One of my favorite national parks that I have ever been to and hiked! STUNNING. I love that you can…read morehike up the ladders on one of the hikes here. That hike definitely is not for the faint of heart and pushed my limits at the top (you are high and it seems scary) but it is one of my most memorable hikes all around for the scenery and unique experience. A must visit! For those who don't to do the ladder hike, you can still walk to the bottom of it and look up and get a good view. So there is something for all levels here. The scenery is gorgeous. It does get windy here sometimes (we had a lot of wind blasting us as we were climbing the ladders) so be careful and be prepared for that. The nature all around is beautiful. Additionally, there are some tables so you could bring a picnic. Staff in the visitor center is very friendly and has lots of great recommendations of what to do here or nearby. A must do! This was the highlight of my trip to this area and I can't recommend it enough :)

Without a doubt one of the best national parks or monuments I've ever been to! Highly, highly…read morerecommended if you are in the Santa Fe area. A couple notes: 1. Parking looks like it might get tough on busy weekends, mid-week we didn't have an issue early, and but when we left in the early afternoon, the main lot was pretty full. 2. The main Pueblo Loop trail was well maintained and quite accessible up to and just past the Big Kiva and Tyuonyi. The top-back part of the loop was a little more broken up, but still a pretty easy stroll. 3. The trail out to the Alcove House was absolutely beautiful! It's not paved, but it's a well maintained gravel. The ladders to the alcove itself are an interesting experience. If you don't love heights, there are some benches at the bottom of the ladder to sit on and relax. 4. Helpfully, there is a well-maintained pit toilet about halfway out, in case you need it. 5. The restaurant at the visitor center might not be the most efficient place, but the food was much better than you would expect!

A spiritual and WONDERFUL experience watching Tribal members do the Turtle Dance. And what an…read morehonor to be escorted by one of the Kachina Clown Men. Thank You for letting me be there.

Every time I come back to visit Española, I make sure to stop at Chimayo Trading Post and they…read morenever disappoint. Their red chile is hands down the best I've ever had. Perfectly rich, flavorful, and consistently amazing with every visit. A true New Mexico treasure! Good selection, and great value. Very welcoming, I appreciate you all..

Very interesting trading post with many quality items. The owners are personable folks. I'm just…read moresorry I have not stopped before. Trust me, it's worth a stop!

Santa Fe Plaza is a must-see and is in a bustling area with beautiful buildings, shops, and…read moreentertainment. The history and architecture is amazing. Note: Street Parking is a bit challenging and the area can get quite busy, but it's a fun spot.

I love that Santa Fe's Historical District restrictions allow the Plaza to retain its old world…read morecharm and wide accessibility for the community. The rest of metro Santa Fe might be their version of suburbia, but the heart that anchors Santa Fe is right here. Yes, the shopping on the adjacent streets is a bit high end, but the classy charm of the plaza and the Tribal merchants across the street at the Inn of the Governors grounds the experience. Besides the interesting mix of people at the Plaza, I note 2 interesting experiences: 1. The Classic Car show on Friday night that circled the entire Plaza on the outside, accented by "Low Riders" occasionally circling. Our friend Laurie even found the model of car that her family drove around during her childhood. 2. The Santa Fe Plaza Obelisk, historically known as the Soldiers' Monument, was toppled by protestors in 2020 and its pieces are slated for a museum. What will become of the Monument proper is in community committee hands, which will probably go round and round without much meaningful progress short term.

Beautiful rocky beach in a fine summer day everyone carefree and having a great time…read more So I began yelling, "The Governor says you must wear Masks to protect yourselves from a relatively innocuous virus!!!" Nah, not really.

One of the most beautiful places I've ever been and can't wait to go back. I was on a road trip and…read morestumbled across this location. New Mexico is truly a sacred place.

Interesting and free local attraction (a little further away from downtown Santa Fe) that drives…read moretoday's needs for environmental awareness. Ethyl isn't super huge and as well known in Santa Fe yet, but it's hopefully making Santa Fe (and the US heading in the right direction with the use of recycling! Check this free local quirky attraction out if you have some time in Santa Fe!

While planning our day trip to Santa Fe from Albuquerque, we discovered Ethyl the Whale, a…read morelife-sized blue whale sculpture made entirely from single-use plastics to raise awareness about reducing plastic waste and encouraging recycling. She's located at the end of the track at Santa Fe Community College. We parked across the street and walked over for some great photo ops. It's an impressive and meaningful sight, definitely worth a quick stop on your way to or from Santa Fe!

