Founded in 1610 and nearly 7,000 feet in elevation, Santa Fe is both the oldest and highest state capital in the United States. Its stunning adobe architecture is backdropped by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, providing ample historical, cultural, and natural sites. In addition to the many art galleries, shops, and restaurants you'll find around the historic city center, here is a small sampling of our favorite spots in and around Santa Fe.

June 12th-21st: Currents 2026 Art and Technology Festival. Come see the festival where Gabe's You Are the Ocean was exhibited in 2018! The opening night runs from 6pm to 11pm on Friday, June 12th.

June 14th at 11am: First Novena Mass, Knighting and Coronation at the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi. Before the wedding, head across the street from La Fonda to witness the beginning of Fiesta de Santa Fe, an annual tradition since 1712. The mass will be followed by a procession at 1pm.

Many more local events can be found on the Santa Fe Tourism site.

At Museum Hill, you can visit four museums and the Santa Fe Botanical Garden all in one location. We especially recommend the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and Museum of International Folk Art.

The Georgia O’Keefe Museum is conveniently located right off the Santa Fe Plaza, a must-see for fans of her modernist paintings. For super-fans, head 50 miles out to Abiquiú to see her home and studio.

Meow Wolf is a well-known immersive and interactive art museum founded in 2008, well before the nationwide trend of "Instagram museums."

The following sites are all a quick walk from La Fonda on the Plaza:

• Loretto Chapel, especially famous for its wooden spiral staircase built without nails or supports.

• San Miguel Chapel, the oldest church in the United States.

• Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi

• Palace of the Governors: While home to the Museum of New Mexico, the main draw is the Native American Arts Market that takes place around the Palace daily. Note that photos of the market are not allowed.

• Oldest House, dating back to the 13th century. Across the street from San Miguel Chapel, touring it only takes 10 to 15 minutes.

It doesn't take long to understand why New Mexico is known as "The Land of Enchantment." Its consistently beautiful weather, incredible scenery, and unique culture provide so many opportunities for exploration. It's the reason we highly suggest renting a car: so you can see why Mattie grew up loving this state and why Gabe has fallen in love with it. Here are some of our favorite sites farther out in New Mexico.

Acoma Pueblo or “Sky City”: While lesser known and farther from Santa Fe than Taos Pueblo, we highly encourage you to visit Acoma if you have time. Perched hundreds of feet on top of a mesa and dating to 1100, there's nowhere else quite like it. They're also famous for their beautiful painted pottery.

El Santuario de Chimayó is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in North America, a tradition Mattie’s family has participated in. When you visit, be sure to bring a small vessel with you. The church is known for its holy dirt that has healing properties, and you can take a small amount of dirt from the altar.

Bandelier National Monument is famous for its cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans. In addition to ample archaeological sites, it contains over 70 miles of hiking trails.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is open by reservation only, but contains incredibly unique, conical volcanic formations that are worth a visit.

White Sands National Park is potentially the most beautiful natural site Gabe has seen. The largest white sand dunes in the world, it's a long but absolutely worthwhile drive from Santa Fe.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Descend 750 feet from its natural opening to the "Big Room," North America's largest cave chamber. The drive between Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands takes you on a scenic route through the Sacramento Mountains.

• Petroglyph National Monument contains hundreds of well-preserved petroglyphs nestled around gentle hiking trails.

• National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is a great stop for history and science buffs. Oppenheimer!

• The Balloon Museum for a deep dive into hot air balloons, including New Mexico's famous annual festival.

• Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway climbs around 4,000 feet for impressive mountaintop views of Albuquerque.

The number of things to do and see in New Mexico exceeds what we have room for here. If you have questions about anything not on the list, don’t hesitate to reach out! We also highly recommend taking a look at the much more comprehensive list from the New Mexico tourism site.