In Santa Fe

• Farmer’s Market: Every Tuesday and Saturday morning, from May – November, one of the nicest community events takes place. Browse, taste, buy something fresh and wonderful. There’s even coffee and pastries to enjoy while you browse. For more information: www.farmersmarketsnm.org/
• Hiking: Within moments of downtown Santa Fe you can be in alpine forests or high dessert. Check out this site for hikes for all levels of interest and fitness: www.sdcmountainworks.com/hiking/trails.php. Some specific recommendations: The Dale Ball Trails are an extensive trail system that can be accessed from Hyde Park Road (5 miles from Washington Avenue), Upper Canyon Road or from Wilderness Gate, atop Camino Cruz Blana. Trails are moderate to difficult. These trails are a community treasure! Dorothy Stewart Trails are adjacent to the Dale Ball Trails, the Dorothy Stewart Trails extend the options for local hikers, again from easy/moderate to more difficult.
• Hotel La Fonda: This is an old Fred Harvey “Detour” hotel along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line. Have snacks, drinks and rooftop view at the Bell Tower that is open only in the summer. Ask about other outdoor patio spaces at the hotel. Notice the small O’Keeffe painting embedded in the wall to the right of the reception desk and look at all the paintings, tinwork and other displays in the lobby. For more information: <!--StartFragment --> http://www.lafondasantafe.com/history/history.html
• Jackalope: Southwest/International shopping with three large buildings filled with pottery, garden décor, rugs, furniture, folk art, and more. Not to mention an outdoor prairie dog village. Located on Cerrillos Rd. Very reasonable prices. For more information: www.jackalope.com/
• Lincoln Avenue: Stroll from the Plaza to adjacent Lincoln Avenue, which has a number of unusual shops—two among them are The Clay Angel and Davis Mather Folk Art. Each has colorful displays and a wide range of prices.
• Mountain Biking: There are dozens of great places to mountain bike in and around Santa Fe. Visit www.trails.com/activity.asp?AreaID=%7B94B5FF66-21DD-11D4-9BD8-00104BC9463C%7D for some options and difficulty ratings.
• Museums: Don’t forget to visit the museums downtown and out on Museum Hill. The Museum of Fine Arts and Palace of the Governors on Palace Avenue and The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum on Johnson St. are open with free admission Friday evenings from 5:30 –7 pm. Check the Portal Calendar (www.santafeculture.org/calendar ) for all the Friday night gallery openings and week-end activities around town. For more information: www.nmculture.org.
• Plaza: The Plaza is a good place for people watching, listening to free concerts in the summer, and browsing the authentic Indian artwork under the Palace of the Governors Portal. You can find out more about the remarkable Native American Vendors Program of by visiting www.newmexicoindianart.org . Take a break here and slow down. §
• Saturday Morning Train to Lamy: Depart from the Railyard Station on Guadalupe Street next to Tomasita’s Restaurant. You may want to browse early Saturday morning at the Farmers Market at the corner of Guadalupe and Cerrillos Rd. in the summer inside El Museo Cultural in the winter. For more information: www.sfsr.com/
• Sena Plaza: On Palace Ave. step inside to the secret garden and unusual shops. Try the Cantina restaurant with singing waiters. Check out the POEM paper/gift shop and Todos Santos chocolate shop. Casa Sena is a wonderful traditional Northern New Mexican gourmet restaurant next to an attached wine shop. For more information: www.travellady.com/Issues/February04/IfChocolateisYourReligion.htm 
• Shidoni Foundry: Visit the vast sculpture garden and gallery in Tesuque. The foundry is open to the public for self guided tours Monday - Friday between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays. Bronze pours occur every Saturday, year around, and are open to the public at no charge. Contact: www.shidoni.com/
• Canyon Road: Browse the many facets of art in Santa Fe. Rich in history and art, Canyon Road is the cultural center of Santa Fe.
• Wine Tasting: There are six wineries within driving distance of Santa Fe
• State Capitol Tours: Guided or self-guided tours of the only round capitol building in the United States. http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/visitors.asp
• Hyde Memorial State Park - Enjoy camping and picnicking among towering pines and aspen trees. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/nmparks/
• Indian Market
• Spanish Market
• Zozobra
• Fiesta de Santa Fe in September annually
• Loretto Chapel This chapel contains a mysterious spiral staircase built without nails, dowels or any visible support. 
• St. Francis Cathedral: This cathedral was built in 1886, and is known for its beautiful Romanesque architecture. 
• Chapel of San Miguel: The oldest mission in the United States faces the old Santa Fe Trail in the Barrio de Analco Historic District.
• Santuario De Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe: Built in 1795, this church houses the oldest shrine to the Virgin Mary in the United States. 
• Santa Fe Opera: Free backstage tours daily at 2pm July and August

South out of Santa Fe

• Follow the Turquoise Trail: Route 14 – San Marcos Café, 10 miles out on the Turquoise Trail (471-9298). Open seven days a week from 8 am to 2 pm—delicious food. In Cerrillos, stop for a look at the old western town and see the antiques in the “What Not” Shop. Then on to Madrid, a former mining town now filled with art and ethnic items shops. Next is the town of Golden and then Cedar Crest (note fence with blue bottles on the right). Follow Route 40 west to Albuquerque.
• Galisteo Basin: Take Route 285, exit at “Eldorado/Clines Corner” to Lamy, then take Rte. 41 through Galisteo, Moriarty and Estancia, then onto 60 East and Mountainair. Pop into the Pop Schaffer Hotel in Mountainair (beautiful furniture, nice old bar and restaurant and unusual folk art stone fences). There are National Monuments nearby (Salinas, Abo, Quarai and Grand Quivera) as well as several new art galleries and stores on the main street.
• Villanueva: Take I-25 East to Pecos exit. (Stop at Pecos National Monument on the way: Spanish Mission and Indian ruins, windswept vista). Get back on I-25 to the Villanueva/Ribera exit, then to Route 3. You’ll drive through old Spanish colonial towns, stop at Madison Winery (grand piano in the tasting room) and end up at the state park along the Pecos River. In the village of Villanueva, peek in the church window to see an embroidered colcha tapestry depicting local village life. (Ask anyone for Stella who has the key and make a donation to the church if you want a private tour.)
• Coronado State Monument: Route I-25 South, exit 242 ( Route 55) at Bernalillo. The entrance is just a mile west on the right, next to the Jackalope store. Incredible kiva mural paintings (may be removed soon) and a lovely view of the Sandia Mountains along the river. Extra nice in the fall with the golden cottonwoods along the Rio Grande. There is a new brochure and trail guide to follow around the grounds. For more information: www.nmmonuments.org/about.php?_instid=CORO
• Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument: Located 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe. Take Route I-25 South, exit at Cochiti, take Rte. 16 to Rte. 22 and follow signs for the Cochiti Pueblo . Turn right at the pueblo water tower (painted like a drum) onto Tribal Route 92 (connects to Forest Service Road 266.) Travel five miles on a bumpy dirt road to the parking area, which is marked with a sign. There is a kiosk with brochures. You’ll pay small fee for cars. For more information: www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=3118