My friend Bob had never been to New Mexico before and wanted to see an "iconic" pueblo. Taos…read morePueblo immediately came to mind and a place that Gayle and I had not been for over 18 years. It was a bit of a drive up (via the High Road), but well worth the time and effort. These multi-story homes are more than a thousand years old. None of the homes in the Taos Pueblo are vacant - five or six families live on the Pueblo full time, while the others live in town (with running water and electricity) but stay in their ancestral home many weeks throughout the year for important celebrations. We about the history of the Taos (or Tewa) people from our guide, Riley. That started at the Saint Geronimo Chapel and onward to the old church grounds, that hold the crumbling ruins of the original San Geronimo Chapel. Built in 1619 by Spanish priests using forced Native labor, it was destroyed during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt and again in 1847 by the U.S. Army (with women and children inside). In between were information on Pueblo ovens, family ties, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. There were also various shop sprinkled throughout, with a few pleasant surprises, like one run by an established Santa Fe painter, and some nicely done local jewelry and other art. There was a lot to see here and I appreciated the leisurely pace, while being respectful of restricted areas and honoring any cultural-related requests by our hosts.

've always wanted to visit Taos Pueblo, even though it's quite out of the way. From Santa Fe, it's…read moreabout a 70-mile drive through winding mountain roads and small towns, which made the trip feel longer than it actually was. When I arrived, a staff member stopped me at a stop sign before I reached the exact location on the map. He explained where to park--either in the main lot or the one just ahead--and pointed out that the admission office is directly across the street, which was helpful. Adult admission is $25. I had seen complaints about the price beforehand, but honestly, I didn't feel that way at all. This isn't a state park or a monument--people are still living here--so the experience feels very real and meaningful. I picked up a brochure at the admission office. The highlights for me were the church (no photography allowed inside) and the cemetery, as well as the famous North House and South House. The air was crisp, and there was the smell of burning wood everywhere, which added to the atmosphere. I also stopped by a small shop selling handcrafted jewelry and decorations. I bought a hummingbird for $20 and was glad I had cash, since the seller told me I'd need to step outside to use Venmo (not sure why--my reception was fine). If you're interested in Pueblo history, this is absolutely a must-visit. It may not appeal to everyone, but for those who appreciate culture and history, it's a very special place. This lady was selling bread across from the office where they charge admission. It's $5 each absolutely delicious and no additive! Horno style bread," or Pueblo oven bread, is a traditional, dense white bread with a crunchy crust, historically baked in a beehive-shaped, outdoor adobe oven called a horno in the American Southwest. The term "horno" comes from the Spanish word for "oven

*Been wanting to visit and this did not disappoint * It…read moregets super busy and they do reserved time slots... but also take do walk ins and we got lucky as we went earlier and got to enjoy it without feeling crowded. * Not a large museum and you can enjoy the museum in about 2 hours. *PRO Tip: Get the audio guided tour which is FREE included in your ticket purchase- it will give you a better appreciation and more information. You have the option of using your own phone app and ear buds or getting a device from the check in station. Whatever you decide- highly encourage doing the audio tour * Some very interesting pieces that I hadn't seen before- while OKeefe is known for her flowers... her techniques and subjects were more expansive than I knew. * The special exhibit Tewa Country beautifully weaves history, art, controversy while gleaning new perspectives and also celebrating O'Keeffe's art in its own. *Backpacks are not allowed in the museum but lockers for free available. * Parking is challenging downtown Santa Fe- but fortunately the Plaza area is very walkable. * Construction for a new and larger museum is underway and I look forward to visiting again

A very small, expensive museum that with a limited collection that disrespects its namesake. I…read morecannot recommend this museum. Many of O'Keefe's most well-known works were bought up by bigger museums (Met, Art Institute of Chicago, etc), and so this museum mainly has smaller pieces and studies. The curation is a bit thin, loosely chronological with some decent historical commentary, but not much placement within the broader artistic traditions within she worked. Several of her stronger pieces were stuck in weird crannies, like the side of a room showing a movie about her life, or in odd places where viewing them is blocked by installations in the center of the room. On the day we went, a show showcasing local artists' responses to her work dominated 1/3 of the exhibition space, with several of her works unceremoniously sprinkled among the local works. One of her most important late works, portraying a pelvic bone, was positioned along a passageway, while a work by a local artist riffing on the work was positioned front and center.

Great stop on the way to Bandalier National Monument. It was under construction when we were there…read moreso we couldn't see all of it but they have a museum and a map to guide you around the site.

If you want to get a little lesson in culture and go back in time, this is a nice stop to do just…read morethat. Nice walk with a lot of information on the history. I walked through kinda quick but, I should of took my time, as afterwards I realized I had enough time to see it all. The church was probably the most beautiful part of the whole site. Huge and sitting there I felt as if I would hear someone speak.