A mother-daughter vacation should not be too structured, however there is a certain level of research and planning that is necessary to make it memorable. As in any travel endeavor, flexibility is an important component to creating wonderful memories. The advance planning of our time in Santa Fe, New Mexico was well worth it, as Kirsten and I have memories that we will cherish forever.
I love being loyal to an airline. (Of course I cannot justify flying on a favorite airline if a competitor has a much better fare, however being loyal does have its perks! )Case in point. Like most passengers, Kirsten and I had coach tickets for our mother-daughter adventure to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Whenever it makes sense, I fly American Airlines because I am a gold member and have priority access, both in airport screening (big advantage) and boarding. Just so happened that no one chose to fly first class from Chicago to Santa Fe on Sunday, Aug 22nd. Because we are loyal advantage members, Kirsten and I were upgraded to first class…we were the only passengers in first class.(In all my years of flying I have never witnessed that.) About halfway into the flight, I wondered who was causing the commotion up toward the front of our cabin. Have you seen Three’s Company? Joyce DeWitt , the actress most famous for playing Janet Wood on the ABC sitcom, was chatting with several of the flight attendants. Joyce was returning to her home in Santa Fe, having just finished several months on the stage in several locations throughout Canada and the United States. She gave us some wonderful recommendations… dining, galleries, etc. Naturally I agreed when Ms. DeWitt asked to have her picture taken with me..ha,ha!
We drove 70 minutes from the airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico to our resort in Santa Fe. (There is a frequent shuttle which runs from the airport to Santa Fe. If you are planning to stay near the plaza in downtown Santa Fe, that may be the way you want to go.) We chose to rent a car as I really wanted to understand this destination which I had read so much about. We rented a navigational system( only $9.99 per day) and countless times were happy that we did!
Our resort, set against the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, was an oasis of serenity and privacy. In general, Santa Fe is designed to be a destination of wellness and rejuvenation, tapping into the mystic energies for which the New Mexico desert is famous. The resort masterfully complemented the breathtaking northern New Mexico landscape with the tranquility of 65 elegantly designed casitas, a renowned spa and fine dining. If we wanted galleries, shopping, or authentic dining, we were only 10 minutes from the heart of charming downtown Santa Fe.
We came in on Sunday, the last day of the fascinating Indian Market. Every August since 1922, the largest Native American Indian Arts Market is held in downtown Santa Fe featuring 1,200 artists from about 100 tribes who show their work in over 600 booths. The event attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors to Santa Fe from all over the world. This is a wonderful opportunity to buy directly from the artists…and we did!
On Monday morning at around 5:30am from the private outdoor terrace of our casita, I witnessed a most spectacular sunrise as the pink/orange rays of the sun, enhanced by a dark sky, were peeking over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.Kirsten and I drove into Santa Fe, had a breakfast burrito at Tia Sophia’s near the plaza, and drove up into the mountains for more amazing scenery. We had purchased tickets for Mozart’s The Magic Flute for Monday evening at the well-known Santa Fe Opera. Since 1957, the opera has performed a summer season of five operas, played under the New Mexico sky in the hillside-built Crosby Theater. The Magic Flute was performed in German, however we had small displays in front of us which provided subtitles. What an experience!
The beautiful thing about Santa Fe in August is that the mornings are comfortably chilly, the afternoons are warm not humid, and the evenings are very pleasant. It can be rainy in August and we were lucky to only have a bit of rain early Monday evening. If you understand the temperature variations you can plan your day accordingly. Because we wanted to hike on Tuesday morning, w started our day early. One popular hike which I had read about was the nearby Rio En Medio Trail. It did not disappoint. (You do want to arrive as early as possible because the parking lot truly allows for only seven vehicles. After the tiny lot is full, the drivers need to improvise and hope they don't get towed!) This trail traverses an ancient forest of Ponderosa pines and all the time follows a rambling stream. After about two and a half miles, we encountered views of a cascading waterfall. For the more adventurous there are daylong hikes such as Atalyaa Mountain Hiking Trail or the Borrengo Trail.
That afternoon we indulged our heroic muscles at the resort spa. Our last evening we dined at La Posada in downtown Santa Fe. During our meal of delicious southwestern nachos and chicken fajitas, we discussed our mother-daughter adventure. What was the best part of our mini-vacation? Was it simply spending time together and the rest and relaxation, or was it waking up every morning surrounded by majestic mountains, or was it the scenic hiking trail that lead us through a pristine forest, or was it the authentic southwestern dining literally at every turn….or was it meeting Colin Farrell when dining at La Posada? Decidedly it was the sum of all parts which make any experience special. Memories Kirsten and I will share forever, as I bid her farewell as she begins her second year in college.
