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Self-Guided Walking Tour<\/p><\/div>\n
Sightseeing at its finest, this scavenger hunt-style guided outdoor tour <\/b>hits iconic spots throughout the Santa Fe Plaza, giving visitors a sample platter of downtown and its dramatic roots. Walking the two-mile hunt provides fabulous exposure to Santa Fe\u2019s defining religious events, famous villains, crime scenes, political power struggles, and famous movie scenes.<\/span><\/p>\n Clues, hints, and fun facts help you along your journey<\/b> in discovering seemingly hidden wonders you\u2019d probably never know about without the help of this amazing game designed by Santa Fe residents that you play using your phone. Simply purchase your hunt codes on the website at the bottom of this post and the fun begins.<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re visiting Santa Fe solo or with a group<\/b>, the game is designed to make this scavenger hunt a customized experience just for you. You can play as one group or one person and use this urban adventure as an exciting tour guide. Or, if you\u2019re the competitive type, you can divide your group into teams and blast through the game, trying to get as many points as you can in the shortest amount of time. Your time limit is a doable 2.5 hours. Either way, it is very informational, and you\u2019ll be enlightened to Santa Fe\u2019s culture afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n Tips for ultimate enjoyment:<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Santa Fe Sightseeing Tour<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Start your adventure here:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n DiscoverSantaFe<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 505-522-3201<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is not your typical rafting company or rafting experience<\/b>. Stationed smack dab on the low r<\/span>oad to Taos, intentional trip planning will allow you to enjoy interesting local experiences before and after your raft trip.<\/p>\n Custom Fitting, Skilled Raft Guides<\/p><\/div>\n A visual feast.<\/b> Heading north from Santa Fe, your one-hour trip to Kokopelli\u2019s assigned launch spots shows gorgeous views of Rio Grande\u2019s Gorge canyon life and famous formations Camel Rock and volcanic Black Mesa. There are lots of pull-outs for photo ops, cute wineries, a microbrewery, funky antique shops, and art studios on this northbound route to the small town of Rinconada to meet your Kokopelli Rafting Adventures expert raft guides.<\/span><\/p>\n Never been rafting before? No worries.<\/b> You\u2019ll be coached by kind, patient, skilled, and comedic guides who know how to command safety and care for your group. Kokopelli guides are known for being sober, professional, family focused, and well educated, on and off the river. Though each guide has a unique tour guide style, you\u2019ll notice a feeling of calm and confidence from all of them from the second you meet and during the detailed safety talk and custom life jacket fitting pre-trip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Each of these Northern New Mexico rafting trips has charming features <\/strong>and are available for booking late April through mid-September. They are all interactive bonding experiences that raft tour guides are trained for to the highest standards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rio Grande Rafting Fun<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rio Chama Rafting, Youth Group Trip<\/p><\/div>\n Rio Chama Rafting with Federation North American Explorers<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Customized trip options,<\/b> team-building games, catered beach lunches, and photography packages are available as add-ons for some of the trips. Just ask.<\/span><\/p>\n Post-rafting tired and happy, your option for a 30-minute drive to Taos on the bluffs<\/b> of giant earth faults will make you drool. Detour to Pilar along the way for pristine La Vista Verde hiking, camping, and local chow, or steer off to Dixon for funky art and hippy co-op grub for a perfect Northern New Mexico weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n Book your thrills and chills trip here:<\/b><\/p>\n kokopelliraft.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n 505-983-3734<\/span><\/p>\n Photos courtesy of Kokopelli Rafting Adventures.