The Inn of the Five Graces

Walking along this half-mile stretch of galleries in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is the surest way to take in as much of Santa Fe’s local art scene as possible. Native American art, historical and contemporary Latino art, and international folk art all coexist as part of an array of more than a hundred shops showcasing paintings, sculpture, hand-made jewelry, and pottery. Some of the spots are kitschier than others, but it’s just as much about the scenery as it is about the art: You’ll stroll alongside huge chestnut trees that have shaded the trail since the mid-19th century, along with hidden courtyards and musical fountains.

From this opera company’s stunning open-air theater, you can see the Jemez Mountains to the west, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east, and rolling hills to the south (and amazing visiblity of the night sky once the sun sets). While you could certainly justify going for the views alone, the opera is top-notch: You can catch world-class contemporary and classic works every season.

Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains eighteen miles northeast of the town of Taos, the Taos Ski Valley is best known as a ski resort, though there's plenty to keep families busy here in the summer, too. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, you can opt for climbing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rafting, or llama trekking. (Yes, llama trekking.) You can also stop for a mid-day hot chocolate at the Phoenix Grill, grab a drink at the Martini Tree Bar, or order a meal made from produce handpicked from local Taos farms at Rhoda’s restaurant. While it's a great destination in its own right, Taos makes for a convenient day trip from Santa Fe.

A volcanic explosion roughly six million years ago gave us this geological marvel: cone-shaped “tent rocks” 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe. The three-mile hike takes you first through an arroyo surrounded by the canyon walls, and a small climb punctuated by juniper trees, before rewarding you with amazing views of the national monument and the surrounding area. Parking is straightforward—there’s a lot at the beginning of the trail ($5) with restrooms and picnic tables.

Smack in the middle of downtown Santa Fe, this market square is the bustling heart of the city. In 1821, it served as the final destination for wagons completing the 800-mile Old Santa Fe Trail from Independence, Missouri. These days, you can count on the Plaza to be a busy hub of Native American and Spanish markets, annual events, community gatherings, and concerts. You could certainly spend an afternoon exploring the shops, galleries, and restaurants that line the streets—as well shopping for turquoise from the local Native American traders selling handmade jewelry on the sidewalk.

This high-tech, immersive art experience is bankrolled by none other than George R.R. Martin, which really tells you something about the imaginative wonder that lies within. Two years after Martin bought the former Silva Lanes Bowling Alley in 2014, Meow Wolf’s artist collective opened the space’s landmark permanent exhibition: a two-story, 20,000-square-foot Victorian house built to scale, replete with secret passageways, a cave system, and a narrative involving portals to other worlds and a break in the space-time continuum. Equal parts jungle gym, haunted house, and art installation, the exhibit is great for kids (and curious adults, too). The complex also doubles as a performance space, an education center for children, and a makerspace.

This easy little out-and-back is a local favorite since it's a relatively easy climb (a little less than four miles total) with a rewarding view of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. To find the trailhead, put the Aspen Ski Basin picnic area into your GPS and head into the mountains. It's best in the fall, when the aspens are changing colors. Photos: Sophie Kuller

Welcoming tens of thousands of Catholic pilgrims each year, El Santuario de Chimayo is known as a place of miracles and healing. The church itself was built after a Roman Catholic priest performing penances saw a beam of light burst from a nearby hillside—when he went to investigate, he discovered a buried crucifix. The sweet little adobe structure, decorated in the style of the region, makes a lovely excursion on its own, but most people come here to collect vials of Chimayó’s healing soil, which reportedly cures everything from cancer to infertility to back pain.

Local celebrity George R. R. Martin purchased this 1970s-style movie theater a few years ago, and after renovating and upgrading the place began curating one of the most progressive cultural calendars in the city. The single-screen plays a wonderful selection of avant-garde and indie films, including midnight screenings Friday and Saturday nights, and there's live music on Mondays. It's a major hangout for the city's younger set.

Legend has it that when the Loretto Chapel was first built, the choir above the main space could only be accessed by a rickety ladder, because the tiny church was so tight on space. In hopes of a better solution, the Sisters of the Chapel prayed to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters—a few months later, an unnamed craftsman arrived and built a beautiful spiral staircase, only to leave without giving his name or asking for payment. Today, architects and mechanics consider the staircase to be a structural marvel, as it contains two full rotations with no central support (not to mention that it was built entirely using wooden pegs, with no hammers or glue of any kind). It's just a few blocks off the Plaza, so plan to stop in when you're making your way through town. P.S. The bar at the Loretto Hotel next-door is a great place for a drink after.

Only about 10 miles outside of Taos, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (which, as the name suggests, crosses over a section of the Rio Grande River) is one of the tallest bridges in the country. At the time it was first built, locals called it the bridge to nowhere because the state didn't procure the funding to build the road on the other side until after the bridge was completed. The views of the rift valley below the bridge and through the desert are spectacular.

This eensy village (the population maxes out at 800) just north of Santa Fe is actually on the National Register of Historic Places, as there's been a pueblo here since 1200 A.D. Now, it's most often cited for its fantastic flea market, which is a great place to pick up inexpensive rugs and turquoise, if you're willing to barter. Just check with your concierge in advance, as the town closes to the public a few days a year. So long as you're making the drive, stop for a some sightseeing around Camel Rock, a camel-shaped rock foundation that's a quirky local attraction.

The first thing you’ll notice about SITE is its façade: Designed by Los Angeles-based architect Greg Lynn, the structure’s exterior is a work of art in and of itself. The relatively small contemporary art museum (which announced a major expansion to be completed in 2017) houses regional, national, and international exhibitions in the middle of the Railyard Arts district. While SITE offers exhibitions year-round, it was founded in 1995 to organize the first international biennial of contemporary art in the US, bringing a global contemporary art dialogue to the Southwest.

