The new year is here, with thrilling adventures in one of the world's most dazzling destinations—Santa Fe County. Ski the Rockies on some of the best powder in the Southwest, then visit a world-class spa for a post-holiday recharge. Explore riveting new installations at Meow Wolf, the immersive art experience that has captivated crowds from around the globe. After you've feasted your eyes, head out on a culinary adventure to savor deliciously distinctive cuisine, including traditional northern New Mexican dishes and eclectic contemporary fare.
The Best Powder in the Southwest
Praised by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the five best ski resorts in New Mexico, Ski Santa Fe offers sunlit slopes, pristine powder and a family-friendly vibe, just 15 minutes from town. With a 12,000-foot summit, and 223 inches of glorious snow per season, this family-run ski area is a hot spot for skiers and snowboarders alike. With extensive glades, Ski Santa Fe’s tree skiing is some of the best in the state. Cruise the wide groomers or challenge yourself on steep runs, and technical chutes. If you're a first-timer on the slopes, or want to hone your technique, Ski Santa Fe offers group and private snowboarding and skiing classes for all ages.
Discover more about Ski Santa Fe here: skisantafe.com
Renew Body, Mind and Spirit
From natural hot springs and high-mountain hot tubs to world-class spas offering stellar services, Santa Fe County spas are unparalleled. Enticing treatments include a chocolate truffle body wrap and a facial with wildcrafted local herbs—and that's just for starters. Serene settings include Ten Thousand Waves, inspired by traditional Japanese mountain hot springs resorts, and Ojo Santa Fe's secluded pools of spring-fed waters amid gardens and pathways. In a renowned five-star boutique hotel, the Spa at Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe offers luxurious body treatments influenced by the region and private retreats for couples. If you’re a guest at Bishop's Lodge Auberge Resorts Collection — Santa Fe, renew your body with a restorative massage at Stream Dance Spa, and your spirit with a walking meditation on the grounds of a re-envisioned iconic retreat that dates to the1920s.
Meow Wolf's Expanding Multiverse
Meow Wolf, the fantastical interactive art experience, has added three new permanent installations to its mind-bending venue. In Sirens: Secret Passkeys & Portals, celebrated Cochiti Pueblo artist Virgil Ortiz, draws from his ongoing project, Revolt 1680/2180, a saga of time-jumpers traveling to the past from a dystopian future 500 years after the Pueblo Revolt to aid their ancestors. As you wander through the wildly imaginative installation, interact with displays, decode patterns and marvel at the vision of Ortiz, the recipient of the 2022 Museum of Indian Arts and Culture’s Living Treasure Award.
Inspired by dreams and mythology, Los Angeles-based artist Lauren YS created Meow Wolf's new installation, The Ancestral Crypt. Inside the two-story room, accessed through a portal from the forest, is like being underground, somewhere between the ancient past and the distant future. New York-based artist Jacob Fisher used string, light and other elements to create his new installation, until I see you again, which shrouds Space Sphere, the previously installed giant interstellar traveling ball. Walk around, under, and even into Fisher's ethereal installation, and you may experience a sense of tranquility.
For more info, visit: meowwolf.com/visit/santa-fe
Creative Cuisine
After a day of skiing, spa-going, or interacting with art, it's time to dine. Enjoy a memorable meal at a five-star resort, a James Beard award-winning restaurant, or an eclectic cafe focused on farm-to-table fare. You'll find whatever you're craving in our renowned restaurants, from Japanese small plates to giant New Mexico green chile cheeseburgers, creative contemporary fare showcasing New Mexico ingredients and so many other culinary experiences. At Rancho de Chimayó, for instance, you’ll enjoy traditional New Mexican food that has delighted diners for more than 50 years, and earned the restaurant a James Beard Foundation America's Classics Award. At Arroyo Vino, share upscale seasonal small plates that highlight ingredients from the restaurant’s kitchen garden.
To get the full flavor of dining in Santa Fe County, time your visit during Santa Fe Restaurant Week, which returns after a pandemic hiatus. It’s a delicious way to sample an array of restaurants, and discover a few hidden gems. You’ll savor three- course prix fixe meals that are priced to sell during the shoulder season and highlight the region’s remarkable dining opportunities. Organizers are still cooking up the exact dates, but they’ve announced that the edible event will take place in early 2023.
Check the website for dates, and a list of restaurants and menus: https: www.nmrestaurantweek.com.
Honoring the Ranch of the Swallows
El Rancho de las Golondrinas had quite a year in 2022. The acclaimed living history museum not only celebrated its 50th anniversary with 50 events, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This New Mexico treasure is open April through October, and hosts an array of exciting festivals and events throughout its season. Learn more at: golondrinas.org
Opera Ovation
The Santa Fe Opera was named Festival of the Year at the International Opera Awards, held in the historic Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain in November. The 2023 season has been announced, and it’s never too early to purchase your tickets for the company’s exciting 66th season. Find all the details here: santafeopera.org
The Century Rolls On
Get your wheels ready for the Santa Fe Century, a weekend of challenging courses and exciting two-wheeled events, May 19-21, 2023. Meet thousands of fellow cyclists from the Santa Fe cycling community and from around the world during diverse rides, including a scenic course through the Ortiz Mountains, the Galisteo Basin and other stunning landscapes of northern New Mexico.
Upcoming Winter Events
Celebrate the wonders of winter during Art + Sol, a nine-day festival of symphony, song, chorus, chamber music, theater and other festive events in landmark venues across the city. Museums, galleries, restaurants and hotels participate as well, giving visitors a rich experience of Santa Fe County’s art, culture and history. February 11-19, 2023
“The Soul of Spanish Guitar”
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas returns to The Lensic Performing Arts Center to impress audiences with his mesmerizing mix of technical wizardry, artistry and ardent passion as he performs timeless pieces from his homeland. Billboard has called him the “global ambassador of Spanish guitar.” His sold-out concert in March, 2020 at The Lensic was the venue’s last event before the pandemic, and Santa Fe is thrilled to welcome him back. Presented by Performance Santa Fe, March 17-18, 2023.
Art + Sol and “The Soul of Spanish Guitar” are partially funded by the County of Santa Fe Lodgers’ Tax.
