Santa Fe Roadtrip with Lexus

We got home a few days ago from over a week of road trips. It was honestly the best time. After a few nights more locally in San Diego and Santa Barbara, we drove all the way from Los Angeles to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now that we’re fully vaccinated and starting to get out more, I initially thought to go somewhere by plane. But on second thought we decided to prioritize keeping our pup with us and decided to hit the road to visit a slightly more unexpected destination.

I’ve been wanting to explore the southwest part of the country more for some time. Last Christmas we were supposed to do a 2-week road trip from Los Angeles through Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and West Texas. This was canceled last minute due to the surge in COVID-19 cases at the time. This is still on my list of things to do – but I was so excited to have the opportunity to visit Santa Fe (by way of Las Vegas) in partnership with Lexus.

Over the course of a week, we spent a LOT of time in the car. Fortunately, we drove a Lexus RX 450H on the trip and the car was an absolute dream. More on that below, as well as everything we did in Santa Fe and everything you need to know before visiting.

Lexus RX450H

As I mentioned above, Lexus was kind enough to partner with us for this trip. We test drove an RX450H and the drive was an absolute dream. Even the 9-hour leg between Las Vegas and Santa Fe was smooth and comfortable. We absolutely loved the car – the suspension, interior, safety features, and that it’s a hybrid! The panoramic view monitor made parallel parking a breeze – as someone who isn’t the biggest car person, I can tell you we were really obsessed with this particular vehicle. We’re now seriously considering it as our next vehicle – especially since the new version with the third row makes it incredibly family-friendly. You can find a great review of the vehicle here.

Santa Fe Roadtrip with Lexus

Where to stay

If it’s your first time visiting Santa Fe, I would suggest staying near the main plaza in town. The city isn’t very big, and most attractions and noteworthy spots will be walkable if you stay downtown. We stayed at La Fonda on the Plaza which was great and dog-friendly, the other option we considered (if you are looking for something higher end), was Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi.

When deciding what hotel to book, we usually consider how much time we will be spending in the room. On more active and itinerary-packed trips, we’ll usually opt to save a little on the hotel if we don’t anticipate being in the room for long. Both hotels are right next to the main plaza and are some of the best located in the city. The Rosewood is more luxurious and smaller, but we felt our hotel was also very comfortable and clean.

We also considered staying at El Rey Court, but decided against it ultimately. The location isn’t nearly as walkable and the reviews were mixed (ALWAYS do your research and plot out some key attractions in the city you’re visiting – location is everything). I did hear the bar, La Reina, is a great spot to grab a drink along Santa Fe’s Margarita Trail.

What to do

Santa Fe is an art lover’s dream – the desert surroundings combined with the rich cultural history of the region create a destination that feels at times otherwordly. You can easily see most of the city in a day or two, however, if I had the time I could easily spend over a week. If you love food, history, art, and the outdoors, you will love Santa Fe.

+ Vintage shopping – there are some incredibly curated shops in Santa Fe. Some of our favorites: Double Take, Kowboyz, Santa Fe Vintage (appointment only but the selection is some of the best I’ve ever seen!), and shiprocksantafe.com (more to look and admire than purchase, but it’s a must-see!). There are also countless little shops in the main downtown area that I don’t recall the names to that are

+ Museums – note: some museums and exhibits are still closed due to COVID-19. We really enjoyed the Georgia O’Keefe museum, which was small but well-curated. Be sure to book appointments and tickets at museums in advance, as they have limited reservations at this time.

+ Meow Wolf – an interactive art installation experience that you have to see to understand. It’s hard to describe, but a very fun experience that is worth a couple of hours.

+ Canyon Road galleries – spend a morning or afternoon walking along Canyon Road and stopping along the way at any galleries that catch your eye.

+ Wine tasting – we didn’t do this, but apparently, New Mexico has a very long history of producing wine! Gruet is probably the most well-known winery, they have a tasting room downtown and specialize in sparkling wines.

+ Hot springs – advance reservations are required, check out Ojo Caliente or Ten Thousand Waves Spa.

+ Hiking – there are miles of trails only 10 minutes away from the city, if you’re up for a short drive Bandelier National Monument is close and worth seeing.

Where to eat

+ Southwest cuisine – when in Rome (or when in New Mexico), southwest cuisine is a must! There are several spots that came highly recommended and it’s not hard to find, but my favorite spot was La Choza. I still dream of their chile rellenos and sopapillas. If you’re trying New Mexican chile for the first time, ask for “Christmas” (red and green chile) on your dish. Some other popular spots for more casual southwest cuisine – The Shed (La Choza’s sister restaurant right in town), Tune-Up Cafe, Tia Sophia’s, and The Pantry.

+ Vinaigrette – in between all the chile rellenos and burritos, I was seriously craving some greens. This seems to be a popular locals spot for farm to table salads (everything is grown on a local farm!). Think Sweetgreen, but much better.

+ Fine dining – there are a lot of options for fine dining in Santa Fe! Some that came highly recommended: Geronimo (generally agreed as the best restaurant in town), Sazon, and Coyote Cafe.

+ Margarita trail – we weren’t drinking this trip, but I hear Santa Fe is known for their margaritas! So much so that they even created a city-wide Margarita Trail – you can track your journey and visit various restaurants in towns, collecting passport stamps as you try each restaurant or bar’s signature margarita.

Why Santa Fe is on my list of places to return

Unfortunately, several of the activities and sights I wanted to do and see in Santa Fe were still closed due to COVID-19. In another trip to Santa Fe, these are some of the things I’m most excited to do:

+ Drive the high road to Taos and see the Taos Pueblos

+ Tour Georgia O’Keefe’s home at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu

+ See the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks

+ Visit White Sands National Park (a four hour drive from Santa Fe).

Essentials to Pack

+ A humidifier – even coming from Los Angeles (which is also technically a desert climate), Santa Fe felt noticeably drier. Many hotels will have these if you ask them, but we happened to bring our own because we drove. This was a lifesaver at night in our hotel room.

+ Moisturizers – again, a very dry climate calls for especially hydrating skincare products. I brought this Necessaire cream for my body and used this Dr. Jart mask at night before bed to keep my skin moisturized.

+ Liquid IV – we always travel with electrolytes, this comes in handy when you decide to have a few drinks or just aren’t drinking as much water as usual due to travel. I’ve been using this powder for years – use code THELUXILOOK for a 25% off and free shipping.

+ Layers and boots! The weather in Santa Fe has range. It went from cold and rainy to sunny and hot in the span of an hour. Again, desert highs and lows.

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