This museum doesn’t require much of a prelude, beyond the simple promise of housing more than 1,000 works by the legendary Georgia O’Keeffe. The museum’s main campus, located just a few blocks away from the downtown Plaza, immerses you in O’Keeffe’s creative process through an exploration of the light and landscape that inspired her. It’s an oasis of 20th-century Modernism, presenting everything from the pioneering American artist’s iconic flowers to her less-well known (but prolific) drawings and oil paintings. And, if you’re up for it, you can set up an appointment to get the museum’s tour of her former home and studio along the Chama River about an hour north of Santa Fe.

Born out of a partnership between a Navajo singer and a wealthy Boston philanthropist who began documenting Navajo traditions in the wake of forced assimilation and conversion, the Wheelwright Museum hosts exhibitions that celebrate the history of Native American tradition and look towards the future with exhibitions of living artists. Come here for traditional jewelry and weaving, historical and recent photography, and great talks on Native American issues.

As the name suggests, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB) has two home cities, a hybrid business model that allows two small (but highly creative) cities that might not be able to support a full ballet company on their own to experience high-quality contemporary ballet for half the year. They often commission original new works, which means—to both communities' great delight—you never know what's going to be on the calendar. What's more, the company values community outreach and education, offering dance schools in both cities.

With the possible exception of SITE Santa Fe, this is probably the best place in town to catch contemporary art. The curators specialize in experimental and cross-genre exhibitions, with a particularly great schedule of performances and installation art (this, in fact, was the site of the first Meow Wolf exhibitions). Their historic Armory campus, which underwent a major renovation in 2009, also hosts a cinematheque where guests can see everything from mainstream art films like Moonlight to screenings from more avant-garde contemporary artists.

The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is part of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), an entire college with a curriculum focused on contemporary native art—the only like it in the country. The museum is located off-campus in a historic building just off the plaza downtown. There, you'll find exhibitions of new work along with pieces from the National Collection of Contemporary Native Art, a 7500-work collection (every piece in it was created after 1962) that it stewards. The artists here range from nationally recognized to local newcomers; taken together, it's the kind of experience that's completely unique to Santa Fe.

In a town where a lot of the galleries can be kitschy, Peters Projects offers ambitious exhibitions of contemporary art that would transfer easily to a larger city. Their stable of artists includes several impressive young native artists, and they often have works from more well-known names like Chuck Close, Kiki Smith, and Bruce Conner. Check the calendar for one of their public art talks.

Founded in 1953 by Florence Dibell Bartlett (a Chicago native who frequently traveled to New Mexico for its unique art and culture), this is one of Santa Fe's largest museums, with a collection of more than 130,000 works. Bartlett donated the funds to build the first building—which still stands today, though the museum has undergone several expansions—right before her death in the early 1950s, citing the belief that different and often-conflicting cultures of the world might understand each other better through art. Though most of the collection lives in storage, visitors can expect to see tens of thousands of works on any given visit, so this is the kind of place where you can choose your own adventure, breezing through to get the gist, or digging in for a day to focus on individual pieces.

Vinaigrette is farm-to-table in the most direct sense: owner Erin Wade grows most of the produce served here on her own land. The menu is filled with light salads and vegetable-centric dishes, a welcome relief in a town where everything seems to come under a blanket of melted cheese. That said, her homemade pies are dangerously delicious.

This neighborhood spot at the end of Canyon Road is a favorite for their selection of teas, which line the walls of the small entry. You can almost always bet on the sweeping patio and windy indoor spaces to be packed with locals from open to close on the weekends. Even if you don't have a full meal here (they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner), definitely make time to pick up an iced tea and pastry before you make your way through the galleries.

This downtown diner-style spot is a must for grabbing an easy but impressive breakfast. The affordable, kid-friendly restaurant serves pancakes and French toast, but the real draw is of course the classic New Mexican fare they’ve been serving in Santa Fe for more than 40 years. Their breakfast burrito—a hearty combination of bacon and hash browns wrapped in a soft flour tortilla and topped with a poached egg, chiles, and melted cheese—is reason enough to get out of bed.

When Chef John Rivera Sedlar of the acclaimed (but since closed) Latin American restaurants Playa and Rivera in LA returned to his hometown of Santa Fe a few years ago, it was a warm homecoming: His latest venture, Eloisa, is a successful homage to his Northern New Mexico roots. Named after Sedlar’s grandmother, who was Georgia O’Keeffe’s personal chef for 15 years, the menu is full of traditional favorites including Frito pie, rellenos, calabacitas, and carne adovada. The space in the Drury Plaza Hotel is bright with gray and white touches of exposed brick, hardwood floors, and marble. Definitely consider ordering a drink—local bartender Dede Roybal’s cocktail program is on par with Sedlar’s culinary excellence.

Head straight to the bar at this aptly named New American restaurant, where the cocktail program (curated by mixologist/sommelier Quinn Mark Stephenson) offers more than 50 varieties of bourbon. If that wasn't reason enough for a visit, chef David Gaspar de Alba’s menu of fresh, seasonal fare, inspired by finds from the local farmers market, is an equally powerful draw. Be prepared for some tough decision-making—their small plate offerings include corn chowder with bone marrow and green chili, smoked black ribs, and steak tartare with alabria chili, lime oil, and quail yoke.

A relatively recent addition to Santa Fe’s revitalized Railyard District, State Capital Kitchen offers a refreshingly unpretentious fine-dining experience. Peruse their classic menu, or see for yourself as the wait staff continually rolls around its seasonal, elevated New American fare on dim-sum carts—it's great fun for those who like variety. Exposed brick and reclaimed wood add to the restaurant’s warm, rustic vibe, which is echoed by its commitment to using ingredients sourced from sustainable fisheries, small farms, ranches, and the local wild. Expect good wine and a unique cocktail program—they get creative with their beer-and-wine-only license.

