New Mexico’s capital is known for art, heritage, culture, and crowds. Escape the typical tourist trail with these 13 unique things to do in Santa Fe.
Whether you want to soak in art, take in history, learn about Indigenous culture, or indulge the senses with delectable New Mexican cuisine, Santa Fe has it all. While gallery hopping down Canyon Road or exploring the blanket market at Santa Fe Plaza are staples in this majestic city, those tried-and-true experiences may not appeal to the more adventurous—or introverted—among us.
Finding free cultural experiences, uncrowded sanctuaries, or nationally unique activities in The City Different may seem next to impossible—or is it? From Japanese spa treatments to spiritual reflection to artistic expression over drinks, the best experiences aren’t always the most crowded. Here are 13 things to do in Santa Fe that are off the beaten path.
Truly off the beaten path
Some locals may know these places, but not everyone in the Land of Enchantment does.
Aspen Vista
Hyde Park Rd
Beat the crowds and enjoy the aspens at Aspen Vista Trail. The Aspen Vista Loop Trail is seven and a half miles long, takes nearly five hours to complete, and has a gain in elevation of more than 2,000 feet! You can start the trek at the overlook after soaking in the views, and then end the day in the picnic area after the well-earned cardio. There are also smaller trails accessible from the picnic area, if seven miles sounds too long (I’m with you there). Since the area is located near a ski hill, it remains open year-round and offers a welcome reprieve from the typical tourist crowds of Santa Fe.
Tumbleroot Pottery Pub
135 W Palace Ave
If you like to have a fun activity while enjoying libations, then Tumbleroot Pottery Pub is the place for you! For $16 per person, patrons can grab a pound of self-drying clay and complimentary tools to sculpt away while enjoying a handcrafted cocktail. Each cocktail is served in a ceramic vessel made by a local potter, and serves as inspiration for the projects around the table. Although the clay patrons sculpt with isn’t waterproof, it’s a call to a simpler time when we could all gather around and enjoy chocolate milk while playing with Play-Doh with our friends.
La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site
662-, 674 Paseo Real
This hiking trail may literally be on a beaten path, but it is spectacular and worth the light exercise. Found on a mesa above the Santa Fe River, there are hundreds of petroglyphs from as early as the 13th century at La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site. The ancient images represent various aspects of fertility, music, and animal life, and even include the iconic image of Kokopelli. From the parking lot, the one-mile trail loop begins as a dirt path and then leads to rocks that you must pass through to get to the site. An abundance of preserved historic petroglyphs such as this is a mesmerizingly rare find, even in New Mexico.
Haiku pathway
SFCC Main Bldg. 100, 6401 Richards Ave
Here in Santa Fe/Come find all the things to do/that leave you thinking. Haikus are a series of poems that follow a 5/7/5 syllable rule. Short, succinct poems with big meanings, haikus are bite-size morsels meant to inspire the reader. In the main courtyard of Santa Fe Community College are 36 stones with haikus written on them that ultimately form the Haiku Pathway. Walk around, take in the poetry, and spend the afternoon thinking about the perspectives brought to you by artist Christy Hengst and poet Miriam Sagan. A community college is the perfect atmosphere to foster this level of thought (for free!).
Star Dreaming Temple
38 Southern Exposure
Located in the middle of ranch land is a spiritual journey known as Star Dreaming Temple. The 22-acre sanctuary has several altars built from stones and crystals meant to represent different elements of stellar alignment, such as lunar and solar. Find labyrinths leading to stone displays, pyramids surrounded by offerings, and crystals lining pathways meant to inspire cosmic visions. 800 tons of stones were brought in to bring this concept, the brainchild of visionary artist and writer James Jereb, PhD, to life. Temples, labyrinths, and altars combine to create a setting where people are said to have spiritual visions and awakenings. Those who wish to attend must make a reservation, and a suggested donation is encouraged.
Locally known, nationally niche
You may know of these places as a New Mexican, but New Yorkers, Midwesterners, and even some Texans likely don’t.
Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum
8380 Cerrillos Rd Ste. 108
Located in the Sendero Marketplace, Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum is not what you would expect to find in a mall. Formerly known as the Harrell House Bug Museum, this creepy crawly place has a collection of unusual creatures, artifacts, fossils, and more. The exhibits and hands-on experiences help to connect people to the natural world and allow them to face fears—like arachnophobia—that may be impossible to safely face in the wild. There are over 100 live bug exhibits, reptiles, and even fish! With all tickets $8 or less, this is worth a stop to learn about creatures that are frequently misunderstood. Cue memories of Dad saying something like “Why are you screaming about that spider? It’s probably more afraid of you than you are of it!”
