Sometimes you need a change of scenery. Sometimes you need to get out of town. Sometimes you just need something … different to unlock a new sense of discovery. That’s when you need Santa Fe: The City Different. Located within an easy half-day’s drive, Santa Fe will lead you to new discoveries in the outdoors, world-class cuisines, arts, culture, wellness, history and more.
Colorado is filled with amazing places to explore, but Santa Fe can feel like a world away in many ways. Depending on your starting point in Colorado Springs, the scenic drive is just over 300 miles and about five hours long. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway, a family Spring Break, a romantic escape, an adventure excursion, relaxation retreat, foodie tour or more, Santa Fe will help you uncover your different.
Uncover World-Class Cuisine in Santa Fe
Santa Fe is a foodie paradise. Be prepared to answer the official state question, “Red or green?” Or just say “Christmas” and you’ll get to enjoy both chiles on top of your enchiladas, burritos, chile rellenos or other New Mexican staples.
Santa Fe is known for its innovative Southwestern cuisine that is filled with flavors as rich as the history that inspired them. Local chefs and restaurants have built a world-class reputation for their creative contemporary fare, and Santa Fe is regularly recognized with esteemed James Beard Award nominations and winners. Sazón chef Fernando Olea and Mark Kiffin of The Compound Restaurant have both won Best Chef. Chef Martín Rios of Restaurant Martín has earned multiple nominations over the years. And in 2024, four Santa Fe restaurants have made the semifinalist lists. Alkemē is in the running for Best New Restaurant in the nation. Chef Mark Kiffin’s The Compound is on the short list for Outstanding Restaurant. And Dolina’s Annamaria O’Brien and Zacatlán’s Eduardo Rodriguez are up for Best Chef: Southwest.
Of course, the Santa Fe food scene is filled with a multitude of other delicious restaurants. If you’ve brought the kids along, head to The Shed, a colorful, iconic spot known for its red and green chiles. Or wander in the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market and sample fresh treats and snacks in the cafe from local farmers and vendors. The market is open on Saturdays year round and on Tuesdays May 7 through Dec. 24.
Margarita lovers should not miss the Santa Fe Margarita Trail. Download the app or pick up a paper version at a Santa Fe Visitor Center. Then follow the guide to 50 of the best margaritas in the world. You’ll enjoy a discount, and you can earn prizes with enough passport stamps. Don’t know where to start? We recommend a prickly pear margarita at the chic rooftop Coyote Cantina.
Uncover the Outdoors in Santa Fe
Want to work off some of those delicious calories? With its high desert climate and surrounding mountains, Santa Fe is a playground for outdoor activities — often without the crowds of Colorado. Hikers will love the wealth of trails around Santa Fe. For an Instagram-worthy view from the highest peak overlooking the city, head up the Picacho Peak Trail, climbing 1,329 feet over 3.9 miles. The favorite Santa Fe Rail Trail offers easy hiking, running and biking for all abilities. And mountain bikers have to hit the 25-miles of high elevation trails in the Dale Ball Trails.
About 40 miles outside of Santa Fe, Bandelier National Monument offers a full range of trails for all abilities, plus ancient ruins, petroglyphs, caves, wooden ladders and more. Its 1.4-mile round-trip Pueblo Loop is a favorite for families with young kids. And the Falls Trail descends into a scenic canyon past several waterfalls.
Uncover the Arts and Culture in Santa Fe
Santa Fe has a long history as a crossroads of peoples and cultures. Spanish explorers established a presence in the city as early as 1607, before the Mayflower Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony, and indigenous Pueblo Indians have been traced to the area as early as 1050. Today Santa Fe is filled with artistic expressions of its multicultural personality, and it has been designated as a UNESCO Creative City and UNESCO City of Craft and Folk Art.
Santa Fe’s historic adobe and Spanish colonial architecture is evident all over town. The collections on Museum Hill showcase historic Native Southwestern arts. And The City Different is home to more than 250 studios and art galleries, many of them easy to find in art districts like the Plaza (the original city center), the famous Canyon Road and the contemporary Railyard Arts District. Whether you prefer visual art for your walls or wearable art, such as Santa Fe’s exquisite turquoise jewelry, you will be inspired to take home some sort of artistic expression.
You’ll also want to take some memories and experiences from Santa Fe’s amazing performing arts scene. The funky, immersive Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return is a must-visit tour that can be fun for the whole family. There are live music and dance performances happening all the time. And tailgating before a summer performance at the renowned Santa Fe Opera is a truly unique opportunity to uncover your different.
You’ll never run out of options for exploring the outdoors, cuisine, arts, culture and shopping in Santa Fe — and we haven’t even talked about the city’s spas and hot springs, which are perfect for a relaxing retreat in and of themselves. The beauty of it all is that Santa Fe is close enough to make the drive again and again in all seasons.
Find more ways to uncover your different in The City Different at visitsantafe.com.