Chef/owner Noela Figueroa just opened Bodega Prime after moving back from a stint in Colorado, and it's fast become a local favorite. The brunch and lunch menus change weekly depending on what Figueroa's farming partners have on hand, but she really specializes in old-school sandwiches with quirky tweaks, like a sharp grilled cheddar cheese with kimchi, miso-marinated steak with kaffir aioli, and saffron-brined chicken with romesco and fennel relish. All day (and, blessedly, after the kitchen closes at 3pm), you can pick up sandwiches and other prepared foods to go from their deli case. The little retail section at the entry also has a cute buy of handmade home goods like beautiful cutting boards and aprons.

Husband/wife pair Charlotte and Jesus Rivera run this cozy neighborhood spot, where they make everything by hand. Jesus grew up in El Salvador—which explains the papusas on the menu—but the menu is full of great New Mexican food, including their delicious, lightly battered chile relleno. Our favorite is the enchilada, which you can order Christmas-style (local slang for something topped with both red and green chile sauce).

The first thing you'll notice about Pasqual's is the interior, defined by turquoise paint and New Mexican bits and bobs. The menu here is long, with a healthy mix of salads and classic New Mexican dishes, plus a few fan favorites like the famous quinoa burger. They're open three meals a day, but locals will tell you that breakfast is the best. If there's a line, ask for a seat at the community table in the center.

Coyote Cafe is good for a more traditional, dressed-up meal downtown with a white tablecloth, steak, an elk tenderloin, or lobster tails. But it's more fun to go upstairs to their rooftop cantina, which has the food from the same kitchen (and the same famous margaritas) in a less fussy ambience—including live music and sunset views. Remember to call ahead and double-check hours, as it's only open in the warmer months.

This sweet little French bakery and café right outside downtown has a breakfast menu that's blessedly pared down to a few egg dishes, crêpes, and waffles. If you don't have time to sit down for a full meal, there's a case in the front with excellent croissants and other baked goods; it's the perfect place to stop for snacks and coffee if you're on your way out of town for a day trip or hike.

Nestled into a quiet section of Canyon Road, with a sophisticated dining room that's subtly Southwestern without being over the top (including a fireplace in the corner), Geronimo is our pick for celebrating a special occasion. The formal plating of the meals suits the dining room, with traditional dishes like elk tenderloin and ahi tuna on offer. They also have a lounge with great cocktails and a smaller menu for something a bit more casual.

Chef Paulraj Karuppasamy and his wife Nellie Tischler had been serving Indian food at private parties and pop-ups for a year when popular demand convinced them to open a brick-and-mortar of their own. Though the only Indian restaurant in town, Paper Dosa's cuisine certainly holds up against what you'd find in bigger cities. We hear the regulars order white truffle masala dosa and the chicken curry. They only take reservations for parties of six or more, so come early if you're with a small group.

Soma Franks and Fiona Wong opened Sweetwater in 2012, in a warm, high-ceilinged, barn-like building; here, Edison bulbs are suspended from the ceiling, and diners gather round a long community table with a planter in the center. Like the warm modernism of the space, their menu offers creative takes on veggie-based comfort foods (like eggs baked in a scalloped, cross-wise slice of acorn squash, or rainbow paleo plates with every color represented). Sweetwater only served breakfast and lunch until this summer, when Franks and Wong partnered with Kimnath ("Nath") Nou, a Colorado chef who recently moved to Santa Fe, to serve healthy, fresh Thai cuisine four nights a week. Considering how busy those nights have been, locals are hoping the new partnership sticks around. Note: Reservations are available for Thai nights and Sunday brunch, but weekday and Saturday breakfast and lunch are first-come-first-serve.

This wonderfully cozy restaurant made its home in a little chapel, originally built in the 1800s. The owners partner closely with local farmers, so the menu changes nightly; regardless of what's in the dish, this is the kind of food that's made (as the name indicates) with a lot of love. It's a great spot for a romantic dinner.

Perched on top of a hillside just ten minutes from downtown Santa Fe, this spa is one of the best places in the area to unwind. This tranquil oasis was opened in 1981 to introduce Japanese-style bathing to the city; today, a variety of massage, skin care, and spa treatments are on offer. The real draw here is the outdoor hot tubs, which capitalize on the simple, healing power of sitting in hot water while surrounded by nature. You could book an enclosed private tub with views of the mountains—and adjacent private cold plunge and sauna—but we recommend the communal baths.

The spa at the Loretto Inn (next door to the Loretto chapel) has a homespun vibe—starting with the massage oils, which the spa director makes herself. All the standard treatments are on offer, from facials and milk baths to couples' massage, plus a room outfitted with a Vichy shower for water therapy. If you only have time for one treatment, get a pedicure in one of their profoundly comfortable (if not a little strange-looking) zero-gravity chairs.

Kundalini is a school of yoga with an intense focus on awareness and energy medians, which is a big part of why it's taken off in Santa Fe. It seems like everyone in town practices at Sacred Kundalini, which has a great roster of instructors, many of whom have formal healing practices like ayurveda or massage off the mat. For a more immersive experience, look up their workshops in white tantric yoga and meditation.

There are plenty of alternative and niche yoga schools to try in Santa Fe, but when we're longing for a more familiar, Bikram-style class, we head to Thrive (which doubles as a spin studio), where you're all but guaranteed to meet friendly locals happy to share recommendations on the area's many health and wellness resources.