North out of Santa Fe

• Cliff Dwellings: Visit Puye Cliff Dwellings at Santa Clara Pueblo or the closeby Tsankawi. In summer, go in the early morning to escape the heat. Climb two long ladders. Lately, Puye has been closed. Call the Santa Clara Pueblo for more information: 505-753-7326. For more information: http://scienceviews.com/indian/tsankawicaves.html or www.hanksville.org/voyage/misc/puye.html
• Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu: 285 North to Espanola, follow 84 to the left toward Abiquiu. Red rocks, beautiful scenery; a few miles beyond Ghost Ranch Conference Center is Echo Amphitheater. This side of Abiquiu, 1¼ miles after the intersection of 554 on Route 84, are Poshu-ouinge Ruins. Just a short walk to an overlook of the Chama River. This must have been a beautiful site for flint-knapping as there are many pieces of obsidian left. For more information: www.ghostranch.org/
• Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument: Take Route 285 North to 502 West. Spend the whole day in the town of Los Alamos, visit the Bradbury Museum and Fuller Lodge and then go on to Bandelier. See the petroglyphs at Bandelier, climb the ladder to the famous Ceremonial Cave, which is not for the faint of heart, frail, very young, or elderly. For more information: www.nps.gov/band/
• Ojo Caliente Hot Springs Resort: 285 N to Espanola, follow 84 to the left toward Abiquiu. Turn right at the sign to Ojo Caliente, Route 285, travel 18 mi., turn left at the sign for the resort. The waters are believed to have healing minerals. For more information: www.ojocalientespa.com/
• Overlook Park, White Rock and Tsankawi Ruins: Route 285 North to 502 West. Take the “truck route” to Los Alamos. Drive to White Rock, left at the gas station with a rock painted white in front. Follow to Meadow Lane, turn left, follow signs for Overlook Park. Follow the road past soccer fields to the end. Surprise view of the Rio Grande with Black Mesa to the north. Breathtaking! Backtrack and head toward Santa Fe. Just after the first light, pull over for the Tsankawi Ruins (part of the Bandelier National Monument) on the right. Get a trail guide from the box at the entrance. It takes 1½ to 2 hours to complete the loop. You’ll see lots of pottery shards on top of the mesa, but remember, shards aren’t souvenirs. You must leave them where they are.
• Santa Fe Flea Market: North of Santa Fe on 285, turn left at Flea Market Rd. Fri, Sat, and Sun. 7 AM to 4 PM. March-Dec. See the array of unusual goods with an international flavor. Most people go early in the morning before it is too warm. The views are wonderful. Some of the vendors now sell at Jackalope on Cerrillos Road.
• The High Road to Taos: Take State Route 285 to Nambe, where you will turn right onto State Route 503, which will take you to 520, which will come to the “highway” four miles south of Taos, in Ranchos de Taos. At that very intersection is one of our favorite lunch spots, The Ranchos Trading Post Café. Highly recommended for a meal. En route, you will find the famous Sanctuario de Chimayo the Santuario, Ortega’s weaving studio and the Rancho de Chimayo restaurant. Take 76 N to Truchas and Las Trampas. You can take a short side route off this high road through the tiny and charming village of Cundio. Come back to Santa Fe via the highway and enjoy stopping along the Rio Grande, where you can watch rafters and kayakers in summer or simply enjoy the river itself. An alternative high road it to take I-25 north to Las Vegas, NM, visit the historic plaza and then take State Route 3 over the mountain to Taos. It’s an amazingly beautiful drive. For more information: www.999dine.com/NM/Tradingpost/Trading-Post-Cafe.html
• Eight Northern Pueblos There are eight Indian Pueblos (communities) in northern New Mexico, many of which are less than an hour from Santa Fe. All welcome guests, especially on feast days. Contact the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos 800-793-4955.
• Nambé has a recreational area with a picturesque waterfall. Picuris includes a museum, an arts and crafts shop and a restaurant.
• Pojoaque has a tourist center and museum.
• San Ildefonso and Santa Clara are known for their distinctive pottery.
• San Juan features a cooperative arts center where visitors can watch artisans crafting their wares.
• Taos is a National Historical Site where residents of the ancient multi-storied structure use no electricity or indoor plumbing.
• Tesuque operates an organic farm, a horseback riding stable and a bingo business.
• Spanish Villages In 1540, Spain laid claim to this part of the New World and established the first Spanish capital in 1598, just north of what is now Española. A number of small mountain villages were settled through a system of land grants and are still inhabited by descendants of Spanish colonists.
• Chimayo, home of renowned families of weavers and the famous Santuario church, known as the "Lourdes of the Southwest." Cordova, known for its woodcarvers.
• Truchas, with breathtaking views of the Truchas Peaks (and where Robert Redford directed parts of the film "The Milagro Beanfield War").
• Las Trampas, where the beautiful village church is considered one of the best examples of Spanish colonial mission architecture.