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Plaza Blanca Guided Tour<\/p><\/div>\n Georges and Sue Mally offer guided Santa Fe mountain adventures in approachable variety packages to delight and host guests of all types. Passionate history buff, Georges, leads most of the tours and his delight for the outdoors and continuing curiosity of Native American culture and history is infectious and evident on any of these artfully planned tours. <\/span><\/p>\n Year-round tours include:<\/b><\/p>\n Off Road Guided Jeep Tour<\/p><\/div>\n Scenic Diablo Canyon Jeep Tours<\/a><\/b> over Don Juan O\u00f1ate\u2019s 1598 original caravan road through sand, snow, or slush, depending on the season. This 2.5-hour wilderness experience in authentic Swiss Army vehicles is the perfect historical, nature tour for multi-generational groups with a little something for everyone. History buffs will love hearing about the 1887 Santa Fe to Antonito railroad and hiking trails that served as routes between major cities of the era. Amateur rock climbing for both little and big kids, arroyo exploration, and short hiking stops will give you a beautifully rounded out experience of the canyon. This tour is short enough so you can still fit in other activities afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n Pueblos Tour, Santa Fe Mountain Adventures<\/p><\/div>\n Wild horse sighting at Santa Domingo and San Felipe Pueblos.<\/a><\/b> These majestic animals can be spotted galloping in groups of three to twenty. Though you may see all kinds of other wild animals here, Sue Mally says that the wild horse sightings are especially awe inspiring. \u201cIt\u2019s just so neat to see those amazing animals out there on their own surviving free and wild.\u201d <\/span>Understanding the history of the petrified wood forest and Ball Ranch area are other high points.<\/span><\/p>\n Guided, historical hiking tours through the La Cieneguilla Petroglyph<\/a> site<\/b> are a great way to learn about this ancient rock art and hike beautiful bluffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Plaza Blanca tour near Abiquiu <\/b>is the legendary \u201cWhite Place\u201d coined by inspired Georgia O\u2019Keefe who featured these spacey rock formations in some of her work.<\/span><\/p>\n Plucking through serene snow on snowshoes or cross-country ski tours<\/b> through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe\u2019s ski basin is a must do. Brilliant blue skies, pure white snow, and whispering aspens make this a magical and special experience.<\/span><\/p>\n Higher up, longer tours offer 360-degree views of greater Santa Fe amidst thick Douglas firs on invigorating trails. <\/span>All tours with Santa Fe Mountain Adventures are tailored to the client\u2019s unique expectations, heart\u2019s desire, and exercise abilities.<\/span><\/p>\n Thrilling fat tire and mountain bike <\/a>trips and<\/b> fall hiking through crisp mountain air and spectacularly colored aspens are more options. Summer offers hike-and-learn tours at the famous Bandelier National Monument.<\/span><\/p>\n Whichever tour you choose, Sue Mally encourages people to enjoy their first day taking it easy<\/b> in downtown Santa Fe to acclimate before going for these higher altitude adventures. Drinking lots of water and remembering that one glass of wine at 7,000 feet is like two at sea level will also help.<\/span><\/p>\n Kid Friendly Hiking Tour, Santa Fe Mountain Adventures<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe end up being friends with a lot of people who book trips with us.<\/b> It is so fulfilling to take families out, inspire young people to enjoy the outdoors and show everyone how to appreciate the beauty of New Mexico,\u201d Sue concludes and encourages visitors to call her for a customized journey.<\/span><\/p>\n Connect to New Mexico Mountain Adventures to start planning your perfectly matched adventure here:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n santafemountainadventures.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n 505-988-4000<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Art Gallery Tour<\/p><\/div>\n Santa Fe Art Tours founder and lead guide Elaine Ritchel has advice for getting the most of this world- renowned 80-gallery walking tour<\/strong> on this narrow, cobblestone half-mile. You can tour with a guide, or meander at your whimsy. Both choices have their merits. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you take Ritchel\u2019s Curated Canyon Tour <\/a><\/strong>specifically designed for an intimate look at historic and contemporary art<\/strong>, you\u2019ll be guided through a small selection of galleries featuring both local artists and big names like Picasso and Chagall. Ritchel\u2019s knowledge of Canyon Road\u2019s place in the U.S. art market, just third after New York and Los Angeles, will bring up interesting discussions along the way, such as its evolution as an art hotspot, and face-to-face chats with gallerists and artists.