Santa Fe is a hotbed for alternative medicine, and one of the most important doctors in that movement is Dr. Linda Lancaster, a homeopath and naturopath who looks at health holistically, focusing on lifestyle, energies, and other factors in her practice—she's also the founder of the Global Foundation for Integrative Medicine, with an amazing network of alternative medicine practitioners. Patients rave about her raw milk cleanse, which is said to rid the body of toxic parasites and help with heavy metal loads. For aspiring healers, her health center, Light Harmonics Institute (which also has an office in New York), offers classes and seminars on radionics, electromagnetics, and other healing arts. Her son, Dr. John Sherdon, shares her practice and is a talented acupuncturist.

Voyce Durling-Jones Sensei was the first foreigner to pass national HoShin examinations and become certified to practice bee venom therapy in Japan, where the practice originated. She was also the first to bring the art, which uses bee venom to stimulate the immune system around areas of stress and illness, to the United States. Combining HoShin with her training as a reiki master, she takes on everything from tough cases of hard-to-treat conditions like Lyme to post-op inflammation treatment. If you can't get an appointment with Voyce Sensei herself, she has several qualified and highly trained practitioners on staff, all of whom have been through her rigorous apprenticeship program.

Christa distils the most beautifully aromatic essential oils from materials she finds locally in Santa Fe (her piñon oil is a local favorite), making her the herbalist of choice for the area's best naturopaths. She also finds great uses for hydrosols, the less potent cast-off of the distillation process.

Dr. Skurla is one of the area's best osteopaths, with experience handling all kinds of hard-to-treat conditions from Lyme disease to autism.

The old aphorism goes that Santa Fe has more acupuncturists per capita than any other city in the world, so to say that Eden Kark stands out from the pack isn't for nothing. He's a practitioner of many forms of Chinese medicine and a Ph.D. candidate in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, which brings an entirely different perspective to his treatment methods.

Archaeologists can confirm that people have been drawn to the waters at Ojo Caliente for thousands of years: the hot springs are surrounded by the ruins of structures and terraces built by ancient cultures. It's been an important gathering place for every culture that's inhabited these lands since, from the Native American ancestors of those ancient cultures to the Spaniards to the New Age hippies of the '70s. Now, the springs are surrounded by a fully developed resort and spa, and while it's a perfectly nice (if a bit isolated) place to stay, we actually recommend stopping in just for the day. The entry fee gets you access to the pools, mud baths, steam rooms, and sauna. Better yet, they're open late, making this a fantastic place to watch a famous New Mexico sunset.

Just off the main drag of the plaza, this tiny little shop has a really well-curated selection of used books and records that can all be purchased for a song. The little espresso machine in the corner is perennially manned by local creatives—a valuable resource if you're on the hunt for events like screenings and gallery openings.

This sliver of a store shares a space with its next-door neighbors, so the square footage is small, but what's here is great. Specializing in menswear, they carry a great mix of prim cashmere sweaters, tailored dinner jackets, and leather accessories like belts and shoes (plus a few good leather jackets). It gets bonus points for being within striking distance of most hotels, helpful for forgetful packers.

In a town that's known for antiques and handmade furniture, Design Warehouse occupies a unique niche in modern, mid-century, and Scandinavian design. The showroom on Marcy Street has some great furniture, but it's also a worthy stop for gifts—they've got a great little selection of books, kitchen tools, and office supplies.

Lucchese was started by a pair of Sicilian brothers who applied their Italian leather shoemaking training to cowboy boots in Texas back in the 1800's. They still make the best luxury cowboy boots on the market, with only two stores outside of Texas—in Santa Fe and Nashville. At the back of the store, you'll find rows and rows of every conceivable variation.

Founder Ira Seret spent more than fifteen years living in Afghanistan, buying and designing for everyone from Oscar de la Renta to Bloomingdales, and amassing a huge collection of stunning rugs and textiles. The store he runs with his wife is filled with the kinds of upholstered furniture, carpets, and home accessories you won't find anywhere else. Their most accessible showroom is really the Inn of Five Graces, which they decorated for the opening in 1996.

Shiprock Gallery was inspired by the New Mexican town of the same name, which is located on the Navajo reservation where founder and fifth-generation art dealer Jed Foutz was raised. Foutz specializes in the work of Native American artists, with cases and cases of turquoise jewelry and a much-photographed "rug room" with a huge selection of original weavings (in addition to historic pieces, he shows new exhibitions of work by living artists, which often include painting, photography, and sculpture). Pieces of this quality don't come cheap—beginner collectors might want to spend some time in the trading post section, which features cases of jewelry and weavings that all come in under $1,000. If you've got a bit of time to spare, ask the salespeople about the provenance of the building itself, which has a history that's just as fascinating as the works on display.

Fireplaces seem to be everywhere in Santa Fe, and the local bookstore is no exception—theirs is surrounded by a circle of couches and overstuffed chairs perfect for settling in with something from the shelves. The kids' section is particularly well stocked, and poetry buffs will want to keep a close watch on the website since readings happen every week or so.

What used to be an appointment-only showroom on the outskirts of town is now a large shop just blocks away from the Plaza. And it was worth the wait: Scott Corey’s carefully curated shop, filled with vintage American menswear, is a dream selection of flannels, jean jackets, and leather goods. You’ll also find a selection of vintage jewelry in addition to pieces by the Outpost’s co-owner, designer Julienne Barth.

Family-owned Ohori's has been in operation since the original founder Susan Ohori (who learned to roast beans from Alfred Peet, of Peet's Coffee) first claimed the space in 1984. The owners here are passionate about coffee, meticulously sourcing beans and roasting them in Santa Fe—pour-over is their drink of choice, though you can also get milk-based drinks and bulletproof coffee here. There's a lovely outdoor patio that gets buzzy in the summer months.

Off the main drag near Shake Foundation and next door to sister restaurant Vinaigrette (also owned by creative/chef Erin Wade), Modern General is hybrid of a general store, juice bar, and bakery in one. The walls of the airy, barn-like space are filled with items for the home (tools, books, kitchen gadgets, office supplies), garden (overalls, seeds, tools), and foodstuffs like gourmet mustards, staples like sugar and flour, and homemade pies that are famous in the neighborhood. In the back, there's a juice bar with plenty of healthy snacks and lunch items, all sourced from Wade's farm, and tables with Wifi for customers.

