New Mexico

Tips: 

-There are many sides to this state. Don’t just check out one spot because you will miss all of it’s beauty. 

-If you want to visit a Native American Indian reservation, research them before going. They have certain rules on their pueblo and you don’t want to offend them accidentally. Many also have markets to sell their goods all over. You will see signs for these along the highways.

-Casinos. Since there are many Indian reservations there are also many casinos. Maybe check out the ones I listed below but there is no need to go overboard here and visit many.

-Balloon Fiesta. One of the most unique experiences in the world. If you can plan your trip during this time (usually October) you will be very happy you saw it.

 

Eat like the Locals:

-Green, red or Christmas? You may be asked this after you order a meal with the waitress. She wants to know what type of chile you want with your meal. Green is more mild than red. Christmas is a mix of the green and red. New Mexicans are prideful about their chile, Hatch Green Chile in particular. Be prepared to reply like a pro with your answer before you go.

-Frito Pie is the New Mexican version of a hotdog at a baseball game. Its garbage food but magical to try. Its basically a homemade chili (the meat type) poured over a bag of fritos. Get one at the Five & Dime General Store at Santa Fe Plaza.

-Sopaipillas or fried bread is a staple like green or red chile. Almost every restaurant serves sopaipillas with your meal. Make sure to pour some honey on the plate and dip the bread in it. 

-Pozole is a soup with hominy. Its warm and tasty and a good go to meal.

-Your life will change after having a green chile breakfast burrito. Even Starbucks sells them. Just eat one already.

-If you are looking for a snack then you should buy chicharrón. Its fried pork rinds or pork belly. Sounds gross if you haven’t tried it and maybe for picky eaters won't like it. But they are crispy and with a little bit of salt they are a good snack when you need something to hold you over until your next meal.

 

Santa Fe:

 The downtown area of Santa Fe is really cute and has a good mix of restaurants and shops. It is also home to one of the largest art scenes in the US. You can gallery hop for a day and check out all of the beautiful art.

-Check out the Loretto Chapel while downtown. Its a small chapel but it has a spiral staircase that was built by magic. This staircase is called The Miraculous Staircase because it ascends twenty feet, making two complete revolutions up to the choir loft without the use of nails or apparent center support.

-If you are a chocolate lover then visit Kakawa Chocolate house. You can drink and eat different flavored chocolates to your hearts desire.

-For a crazy different experience which EVERYONE SHOULD GO is Meow Wolf. It’s like a giant play place with tons of different rooms and each one a different experience. You can climb through fireplaces and refrigerators and listen to a Cellist play in a cave of stalactites. It’s fun for all ages although I think we were the only adults that weren’t tripping balls from some edible. They also have nighttime concerts and events for adults which I imagine is pretty damn cool.

-If you are willing to stay slightly outside of Santa Fe then stay at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. Its a beautiful hotel with a really good buffet. Even if you don’t stay there its worth a visit.

-Bandelier National Monument is a good day trip. Its nice hiking through mountains with really cool cave like dwellings from our ancestors. They were much shorter than we are today so they are tiny little rooms in the sides of the mountain. You can go into them and see how it was like to live in from 1150-1600.

-Dions is what happens when New Mexican Chile infiltrates Italian Pizza. This is damn good pizza and a good try if you want some New Mexican flavor but are tired of New Mexican food.

 

When you are REALLY tired of New Mexican Food:

-Jambo Cafe. This wonderful gem was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives tv show. The goat stew is their most popular dish but I know many people that get nervous about eating goat if they have never had it before. The Jerk Chicken Sandwich was mouth watering. If you eat meat then get the Jerk Chicken Sandwich. My boyfriend was super pleased with this and we even overheard another customer telling her friends that she always orders the Jerk Chicken because its so good. They have a good amount of vegetarian options that aren’t salads too so there is something for everyone.

-Jinja Bar & Bistro in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Damn this is good food. Its Asian food from the pacific islands. Also, this is the first “chain” like place I have seen in the US serve Thai Iced tea. My excitement literally jumped out of my body and into that tea. There is nothing bad on this menu but I definitely saw tons of tables ordering the lettuce wraps so I feel like that was the most popular dish.

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White Sands & Ruidoso:

-Stay in Ruidoso and drive to White Sands for a day trip. Ruidoso has a cute downtown shopping street worth walking. It’s also well know for horse races and has a pretty amazing resort and casino called Inn of the Mountain Gods. In winter there is also great ski slopes in the town. A fair warning: the drive to the ski slopes could cause soiled pants from the crazy winding roads up the mountains that seem never-ending. If you get nervous with heights and roads close to sides of mountains then smoke a chill pill before taking that venture.

-Driving from Sante Fe to Ruidoso will have you drive through The Valley of Fires which is volcanic rock just outside of Ruidoso. You should stop at the campground and pay to take the hike. Driving through them on the highway is pretty crazy to be surrounded by black volcanic rock on both sides but you will be able to get up close and personal with the rock on the walking trail. Pictures just don’t do this rock justice.

-White Sands is next to a missile testing facility for the US government. This means that you see bizarre signs along the highway warning drivers if the light is flashing that the road to White Sands is closed due to missile testing. WOAH! I'm not sure how often this happens so I can't tell you if there is a big risk of missiles cancelling your plans. Just be aware of this.

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Do White Sands right:

For photos and peace: You want to get to white sands as soon as they open. Why? You avoid the crowds and get to pick where you want to park and explore. You will get the morning sun which is great for photos. It’s peaceful and perfect for Yoga or meditation. On your way to White Sands, stop at Apache Donuts in Ruidoso for fresh hot glazed donuts and a coffee to warm you up for your drive (1 hour 20 min). On the way back to Ruidoso from White Sands, stop at Yum Yum Donuts & Restaurant in Tularosa for some huevos rancheros or a breakfast burrito. The food is great and this diner is a super cute staple in this town worth supporting.

For a fun day out with the family: Treat this like a beach without water. Bring the shovels and buckets, beach towels and an umbrella. Unlimited sand means unlimited sand castle options. Go midday and pack a lunch.

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Other places to check out:

Albuquerque- You will probably fly into Albuquerque so why not spend a few days exploring? Don’t forget the Balloon Fiesta is here every October so I would recommend staying local in order to get to the fiesta early in the morning to watch the balloons get inflated and take off.

Taos- Just north of Santa Fe. Worth a day trip or staying in Taos. Its a great place for outdoor activities. 

Roswell- If you believe in alien life this is a stop you should make

 

Travel Details:

July 2017 (And previously October 2010)

8 days

Personal travel