The Unknown Ahead

New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment for good reason. It’s one of the more awe-inspiring places that I’ve ever traveled. New Mexico has everything: desert, mountains, rivers, gorges, rafting, skiing, hiking, horseback, hot springs, wineries, amazing food, hot air balloons, history, art galleries, and a beautiful mix of cultures that creates a place like nowhere else in the world. 

We’re going to focus on Northern New Mexico and travel to Santa Fe and Taos. Santa Fe is over 400 years old, but the Pueblo Indians have been in this area for thousands of years. The city itself is a lovely blend of Native American, modern American, and Spanish culture. The architecture itself will have you feeling like you’re in a totally different world. Canyon Road offers a litany of high end art galleries and the food scene in town is top notch. 

About an hour north of Santa Fe is the town of Taos. There is a quaint downtown area with restaurants, shops, and art galleries galore. But the real draw of Taos is the incredible landscape surrounding the town. The Rio Grande gorge will leave you breathless, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the big horn sheep that roam the area. Taos is also home to the Rocky Mountains. Most people think of New Mexico as desert, but it’s also got some serious elevation! In the winter, there are multiple ski resorts worth visiting (and way cheaper than it’s counterparts in Colorado), and in the summer, it’s a hikers paradise.

Check out our interactive Google Map for this itinerary HERE.

We’ve visited New Mexico in the summer, spring, and winter, so this itinerary will provide you with lots of options depending on the time of your visit. I hope you like it spicy, because this trip is also smothered in Hatch green chile sauce…let’s go to New Mexico!        

Day 1

• You’ll likely have to fly into Albuquerque, so we’ll start here. There are several options open to you, depending on your kid’s ages and your sense of adventure:
  • Albuquerque is a major hot air balloon area! If you’re feeling daring, give it a go! We did this without our kids, but I think my 11 year old would have enjoyed the view and novelty. There are some huge touristy balloons, but we opted for a more private tour. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot about navigating in the sky. After we landed there was champagne and a little picnic breakfast.
  • If you just want to enjoy the desert in style, spend a night at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort. 
• If you’re not into the bigger city feel of Albuquerque, hop in your rental car and head north! On your way to Santa Fe, pop over to Madrid (pronounced MAD-rid unlike the city in Spain) to see some of the “Turquoise Trail”. This is a one-street town, but fun to visit the jewelry shops and the Mine Shaft Tavern. It’s about an hour to drive from Albuquerque to Madrid and another 30 minutes to Santa Fe. The views on the drive are spectacular!
• There are a lot of great lodging options in Santa Fe. If you’re not afraid to spend some money, check in at La Fonda. It’s right on the main plaza, has parking on site, has a great rooftop bar, killer cocktails, and the restaurant is delicious! We’ve also stayed at the Inn of the Governors which has a pool and free breakfast. They keep the pool at 87 degrees year round…my kids jumped in and swam around in January! They also offer a complimentary happy hour that includes hot chocolate for kids and biscochito cookies, which are the official state cookie of New Mexico. 
• If you’re ready for a soak, check out Ten Thousand Waves which offers private hot springs, cold plunges, and fun for the whole family. 
• Dinner options in Santa Fe are endless: La Plazuela at La Fonda, Sazon (older kids would be fine, but it’s an upscale James Beard award winner), La Boca, Radish & Rye, and Joe’s Tequila Bar are great spots.  

Day 2

• Whether you stayed a night in Albuquerque or went straight to Santa Fe, you have a lot of options today! 
  • Visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
  • Wander down Canyon Road to see all of the art galleries. Although there are a lot of high-end galleries, there is a lot for kids to see too! If you want something whimsical for kids, check out the Prescott Studio where kids are encouraged to interact with the sculptures.
  • Wander all of the downtown stores in Santa Fe on the plaza. We love The Rainbow Man. My kids also became obsessed with Chocolate & Cashmere. The cashmere was great for me, and the kids ate dozens of amazing chocolate confections. 
  • Check out the Palace of the Governors for some New Mexican history. There are also a ton of Native American artists selling their art, jewelry, and goods in the plaza here.
  • Go to The Shed restaurant for some ridiculously good lunch. They don’t take reservations, but it’s worth the wait!
• This afternoon, we’re going to an amazing interactive art exhibit for people of all ages. It’s Meow Wolf! Do not skip this! Get timed entry tickets online and be prepared to spend a few hours here. I don’t want to spoil anything, but basically, you wander into a house and things are not as they seem. Crawl through the fireplace and discover a totally different world. Kids are encouraged to touch everything, open drawers, and interact with the spaces. If you’re looking for a great Instagram story, this is your place. 

Day 3

• Here are some options for your morning:
  • The Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary is a great nature preserve with wildlife and hiking for all ages.
  • Santa Fe Botanical Garden
  • The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
  • The New Mexico History Museum
  • Santa Fe Children’s Museum
• Head to The Pantry for lunch.
• Next, we’re heading to a different neighborhood for a showstopping finale to our Santa Fe portion of our trip. We’re going to the up-and-coming Rail Yard District. Check out the Artisan Market, farmers market, art galleries, and have some ice cream at La Lecheria. There are also several fun breweries here that cater to the whole family – Nuckolls Brewing and Second Street Brewery.
• All aboard the Sky Railway for a sunset train trip! Prepare for a train with amazing sunset views over the mountains, drinks, charcuterie, and live music. Although you get assigned seats, you are free to wander the train cars and listen to live music. There is also an open air car where you can stand outside, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and take incredible photos of the sunset. It’s two hours of pure magic. 
• When you disembark, head to one of the breweries for dinner. There’s also Tomasita’s across the street, but be prepared for a wait if it’s a weekend.