The case at this quintessentially New Mexican chocolate shop is always full of little delights, but they really specialize in drinking chocolate—rich, creamy cups of liquid chocolate. Kakawa describes the drinks as "chocolate elixirs," and serves them in Mesoamerican, European, and contemporary styles, tracing the history of the practice from the Mayans and Aztecs who invented it, to the Europeans who co-opted it, to the present day. Needless to say, this is a must-stop for anyone traveling with kiddos.

With a LEED-certified building at the Santa Fe rail yards that allows them to stay open year-round despite New Mexico's chilly winters, the Santa Fe Farmers Market is widely considered to be one of the best in the country (it's also one of the oldest, originating back in the 1960s and running continuously since that time). A major signature of the market is the board's high standards for local produce, which must be grown in the state of New Mexico to be included in the market at all.

The coffee and pastries are perfectly good at Downtown Subscription, but people really come here for the atmosphere—the place is always buzzing with locals picking up their morning coffee, reading magazines and books from the huge library on the side wall. That, and the fact that it's downtown and has its own parking lot, which is pretty clutch in this town.

While this casual burger spot is known for its take on New Mexico’s iconic green chile cheeseburger, the shakes here are the real draw. Made from local Taos Cow ice cream, they are in a league of their own—flavors change daily, ranging from standard vanilla and chocolate to lavender and salted caramel. No-fuss, outdoor picnic-style tables and string lights add to the old-school charm. Plus, the burgers are super affordable, priced around just $4.

Sprawled across fifty-seven acres in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, this Four Seasons resort is both spacious and cozy at once. Pretty much any amenity you’d expect from a Four Seasons property is a given, plus the Santa Fe-specific perfection of an adobe fireplace in every room, which can be lit on demand with a phone call to the concierge. Plentiful sage and lavender plants contribute to its paradise-like vibe—although expansive, unimpeded views of the mountains and the mesas of the Rio Grande River Valley don’t hurt, either. Make sure to dine at Terra, their stylish restaurant, which is a destination in and of itself.

This boutique hotel was opened with a traditional blessing ceremony, proving it’s not just its name that honors the area’s early native Anasazi tribe—it’s also reflected in the Inn’s ethos and interiors. Textiles, paintings, carvings, and baskets handmade by local Native American talent fill this intimate space, where adobe walls, rich wood floors, and kiva fireplaces are found in every room. The building, a former Santa Fe penitentiary, was renovated with the environment in mind; the toilets and showers are environmentally sound and the toiletries are organic. The rooms are small-ish, but there’s a cozy communal living room with a fireplace where you can order a cocktail after 11am. And the Plaza is just steps away.

Named for the city's patron saint, and holding the all-important distinction of being Santa Fe's oldest hotel, the St. Francis (which is conveniently located just a block off the plaza) is one of Santa Fe's many historic landmarks. The design here takes great pains to honor the style of early Franciscan missionary settlers, with features like an antique baptismal font in the lobby, candles along the walkways, and iron crosses hung in the stairwells. The rooms themselves, while small and simply decorated, are decked out with luxury details like Frette sheets, pillowtop mattresses, and marble bathrooms.

Whether you come for a meal at the farm-to-table restaurant, or to check-in and unplug in one of the twelve tree houses on the property, this place is a bucket-list must. Situated on twenty-five acres of farmland up a winding dirt road adjacent to Flora Farms, design-forward hotel offers some of the most incredible amenities (note: tree houses, fifteen feet off the ground, each with their own alfresco shower, plus terrace with palm grove views) and experiences like hiking, yoga, and access to roam the totally gorgeous on-site farm. The staff and owners are incredibly hospitable, so much so that you'll jump right into their awaiting Mezcal tasting upon arrival.

Esperanza is a classic resort to end all classic resorts. It’s a place to be pampered, it’s a place to comment on the service (in a good way), and it’s a place you will be met by a personal concierge with a margarita (for you) in hand. The pool scene incorporates mini massages, chilled bottles of water, and a generous offering of frozen fruit sticks when the midday heat hits. The cliff-top location on Punta Ballena (“Whale Point”)—between two private beaches overlooking the Sea of Cortez—is dramatic and stunning, especially in the winter when the humpback and gray whales migrate past. The casitas and suites are as luxe as you’d expect from an Auberge property: muted colors, natural handwoven rugs, Mexican artwork, and private whirlpool tubs. When ordering dinner at Cocina del Mar, take note: The elote corn and grilled oysters are two of the most exquisite dishes we’ve eaten in a while, and the sunset surf-and-turf experience at the beach palapa—ideal for two to four people—isn’t far behind.

Hacienda Beach Club is for the active holiday: Outdoor yoga, spinning, and complimentary water sports, including stand-up paddleboarding are just a few of the activities offered. And then you can unwind the kinks at the spa after. Note: These are fully-equipped villas for rent, making it a practical choice for a longer stay with the family—they have kitchens, as well as washer/dryers. It’s centrally located next to the marina and people who stay here love that they can walk to the beachfront shops and restaurants.

If the words “Cabo San Lucas” conjure visions of college kids doing tequila shots, let the words “One&Only Palmilla” replace those visions with palm trees, hummingbirds, and flowers the size of dinner plates. The property’s history goes back to 1956, when it served as a 15-room luxury escape for the president of Mexico. Since then, it’s been transformed into a 174-room resort with lush gardens, a pristine waterfront, top-notch service, and amenities that have their own amenities (everything from a welcome drink to turn-down service menus and personal butlers). And if you rent out one of the two private villas on the grounds, you get a whole team of personal butlers. And if that isn’t quite enough to send you running to the airport: The One&Only has one of the only swimmable beaches in Los Cabos, a spa featuring a shaman-led sweat lodge called a temazcal, and—if you’re planning a special occasion of the very special type—a historic chapel with panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez.