<\/span><\/p>\n Canyon Road Guided Tour<\/p><\/div>\n If you prefer to go it alone<\/b>, Ritchel suggests not trying to cram in seeing every gallery, rather take your time, take in the historic adobe architecture, and explore the quaint courtyards, alleyways, and sculpture gardens. She is an advocate for slowing down this experience, truly connecting to art that speaks to you and exploring its meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n Santa Fe Art Tours Art Stroll<\/p><\/div>\n It\u2019s important for people to experience authentic Santa Fe art to truly understand the city itself.<\/b> Santa Fe artists are deeply influenced by natural landscapes, history, and politics. Knowing that art and life imitate one another and seeing the work produced locally, you really get a deeper feel for what\u2019s going on and why this place is unlike any other. Big names along the way such as Gustave Baumann, Will Shuster, and Randall Davey are great examples of this, as are many of their less famous but impactful counterparts on Canyon Road.<\/span><\/p>\n Ritchel believes that the Santa Fe landscape and art are intertwined for many artists here, even if subtle or subconsious.<\/b> \u201cOne general theme I see is tactility, which to me relates to the prominence of earth, dust, rock, and grit here. Even the trees and shrubs that grow in the high desert have this gnarly, gritty quality. Much of the work produced by local artists has so much texture, whether it’s a hand built micaceous clay pot, a weaving made from wool, an assemblage constructed from hand-made paper and encaustic, or a painting that makes use of thick brushstrokes or natural pigments. The horizon line and the expanse of earth and sky also show up a lot in many artists’ work, whether it’s a more realistic landscape or an abstraction.”<\/span><\/p>\n El Zaguan, Canyon Road<\/p><\/div>\n Tips to fully embrace the experience:<\/b><\/p>\n For the guided experience contact:<\/span><\/p>\n Elaine Ritchel<\/span><\/p>\n 505-985-5298<\/span><\/p>\n elaine@santafearttours.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n santafearttours.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Photos courtesy of Elaine Ritchel<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pecos Ruins<\/p><\/div>\n The combination of so much historical data at Pecos Pueblo with its clean facilities and well-groomed trails make this a perfect afternoon immersion<\/strong> into Santa Fe history. Lace up your walking shoes and set foot into the past at the once thriving Pecos Pueblo, also known as Cicuye Pueblo. A center of growth, trading, and industry from 11,500 B.C.E.-600 C.E., this community hub bridged several cultures together as they exchanged talents and goods and forged important relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n Start your self-guided walking tour in the Visitor Center <\/b>where you can watch the historical park overview film, view war and Puebloan era exhibits in the museum that will give texture to your visit, and check out the cultural selections at the gift shop.<\/span><\/p>\n Short, beautiful park trails combine nature with whispers from the past<\/b> helping us imagine what life was like for Native American Pecos Puebloans, otherwise known as Cicuye Puebloans, and Civil War soldiers. The designated two national landmarks on site, Pecos Pueblo with its Spanish Mission Church, and Glorietta Pass Battlefield, are well supported by not only the groomed trails but educational programs on site. Field trip requests, guided ranger tours, and exhibits all help illuminate the development of local civilization affected by commerce, religion, and territory wars. Fun Fact: Children can earn a Junior Ranger Badge after completing a field trip tour.<\/span><\/p>\n Mission Church<\/p><\/div>\n The 1.25-mile Ancestral Sites Trail tours the ruins of the Spanish Mission Church<\/b> and remnants of the South and North Pueblos. Looping through arroyos, cliffs, and hills in the juniper and ponderosa forest on the 2.3-mile Glorieta Battlefield Trail gives you a sense of how the western landscape affected battle tactics. The South Pasture Loop Trail was an old wagon trail and gives beautiful views of the <\/span>Pecos River, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and Glorieta Mesa through cottonwood groves.