The Best Santa Fe 3- Day Itinerary Ever: Day 2

Waking up on your second day in Santa Fe you will feel a smile creep across your mouth, a mischievous and playful grin. That euphoric feeling isn't just the altitude. You are in the "Land of Enchantment". Now it is time to get even higher... in elevation. Head into the mountains to experience the fresh air Santa Fe style. Make sure you grab a hand held breakfast burrito from The Burrito Company downtown. The Burrito Co is a Santa Fe staple and these breakfast burritos are as good as they get. Eggs, potatoes, New Mexico chile and cheese are the basic components of a breakfast burrito. They are all neatly wrapped up in a flour tortilla and either served smothered or handheld. Smothered means covered in chile sauce and cheese and is definitely a sit-down kind of breakfast. Grabbing your breakfast burrito handheld is the only option if you are fueling up for the mountains. If you want to add meat to you burrito, I always get chorizo. But you can't go wrong with bacon either. Yummmm bacon....

Artist Rd. will take you away from the downtown and up into the Santa Fe National Forest. As Artist Rd. turns into Hyde Park Road, you'll be taken even further up into majestic alpine vistas where the beautiful outdoors offers up endless opportunities for adventurous activities.Two places to take note of on your way up will both be on your left. The Santa Fe Institute is the first that you will pass. I have never actually been there because it is where all the super elite of smartness congregate to discuss taking over the world. I'm just kidding (not kidding). Of course my husband has sat in on a lecture there and even ate lunch on campus and he loved it. I have read the mission statement and maintain my theory.

 The second place of note is simply my favorite place on this planet and every other planar existence I have visited. It is with reluctance that I tell you about it. I want to horde this special place all to myself. It is the Ten Thousand Waves Japanese Spa and it is heaven on earth. Now that they have opened their restaurant Izanmi, there is simply no reason to ever leave "the waves". Spa away your day with treatments, tubs, noshes and sake. I especially love the meditation room for breaks in between bathing. The spa's sound therapy of trickling water and aromatherapy of  custom made scents will enchant you and relax every fiber of your being and your celestial self as well.


















On the way up the mountain there are well maintained hiking trails, and famous mountain biking trails. Camping sites are available along the way including cabins for rent and RV sites. Aspen viewing is very popular in the fall and if you drive all the way to the very top of the mountain you will arrive at a secret gem; The Santa Fe Ski Basin. During the fall the chair lift is running for prime Aspen viewing and a fun look at the remains of the Mardis Gras tree. Of course, if you are visiting during ski season, a half day pass or a full day lift pass is a great option to experience the terrain you didn't even know existed in Santa Fe.

The perfect second day in my opinion would be spent hiking or snowboarding for the first half of the day and the second half would be spent at the spa. Remember, it takes much longer to get down the mountain when you are hungry. Luckily, Izanmi is right there if you need something to hold you over. If you make it back down in time to hit a restaurant for dinner, I'd recommend Maria's for Mexican and Margaritas. That is a great itinerary for your second day in Santa Fe. Once you have seen the city from 10,000 ft. in elevation, and had a great margarita, you won't feel like you have missed anything in Santa Fe!

The Best Santa Fe 3- Day Itinerary Ever: Day 1

What makes a good travel itinerary? It all depends on what you are hoping to accomplish during your vacation. You also must consider who you are traveling with or if you will need plenty of solo activities. It only takes a few simple steps and relatively little time to organize a great itinerary. By taking the girl scout approach early on you can greatly increase your enjoyment of Santa Fe or any city that you travel to.

After living here for over 10 years and working for several years in the restaurant industry downtown, I have seen many frustrated tourists because they failed to arm themselves with any knowledge about where they were visiting. First, there are a few basic things that people need to know about this beautiful and historic city. The elevation of Santa Fe is 7,000 ft above sea level. To give you an idea, that is 1,500 ft higher in elevation than Denver the "mile high" city. If you are not used to the elevation you may become dizzy, dehydrated, and even nauseous from the altitude.

My advice for handling the high altitude is to drink plenty of water and take it slow your first day in town. Another thing that high altitude can affect is your tolerance to alcohol. The elevation in Santa Fe can turn you into a lightweight. Your best bet when visiting is to stick to one drink at happy hour or with dinner until you acclimate to the high elevation environment.

One important insight into the city is that things tend to close early. Even the bars and restaurants have an earlier standard of wrapping things up for the evening. If you plan on eating dinner before 10pm, you should still be able to find something delicious to nosh on. In addition to Santa Fe's early bedtime, galleries and other attractions tend to be closed on Monday's. Lastly, parking is extremely limited downtown. It's a nightmare at times and could in fact tarnish your image of the city. Don't let the parking situation stress you out during your vacation. If your hotel provides shuttle service, take advantage of it. Also, there are a few lots in the downtown area that almost always have spaces that you don't have to parallel park into.

Now that you are an informed traveler; I'd like to present you with the best ever 3-Day itinerary for visiting Santa Fe. These trip suggestion are tried and tested  across the board. From teenagers to seniors and business associates to mothers'-in-law, everyone is guaranteed to have a great time on this tour filled with iconic southwest beauty. These Santa Fe gems represent the best of why our city is so different and special. Prepare to experience special moments that will make you want to spend every vacation in Santa Fe.

Day 1-  Wake up leisurely with no alarm.
             Head over to Pasqual's for brunch. Eating the yummy organic food and local chile sauce here will help you acclimate to the environment and fuel your activities for the rest of the afternoon. I always eat the griddled polenta with chorizo and red chile. I want to explore the menu more but it is seriously one of my top 3 all-time favorite breakfast dishes of my life so I can't help myself. Not ready to try the chile? You should ask for a side of red or green and dip your tortilla or toast in it. You have to! Are you a tourist or a traveler?

             Now that you have eaten at one of the most iconic downtown restaurants, it's time to burn a few calories and head over to another iconic Santa Fe attraction, The Georgia O'Keeffe museum. I could easily spend an entire day there. Whatever your level of familiarity with the artist is, you will always learn something new and intriguing about her. Also, the museum is a non-profit so the gift shop has great prices on prints and other things that you will want to buy for everyone you know.

             Next, it's time to see the Miraculous Staircase in the Loretto Chapel. The spiritual feeling you get from the staircase can be appreciated by anyone of any religion. It is a wonderful story and even if you don't believe it, you can at least appreciate the craftsmanship of the spiral staircase. The architecture inside the chapel is worth the $3 admission to see, including the antique Italian confession booth which looks almost Gothic.

             By this time in your day, you will be ready for a pick me up. I have got just the place for you to go. I literally shriek with joy whenever my husband surprises me with a trip here. It's the Kakawa Chocolate House. This will be a truly memorable part of your vacation in Santa Fe. This is not ordinary chocolate. They have diligently researched chocolate in order to provide anthropologically and historically correct representations of chocolate recipes through the ages. Sample some elixirs and chose one to brighten up your day and change your frickin' life! Then pick up some truffles to bring back to your friends (or gorge on late night in your hotel room.)

             End your first perfect day in Santa Fe with a stroll down Canyon road. Some of the best local art can be found in these whimsical and imaginative galleries. When you get hungry head  over to El Farol for delicious Spanish wine and tapas. If you have a bigger appetite share the paella for two. It's a local favorite and super delicious. Most nights at El Farol end with live music or Flamenco. If you have just one day to spend in Santa Fe, use this Day 1 plan to highlight and experience the best of what this enchanted land has to offer.

Day 2- coming soon!