• Artist Studio Tours: Join Artist Fall Studio Tours--see artists at work and environments for creativity. For more information: www.santafeculture.org/calendar.
• Audubon Society, Upper Canyon Rd., trails and Randall Davy House and gardens. One of the loveliest spots in Santa Fe. Highly recommended. Often there are half or full day workshops for children. For more information: www.newmexicoaudubon.org/sdcas/
• Famous Canyon Road: Stroll up Canyon Road, dropping into gardens, galleries and alleyways. For more information: www.desertusa.com/mag00/jul/stories/croad.html or www.santafegalleries.net/new/index.php
• Famous La Fonda: Go inside La Fonda Hotel to look at all the tinwork, murals and bell tower; find the little-known Georgia O'Keeffe painting on the wall to the right of the front desk. For more information: www.lafondasantafe.com/index.html
• Festivals & Fiestas: Take part in Earth Day (April), Community Days (May) on the downtown Plaza and many other special events in downtown Santa Fe. For more information, consult the Portal’s Festival Directory at www.santafeculture.org
• Free Friday Evening Museum Admission: Visit the Museum of Fine Arts, Palace of the Governors, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and art galleries downtown on Free Friday nights from 5-7:30 pm. For more information: http://museumofnewmexico.org/
• Frenchy’s Field on Agua Fria St. has a labyrinth to follow and paths to walk/run. And you can take a walk in the nearby Santa Fe River, which is usually a dry streambed.
• Gerald Peters Gallery and Nedra Matteucci Gallery: Both are on Paseo de Peralta and have extensive collections, varied shows and interesting architecture, including beautiful gardens with outdoor sculpture. For more information: www.gpgallery.com/staff.php#Santa%20Fe or www.collectorsguide.com/sf/g060.html
• Local Bookstores: Relax and read in bookstores with children's sections: the Ark on Romero St., Collected Works and Border's. Locations: www.santafeartsandculture.org/culturemap/
• Museum Hill: Enjoy family-friendly exhibits and festivals at Museum of International Folk Art and its next-door neighbor, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. Both are located on Museum Hill, Old Santa Fe Trail and Camino Lejo. On Milner Plaza that is common to both museums, walk the labyrinth or eat in the lovely outdoor café. For more information: http://museumofnewmexico.org/
• Palace of the Governors: The state history museum hosts a Mountain Man Rendezvous and Trade Fair each August. And don’t forget Christmas at the Palace, held about 10 days before Christmas each year. For more information: http://museumofnewmexico.org/
• Plaza Concerts: All summer long there are free evening concerts on Santa Fe’s downtown plaza and gazebo. For more information, consult the Portal calendar for specific groups and times: www.santafeculture.org/calendar
• Prairie Dogs! See the Prairie Dog Village at Jackalope's on Cerrillos Road. For more information: www.jackalope.com/
• Public Art: Tour the murals, frescoes and other public art all over town. Call the Santa Fe Arts Commission for a map and have a treasure hunt looking for these outdoor paintings. For more information, contact Santa Fe Arts Commission: 955- 6707
• Radio: Listen to KUNM Public Radio, 89.9 FM, Saturdays at 8:30 am for the Children's Hour. For more information: www.kunm.org
• Rancho de las Golondrinas is a living heritage farm that has many special weekends in spring, summer and fall. For more information: www.golondrinas.org/
• Renaissance Faire: Participate and enjoy the Renaissance Faire at the College of Santa Fe every April. For more information: www.csf.edu
• Santa Fe Architecture: Make a point of touring the variety of architecture in town: Lensic Theatre, the Santa Fe Arts Institute, Museum of Fine Arts, Territorial-style buildings on Palace Avenue and others. Visit the Ricardo Lagorreta-designed Fine Arts Complex on the College of Santa Fe Campus; tour the Mazria Riskin Odems-designed Genoveva Chávez Center on Rodeo Road. For more information: www.csf.edu or www.chavezcenter.org
• Santa Fe Children's Museum: Spend the day at with its assortment of creative learning environments and wide choice of play spaces, both indoors and out. Earthworks includes a garden, greenhouse, lookout tower, ramada resting areas, shallow pond, adobe casita and writing bowers. For more information: www.santafechildrensmuseum.org/
• Santa Fe Opera: Children's nights at Santa Fe Opera are costume and musical spectacles! For more information: www.santafeopera.org
• SFCC Planetarium: Go to the Planetarium at the Santa Fe Community College; listen to programs such as music of the spheres and planetary stories; learn about constellations from them. For more information: www.sfccnm.edu/sfcc/pages/911.html
• Santa Fe Ski Basin Chipmunk Corner Children’s Center: Chipmunk Corner is a full service, on-site children's complex. The building facility offers its own ticketing, rentals, lunchroom, playroom and restrooms. For more information: www.skisantafe.com/chipmunk.html
• Shidoni Foundry: Visit the Shidoni Foundry and the Glassworks in Tesuque to see artists at work. Roam around the sculpture garden to see very large pieces from close up. Contact: www.shidoni.com
• Southwest Children's Theatre has a variety of kid-friendly productions. For more information: 505-984-3055
• Sunsets! Climb the Cross of the Martyrs and enjoy the sunset or look at the night lights from above.
• The Santa Fe Public Library's Children's Room: Located in downtown, Washington Avenue and Marcy St, this is a great place to bring a child for an enjoyable break.
• Train Rides: Travel on train rides to from Santa Fe to Lamy; see the landscape from a different perspective. For more information: www.sfsr.com/
• Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian/Storytelling: The wonderful Wheelwright, also on Museum Hill, has free admission, outdoor sculpture and Case Trading Post. Joe Hayes tells stories in the tipi there from July 9 through August 13, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. For more information: www.wheelwright.org/
• Whitewater Rafting: During the summer months, several companies conduct daily rafting trips on the Rio Grande. There is the daylong “Taos Box” excursion and the half-day lower Rio Grande trip. In most cases, the passengers are active participants in the adventure. Not for very young children. For more information: Do an Ultimate Santa Fe Search on “Rio Grande rafting trips”: www.santafeculture.org/google

