, easy family trails. - Pecos National Historical Park:* former location of an Indian village, Spanish mission, Civil War battlefield & Greer Garson's ranch. - Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks (Cochiti Pueblo): slot canyons and cone-shaped rock formations. - Red Rock Trail:* 1.5 mile slot canyon trail in the Pueblo of Jemez located northwest of Albuquerque. Farther Afield (great for extra days) - El Malpais National Monument: 1 hour west of Albuquerque. Spectacular cliffs and lava fields for hiking and permit-only caving. - Taos:* 1.5 hours northeast; Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Taos Pueblo, and mountain hikes. - Abiquiú:* 1.3 hours northwest - Georgia O’Keeffe country; Ghost Ranch hikes and tours (e.g., Oppenheimer movie set tour*). - Valles Caldera National Preserve:* 2 hours northwest - volcanic caldera with wildlife and meadows. - Dragons Back Trail:* 1.3 hours southwest - south to north hike that features gradual climbs and descents along a mesa-top ridge.

- Santa Fe Railyard Park & Farmers Market* – shaded playgrounds, food trucks, and local crafts. - El Rancho de las Golondrinas (living history museum) – see Spanish colonial life, animals, and demos. - La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site – a short, easy trail with hundreds of ancient carvings just west of town.

- Petroglyph National Monument:* 20,000+ ancient rock carvings on easy trails. - Sandia Peak Tramway:* one of the world’s longest aerial trams, panoramic views at 10,000 ft. - Campo at Los Poblanos:* award-winning farm-to-table restaurant on a lavender farm (advanced reservations recommended). - Old Town Albuquerque:* shops, museums, and authentic New Mexican restaurants. - Indian Pueblo Cultural Center:* a museum and gallery space, a collection of murals and other Native arts and artifacts, authentic restaurant called Indian Pueblo Kitchen, weekly Cultural Dances. - Enjoy Mexican cuisine at Herencia* or seasonally inspired dishes at Mesa Provisions.* - National Museum of Nuclear Science & History:* showcasing the diverse uses of nuclear science across history, industry, medicine, and energy. It also honors the pioneers whose work has defined the field, presenting their stories in engaging and accessible ways. - ABQ BioPark: zoo, aquarium, and botanical gardens (great for kids).