Originally built as a private retreat for British billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, this Moorish-style, sustainability-minded manor is spread out over 25,000 acres of lush Costa Alegre beach and jungle, which you’ll share with the resident zebras, antelope, tropical birds, and other wildlife (guests are also encouraged to take part in Cuixmala’s Turtle Protection Program). Technically, there are only thirteen rooms on property, but four of them are group-friendly palatial villas that come with pools, multiple bedrooms, and private chefs. For a more economical and decidedly more romantic option, the nine secluded garden casitas, with their private terraces and access to the stunning pool, are a great choice. The regional fare served at any of the multiple on-site restaurants either comes from Cuixmala’s own organic farm or sourced from neighboring farms.

The biggest draw to this luxury boutique hotel is the long, private stretch of white sand beach on the nicest part of Playa La Ropa. Lounge under the oceanside palapas with coconut palms from the tropical gardens swaying overhead and a cold piña colada in-hand. Though it’s on the beach, not all rooms have an ocean view (we've heard the garden rooms can be a bit disappointing).

The beauty of this 120-room St. Regis resort is in its idyllic locale. Sprawled out over 1,500 acres along the Riviera Nayarit, the hotel is steps from the water and within driving distance from Puerto Vallarta’s colonial streets and the Marietas Islands. Outdoor showers, sun beds, and spacious terraces are standard with every guest room, while the residential-style Suite Sueños boasts a private pool and a state-of-the-art kitchen—ideal for hosting intimate gatherings. Though kids are welcome throughout the property (daycare services can be arranged, too), those looking for a more serene experience should retreat to the adults-only pool. And though it’s unlikely you’ll want for much, St. Regis Butler Service is readily available.

Perched high above the sea, all of the accommodations here are villas—whether one- or three-bedroom—and they all come with their own pools, offering epic views of the ocean. The restaurant and spa on site are both great, as is the access to Bali's other cultural treasures, like biking through the rice paddies and climbing volcanoes. Alila Villas Uluwatu is also close to some of Indonesia's best surfing, adding to the fact that there's a bevy of things to keep you entertained during your entire stay.

At the end of 2016, Nikki Beach opened a resort, spa, and a series of fifteen private villas on the Pearl Jumeirah property next to their pool club. In contrast to the overstated luxury that you'll find elsewhere in Dubai, Nikki Beach takes a minimalistic approach that is aesthetically very pleasing. Bright and modern, the expansive spaces are the artwork of Italian designer Gregory Gatserelia of Beirut-based Gatserelia Design. Everything is bright and modern, polished (but not coldly so). The multiple-floor beachside villas, which have their own pools, are hard to beat (shocker), but the resort rooms are lovely overall, and everything is lent an intimate, oasis feel.

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the Opposite House is part work of art (the pixilated green-glass exterior looks more like an installation from the outside), part boutique hotel. Known for its minimalist style, the rooms are rather spacious–a rarity for most of the city's hotels, and feature minimal decor mixed with traditional Chinese elements including an authentic oak soaking tub in each bathroom. The staff is incredibly efficient and will arrange for taxis to avoid hailing one on the street (a subtle luxury here). Pro tip: While this can be a great place to escape the city's frenetic pace, the first few floors can get noisy given the proximity to the bars and nightclubs–so it's best to ask for a quiet room on a higher floor.

The result of a masterful renovation and takeover by the luxury adventure collective, Eleven Experience, Bahama House is tucked into a restored 1800's pale-pink painted stone building in the heart of Dunmore Town. Guests are swept from the main airport in Eleuthera over to Harbour Island (about five minutes by water taxi). The eleven-room property, which includes two cottages, typically requires a full buy-out to stay here, making it a solid option for families traveling together or those craving a bit more privacy. Each room is unique, reminiscent of 1930's Palm Beach design (think vintage lamps, found antiques, bold Ikats and seagrass rugs, four-poster rattan beds, and a cacophony of block-printed textiles). The generously-sized bathrooms are a beauty lover’s dream, flooded with light, and feature hand-stamped Costa Rican tile floors. Many of the rooms offer views of the harbor and the freshwater swimming pool, and there are so many wraparound verandas and delightful little nooks and crannies for lounging you’d be hard pressed to take advantage of every single one during your visit. At night, don’t miss a nightcap in the jewelbox-sized Rum Bar, where you can sample spirits from all over the Caribbean. An on-site staff will do everything from cook your meals to arrange excursions to the Pink Sand Beach, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, and horseback riding. Bonus: a stay at the property includes round-the-clock access to the Scorpion, a 38-foot Rib boat for island tours.

Harbour Island is one of those quick getaways for East Coasters that’s ideal for many reasons, the primary one being that there’s nowhere to go (unless it’s into the water). The life of the island revolves around the ocean: playing in it, eating by it, drinking by it, fishing in it–add the fact that so many from NYC seem to vacation here, and you’ve got a pretty sizable social scene, too. There are a few fancy resorts that dot the shoreline, but we’re into Ocean View Club, a teeny tiny spot where all the rooms are done up individually, to pretty great effect. It also has a small and mighty restaurant, where you’ll find significantly better fare than at many of the other spots on the island.

If you're looking to escape your social scene on the Upper East Side, don’t come to this chicest-beach-house-you-have-ever-seen, designed by Kelly Wearstler, where the look is more heels than flip flops. The restaurants and bars are a step above your typical Caribbean resort experience—fresh made pasta at the signature restaurant Cobà, frozen cocktails and hummus wraps at the Half Shell, and cocktails and sushi for a very buzzy happy hour at the Sunset Lounge. The two-story spa and cute boutique that features local jewelry designers makes it a fun place to come with girlfriends.

