Santa Fe, New Mexico (“Holy Faith” in Spanish) has become one of my favorite, go-to sanctuaries in sobriety. The city is an intriguing collision of ancient and modern with so much to explore. I can get lost for hours wandering the museums or hiking nature trails. It’s the perfect place to unwind, get grounded, and reconnect spiritually. Regardless of how I spend my time, I always return home feeling revitalized. Here are my favorite (the best) 7 ways to spend my sober days in Santa Fe:
Explore The Art Scene
Santa Fe is known for ART; you can find it everywhere and in all formats. The scene is vibrant and hip. It feels like New York’s country-cool cousin from the southwest. You can catch performance art every weekend in the square. This could be tribal dancing, local bands, or spoken word. Because of its world-class galleries with a southwestern twist, Canyon Road is one of the most famous streets in the nation. Of course, you will pay infamous prices to take anything home. For more contemporary and slightly more affordable options, check out The Railyard. Schedule your visit around one of the regular art walks. They are a lot of fun and you might meet some resident artists. Wandering through the many museums is a day exceptionally well spent. The Georgia O’Keefe, The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture with the giant Indian in front, The Museum of International Folk Art. All of them!
Surprisingly, Santa Fe also has some impressive outdoor sculptures. Don’t miss Ethyl the 82- Foot Whale (also the current Guinness World Record holder for the largest recycled sculpture), the life-size Brontosaurus Family at M & M Garage Doors and Gates, and the TRex busting through the warehouse across the street. All 3 are located near Santa Fe Community College. To top it off, there is even an actual Shepard Fairey mural at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt with some thought-provoking outdoor exhibits and questionable locals along the way. But you’ll see it… eventually.
Indulge in Spa Time
Santa Fe’s healing natural springs make the city’s spas some of the best in the land. People often talk about Ten Thousand Waves. This is a swanky, clothing-optional spot worth experiencing. But I prefer the picturesque, natural settings and multiple outdoor thermal baths at Ojos Santa Fe Spa Resort. Complete serenity comes quickly here. I highly recommend the day pass for all access to the saltwater pool, giant hot tub, and various baths. You could easily spend the entire day here soaking in the sun and absorbing the minerals. Pro Tip: Check the weather before you go. They close the pools if lightning is within a 7-mile radius.
Embrace the Strange at Meow Wolf
One of the top tourist attractions in Santa Fe is all about ART. And it seems the more out there it is, the better. The immersive journey through the House of Eternal Return is well worth the time and money. There are 70 themed rooms with secret doors, hidden passages, and mind-bending interactive installations from primarily local artists. It’s a world as strange as the name, and I dig it! Photos are allowed and encouraged. And this is the ultimate and probably the original IG experience. Just when I thought Meow Wolf could not get any more fantastic, I saw they have live music! There is a steady rotation of B and C list DJs and bands parading through. What a perfectly bizarre place to catch an up-and-coming act! Meow Wolf has locations in Santa Fe, Denver, Las Vegas, and Grapevine is coming soon. Pro Tip: Give yourself plenty of time to explore and go later in the evening to avoid crowds of tiny humans screeching with excitement.
Discover Santa Fe Plaza
More commonly known as “The Square,” this is the heart of Santa Fe. You can go there at any time of the day or evening and feel alive and entertained. Street performers, music, artists, events, marketers, festivals, ghost tours, galleries, shops, the best restaurants, and stunning churches, it’s all here. My spirit animal, Anthony Bourdain, stopped for the Frito Pie at The 5 and Dime General Store on the square when he visited Santa Fe. (He did not like it.) Don’t miss Chocolate En La Plaza, owned and operated by the Rivera Romero family. They have a fantastic sense of humor, as seen by the “milkshake song” reference pictured below. You must go inside the plaza mall to enjoy the delicious goodness of shakes, coffee drinks, and chocolate-covered everything! Pro Tip: Plan your trip around the Spanish Market or The Santa Fe Indian market for regional, handmade art. These events take place right on the square several times a year.
For a spiritual connection, visit The Loretto Chapel, home of the Miraculous Staircase, built by a mysterious carpenter with two complete 360-degree turns with no center pole for structural support. The man appeared and made the staircase after the nuns prayed the Novena to St Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. If you want to connect with spirits from the other side, try one of the many ghost tours that take off from the square every night. Corny but quirky and a unique way to learn about the rich history and culture of Santa Fe.
