Santa Fe or as some call it... SF or The City Different is the oldest and highest (sits around 7,000') capital city in North America. The rich cultural and natural history set Santa Fe apart from any other city we have visited on our journey. The vibe is super artsy which was way more than we could appreciate but we attempted to take it in one day at a time. Homebase: Santa Fe Skies RV ... rated a 5 out of 5 for us.

Day 1:

Head into downtown and explore the Santa Fe Plaza. Eat, shop (we liked Rainbow Man) or check out a museum. Make sure to step inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, a beautiful Roman Catholic cathedral built in the 1800s. From there, take a stroll to the Railyard District which is one of Santa Fe's newest development in recent years. Stop at 2nd Street Brewery for a tasty beer and good local advice from your bartender. Ours recommended Atrisco for delicous and decently priced Mexican fare and the city's best margaritas.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Day 2:

Go for a hike to Nambe Lake in the Santa Fe Ski Area located about 15 miles from town right on the edge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range which is the southernmost subrange of the Rockies. The hike is tough but rewarding and the drive on its own is also spectacular. Head to Draft Station* to enjoy a local brew and a sunset view over the Plaza. *No HH but locals are joining their Beer Club for $10 and getting $$ off beers and growlers every time they come in.

Day 3:

Head back into town to see the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. This is a must do! New to Georgia O'Keeffe's artwork, learn more here. Next, grab lunch at Beestro Bistro (menu changes daily-ish, try the Dutch Chicken sando...one of the best we ever had). Walk through Canyon Road and experience over 100 art galleries and studios in a half-mile. Spend the evening back at the Railyard and catch dinner and a movie at Violet Crown which offers good locally sourced food (and drink) and reserved seating.

Day 4:

Start the day off with a yoga session at Santa Fe Community Yoga. Drop ins are around $10 but they have several donation based classes throughout the week. Next head back to the Railyard (we really liked this area and they have a ton of local events happening daily) for the Saturday Santa Fe Farmers Market. I think they have a Tuesday and Wednesday night farmers market too but the Saturday market is not to be missed and open year round. If you are feeling energized from the market, take a dance class at the Railyard Performance Center. We watched a West African and Haitian class which looked like so much fun! Since we (cough Dylan :) ) passed on the dance class, we opted for one more hike in the area. Take a half day to hike part of the Dale Ball trail system right on the outskirts of town. Combine the hike to Atalaya and Picacho Peaks for a 7 ish mile loop. Head to Santa Fe Brewing Company (oldest brewery in SF) for $3 beers and the sunset.

And.... Other local recs we did not get to try: