Babymoon · Santa Fe + Taos

What it is

Santa Fe Plaza is 400+ years old, established 1610 by Spanish colonists and the terminal point of the Santa Fe Trail. One city block ringed by adobe portals, with a bandstand in the middle and centuries of civic life around it.

What to see (walkable half-hour loop)

• Palace of the Governors (north side) — oldest continuously occupied public building in the US (1610). Now a history museum ($12/adult). Exterior + portal are free.
• Native American Portal — daily under the Palace's covered walkway, ~60–70 Native artisans (Pueblo, Navajo, Hopi) sell jewelry, pottery, and textiles directly. Fixed prices set by the Palace museum program. Best selection in the morning — a strong reason to arrive early.
• Loretto Chapel — literally next door to your hotel. Famous "Miraculous Staircase" (spiraling wood, no visible supports, built by an anonymous carpenter). ~$8/adult, 20-min visit.
• Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi — 2-min walk east of the Plaza. 1887 French Romanesque church, small oasis of cool inside. Free.
• New Mexico Museum of Art — NW corner of the Plaza. 1917 Pueblo Revival building. $12/adult — skippable given the O'Keeffe Museum stop later.

Practical

• Elevation 7,200 ft — hydrate and take breaks. Sita will feel it.
• Adobe portals give shade around the whole Plaza; benches everywhere.
• Public restrooms scarce — plan around Loretto (next door). Cathedral has one if you're inside.
• Free walking tour departs the Palace of the Governors at 10:15 AM Mon–Sat if you're interested.

What it is

A half-mile of adobe buildings converted to ~100 art galleries and studios. One of the highest concentrations of art dealers per capita in the country. Originally a Native American footpath, then a Spanish colonial cart road; became an artist enclave in the early 1900s (the Cinco Pintores era) as artists sought cheap adobe housing.

How to walk it

• Start at the west end (at Paseo de Peralta) and walk east, uphill. Most galleries cluster in the lower half.
• Turn back whenever Sita tires — there's no obligation to reach the end. The last stretch gets quiet + residential.
• Sculpture gardens outside many galleries are free to view; you don't need to enter.

Notable stops

• Nedra Matteucci Galleries (555 Canyon Rd) — one of the top Western/Southwestern art dealers in the US. Beautiful outdoor sculpture garden.
• Wiford Gallery — sculpture-focused, outdoor pieces.
• Meyer Gallery — contemporary.
• Sage Creek Gallery — traditional Western.
• Kakawa Chocolate House at the east end — historic drinking chocolates. Doubles as your break + refreshment spot.

Practical

• Bathrooms are the main constraint — very few. Kakawa (east end) has one if you buy something. El Farol restaurant (mid-Canyon) is another option if patronizing.
• Free — browsing is expected. Some galleries encourage conversation, others prefer quiet — read the room.
• First Friday Art Walks = extended hours + wine & appetizers. Jul 17 is NOT a First Friday (that's Jul 3), so it's a normal Friday.
• Wear comfortable shoes — adobe/dirt paths, some cobblestones.
• Golden-hour light on adobe walls late afternoon is the best photo window.

What it is

Immersive art installation by ~200 local artists, opened 2016. George R.R. Martin was an early backer of the collective. The premise: the Selig family's Victorian house has started to change and decay after they mysteriously disappeared, and you're free to investigate. Portals into 70+ dimensional rooms hide inside fridges, closets, dryers, and walls.

How to experience it

• Non-linear — enter any door, open any drawer, interact freely.
• Two ways to engage: (1) pure aesthetics and immersion, just wander; (2) dig into the detective narrative — papers, letters, and clues are hidden throughout.
• Don't try to "understand" it linearly — the joy is in getting lost.
• Photography allowed (no flash in some rooms).

Physical experience

• Some passages are tight — crawl through a fridge, walk through a washer/dryer. At 28 weeks, Sita should skip these narrow crawl-throughs; Nikhil can hold her things and duck through separately.
• Multiple levels: uneven stairs, dark spaces, blacklight rooms.
• Restrooms are only at the entrance/exit, not inside the installation — go before you enter, and take breaks in the Float Cafe area if needed.

Sensory considerations

• Loud, layered soundscape throughout.
• Bright and occasional strobe lights in some rooms.
• No re-entry once you exit — pace yourself. Bring earplugs if noise-sensitive.

Practical

• 10 AM Sunday is the quietest hour of the week (before the family rush).
• ~$50/adult; pre-purchase online for a slight discount and to lock the timed slot.
• Free parking; fills up midday summer.
• Float Cafe & Bar on-site has real food + drinks.
• Wear closed-toe comfortable shoes.
• Address: 1352 Rufina Cir, Santa Fe (10 min from Loretto).

