Santa Fe is such a relaxing place. But it can get a little hectic around some of the well-known tourists spots, especially in the summer. The crowds come out in mass to enjoy the gorgeous Santa Fe weather and all that southwestern food. That’s when we decided to compile a list of the most unusual things to do in Santa Fe. Each of these top places are completely different from each other so you’ll never get bored. Check out our recommendations below.
5. Find Your Zen at 10,000 Waves Spa
10,000 Waves Spa in Santa Fe, the perfect place to unwind.
Not gonna lie, 10,000 Waves has a competitive advantage on making our list of top picks. Kevin and I love relaxing in Japanese baths — and well, hot springs in general. This spa is an easy 10 minute drive from the heart of downtown Santa Fe. Though you’ll feel more like you’ve been transported to a Japanese mountain hot spring resort. Entry to the tubs are $28 per person where you are provided a towel, robe and sandals.
We first visited 10,000 waves about 7 years ago for one of my big birthday weekends. The place has grown a lot since then and now has nine baths and 23 massage tables. But that doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute to book an appointment. This place is considered one of the best spas in New Mexico. The spa has a wide range of services and massages from your typical Swedish style to traditional Japanese services, like shiatsu-style massage. Looking for even more romance? Consider booking a private tub where you’ll have your own private changing area as well. We think the Ichiban bath looks the most romantic — with its two giant teacup-style tubs and private sauna.
Ichiban private tubs at 10,000 Waves.
And for those of you who love spas, we recommend you take a 1 day trip from Santa Fe to Taos, where you can hit up Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Spa and Resort on the return. And soon enough, you’ll be so Zen you might not ever leave.
4. Burn off All Those Burritos on an Art and History Bike Tour
Kevin picks up a sleek bike from Josh, the owner of Routes Bicycle Tours and Rentals, for a 2-hour guided ride.
If there is one thing that Kevin and I love more than a food walking tour, it’s a biking tour. We think it’s one of the best ways to see a city and get some low-impact exercise all at once. And besides, after several days of non-stop eating in Santa Fe, we could use the workout. When I began researching the best things to do in Old Town Santa Fe, I came across Routes Bicycle Tours and Rentals. The company, run by the husband/wife team of Heather and Josh Arnold, offers small group tours in both Albuquerque (where it started) and Santa Fe. I loved the variety of tours on their website with such unique excursions like the “Biking Bad Tour,” which covers shooting locations in Albuquerque of the iconic AMC series Breaking Bad.
Biking the streets of Santa Fe and heading towards the downtown plaza.
The total route is anywhere from 8-10 miles long, but can be adjusted and is mostly flat. In total, we made 7 different stops along the route to hear more about Santa Fe’s deep history and the city’s most unique spots — like the oldest residence in the United States. We easily would have missed this spot!
Watch your head Kevin! Ducking into the tiny doorways in the oldest house in the United States.
The historic Old Town Santa Fe bike tour is offered every day at 10 AM and 1 PM. Cost: $50-$55 per person.
3. Our Pick for the Most Unusual Thing in Santa Fe: Attempt to Solve the Mystery of Meow Wolf
Behold the wonder and weirdness of Meow Wolf.
This next pick has been on my list of places to check out for several years. In fact, Meow Wolf was one of the big reasons we picked Santa Fe as our next trip. The other reason? To see the incredible Taos Pueblo (which is well worth the trip to New Mexico alone).
What in the world is Meow Wolf?
In short, Meow Wolf is an immersive art experience that hopes to transport visitors into fantastic realms. You’ll definitely get lost along your journey — this place is massive, measuring around 75,000 square feet. And you’ll soon find yourself walking through a telaportative fridge, a skeleton marimba you can actually play and my personal favorite, a clothes dryer that slides into a tiny room below. Clearly, this particular room isn’t meant for grown men!
Okay, I couldn’t help myself… Here is my painful entry into the clothing dryer portal.
And here is the winning shot!