You can be as private or social as you like at this resort, which feels like a village of waterfront villas. Most people spend the day lounging by the infinity pool overlooking the sea, but you can relax by the private pool in your villa for a more secluded experience. The rooms are newly refurbished, simple, and modern, keeping the gorgeous setting the focus, with features like outdoor soaking tubs and sun decks. The town of Port Antonio, where the resort is located, was a hotspot in the 60’s and part of the experience is checking out the restaurants, bars, and live music in town. Fun feature: If you get tired of the beach, there’s a screening room that you can reserve.

The resort is known for having the same feel now as it did when it opened (when Sir Winston Churchill used to come here to paint). Colonial-style cottages offset the tropical beachside setting that has a bit of a retro Jamaican feel—and there's croquet on the lawn. Blessedly, there are no TVs to be found. The rooms are as on the beach as it gets (open the door and step in sand) and they are happy to bring you breakfast on your veranda if you don’t feel like making it over to the palm-covered dining room.

If you're looking to feel totally secluded and off-the-grid, Guana is the place. One of the lesser known of the British Virgin Islands, it’s also one the few remaining privately-owned islands in the area and is minimally developed. There’s not much here besides seven (nearly deserted) white sand beaches, 850 acres of untouched tropical forest, and this small resort with just fifteen cottages and three villas. Depending on when you go, you can be one of the only vacationers here with just a few scientists or grad students around studying the ecosystem. The staff at the resort will tell you how best to explore the islands and how to navigate the steep trails, even giving you cell phones so you can call if you’d rather be picked up on your way back. Each room is named after a different Caribbean island and is simply decorated in lots of white. There are no TVs, phones, or much else to distract you from completely unplugging. P.S. People rave about Xavier, the young Spanish chef at the on-site restaurant.

People rave about the service at this twenty-eight-room resort on Antigua, which feels like you are being personally hosted. With just twenty-eight rooms and no kids under ten allowed, it’s an intimate and peaceful getaway, as everything you might need is on the property. There's a large heated pool, tennis courts, a beachside restaurant, a private white sand beach, hammocks, snorkeling, a rum bar, plus an on-site a library. The look is England meets the Caribbean, with grand colonial style architecture—standout features are the strong mahogany four-post beds with contrasting airy white linens. Apparently, the old–fashioned rum punch at The Reef Bar is not to be missed.

Elbow Beach feels like the British Bermuda of yesteryear. The recent takeover by the Mandarin Oriental group means some of the bright pastels, floral wallpapers, and grandad feel are changing to a sleeker look, but we hear the careful charm of the staff and the slow pace still feel delightfully old-school. The resort is home to Veranda, Bermuda’s only rum bar, with over 100 varieties of rum and a clubby, jazzy vibe. FYI, The Bougainvillea cottages with sea views are said to be the ones worth coming for.

This is the perfect place to decamp with a group of friends: The spa is fantastic (treatments involve local and endemic ingredients), the food is even better, and the scene—the northern edge of New Zealand—couldn't really be more spectacular. A lot of golfers stay here, though there's plenty to do that doesn't involve a set of clubs: Horseback riding, surfing, fishing, and mountain biking are all easily accessible (though it's also the kind of resort where they make wishes into realities, so if there's something you're dying to do, just ask). And starting in November, you can book your own private four-bedroom enclave.

Fans of Harbour Island who are likely familiar with the storied Ocean View Club, will be delighted to know that its charming proprietors Ben Simmons and Charlie Phelan have quietly opened a new spot just across the way in Eleuthera. The Other Side has a decidedly different feel—it’s luxuriously nomadic, a bit more wild, and blessedly unplugged, making it perfect for those who truly want to disconnect. The design, which centers around communal and private sleeping tents, hardwood floors, and four-poster beds, and sundecks, is reminiscent of a scene from Out of Africa, and it's the kind of place where you can fall asleep to the sound of the water lapping in the distance. There’s plenty to do on the property, including morning yoga, paddle boarding, diving into swimming holes or even tend to the on-site vegetable garden if you wish, but you can also just relax at the swimming pool, which is pretty enticing on its own. The Other Side, like many other spots on Eleuthera and Harbour Island, is open from November through August.

Due to an abundance of white-washed, barn-like architecture, walking around this elegant Auberge hotel feels like taking a stroll through a posh horse stable, with white, clean lines, and tall ceilings (but certainly no horses). Like many resorts in the area, rooms are organized into studio cottages with private patios, and their pool scene is nice and roomy, with plenty of deck space and lounge chairs. You'll be in good hands, food-wise, at their restaurant Solbar restaurant, and a pretty serious spa. Calistoga is known for its mud baths (the geo-thermal heat and mineral-rich mud make for a healing restorative bath), and we've heard that Solage offers one of the best around.

There are a few distinguishing factors about Western Montana's Triple Creek Ranch, which has been hosting guests since the ‘80s. Most notably, it’s adults only. Second, there isn't a stitch of cell service, which makes it the perfect choice for those who generally struggle to disconnect. And finally, it’s nestled up against Trapper Peak, meaning that the cabins look out on forests, creeks, and elk herds, which gravitate to the lands since they don’t allow hunting. Beyond trail riding and fly-fishing (it’s an Orvis-endorsed lodge, which apparently means quite a lot to fly fishermen), you can learn how to pen cattle, and you can hike for days—after all, the lodgings abut the rest of the property, which is a 26,000 acre working ranch where guests can participate in all-day cattle drives. And come winter, there’s an on-site Iditarod dog-sledding team that guests can drive and help train. While many of the activities are included, for a bit extra, they’ll hook you up with a plane to Glacier or Yellowstone. Besides getting outside, they offer artist workshops and wine tastings, and when the owners, Craig and Barbara Barrett are on-site, cocktail parties at their residence, where you can take in their extensive Western art collection. But we would go just to hang with the Barretts: He was the CEO of Intel, while she is a trained astronaut, was the US ambassador to Finland, and was the first civilian woman to land an F/A-18 Hornet on an aircraft carrier. No big deal.