What it is

The scenic alternative to I-25 (the "Low Road"). Traverses the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains through traditional Spanish villages founded in the 1700s. 56 miles vs the 90-mile Low Road, but 2–3 hours vs 90 minutes because of the terrain and the stops.

Route

US-84/285 north from Santa Fe → NM-503 → NM-76 → NM-518 → US-64 → Taos.

Key stops in order

• El Santuario de Chimayó (30 min from SF) — 1816 pilgrimage church, "Lourdes of the Southwest." 300,000+ pilgrims annually. Behind the altar in El Pocito, "holy dirt" said to heal — free to take a small amount. Historic santos (religious art) throughout. 20 min. Free.
• Rancho de Chimayó — adjacent to the Santuario. Traditional New Mexican restaurant since 1965. Reserve lunch here in advance — call ahead. Try sopaipillas + red/green chile.
• Truchas (30 min further) — village at 8,100 ft. Panoramic view of the Truchas Peaks (13,000+ ft). Filming location for The Milagro Beanfield War (1988). Small artist galleries. 15-min stop for the view.
• Las Trampas (10 min further) — San José de Gracia Church (1760), one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial churches in the US. Sometimes locked; if it is, the exterior alone is worth the stop. 10-min photo.
• Ranchos de Taos (just before Taos) — San Francisco de Asís Mission Church. The iconic back-of-adobe photographed by Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Free but donations welcome. 15 min.

Driving practical

• Two-lane winding mountain roads — take it easy, especially Truchas → Peñasco.
• No gas between Chimayó and Peñasco (~30 miles). Top off in Santa Fe or Pojoaque before starting.
• Cell service is spotty through the mountain villages — download offline maps.
• Restrooms: Santuario has porta-potties; Rancho de Chimayó if patronizing; Las Trampas none. Plan bathroom stops around Chimayó and again in Taos.
• Bring water + snacks — few services between stops.
• July afternoon thunderstorms are typical in the mountains (monsoon pattern). If storms roll in, the Low Road is a safer bail-out option.

Elevation

SF 7,200 ft → Truchas peak 8,100 ft → Taos 7,000 ft. Modest and gradual — fine at 28 weeks. Sita should still hydrate and step out at stops.

Daily flow

Optional yoga → breakfast in Taos → Pueblo (opens ~8:30 AM, quietest first thing) → lunch → drive ~20 min west → Gorge Bridge (20 min) → Earthships (adjacent, ~1 hour) → back to El Monte by ~5:30 PM.

Taos Pueblo (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

One of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America — 1,000+ years. Multi-story adobe complex where ~150 tribal members still live in the historic pueblo year-round (no electricity or plumbing there).

• Admission: ~$25/adult — verify at the gate.
• Photography permit: ~$6–10 additional. No photos of ceremonies, no photos of people without asking, no photos of certain doors/areas.
• Etiquette (important): Doors marked "private" or unmarked residences — do NOT enter. Don't climb on adobe walls (structural + sacred). Don't touch or take building materials. Speak quietly — this is a living residential community.
• What to see: Hlauuma (north house) and Hlaukwima (south house) — the two main multi-story structures. The Rio Pueblo de Taos (small stream, still the drinking-water source). San Geronimo Chapel (Catholic, still active). Ruins of the 1610 mission church (destroyed 1847). Native artist studios throughout — buy directly from residents (bring cash; some accept card).
• Closures: Pueblo closes for private ceremonies periodically — typically parts of Feb–Apr and on specific religious observances. Confirm open Tuesday Jul 21 on taospueblo.com before going.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours self-guided. Optional guided tours available; ask at the visitor center.
• Bathroom at the visitor center only.

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

565 ft above the river. When built, the 2nd highest bridge in the US highway system (7th today). 1,272 ft long.

• Free to walk across on pedestrian sidewalks on both sides.
• Parking on both sides — west lot has permanent vendor tents (jewelry, art).
• Wind is often intense — hold onto hats, scarves, anything loose.
• The bridge sways slightly in wind (normal for suspension). If Sita feels unsteady, walk to the midpoint and turn back.
• Restrooms: vault toilets at the west-side rest area.
• Duration: 15–20 min.

Earthship Biotecture (Greater World Community)

Off-grid sustainable homes built from tires, glass bottles, and aluminum cans. Founded by architect Michael Reynolds in the 1970s (Taos is the movement's home base). Fully self-sustaining: solar power, rainwater catchment, greenhouse growing, thermal-mass heating and cooling.

• Visitor center + one Earthship interior tour: ~$10–15/adult.
• Duration: 45 min – 1 hour.
• What you'll see: a model Earthship interior (working example), exhibits on the systems (water, power, food, waste), and a drive-through of the community grounds (~100 Earthships).
• Some Earthships are Airbnb-style overnight rentals — interesting future-trip option.
• Restrooms at the visitor center.
• 10–15 min west of the Gorge Bridge — do them as one loop.