Artsy Galleries and Museums in Santa Fe, New Mexico - 24-Hour Travel Guide
Sculpture, chiles and adobe in Santa Fe (courtesy Flickr: celebrategreatness)
One of the many galleries on Canyon Road (courtesy Flickr: celebrategreatness)
Enjoy a margarita on the patio at the Ore House (courtesy Flickr: jennylynndesign)
A painting on display at the Georgia O'Keefe Museum (courtesy Flickr: dougward)
Overview - Santa Fe is truly an arts mecca. Since the 1960s, artisans, painters, photographers and artists of all kinds have flocked to this small, southwestern capital city to relish the arid, desert air and be inspired by the stunning local landscape. Today, Santa Fe is home to dozens of galleries, museums and crafts shops that specialize in everything from traditional Native American crafts to modern art.
Breakfast - If you want to catch a glimpse of local artists in their natural habitat, you should have breakfast at the Santa Fe Baking Company on Cordova Rd. This trendy but comfortable café is located in a non-descript, out-of-the-way strip mall, making it completely off the tourist track. Most locals will come in to enjoy some Huevos Rancheros for breakfast and linger over their coffee until midday.
Morning - Santa Fe has so many galleries and museums to choose from, it would be impossible to see them all in one day. Your best bet is to pick what genre of art you’re interested and start from there. No matter what your tastes, it’s guaranteed that Santa Fe will have something to suit you. If you’re not sure, start at the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, which houses a massive selection of this famous 20th century painter’s works that focus mostly on natural scenes of northern New Mexico, as well as her famous detailed flower portraits. If that doesn’t suit you, take your pick from the Museum of International Folk Art, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian or the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art.
Lunch - Grab lunch on the Plaza at The Shed, a New Mexican food institution. The colorful atmosphere in this historic restaurant, along with the spectacular choices of traditional New Mexican dishes, like enchiladas and chile rellenos, will delight your senses and your palate. I would try the Stuffed Sopapillas, which are Native American fry bread stuffed with chicken, beans, chile and cheese.
Afternoon - Most of Santa Fe’s art galleries are situated along Canyon Road, the name of which has now become renowned in the art world. The galleries along this strip of road range from traditional Indian crafts to modern art and large sculpture. The best way to explore Canyon Road is to simply walk up and down the length of it, perusing the galleries as you go. The road itself makes for a lovely stroll, with a plethora of trees and greenery overlapping the soft adobe buildings.
Dinner - Anyone from Santa Fe will tell you to eat at the Pink Adobe, known by locals as simply “The Pink”. It is an upscale restaurant that doesn’t feel terribly pretentious, but is marked by a high standard of cuisine that ranges from European to New Mexican. Though it is a bit of a splurge, price-wise, you will never eat so well.
After Dark - Cozy up on the balcony upstairs at the Ore House on the Plaza. Their upstairs bar supplements the full restaurant downstairs and they often have local western and country bands playing when the weather is good. Their list of tequilas is one of the more comprehensive in Santa Fe, or just grab a house margarita!
Sleep - Santa Fe has a massive selection of hotels, many of them extremely pricey. Instead, I would suggest Dunshee’s B&B and Casita. This small inn is locally owned and run, and you’ll love their location not far from Canyon Road.
Tags: Art, Museum, native american, Walking