Hikes, yoga, a forest-bathing program, and views that look like you’re surrounded by iPhone billboards. That’s the gist of the sixty-two cottages and twenty-one guest rooms that make up L’Auberge de Sedona. This is the kind of place with outdoor showers (which you’ll love in the summer) and woodburning fireplaces (which you’ll love in the winter). As soon as you check in, head directly to L’Apothecary Spa, where therapists create oils, salts, scrubs, and other skin- and body-care products at an herbal blending station. They’re essentially Southwestern apothecaries using the full spectrum of herbs, flowers, and essences at their disposal to cure whatever ails you or, at the very least, to make you very, very relaxed. When you’re not at the spa, hang out in your creek-side cabin or get cozy by the fire. Just plan to spend the evening looking up—you’ve never seen so many stars in your life.

So, the first thing to know is that this is not on the beach but rather along the marina. We’d suggest taking advantage of the location by renting an open-top jeep and exploring the wilds of Hawaii on the North Shore. The hotel itself is more boutique-y than resort, and feels airy, clean and crisp, with lots of white. The vibe is young, cool, modern—less expensive Hawaii—with a spring break vibe for the upwardly mobile. There are four bars, a nightclub (which gets pretty crazy at night), and an ‘adult’ pool where people can be found drinking coconut mojitos in the shallow end at pretty much all hours.

There’s definitely a Moorish paradise thing happening throughout this Scottsdale resort. Rooms are clustered in sections so it feels like walking through little villages with a Kabash pool where people lounge under the cabanas from day into night. The heart of the resort is the massive Moroccan-style Joya spa (the building is an architectural feat in its own right) their signature being the Hammam Experience—start with an herbal black soap scrub, followed by a steam, whirlpool, sauna, cold deluge and a final rest in the ‘warming room.’ They also offer acupuncture, cupping, and IV therapy, making this just a bit different than your traditional hotel spa. The resort is set at the foot of the Camelback Mountain, which makes for a great morning hike through the desert landscape.

One excellent hotel option—particularly for families, or anyone traveling with other couples—is the Lodge at Kukui'ula, a private club in Poʻipū that stretches across 1,010 acres, and was included in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards Best Hawaiian Resorts. Comprised of multi-bedroom homes—most with adjacent guest houses—it has plenty of high-end touches and amenities. While all the homes are equipped with lavish kitchens, the club restaurant, ʻUmeke Kitchen + Bar is excellent, and serviced by an on-site garden. There's a multi-level pool complete with hot tubs, a water slide, and a beach (the real beach is just across the road), a keiki play room, and the on-site Huakaʻi Outfitters staffed by locals who know all the island's secrets—what's better is that they'll take you there, or pack you a cooler and bag of equipment and send you on your way. For those otherwise inclined, there is a Tom-Weiskopf-designed golf course, tennis courts, and the award-winning Hiʻilani Spa and Fitness Center, home to a gym, yoga studio, and more.

This 20-room hotel is luxurious, airy, and light-filled. The rooms are thoughtfully laid out and beautifully appointed, each with its own ocean-facing balcony and hammocks, plus Grown Alchemist toiletries in the bathroom and Parachute waffle robes. (For a real treat, book the Surfrider Suite, which at 500 square feet feels like a serious home away from home thanks to a generously sized balcony, separate sitting area, and kitchenette.) There’s a guests-only roof deck bar and restaurant, which has uninterrupted views of Surfrider Beach across the street and a killer fire pit.

Here, every detail is considered, from the strict green practices the resort follows, to the beautifully kept gardens, to the fresh baked cookies that come with the nightly turn-down service. If you don't want to leave the grounds, you can eat at the impressive John Ash & Co. or the Front Room Bar & Lounge.

New kid on the block the William Vale is an all-balcony building, meaning guests have a stellar view no matter their room’s orientation—we recommend a corner suite, the panoramic views, all-glass bathroom (lie in the tub and take in the Manhattan skyline), and beautifully appointed living room are so worth it, especially if you’re rooming with—or planning on entertaining—a few friends. In what was once a neighborhood of abandoned buildings, adjoining Wythe Street is now packed with incredible breakfast spots (try Meyers Bageri or Sunday in Brooklyn), bars, and great boutiques. The accommodations are Scandinavian in style with clean lines and unfussy furniture in a neutral palette, intended not to detract from the majesty of the city views. In keeping with the neighborhood’s creative spirit, the hotel regularly hosts artistic and wellness-oriented events—from chakra healing with a shaman to meditation and letter-pressing—at its stunning water-facing rooftop bar that’s packed to the rafters at night.

There's a special synergy between bustling urban energy and laid-back California cool found in downtown San Diego, and this hotel—a completely fresh boutique concept emerging from the Montage’s luxury umbrella—occupies a corner spot that's right in the middle of it all. Moderately sized with a totally non-corporate feel, the bedrooms are done in a spectrum of beachy patterned blues and textured whites: azure plaid sofas against light-blue drapes and crisp bedding, for example. This retreat-like aesthetic is brought home by luxe touches like silky Lunya bathrobes and particularly beautiful subway-tiled bathrooms. The Pendry is within walking distance to some of the city's best restaurants and bars. If you don't want to leave the grounds over the weekend, the picture-perfect rooftop pool offers some of the best views in the city, while the adjacent restaurants, Lionfish and Provisional, serve up excellent seafood and steak, and fresh California dishes, respectively.