FOUR DAYS IN NEW MEXICO

A day in each of the Land of Enchantment’s major cities offers unique experiences that will tempt you to stay longer.

BY ASHLEY M. BIGGERS

Get an aerial view of Albuquerque during the 2.7-mile ride up the Sandia Peak Tramway, North America’s longest aerial tram.

Morning

After a sunrise power bowl complete with blue corn atole from De La Tierra at El Monte Sagrado, explore the Harwood Museum of Art’s galleries. Its collection delves into the work of the Taos Society of Artists, who in 1915 established this mountain town as a

Taos

From New Mexico’s grandest canyon to some of the highest peaks in the state, and from rich Indigenous culture to modern art history, Taos and its environs are endlessly fascinating. These are fertile grounds for any kind of vacation—family-friendly, arts weekend, outdoor getaway, spiritual retreat. What’s a perfect Taos day? That depends on whom you ask. This agenda gives a taste of it all.

creative haven, and explores the work of modern masters and local residents such as Agnes Martin.

Take a short drive to Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and tour the ancient buildings of one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America. If you happen to arrive on a Feast Day, take in the mesmerizing traditional dances.

Afternoon

Hop in the car and travel 15 minutes to the world-famous Taos Ski Valley for four-season fun: fall, spring, and summer adventurers can hike and mountain bike in the vast national forest surrounding the valley. During winter, skiers and boarders take on Taos Ski Valley’s legendary challenging terrain in more than 300 inches a year of fluffy Rocky Mountain powder. Or head south of town, for dizzying views of the Rio Grande Gorge from the 565-foot-high bridge, which spans the crevasse and rushing river below. As the golden hour for photography approaches, visit the San Francisco de Asís Church which Ansel Adams captured on film.

Evening

Head back to El Monte Sagrado for superior De La Tierra cuisine, with drinks at the Anaconda Bar.

Head south of town, for dizzying views of the Rio Grande Gorge from the 565-foot-high bridge, which spans the crevasse and rushing river below.

The Santa Fe Plaza, a living center of New Mexican history and culture, is home to eclectic shops, live music at the bandstand on summer evenings, and Fiestas de Santa Fe each September.

Morning

Start the day in the Santa Fe Plaza, a living center of New Mexican history and culture. It’s also home to eclectic shops, live music at the bandstand on summer evenings, and Fiestas de Santa Fe each September. The Palace of the Governors, the building in longest continuous public use in the country, borders the north side of the plaza. Underneath its portal, shop for authentic Native American jewelry or step inside to begin exploring the New Mexico History Museum.

Continue your stroll up Canyon Road—a mile-long stretch of Western and modern galleries that helps make Santa Fe the third-largest art market in the United States. Dip inside the galleries to see how Santa Fe’s famous light, landscape, and people have influenced visual artists for centuries.

Afternoon

Hop in the car for a short drive to Museum Hill. Although you can’t possibly see all the attractions here in one day, pick among the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Museum of International Folk Art, and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, all of which feature world-class collections.

Santa Fe

Legendary Santa Fe brims with history, heritage, and art.

For more than four centuries, Pueblo, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo cultures have left their architectural, historical, and culinary marks on Santa Fe. A perfect day in Santa Fe includes strolling the capital city, exploring art galleries, and tasting the only-in-New Mexico cuisine found here.

On the city’s south side, explore the state-of-the-art “House of Eternal Return” at the Meow Wolf Art Complex, an immersive installation that sprawls through a former bowling alley. While playing the laser harp here, you’ll see how Santa Fe earned the moniker “The City Different.”

Evening

In summer, you’ll want to pack a tailgate dinner (check with your concierge) for a must-do in Santa Fe: The Santa Fe Opera. The pre-opera parking lot is an elegant outdoor party, and the opera house itself is world-renowned for its architecture and performances.

For another vibrant cultural experience, enjoy a world-class flamenco performance at the Inn and Spa at Loretto in Santa Fe. Or enjoy a cocktail at Agave Lounge at Eldorado Hotel & Spa before taking your seat in the lovingly restored Lensic Theater for live classical music or a talk by a world-renowned luminary.

Albuquerque

New Mexico’s largest city (pop. 560,000) is not only the state’s metropolis, it’s also one of the most culturally diverse and historic in North America. Puebloans have farmed the fertile Rio Grande Valley for hundreds of years; modern Albuquerque was founded in 1706 as a Spanish settlement on the banks of the Rio Grande and named for the Spanish Duke of Alburquerque.

Morning

After a breakfast burrito at Garduño’s at Hotel Albuquerque, stroll to Old Town where the modern city was founded and, today, narrow streets lead to shops and galleries. Join Tours of Old Town to discover the plaza’s hidden history.

Afternoon

Get an aerial city view during the 2.7-mile ride up the Sandia Peak Tramway, North America’s longest aerial tram. From the more than 10,000-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains, take in the scenic Rio Grande Valley or hike Cibola National Forest trails from short and easy to strenuous.

Old Town is where the modern city was founded. Today, narrow streets lead to shops and galleries.

Back in town, explore Native American cultures at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, owned by the state’s 19 Pueblos. The museum’s permanent history exhibit includes interactive exhibits that relate Puebloan history and culture. If time allows, take a tour of the art gallery at the National Hispanic Cultural Center; it’s just a taste of what this top center has in store.

Evening

Back at Hotel Chaco, enjoy a seasonally inspired menu highlighting local and regional ingredients and check out some of the most stunning rooftop views in the city. After dinner, sip sangria or nibble authentic Spanish tapas during a world-class dance performance at Tablao Flamenco. By the end of this perfect day, you’ll know why residents and visitors alike so fiercely love the “Duke City.”

Morning

Start the day with a New Mexican power breakfast: huevos rancheros— eggs, potatoes, and beans over corn tortillas, smothered in chile. Once you’ve stoked the breakfast fires, stroll through Old Mesilla, a historic plaza of low-slung adobes filled with galleries and shops, including Heart of the Desert, where you can taste local pistachios and wine.

Next, head to the Organ Mountain foothills, where a tranquil desert trail at Dripping Springs Natural Area will rope in some of the area’s history as it passes a stagecoach stop and other sights. On your way back to the city, lasso Old West history and today’s ranching culture at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.

Afternoon

With 300 days of sunshine on the calendar each year in Las Cruces, it seems almost required you hit the golf course and soak in some sun by the pool. Tee off at Red Hawk Golf Club, a perennial winner of best-in-state from Golf Digest. Before dinner, relax by Hotel Encanto’s palm tree lined pool.

Evening

Treat yourself to dinner at Mezcla where you’ll find delicious cuisines, inspired by the ancient highway, El Camino Real, and the many cultures that traversed along its path throughout history. The renovated Rio Grande Theatre is your next stop for live music or classic films.