Behold the wonder and weirdness of Meow Wolf.
How Much Time Do People Spend in Meow Wolf?
Kevin summons an alien hologram. Will we once and for all solve the mystery of Meow Wolf?
The short answer: it all depends. What do you care about most? Is it solving the mystery of Meow Wolf? Well, that might take a lifetime. Or is it to basically take cool selfies? Um, that pretty much was our big reason. If that’s the case, we suggested 1.5- 2 hours wandering around.
We tried following the story but eventually gave up. It involves teleporting, time travel and lots of cryptic letters. But understanding the mystery doesn’t really matter in the end. If there was one thing that Kevin and I could agree on, it’s that Meow Wolf is certainly a trip! Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for children (basically kids 12 and under) and $16 for seniors. We recommend that you wear sneakers, too. It’s a lot of walking and some of the spots are tricky to navigate.
2. Go Behind-the-Scenes at the World Class Santa Fe Opera House
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera‘s behind-the-scenes tour was one of our favorite activities on our southwestern adventure. Neither Kevin nor I were quite ready to commit to a 4-something hour opera performance. But you know what? We’re complete converts after this tour.
What a view — the stage of the Santa Fe Opera set up for one of their performances.
What if I’m not an Opera Nerd?
No problem. The Santa Fe Opera tour allows both opera aficionados or novices like us to witness what it takes to pull off these major productions. We joined the Opera Insiders Tour, a free event hosted by The Guilds of The Santa Fe Opera on Saturday morning. We met at 8:30 AM and enjoyed some free coffee, juice and pastries.
What Will You Get to See?
After the light breakfast, we followed the group into the opera building for a lively talk by one of the opera house staff members. From there, we were divided up into small groups (about 10-15 people) where we got to explore the backstage areas that normally only actors or crew would ever get to see. A major highlight was getting to walk through the costume designer room where we were shocked to see a flurry of activity so early on a weekend.
Santa Fe Opera House behind-the-scenes walking tour.
1. Hike and Climb your Way Through Bandelier National Monument
Wandering around Bandelier National Monument’s Loop Trail.
Okay, technically this hike is outside Santa Fe — 45 minutes to 1 hour away by car near Los Alamos. But it is well worth the detour. We recommend doing the Main Loop Trail and Alcove House (1.5 hours total hiking) where you’ll see stunningly preserved ruins of the ancient cliff-dwelling ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) culture.
During busy summer months (May – October), we recommend heading out early so you can park directly in front of the trailhead. Insider tip: get there before 9 AM in order to skip the shuttle bus. We arrived at 8:30 AM, and were excited to pretty much have the trails all to ourselves and didn’t need to wait around for the shuttle.
It’s a steep climb — taking on our favorite New Mexican adventure.
Halfway through the Main Loop Trail, a choice must be made — turn back toward the visitor center or continue another half mile each way (1 mile round trip) to Alcove House. Definitely go to the Alcove! Once home to approximately 25 Ancestral Pueblo people, the elevated site is now reached by 4 wooden ladders and a number of stone stairs. The pueblo includes an underground kiva (or an underground room used for religious rituals). But the biggest thrill on this hike was climbing the steep ladders up 140 feet from the canyon floor into these pre-historic homes. We felt like we were like Fred and Wilma Flintstone. And in this scenario, I guess I’ll be Wilma so Kevin doesn’t get annoyed! I know when to pick my battles…
Climbing the ladders at Bandelier National Monument.
If you arrive early, be sure to pay your $25 admission at the automated ticket booth at the park entrance. From there, just follow the signs to the Main Loop Trail and visitor center. Upon completing your hike, check out the visitor’s center museum that will be open by the time you get back.
Take the time to visit the museum located at the Bandelier National Monument visitor center.
Planning a trip in the United States to northern New Mexico and looking for other ideas? Be sure to check out our story on the best nerdy day trip from Albuquerque. Or if you’re looking for a little more activity, we recommend doing an Old Town Santa Fe biking tour.
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