Visiting New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle
My in-laws take an annual trip to Red River, New Mexico each July, and this past summer, we tacked on a couple days in Sante Fe before meeting up with the rest of the fam! The easiest airport for us to fly into was Albuquerque. We got an early morning flight, had a quick connection and with the time change, we landed in New Mexico by lunchtime!
Bret is a big fan of asking around for local recommendations once we arrive in a given spot, and it often pays off! In this case, the very nice guy at the car rental kiosk told us about a cool food hall called Sawmill Market.
We popped over for lunch, and GUYS. One of the coolest food halls I've seen. The space is beautiful, and there are so many great options. Coffee, ice cream, shaved ice, lots of local beers on tap and endless options for lunch. There were lots of nods to New Mexico with green chile included in everything from pasta dishes to frito pies.
We spent some time wandering and grabbed a bite before hitting the road. NEXT STOP: Santa Fe!
I've had my eye on El Rey Court for years, following this charming roadside motel on instagram and waiting for the opportunity to book my own stay. This trip was the perfect time to do it, and El Rey did not disappoint.
The property is perfection. It's a classic adobe motel from the 1930s that's been lovingly restored. The design throughout is just cool, from the retro hotel lobby to the eclectic rooms. The lobby bar is incredible - it's called La Reina. There's a funky indoor seating area, painted bright white and accented by two fireplaces and dripping, waxy candles. There's also outdoor seating with fun black-and-white striped cushions and desert-y landscaping. The hotel offers up free pastries and coffee from the lobby in the morning. There's also a tiny giftshop with kitschy keychains, t-shirts, candles and local snacks and drinks.
The grounds are full of drapey floral vines and big shade trees. The night we got in, a band from Texas was playing on the back lawn, and a locally beloved pizza food truck was parked alongside. The place was pleasantly packed, with people eating and dancing to the music.
We also spent a day at the pool, which has it's own little bar and ample seating to sun yourself.
One note - El Rey is removed from the main tourist tub of Historic Downtown. Bret and I love getting our steps in, so we made the 2+ mile trek on foot, but it's not the most walkable town (there were areas where the sidewalk just...disappears :)). We loved the location, and it is near some other fun restaurants and coffee spots, which I will detail below. That being said, if you want to be right in the middle of the charming old town area, El Rey will not check that box.
Santa Fe is full of charm, particularly the Historic Downtown area. We spent a morning wandering— checking out art galleries, street vendors and historic churches.
We also made a visit to the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, which I adore. If you’re able to plan ahead, I would recommend pre-booking tickets. We had not made reservations ahead of trip, and ended up lucking out and getting last minute reservations. It can be busy though, and tickets open up 30 days in advance.
Another highlight in the Historic Downtown is the Gruet tasting room. If you know me, you know I LOVE bubbly. We booked a tasting one evening, and it was so fun. Gruet is a New Mexico based winery that specializes in sparkling wines. The tasting room is a small but bright and airy space, with a nice little shaded patio. Because of the size, I would definitely recommend making a reservation!
A spot near our hotel worth mentioning is El Parasol. This came recommended by a friend, and the chicken guacamole tacos are DELIGHTFUL. The long-standing New Mexico eatery has six locations featuring family recipes. The place is pretty no frills. It’s a walk-up counter with picnic tables outside. A great spot to stop for a quick lunch!
The next stop on our Enchanted Circle adventure was Red, River, New Mexico. My in-laws go here for a week each year, so we met up with them following the couple days we spent in Santa Fe. Red River is a small town set in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A favorite day hike of ours is the Middle Fork Lake trail. It’s about 5 miles roundtrip, mostly uphill on your way to a peaceful alpine lake. It’s also fun to explore Cimarron Canyon State Park and the Palisades. There’s lots of great fishing all around the area too, which Bret likes to take advantage of!
Back in Red River, there’s one main road through town, so you can easily explore the whole place in a day if you’re simply driving through. Old Tymer’s Cafe is a classic diner-style spot serving massive pancakes at breakfast.
Steam Coffee and Tea Co. is a cute, hipster coffee spot in an old train car. Red River Brewing has great beers and lunch and dinner fare with several large outdoor spaces. And Sheehan Winery has a cute tasting room with Bavarian vibes, and they’ve got a delicious Sauvignon Blanc on the menu! It’s a perfect town to relax and reset, but there are plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs to keep you busy for a week!
