Unique places to stay along Route 66 beckon as you travel through Santa Fe County, including the Bobcat Inn, located on the eastern outskirts of Santa Fe. Set on 10 pastoral acres, this bed and breakfast-style inn provides road-weary guests a chance to hike tranquil trails and simply relax in charming outdoor spaces, including a courtyard with a waterfall and koi pond. Work up an appetite on a morning walk for the inn’s hearty breakfasts, including blue corn pancakes and breakfast casseroles. Book the inn’s Route 66-themed guest room, accented with the highway’s iconic emblem, and fill up on nature’s beauty from your private porch, before heading out on the Mother Road.
On the western side of the Santa Fe Loop, where neon-lit motels and motor courts along Cerrillos Road once accommodated Route 66 travelers, two retro motels have been renovated into hip hubs for travelers and locals.
In 1936, El Rey Court opened as a roadside motor inn with just 12 rooms. After renovations by new owners, El Rey is a hot spot for travelers and locals, with 86 rooms, a Swim Club open to guests and locals with a pass, and La Reina bar, a gathering space for cocktails and live music.
A short drive south on Cerrillos Road leads to The Mystic, a stylish motel in the former1950s Western-themed Silver Saddle Motel. Textiles, murals and other art from around the world, and by Native artists, have replaced the cowboy kitsch in the old motel. A cafe serves eclectic fare and craft cocktails and an outdoor venue hosts live music and special events. The 24 vintage rooms include two Route 66 “capsules” outfitted with throwback decor for nostalgia buffs, just like you.
A short drive from Route 66 brings you to Santa Fe County’s world-class lodging, including Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection – Santa Fe. Settled as a retreat by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy more than 150 years ago, this iconic landmark has been revitalized as a luxury resort. Set against a backdrop of the Santa Fe National Forest, this award-winning destination offers Southwest-style lodging and dining, nature-driven adventures, rejuvenating treatments at Stream Dance Spa, and unique guest experiences that include a pottery or weaving class.
Settle into Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe and you won’t want to leave. Nestled against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this romantic resort combines luxury and serenity, with Pueblo-inspired casitas and a restaurant renowned for regional flavors blended with global influences. The Spa promotes wellness with healing, relaxing treatments that often feature high desert ingredients. Outdoor adventures offer guided excursions into nature and local history.
Deep sleep awaits at Houses of the Moon at Ten Thousand Waves. Each guest room is inspired by a simple, yet elegant, Japanese ryokan, or traditional inn. Perched in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Ten Thousand Waves is modeled after traditional Japanese mountain spas. Soak in an outdoor tub beneath towering pines, and relax with a masterful massage. Savor a delectable dinner of eclectic Japanese bar food and artisanal sake at the acclaimed Izanami Restaurant.
Relax in an oasis of spring-fed thermal pools at Ojo Santa Fe Spa and Resort, located on the road to El Rancho de los Golondrinas. After a massage or another restorative spa treatment, enjoy a blissful stroll along pathways amid enchanting gardens. Follow a delicious dinner at the resort’s Blue Heron Restaurant featuring seasonal, farm- fresh fare with a peaceful night’s sleep in your serene guest room with garden views or a spacious adobe casita.
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