In Santa Fe cuisine, the pepper is king, and enchiladas rule. Café Pasqual’s on the square for mole is a must. There will be a wait, but the time they tell you is accurate, and there are plenty of galleries and stores to check out until it’s your turn. Just wait. You will thank me later. Santa Fe shuts down relatively early, making it an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere for sober and zero-proof people. You won’t find a dance club, but Anasazi for dessert is a solid bet. It’s one of the few places open “late”- which is only 9pm during the week and 11pm on Fri and Sat.
Get Grounded in Nature
Early to bed early and to rise because hiking in Santa Fe is spectacular. Miles and miles of trails with gigantic crimson and bright orange rock formations with horizon-to-horizon views of the sun and the stars. One of the best spots in Bandelier National Monument with 33,000 acres of a rugged and beautiful canyon, ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs, and 10,000-year-old cliff dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs. Fun Facts: (that can help you win at trivia) Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States. It is also at the highest altitude of any U.S. state capitals, with an elevation of 7,199 feet. The 3.9-mile Picacho Peak Trail climbs one of the highest peaks at 1,500 feet and offers magnificent views.
If Sate Fe had a soundtrack, it would be the haunting and ever-present howling of coyotes. They linger right on the outside but venture in at dusk. One of the most magical evenings I experienced here started with a walk on the neighborhood trails in Rancho Viejo. I heard the calls in the distance, but the howls got louder as I got further down the trail. I was not ready to go in, but I did an immediate about-face and triple-timed it back to the condo. This and the rolling thunder, followed by brilliant lightning strikes, created the perfect symphony. Summer storms in Santa Fe are epic. These are the God moments I crave.
Marvel at the Sunset
This is a nightly event not to be missed. And people gather to watch the show. Brilliant hues of purple, pink and yellow blaze across the sky. It’s truly mesmerizing. The wide-open spaces make viewing possible from almost anywhere. There are laws against blocking the views of tall buildings, which is amazing. The Bell Tower rooftop bar on top of La Fonda is the spot to be. It’s the tallest building in Santa Fe, only 5 stories. If you’re extra lucky, you’ll also catch one of those epic lighting storms rolling in. These are spectacular. Another hot spot for sundown is Cross of the Martyrs Park, which is only an 11-minute walk from the Square. The path to the top is lined with plaques commemorating the deaths of 21 Franciscan Friars who died in 1680. You will find the beautiful white cross and a stunning view of the mountains when you arrive.
Road Trip to Chimayo
I saved the best for last. Chimayo is my absolute favorite thing about Santa Fe. Only 40 minutes outside of the city, and it feels like you’ve crossed multiple borders to an ancient, adobe, South American shrine. Millions have been making the pilgrimage to this site for the “Holy Dirt” which is believed to have healing powers. Visitors can enter the lowered door in the prayer room off the main Sanctuary to collect the dirt from the original spot where Bernardo Abeyta built the chapel after he was cured. The site was also sacred to the Tewa Indians for its healing powers. The prayer room is filled with photos of people who were healed, and crutches and braces left behind as proof.
El Santuario de Chimayo, the main church in the area, is surrounded by smaller chapels, prayer portals, and folk art. The most memorable is Santo Nino Chapel lined with tiny shoes representing thanksgiving for answered prayers. This place has an undeniable spiritual presence in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. You can feel the pull of competing forces, ancient American Indian rituals, nature, Christianity, and maybe some Voodoo. I’m not entirely sure what it is, but I know it is powerful.
You’ll see regional weavers selling their work and several folk art galleries sprinkled throughout the grounds. There are a few food stands and one coffee shop right outside the village. But I recommend holding out to enjoy a fabulous meal just 2 minutes down the road. Rancho de Chimayo serves authentic New Mexican cuisine with recipes using chilis grown from seeds passed down from generation to generation. Bonus Photo Op: The famous Camel Rock is on the road back to Santa Fe, along with several other stunning rock formations.
Santa Fe’s super chill vibe is perfect for a solo spiritual journey or a sober girls’ getaway. Despite my mission to see all 50 states, Santa Fe is one of the few places I frequent. There is always more to explore and endless levels of spirituality and healing to grasp. My next trip will include a sweat lodge experience, a visit to the Pueblo Tribe for a traditional feast day ritual, and a night at the Santa Fe Opera. I’m only one state away in Texas and the drive is beyond stunning. So I will absolutely keep coming back.
For more recommendations on sober travel, visit Sobriety in The City and What a Trip at The Sober Curator.com.
