18 Things To Do for Spring Break in Santa Fe, New Mexico | SantaFe.com
Meow Wolf Santa Fe New Mexico

The days are getting longer, the weather is warming, and the trees are budding. This can only mean one thing, spring! Glorious spring! With spring comes that time honored tradition, spring break. Why not spend that break right here in Santa Fe? Santa Fe is popular throughout the globe as a world-class destination with old world charm. Santa Fe is home to amazing restaurants, exceptional outdoor activities and family-friendly fun. For locals and visitors alike, here are 18 reasons why the City Different delivers a spring break different.

1. Ski Santa Fe

Ski Santa Fe makes the top of our list, because despite the impending warm weather and extended daylight you may need one last winter hoorah. The 2022 ski season ends April 3 (unless extended due to our late winter snowfall), so time is of the essence. Let’s go play in the snow! Ski Santa Fe has over 70 trails of varying ski levels. Ski Santa Fe has lessons, Chipmunk Corner for the little ones, Totemoff for a mid-run hot chocolate or hot toddy, and unlimited fun on the hills. For rental information, lift ticket prices, snow and trail conditions, visit skisantafe.com. Every Saturday until closing there is live music at Totemoff from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

2. The Margarita Trail

Next up on our list is a trail of a different sorts, one that won’t leave you winded, or in the middle of the wilderness (at least we hope not, but that is up to you). That’s right we are talking about the Margarita Trail! Not familiar with the Margarita Trail? That’s ok, we got you covered. Check out our stellar article about Santa Fe’s Margarita Trail here. One of our more impressive feats as a city, 45 restaurants and bars have come together to give you 45 different kinds of margaritas.This trail may take you the whole spring break to hike, but YOLO and all that. You are welcome. Sincerely, The City Different.

3. Best Restaurants in Santa Fe

Here in Santa Fe we know that we are what we eat, and we want to make sure that you know we are made of delicious food. Food is our love language. Santa Fe has so many unique restaurants that there is quite literally something for every palate. Good thing there are at least three meals in a day, because you will need that many and more to try and get through the culinary jungle that is Santa Fe. Not sure where to start? Check out our list of favorites, or you can learn where to go to eat like a local. Wherever you choose to go, and whatever you choose to eat, we know you won’t be disappointed. Because after a long day of adventures, nothing soothes the soul like an amazing meal surrounded by great company. Salud!

4. Day Trips From Santa Fe

Do you hear that? That is the sound of the open road calling you. The road trip is a time honored American tradition. Santa Fe is proud to say that it has played an important role in this time honored tradition since 1926 with the advent of the Mother Road, Route 66. Even in our modern society where we are just an app click away from whatever our hearts desire, there is still something about the siren call of the open road that the heart can’t ignore. There is something magical about the limitless possibilities of a full tank of gas, a cooler of snacks, and the open road. Whether you are just wanting to take a day trip, or something a bit longer. From ghost towns, to caves, to ancient history, New Mexico offers so much to see and do. So grab your sunglasses, some good tunes, and hit the road.

5. Meow Wolf

It’s been some years since Santa Fe was gifted with the one of a kind experience that is Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return. Even though it has been around for a while, we will never tire of putting it on all our lists of things to do. It is just that awesome, ever changing, and it’s completely impossible to see it all in just one trip. It’s pretty simple, if you haven’t gone, go, and if you have gone, it’s time to go again. It truly is something where words fall short, and only experience can explain.

Pro tip* come with an open mind, wear comfy shoes, and clothes that you can move freely in . . . there is some climbing, and mind bending involved!

6. Sky Railway

Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime! Climb aboard the new Sky Railway and expect the unexpected as you travel the historic rail between Santa Fe and Lamy, New Mexico. Entertainers, music, great food, and drink await you on Sky Railway. With a creative team led by George RR Martin, Sky Railway is developing a lineup of entertainment adventure rail trips that will make it one of the most original, imaginative, and exciting short-line railroads in the country, befitting the City Different. All aboard!!

7. Children’s Museum

The Santa Fe Children’s Museum is one of the great staples of childhood here in Santa Fe. There is so much to do: story time, magnets, face painting, giant bubbles, model trains,  planetariums, wind tubes, giant blocks, dress up, puppet theatre, gardening, climbing, even just the simple joys of digging a hole. The Children’s Museum has it all. It is so much fun, that your kids won’t even notice they are learning. After all, they say the greatest teacher of all is play.

8. Live Entertainment

All the world’s a stage, and Santa is just the kind of place to foster such a sentiment. Live theatre, and concerts are very much our jam. On any given day you are guaranteed to find live music somewhere in town or nearby.  We like music, that much is clear, but we also are pretty big into theatre. Santa Fe plays home to some of the oldest theatre west of the Mississippi. Our former VaudeVille house, The Lensic, has transformed into a world renowned modern road house that hosts local events and world class traveling theatre alike. Our community theatre scene is not lacking either, you can find local companies and players strutting the boards pretty consistently Thursday through Sunday every week. Not sure where to look? Here is our entertainment directory, and some of our favorite venues. Enjoy the show, or shows.