Kakawa Chocolate House
1050 Paseo De Peralta
Perfect in cold weather, perfect in hot weather, it is always the perfect time for chocolate at Kakawa Chocolate House. Lines move quickly as patrons order a little bit of everything on the menu—drinking chocolate, truffles, ice cream, and more. Everything is delectable at this chocolate house that infuses the rich taste of the Land of Enchantment within its fine chocolate. Never had chile chocolate or agave caramel? You can here. Located in a quaint building in a very busy section of town, this chocolate house is a traditional way to make the day a little bit sweeter and richer despite the challenge of finding parking.
Meow Wolf House of Eternal Return
1352 Rufina Cir
While every Santa Fe local knows about this interactive museum, not many outside the area do. Meow Wolf House of Eternal Return follows the imagination of a child—closets lead to galaxies, dryers lead to underground worlds, and each door of a simple house leads to a land far away. The point? To find a missing hamster in the midst of the otherworldly chaos. The 20,000-square-foot interactive museum is perfect for people of all ages, with lights, colors, music, and all things art. George RR Martin of “Game of Thrones” was the chief financial backer of this flagship project, which has since opened four more locations nationwide, each with a distinct flair. Though on the rise in popularity, you can still feel delightfully avant-garde saying “when I was at Meow Wolf…”
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA)
108 Cathedral Pl.
This place definitely gets busy, but it is quintessential to Santa Fe culture and is more accessible on weekdays when tourism is lower. Though it gets rightfully busy, MoCNA is a rarity in the nation as it is considered the only museum in the United States dedicated to collecting and showcasing art by contemporary Indigenous artists. The museum currently stewards over 9,500 works from 1962 to the present, in all media and forms of art. It may be common ground for The City Different, but it is unusual enough to count as off the beaten path—in a national context.
Tia Sophia’s
210 W San Francisco St.
The hit series “Breaking Bad” made people nationwide aware that “Christmas” isn’t just a holiday but instead refers to a mixture of red and green chile on the plate. Tia Sophia’s is credited as coining the term. Legend has it that in the 80s, a waitress casually called the mixed order “Christmas,” and it has stuck ever since. Today, Tia Sophia’s is a hot spot for breakfast and lunch and is rarely empty but also rarely requires much of a wait. Sit down, order your own Christmas plate, and get ready to sop up the sauce with homemade tortillas! Be warned, though, that there are only two restrooms in the building—an important thing to know at a spicy New Mexican food restaurant. Regardless, I’m drooling. Be right back; time to get some pinon pancakes with honey and possibly the world’s best huevos rancheros.
Famous but too unique to ignore
Despite their popularity, these activities are uniquely Santa Fe and deserve a spot on this list. Plus, crowds are smaller here.
Georgia O’Keeffe
Santa Fe is world-renowned as the home to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, where tourists regularly take in her iconically simplistic yet sophisticated Southwest art. However, to stay off the beaten path, consider going to the museum and then later joining a cooking class at The Santa Fe School of Cooking. This institute offers a dedicated cooking class that is inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe. When she wasn’t painting flowers or buildings, O’Keeffe also developed a deep appreciation for seasonal, simply prepared meals. She wrote down her recipes that are now taught in the $25 class. Learn how to make corn soup, arugula salad, lemon chicken, and pan-fried potatoes, O’Keeffe style.
Ten Thousand Waves
21 Ten Thousand Waves Way
Get the Japanese spa treatment just 10 minutes from downtown Santa Fe. Ten Thousand Waves is a resort and spa tucked into the forest with hot tubs, cold plunges, saunas, lodging, and an array of spa treatments. The prices aren’t low, but the experience is a whole lot less pricey than flying to Japan for a similar indulgence! The lodging offers 16 rooms and provides guests with kimonos that they are encouraged to wear around the property. There is also a restaurant that serves traditional Japanese small plates, giving guests a taste of Japanese culture, yet in Santa Fe’s backyard.
Loretto Chapel
207 Old Santa Fe Trail
The spiral staircase at Loretto Chapel is explained only by local lore. With no center support pole or nails, yet a sturdy, solid structure that has lasted nearly 150 years, the spiral staircase has long puzzled visitors. Legend has it that after realizing there was no way to reach the choir loft—and traditional stairs would take up too much room—the Sisters of Loretto entered into deep prayer. After nine days, a mysterious man showed up, built the stairs over several months, and left without ever taking any payment. These stairs, made with exactly 33 steps meant to represent the age of Jesus at the crucifixion, are known as the Miraculous Staircase. Visitors stop in to explore the mystery of the steps year-round. Although it doesn’t get as busy as most tourist attractions, call ahead to make sure there isn’t already a wedding planned for the day of your visit.