<\/span><\/p>\n Pecos National Park<\/b><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The recently rehabilitated Santa Fe Trail era trading post,<\/b> once Kozlowski’s Stage Stop & Trading Post and now a huge history exhibit, was a stop for major retail thoroughfare reaching its full \u201ccentral hub\u201d development in 1852. This four-million-dollar renovation is open for viewing and showcases a contemporary history of the park, dude ranching, and the Civil War.<\/span><\/p>\n Plan your guided informational walking tour or wing it and explore on your own<\/b>. Both ways are fascinating and worth t<\/span>he trip to Pecos. Make sure to plan ahead and be safe at this 7,000-foot elevation. Don\u2019t overdo it, drink plenty of water, and do not leave pets in your car.<\/span><\/p>\n Entry to the park is free<\/b>, dogs are allowed on some trails, and river access is granted for fishing only by permit. There are nearby campgrounds to the north in the Santa Fe National Forest on NM Highway 63.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Visit: <\/span>nps.gov\/peco\/index.htm<\/span><\/a> for more par<\/span>k and area information.<\/span><\/p>\n 505-757-7241<\/span><\/p>\n 1 NM-63, Pecos, NM 87552<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Albuquerque Sightseeing from the Sky<\/p><\/div>\n Rainbow Ryders is a large balloon company with years of commitment to strengthening the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.<\/b> Their deep investment in safety, clean flight records, and ensuring people have a good experience broadens visitors\u2019 vision of what Albuquerque has to offer. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Being able to see the Land of Enchantment from a bird\u2019s eye view is important<\/b> for many reasons. Founder and president Scott Appelman\u2019s take on the importance of balloon flight is at once practical and delightful. He says that while airborne guests can really appreciate how clean New Mexico air is. Being able to see 70 or 80 miles in any direction is a unique vantage point that affords this visual understanding. Seeing Mount Taylor, past Belen and the Socorro area, while flying over the Rio Grande corridor is amazing, and opening visitors’ eyes to our dramatic mountainous landscape helps them understand what the Central New Mexico high desert really is.<\/span><\/p>\n Floating through the seasons with year-round operation shows you spring\u2019s brilliant greens in the Rio Grande Valley and breathtaking, changing fall colors in the Sandia mountains.<\/b> Flying just over the treetops of the Rio Grande on a sunset or sunrise trip,<\/a> observing turtles, rabbits, coyotes, bobcats, hawks, and eagles in their natural environment without imposing on their lives is visually stunning. Appleman and his fleet of pilots, trained to the highest safety standards, respect nature. But one time he learned his lesson the hard way by getting a little too close to a hawk\u2019s nest. The mother hawk circled the basket, telling him off to let him know he was too close.<\/span><\/p>\n Rio Grande Valley Tour<\/p><\/div>\n Weather will dictate where you meet and ride with Rainbow Ryders. <\/b>If you fly over <\/span>Petroglyph National Monument, you\u2019ll witness communications made some 80,000 years ago by ancestors messaging their spiritual beliefs through rock art. Appleman points out that flying over the Albuquerque metro area is a terrific way to check out real estate if you are thinking about moving here, or just for general interest. You can see forty years of humans\u2019 effect on the landscape. New versus old landscapes are obvious. Mature communities show up much clearer from the sky with their assorted colors and shapes. The lack of trees in newer subdivisions versus old growth in mature communities is an interesting view from the sky. These are the kinds of things your Rainbow Ryder guide will school you on.<\/span><\/p>\n Afraid of heights?<\/b>\n
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2. Kokopelli Rafting Adventures<\/b><\/h3>\n
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3) Santa Fe Mountain Adventures<\/b><\/h3>\n
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4) Canyon Road<\/b><\/h3>\n
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5) Pecos National Park – Village of Five Hundred Warriors<\/b><\/h3>\n
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6) Rainbow Ryders and Santa Fe Balloons – Sky Bound Ways to See New Mexico<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Rainbow Ryders <\/b><\/h4>\n
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