We worked with NextTribe women who live in Santa Fe to open doors to places and people you could never see if you went to Santa Fe on your own or with any other group. It’s part of our Locally Sourced Travel series, where women just like us in destination cities help plan the trip, showing us the best attractions, giving us a true insider experience. (If you’d like to show us your city, we can pay you to help us come up with an itinerary.)
Itinerary subject to change.
Read the story about our 2021 trip here.
Saturday Sept. 17th
Plunging into Native American history, right from the start.
Arrive at Drury Inn on the Plaza Square by 2 p.m.
3 p.m – 5 p.m. Walking tour. We’ll start off with an overview of the city and its history, so we can get our bearings and put what we experience in the next few days in perspective. But this is not just any walking tour. Elena Ortiz Junes is a member of the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo with 33 years of experience in education travel in the Southwest. She no longer gives walking tours, but is doing so because she is friends with NextTribe co-founder Jeannie Ralston, who years ago wrote a story about her business for Travel + Leisure. Junes, a Native American interpreting the Native American world, provides an authentic angle on the past and offers deep insight into the legends, mindset, and beliefs of those who have claimed this land since ancient times.
5:00- 6:30 p.m. Reception at Obscura Gallery, where we will talk to owner/photographer Jennifer Schlesinger about her work and sip wine. We’ll be gathering with interesting locals so you can meet other women living in Santa Fe and widen your circle of friends.
7:00 Dinner at a classic Santa Fe restaurant.
(Included: Walking tour, reception, and dinner.)
Sunday, Sept. 18th
Inside the homes and hearts of Santa Fe women.
10-12 noon Hike in Arroyo Hondo. We’ll get our blood moving with a level walk on a trail through the aspen. We’ll be led by Amy Kawadler, a local jewelry artist and a fun-loving NextTriber.
12—1 p.m. Demonstration of painting the Santa Fe landscape by noted plein air artist Lisa Flynn. She is an award winning member of the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico; PAPNM, and recently won Best of Show in the 2019 Historic Studios Show at the Blumenschein Museum in Taos, New Mexico.
1-3 p.m. Lunch on the patio of Amy Kawadler’s home and jewelry studio.
6 p.m: Meow Wolf. You can’t go to Santa Fe without visiting this revolutionary art institution that almost defies description. But the founders have tried: “Meow Wolf creates immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. This includes art installations, video and music production, and extended reality content…Meow Wolf champions otherness, weirdness, challenging norms, radical inclusion, and the power of creativity to change the world.” Our creativity meters will be pegged out by the end of our visit.
Dinner. You can pick up a bite at the Float Cafe within Meow Wolf (known for its “Meow-garitas”) or at the food trucks parked outside. You’re free to bring food from the food trucks inside.
(Included: Breakfast, lunch, entrance to Meow Wolf.)
Monday, Sept. 19th
A day packed with art and shopping.
9-10:30: 10,000 Waves. This famous, Japanese-inspired spa features beautiful outdoor hot tubs and spa suites set among piñons and junipers. We’ll have use of private baths. Each contain hot tubs, cold plunges, and saunas. You can reserve your own body treatments during this time and get lunch at the adjoining Izanami Restaurant when you’re ready–sitting at the bar if you want light fare.
1 – 3 p.m. Free time for shopping on Main Plaza, with stores suggested by locals.
4-5 p.m. VIP Reception at Karina on Canyon. Enjoy bubbly and special discounts on the wide selection of clothes, jewelry, and art. The owner will be on hand to talk about her designers and her journey to opening the store.
6 – 8 p.m. Reception at the brand new Museum of the Sixties, an impressive collection of photos and memorabilia for those who remember the Sixties and those who want to know what really went on then and how it has affected society. Our host will be Lisa Law, a photographer and filmmaker best known for her chronicles of the counterculture era, including Woodstock.
7:30 p.m Dinner on your own. We can decide as a group where to go and we’ll make reservations. Or feel free to find a place on your own.
(Included: Breakfast, entrance to 10,000 waves, two receptions, entrance to the Museum of the Sixties.)
Tuesday, Sept. 20th
We’re off for an all-day jaunt to magical locations north of Santa Fe.
7:15 a.m. Departure for Abiquiu.
9 – 10:30 a. m. A Georgia O’Keefe landscape tour at Ghost Ranch. See the actual places that inspired O’Keefe’s paintings on her beloved ranch. Afterward spend time hiking the property or visiting the headquarters to learn more about O’Keefe.
11 a.m. Tour of Georgia O’Keefe’s home.
12:30 p.m. Lunch at Cafe Abiquiu at the Abiquiu Inn, which adjoins the Visitor’s Center at Georgia O’Keefe’s house. Café Abiquiu offers casual dining in a charming atmosphere adorned with the work of local artists. We’ll choose from traditional Northern New Mexico dishes, plus specialty espresso drinks, local beers, and wines. (Depending on time constraints, we may get a box lunch instead of a sit-down meal.)
3:00-7:00 p.m. Hands-on traditional cooking class and dinner. We will be welcomed into the home of Norma Naranjo at the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo. Naranjo and her husband are farmers, and we’ll be feasting on vegetables straight from their fields. Bonus: we’ll be there during green chili season. We’ll be making the meal on the horno, which is an outdoor oven that is central to traditional cooking in Northern New Mexico. The menu will include blue-corn muffins, horno bread with pico de gallo, vegetarian green chile stew, pinto beans with chicos (a delicacy), a salad, and empanadas for desert. Naranjo will talk about the culture and history of Northern New Mexico, the feast days in her pueblo, and her interesting life as a woman our age growing up on a pueblo. More info about Naranjo and her classes here.
(Included: Breakfast, transportation through out the day, entrance to Ghost Ranch landscape tour, lunch, and cooking class and dinner.)
Wednesday, Sept. 22nd
Good karma goes with you.
Linger in Santa Fe, to go back to your favorite sites or stores, or catch early flights out of Albuquerque or Santa Fe airport.
The famous Santa Fe Wine and Chile Festival begins this day, so if you can lengthen your stay, you might want to catch that.
(Included: Breakfast and lots of well wishes as you travel home.)