Within an hour’s drive from Santa Fe

• Bandelier National Monument: Take Route 285 North to 502 West. Spend the whole day in the town of Los Alamos, visit the Bradbury Museum and Fuller Lodge and then go on to Bandelier. See the petroglyphs at Bandelier, climb the ladder to the famous Ceremonial Cave, which is not for the faint of heart, frail, very young, or elderly. For more information: www.nps.gov/band/
• Cliff Dwellings: Visit Puye Cliff Dwellings at Santa Clara or the close by Tsankawi. In summer, go in the early morning to escape the heat. Climb two long ladders. http://scienceviews.com/indian/tsankawicaves.html
• Echo Amphitheater in Abiquiu—fun to sound off! A nice side trip if you are visiting the O’Keeffe home.
• Embudo Station Restaurant: In the heart of the Rio Grande Gorge, between Velarde and Pilar, en route to Taos, you can eat a burger down by the river and put your feet in the water in a setting that is both accessible and divine. For more information: www.embudostation.com/embudo.htm
• JW Eaves Ranch hosts the Thirsty Ear Music Festival on Labor Day weekend. For more information: www.nmfilmmuseum.xynergy.com/history/nmfilm4.php or www.thirstyearfestival.com/
• Pecos Monastery; Feed the ducks at the or go fishing at Windy Bridge near Cowles. For more information: www.pecosabbey.org/
• Tent Rocks: Cochiti has unusual rock formations and Apache Tears on the ground. For more information: www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=3118
• Santa Fe Traditional & Bluegrass Music Festival is held at the Rodeo Grounds in Santa Fe the weekend before Labor Day. This is a family-friendly music festival, with workshops, concerts, contests, and on Sunday morning, a gospel concert that is divine. Some children enter the fiddling contests each year. For more information: www.southwestpickers.org/festivals.html
• Tinkertown, a wonderful collection of circus toys and recycled items off Route 14, on the road to Sandia. Stop in Madrid and Cerrillos on the way south. For more information: www.tinkertown.com
• White Rock Overlook Park—see the Rio Grande Gorge from on high.

See more mostly free things to do in Santa Fe