9. Canyon Road

The fabled Canyon Road is a half a mile stretch of more than 100 galleries, artist studios, clothing boutiques, home furnishing shops, jewelry stores and gourmet restaurants. Take a leisurely stroll through one of the most inspiring blocks in the Santa Fe’s Historic District, and enjoy the crafts of hundreds of America’s and the world’s top artists while doing it. If you walk it twice it’s a mile! Congratulations! You got your steps in and took in some culture at the same time.

10. Casinos Near Santa Fe

Hey big spender! Come spend a little time with our favorite casinos! There is something about the sounds and lights of a casino that are entrancing even if you aren’t the gambling type.

Buffalo Thunder boasts 1,200 slot machines, 19 Keno games, a dedicated poker room, race book, high limit slot area, and the largest table games pit in Northern New Mexico.

Tesuque Casino provides over 800 slot machines (and counting), as well as 10 table games, and bingo every Monday through Wednesday at 1:00pm and 6:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 1:00pm. Enjoy gaming while taking in historic views of a pueblo that has been around since 1200 AD.

Santa Claran Casino is nestled in northern New Mexico’s Española Valley with views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. With around 700 slot machines from high-limit slots, to nickel, quarter or dollar slots, you’ll find your game here.

Black Mesa Casino was named by the Journal North to the top 3 Best Slot Machines Category in its Readers Choice List. Located halfway between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, Black Mesa has over 600 of the latest slot machines and is constantly evolving to bring in the latest machines. No matter where you go to play, we hope Lady Luck is with you. If you happen to hit it big, don’t forget your good friends over at Santafe.com, ;-).

11. Spas

Is there anything more relaxing than a spa day? Just hearing the words spa is relaxing.

Ten Thousand Waves, located 10 minutes from downtown, is dedicated to providing a Japanese sense of serenity and relaxation. They have private hot tubs and communal tubs available. This includes outdoor hot tubs, cold plunges, saunas, lounging decks and other amenities. Spa suites are completely self-contained with hot tubs, saunas, cooling berths, and your own private changing room and showers. If you haven’t sat in a hot tub surrounded by snow, have you ever truly relaxed?

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs is one of the oldest natural health resorts in the country. Their sulphur-free, geothermal mineral waters from a subterranean volcanic aquifer have flowed for thousands of years. Ojo Caliente is the only hot springs in the world with four different types of mineral water including lithia, iron, soda and arsenic. What could possibly be more nurturing than nature?

Ojo Santa Fe is located south of town in the wetlands of Santa Fe. Enjoy the views of 70 acres of breathtaking  gardens, walking paths and scenic high desert landscape while you soak in the historic gently heated spring-fed waters.

The hotels of Santa Fe also provide many soothing spa experiences, check out our spa directory for more information. Enjoy your soak!

12. Brewery Tour

Beer! We love beer! Long gone are the days of boring, flavorless, bulk beer. We like to think that Santa Fe had a hand in the craft beer revolution. We will just go ahead and say we did. The artistry of the brew (and the consumption of said brewings) is a favorite past time of Santa Fe.There are so many amazing craft beers available in our fair city that it will be near impossible to list them all here. Don’t you worry though. We have a splendid article on the subject that we think you might enjoy! Cheers!

13. Puye Cliff Dwellings

 

If you want to feel humbled by history, and those that came before us, then there is no destination more capable of that than the Puye Cliff Dwellings. Created by the ancestors of the Santa Clara people, Puye Cliffs was home to 1,500 Pueblo Indians who lived there from the 900s to 1580 A.D. It is a true testament to early Pueblo architecture.

14. Museum Hill

Located on the historic Santa Fe Trail that brought settlers west from Missouri. Four museums sit on a hill. Hence the name. Museum hill is home to the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, Museum of Indian Art and Culture, Museum of International Folk Art, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, and the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens. It is a beautiful way to spend a spring day. You can even grab lunch at the Museum Hill Cafe so you don’t have to stop exploring.

15. Where to Bowl

It has been a minute, but bowling is back in Santa Fe (city limits, that is)! There was much rejoicing by the citizens of Santa Fe when The Alley Lanes and Lounge opened its doors last year. It is a great place to go grab a drink, some food, and knock down some pins. They also have a pretty fantastic arcade. We might have been a little dramatic, we weren’t completely devoid of bowling. One of our favorite gems is Big Rock Bowling located at Santa Claran Hotel and Casino. They have 24 lanes of bowling, with great food, and drinks. It is a great place for the whole family.

16. Take a Hike

It is easy to forget sometimes with the hustle and bustle of the city, and modern life that we are surrounded by nature. We should all go take some time to go explore the wilderness. Here are some favorite hikes that we would love to share with you. Enjoy!

17. Go See a Movie

The Jean Cocteau Cinema started in 1976, and was pulled back from the brink of obscurity in 2013, by local legend and film lover George R.R. Martin. The Jean Cocteau has become a downtown staple of eclectic, and current cinema. Not only are they showing fine cinema, they play host to artists, singers, comedians, magicians, authors, and they just so happen to make some fantastic cocktails.

18. Take a Cooking Class

The Santa Fe School of Cooking is always a good time. It doesn’t matter if you are already a chef, or a person just trying to not burn toast. The Santa Fe School of Cooking has something for all skill levels. Check out their up coming classes, and see what strikes your fancy. Learning has never been so tasty.

 

 

This article was posted by Cheryl Fallstead

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