I haven’t taken a true solo trip in over a year. Last year I (unregrettably) spent doting on my new baby niece. I decided that it was time, however, to get back on the road, even if that meant a quick overnight trip. It was a great chance to make the trip to Santa Fe. I’ve been wanting to visit The House of Eternal Return for quite awhile.
All the best trips have impromptu stops or lack a hard-and-fast itinerary, so of course I had to stop along the way and take a dip in some hot springs. It was a small detour to reach Montezuma hot springs, but well worth it. Located just outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico, these hot springs are rustic in the best way. Easy to miss during the day, it was just as difficult at night to find the entrance. Believe it or not, I was parked in full view of the springs themselves. I didn’t actually find the entrance until I got out of my car and started walking.
I was hopeful that I might have the pools all to myself, and for a few short minutes, I did. I’m thankful for those few minutes – when I first got into the lobster pot (named because of its shape and that it can be upwards of 120 degrees F), I panicked just a little. The lobster pot was too hot for me and I wasn’t able to touch the ground. Being able to see the bottoms of the other pools and being able to see and touch the bottom made me feel a lot better. I spent my time in the middle-temperature pool, which was about as hot as you would expect most hot springs.
Shortly after my Goldilocks moment, another gal came walking up the trail to the pools. She greeted me cheerfully before asking to join my pool (and later, the lobster pot). An older couple came a few minutes later. If there’s one thing I can confidently say about the springs, its that the people who use them are some of the nicest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting!
We talked about my trip, culture of the area, food recommendations, and I even jumped into the ice cold February stream with the gal who first joined me. Later, I learned she was originally from Colorado! Kristina, if you’re reading this, you’re a real gem!
After having my fill of warmth, I decided my stomach needed something to eat. On my new friends recommendation, I stopped at a local pub and grub named The Skillet. It was a quirky little joint but their barbacoa quesadilla and hand cut fries were both absolutely delicious. I can’t recommend it enough!
Next up was the remaining hour to get to Santa Fe and checking into my hotel. Initially, I was planning on testing out a new car mattress. Unfortunately, with the overnight lows hovering around 20 degrees F, I figured I’d save that for another time. I’ve camped with temps at around 28-30 degrees F and was quite cozy, but this wasn’t the trip for that. Instead, I treated myself to a hotel room and enjoyed a nice, warm bath and evening to myself. Self care, you know?
After a good night’s sleep, I went to sample the hotels complementary breakfast. In true Santa Fe fashion, they had homemade breakfast burritos with a side of chopped green chile. That, alone, is enough to give them 5 stars!
After getting my fill, a nice shower, and packing my things, it was time to head to Meow Wolf. I was surprised at how small the parking lot was compared to Denver’s. The thought of smaller crowds, however, was very enticing.
The House of Eternal Return was absolutely mesmerizing. Probably second only to Omega Mart (maybe even taking the top spot), I highly recommend it. The story was very cohesive, while simultaneously having separate and unique art installations.
I spent a good 2 hours meandering through and taking in all the art before heading back to my car to snack on leftovers from the night before. Wanting to save enough time for a hike at Bandelier National Monument, I ended up skipping any restaurants in Santa Fe proper.
The drive to Bandelier was very much Southwestern in regards to scenery. The desert was dotted with adobe houses and indigenous artwork as I traveled through pueblos and reservations. After leaving the main highway, the road makes its way into the mountainous region as it approaches Bandelier. This was definitely one of my favorite drives. The winding road and changing scenery really made it quite pleasant. The locals obviously agree simply by the sheer number of hiking trailheads I spotted on this singular road. A few of them looked to be great places to stay a night (or two) as well!
I arrived at Bandelier around 2:00 pm. I checked out the visitor center and purchased my America the beautiful pass first, then headed to grab some goodies from the park store. They also have a cafe on site, but I was eager to hit the trail. After changing my shirt and my shoes, grabbing my water bottle and trail snack, I decided to take their most popular trail – the Pueblo Loop Trail. Sometimes I struggle with taking the popular trails as opposed to the less-seen destinations, but this one was popular for obvious reasons. It features multiple housing structures and kivas all compacted into a very short half mile distance. It was an easy hike, too, which was nice after walking around Meow Wolf for a couple hours.
Once the trail looped, it went from spring to fall and I went from sweating from the reflection of the sun off the canyon wall to trekking an iced-over stream. I came upon a few deer and a few white-breasted nuthatch who were all remarkably not spooked by my presence. I was also passed by a skipping woman, who in hind sight, makes me wonder if I was yet again to be lured in by the fae.
After my hike, I sat down and enjoyed the setting sun while finishing my trail snack, and then it was back to Colorado. I do have one last thing of note – I travelled through Taos and was unsuccessful on hearing the Taos hum. Perhaps it wasn’t feeling very hum-y that day. Though I did travel on a very adorable, very back-roads-feeling highway.
Very happy to say that I’ve added a new favorite place to my list and I can’t wait to share it with friends! Santa Fe was a great trip. If you’re interesting in choosing where I eat in towns along my travels, I encourage you to join my Patreon!
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