Like any good retailer, the weekend before Thanksgiving I decided to take off to Santa Fe, New Mexico (note sarcasm). I can’t say my timing for most things is impeccable, but a few days with my dear girlfriend, Steph (the same Steph of the Budapest posts fame), in one of America’s oldest cities seemed like just the way to rev my engines before the holiday chaos ensued. Turns out I was spot on!

The weekend was suppose to also include my cousin, Janice, and her friend, Janet. In fact, Janice was the SOLE reason we chose New Mexico as our destination getaway. We had wanted to visit her in her home state, but due to Janice’s horse, Fen, coming down with colic she ended up having to doctor him versus wine, dine and spa time with us. Fen turned out to be okay, but we missed Janice and meeting her friend.

Once Steph and I were over our the fact our party of 4 turned into 2, we had a magnificent time in the dreamy old town of Santa Fe.  I can truly say I did not know much about this town –  which is considered the oldest capital city in the USA – prior to setting foot in it, but after several days I was enchanted.

Here are 5 things we did in Santa Fe…and I think you should too!

1) Stayed at the Inn and Spa at Loretto

Inn and Spa at Loretto

Yep, it snows in Santa Fe! The town is 7000 ft above sea level, so even though I went thinking “desert,” I quickly learned that they get on average about 30-34 inches of snow a year (we saw about 12 of those inches)!

But if it is going to snow (or even if it isn’t), this adobe-styled inn that sits at the end of the historical Santa Fe trail is the place to be! We enjoyed ALL the amenities – dinner at their award winning restaurant, Luminaria, a lazy morning of facials and massages in the lovely spa, drinks in their cozy “Living Room” while enjoying piñon wood crackle in the fireplace next to us and a complimentary visit to the Loretto Chapel to see the “miraculous staircase”.

Miraculous Staircase in the Loretto Chapel

The Inn shares the same grounds as the Loretto Chapel so it was quite easy to pop over to see the historic gothic chapel that was finished in 1878.  Its “miraculous staircase” was exquisite and mesmerizing.  Was it St. Joseph the Carpenter who build this staircase and then mysteriously disappered after fulfilling the nuns’ prayers to have a way to ascend into their choir loft? It has two 360 degree turns with no visible means of support…and keeps architects scratching their heads for answers as to how it was done. Perhaps miraculous indeed.

2) Indulged in a World Famous Frito Pie

Expressing sheer glee at the discovery!

Some things even though they sound too good to be true are indeed true.  Such is the case of Santa Fe’s own “world famous” Frito Pie.

This gut bomb first caught my intrique while watching one of Anthony Bourdain’s travel shows on New Mexico.  A bag of Frito’s cut open and then smothered in homemade chili and cheese? It was so exotic and far fetched from my disciplined, health conscious diet…but it sounded so good! My mind blew a little thinking about my favorite chip drowned in spicy meat, beans and melted cheese…such a fat fest, but, man, how I needed to try it! However, I did no follow-up research to learn where Bourdain found such a treasure. When I arrived in New Mexico I was flying blind.

Miraculously (like the staircase?) we stumbled upon the only place in New Mexico to get the World Famous Frito Pie while circulating through the Five and Dime General Store near the Plaza. Clearly it was meant to be…

Raymond lovingly pouring the homemade chili into a carefully selected bag of Fritos.

There she be – the prize – and Steph! (We got one to share.)

The first bite.  You only need one to fall in love.  Pair it with a Coca Cola and it is a little piece of heaven in a Santa Fe snack bar. 

Even though we had just eaten lunch, we ate the whole darn thing. Afterwards, if you had seen us, you would have noticed we were both basking in a little Frito Pie glow.

3) Visited the Native American Vendors at the Palace of the Governors

Across the Plaza I noticed a bunch of people all wrapped in colorful blankets selling wares next to the Palace of the Governors (a historic building constructed by the Spanish before the Pilgrims even arrived in the Mayflower!).  The vibrancy of their blankets drew me, but their spectacular handmade jewelry creations kept me browsing longer than probably Steph appreciated in the freezing temps.

The artists who come here to show off their goods are all Native Americans from local pueblos. They don’t have enough money to have a fancy store front on a nearby street, so this is their venue to present their artistry.  I thought most all was outstanding, and being a particular sucker for meeting the craftsman/woman I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of buying from the artist.

Allen, a Native American from the Pueblo tribe, me and his extraordinary silver jewelry collection.

The piece I succumbed to! Sterling silver and handmade the night before by Allen. He included a handwritten description of all the symbols he etched on the inside. Simply brilliant. 

Allen’s work so impressed me I hope to include a few of his pieces in the shop next year.

4) Visited the Georgia O’Keefe Museum

Photo Credit to Steph

This American artist is one of our greatest. Her life and legacy is a compelling as the incredible imagery she created, and spending a few hours amongst her work in the state she loved was a thrill. During our visit, the Georgia O’Keefe Museum was highlighting works she had done in and of Lake George.  Vibrant botanical compositions, panoramic lake views and paintings of weathered barns donned the walls and gave me a perspective of her work I knew very little about.

We weren’t allowed to take pictures of a lot, but I did capture the following two…

Corn, No. 2, 1924 – Oil on Canvas

Ms. O’Keefe – I didn’t capture the rest of the info, but could have been taken by her husband, Alfred Stieglitz.

5) Drank Gruet at TerraCotta Wine Bistro

Our lovely hostess at TerraCotta

Another thing I learned about New Mexico during my short stay was that they make wine…and they make it well! A popular and heralded sparkling from the region is done by the producer Gruet Winery. We were introduced to it at an adorable wine bar across the street from the Georgia O’Keefe Museum called TerraCotta. Looking at art does make one thirsty and this charming establishment was just the remedy.

Anything that sparkles also makes me sparkle! This was a lovely specimen too!

TerraCotta has a wonderful, global wine list and menu that uses fresh, local ingredients. We happened upon the place during their all day happy hour – all glasses of wine are $6 before 6pm. It felt as if we experienced yet another miracle in this magical city :).

Saluting a great trip in an enchanting American city….for only $6 a glass!

We will return…because we still have to see Janice!  Santa Fe was more than I imagined (including a lot colder 🙂 ) and has so much to offer through its rich heritage, art and culture. I just got a glimpse…but thank goodness that glimpse included Frito Pie.

Until the next adventure – which is looking like Europe in January – Merry Christmas!

“I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life – and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do. ”
– Georgia O’Keeffe