Taking a step backward after taking a step forward isn’t always a disaster; it’s more like a cha cha. And that’s how I choose to view the last month on the road readying a new product for launch. En route to Colorado from Austin, we side stepped our way to Santa Fe. It was only a day, but it was filled with play! Whether you have 24 hours or 2-4 days, Santa Fe is a playground for artists, foodies and fitness aficionados alike! Cha cha your way to my top picks below!

You can sure work up a hunger on the 11-hr drive from Austin to Santa Fe. Bring snacks, but not too many because Santa Fe is a feast for foodies. Expect dishes featuring local ingredients like red and green chile (also known as Christmas chile), blue corn tortillas and even donuts, prickly pair margaritas (yes, there is a margarita trail!) and sopaipilla (fried bread pockets to soak up that chile).There’s something to fill your fancy morning, noon and night. Here’s what I fancied during my stay in Santa Fe:

Food You Should Fancy in Santa Fe:

Morning Food: Visit the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market from 7am-1pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays for a plethora of fresh foods. Thought Santa Fe was in a desert? Sure is, but you couldn’t tell from all the fresh produce. Dare I say one of the best farmer’s markets I’ve been to? Yes, I dare. Make sure to tickle your sweet tooth with a Lavender Blue Corn Donut from Whoo’s Donuts. You can nibble on one at Sky Coffee Co while taking in the views of the railyard on the patio overlooking the market. They serve a legit brew from Onyx Coffee Lab out of Fayetteville.

Noon Food: By this point, you’ve worked up a hunger and probably need more caffeine to fuel your day. Visit Iconik Coffee Roasters for a Horchata Latte and some seriously fresh breakfast food that is unexpectedly good from a coffee shop. I feasted on a Brunch Ratatouille loaded with eggplant, greens, creamy grits and poached eggs. It’s a neighborhood joint with ample parking and a quiet patio for dining al fresco if quarantine still has you uncomfortable with indoor dining.

Night Food: A visit to Santa Fe isn’t complete without trying the infamous green chile and margaritas! My top pick: the Christmas Chile Enchiladas and Prickly Pear Frozen Margarita from La Choza. It’s a twofer – why choose red or green chile when you can have both ladled over loaded enchiladas (vegetarian, carne adovada, chicken or beef) made with local blue corn tortillas? It’s a filling plate paired with a side salad, posole, pinto beans and choice of sopaipilla, French bread or tortillas. I chose the vegetarian tamales filled with sauteed broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini and yellow squash paired with sopaipilla – a puffy friend bread pocket to soak up the red and green chili. Wash it down with a vibrant pink prickly pear margarita. Hubs went with carne adovada – chicken slowly cooked in a rich marinade of chile caribe, oregano and spices.

While there’s plenty to eat, there’s certainly plenty to do in Santa Fe, even in times of quarantine. Whether you’re an art, history or fitness buff, you can find all three in Santa Fe. And yes, you can hit it all in a single day! Here’s my activity guide for some breathtaking art, history and wilderness.

Sites to See with 24 Hours in Santa Fe

Breathtaking Art: Take a stroll down Canyon Road for a plethora of art galleries, gorgeous pueblo-style architecture, native plants and gorgeous gardens. The road is home to more than 100 galleries, boutiques and restaurants in just a 1/2 mile stretch. We took our stroll by car on our way to the next site!

Invigorating Hiking: If you’re looking for some fresh air, stunning views of the city and a way to work off those enchiladas, visit the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve – 575 acres of nature and trails located just minutes outside of downtown Santa Fe on Upper Canyon Road. At the Cerro Gordo Trailhead, you can access the Santa Fe Dale Balls Trails with 25 miles worth of hiking through the foothills. Head south for more mountainous terrain scattered by Ponderosa pine trees or venture north for more shrubland in the lower, dryer terrain.

Plentiful History: Stimulate the mind after all that hiking by checking out the ample museums in Santa Fe. Some, like the Institute of American Indian Arts, are now closed due to quarantine, but still offer gorgeous sites of architecture and art from the exterior. Santa Fe is also home to the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, the Santa Fe Opera House, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Museum of International Folk Art. Many of these sites can be seen with a stroll around the Santa Fe Plaza. Check websites to confirm the sites that are open during quarantine, because unfortunately the popular Meow Wolf contemporary art exhibit is not.

While quarantine may limit some activities, road trips are not cancelled and Santa Fe is a welcome oasis of activity, food and culture. You bet I’ll be back! Have reco’s for my next visit? Oh do share!

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