Day 4

• We’re getting on the road today and heading to Taos! There are a few ways to get to our new destination – you can take the high road or the low road. The low road will get you to Taos in an hour, passes a few wineries, and has lovely views. The high road will bring you past some beautiful scenery and an old sacred church too.
  • Low Road – check out Vivac Winery and La Chiripada Winery. There are also beer options and snacks for the kids. 
  • High Road – drive to Santuario de Chimayo and feel the healing powers of the land, then drive on to the imposing Truchas Peaks.
  • All roads lead to Toas! There are a ton of AirBnB options in Taos, as well as the neighborhoods of El Prado and Arroyo Secco. I’d also suggest one of the best Bed & Breakfast spots around – La Doña Luz Inn. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve never had a better breakfast. The rooms all have kivas too – these are adobe fireplaces that provide warmth and a great “crackle” sound all night long. The firewood is typically Piñon Pine which smells divine.
• Spend the afternoon exploring Taos. There is a main plaza with shops, and also an adorable street called the John Dunn Shops. There’s local Native American art, art galleries, gem stores, clothing, and curiosities. If you’re kids are done with art galleries, they can blow off some steam at Twirl, which is a free outdoor playground area with plenty of climbing, slides, treehouses, sandbox, and imagination areas. 
• Get hungry, because there are great food options in Toas! The downtown area offers Lambert’s, the Corner Office is a wine bar with tapas, Doc Martin’s, Martyr’s Steakhouse, and a total hole-in-the-wall New Mexican place called Azteca Mexican Grill where my son had “the best tacos EVER”! And he’s had a lot of tacos…

Day 5

• If you’re in the mood for breakfast, go to Sabor Real Restaurante and get something smothered in green chile sauce. There’s also a red chile option or “Christmas” meaning both the red and green combined.
• Dress for the weather, because today we’re hiking! One of the best views around is the Rio Grande Bridge. It’s like a mini Grand Canyon with a mountain backdrop. I’ve been three times, and I finally saw some big horned sheep! The hike here is really just a walk. It’s perfect for all ages as the path is super straight and well maintained. There’s also a parking lot with bathrooms. You could spend just a few minutes checking out the views from the bridge or a full morning hiking. Bring your camera!
• In the afternoon, head to Taos Pueblo which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take a free 30-minute tour to learn about the Native American people that still live in the Pueblo. There are several stores here too if you’re in the mood for some jewelry, drums, dream catchers, and sweets. There’s a little coffee place called the Dawn Butterfly that will wow you. I tried a coffee with orange and honey that was amazing.
• Besides the dinner options in Day 4, there is also Orlando’s which serves up crazy good New Mexican food and Medley which is a wine-forward modern restaurant. If the kids are still manageable, go to a local woman-owned distillery called The Lounge. It’s a quirky and fun place to hang out, and they also offer mocktails for the kids. 

Day 6

• Choices, choices…
  • If it’s winter, it’s time to go skiing! I hope you rented a 4-wheel drive, because we’re finally heading into the mountains! There are several ski options in the Rocky Mountains here: Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire, Red River, and Sipapu. As a native Chicago girl, the most elevation I experience is walking up to the second story of my house, so I’m not a practiced ski bum. Taos Ski Valley is legit or as my kids said, it was both “totally slay” and “epic”. We popped the kids in ski school for the morning and took to the slopes ourselves. It’s beautiful, the ski village is adorable, and the food is great. This is a highly organized operation! We all rented gear and got on the slopes in minutes.
  • If it’s warm, it’s time for some hiking! You have A LOT of options:
    • Drive north toward Questa and hike Little Arsenic or Big Arsenic trail. You get to descend into the Rio Grande gorge and take in some serious views. Although the hike isn’t too strenuous, it’s a lot of elevation for littles.
    • You can also drive into the mountains toward Taos Ski Valley and hike Middle Fork Lake. This hike will take you up in the mountains to an amazing lake. We saw bald eagles flying overhead!
    • The Italianos Canyon Trail is also a beautiful mountain hike.
    • If you don’t want any elevation, try the El Salto del Agua Cave and Waterfall which is in the valley.
    • There are SO MANY hikes, that I can’t list them all…check out google maps and All Trails to get more options.
• On the way back from skiing or hiking, look at the little town of Arroyo Secco. There are two fun restaurants here: ACEQ and Sabroso. They are both fantastic! 

Day 7

• I’m going to assume you have a late flight home, because there’s still so many things to do in Taos! It’s about a 2.5 hour drive back to the Albuquerque Airport, so you decide! Or add an extra day…
  • If it’s warm weather, you should go rafting! There are several rafting operations in Taos: Far Flung Adventures and Big River Raft Trips are the best rated.
  • Ride some horses at Nancy’s Ranch near Angel Fire! They are open year round. We rode horses in January, and it was absolutely beautiful.
• Day 8…
  • If you can spare an extra day and have older children (13+), go to Ojo Caliente for a night! It’s a wellness resort just west of Taos. They have several hot springs at various temperatures, mud pit, a pool, a spa, yoga, beautiful rooms, and the most amazing starry nights. You can get a day pass or stay the night.

Click HERE for our interactive Google Map