My husband has been traveling for work the last three weeks and will be gone for one more. So, writing about romantic vacations in Santa Fe this weekend felt like a cruel joke. But, even while feeling sorry for myself, I couldn’t help getting excited about this post!

I think that Santa Fe is one of the most romantic places in the United States to spend a vacation. It has all the right elements…it is mysterious, beautiful and earthy. It is a city of great restaurants, shopping, cultural attractions, outdoor activities and scenic drives.

Visit during any season and you will not be disappointed. In the winter the ground is covered in snow and the air smells of sweet pinon and smoke. In spring and summer you have green mountains, clear sunny days and cool nights. In fall, you have blooming Sage, vibrant Chimisa and intense yellow Aspen. This georgous year-round backdrop is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway.

There are so many wonderful things to do, restaurants to dine in and hotels to stay at that I couldn’t possibly whittle it down into this space. So, to make it more enjoyable for us all…I have put together a description of one perfect day.

Here it is:

Romantic hotels: I would want to stay at the very expensive Inn of the Anasazi (this is my ideal romantic day, remember-so money is irrelevent!). Second choice would be one of the distinctive rooms at the St. Francis hotel. In small touches and design, both places evoke Santa Fe’s rich history and colorful Southwestern culture.

Romantic (and tasty) restaurants: I don’t really think of breakfast as being romantic, unless it is served in bed. So, let’s just talk about some good restaurants that serve breakfast. I would want to spend the morning eating fluffy eggs and freshly baked pastries at CloudCliff Bakery. It is a nice spot to linger and read the paper. Pasqual’s is excellent as well with communal tables and a spectacularly unique and tasty menu. Get there early as the secret has been out for quite some time. Dinner would be at Geronimo’s or Santa Cafe. Both are very expensive, have exquisitely prepared food and are fabulously atmospheric. They exemplify the gourmet Southwestern cuisine that Santa Fe is famous for.

Romantic activities: There are two main things I would have to do (in addition to visiting museums and driving the many scenic drives heading out in any direction from town). First, would be to walk down Canyon Road. One of the oldest streets in Santa Fe, it is a haven for galleries, artist shops, and good restaurants. You could spend an entire day wandering down it’s cobblestone streets, looking at local paintings and sculpture.

This is sure to tire your feet and make you ready for some R&R…which bring me to my second “must do”. Ten Thousand Waves is a full service spa modeled after a Japanese Onsen. It is located on the scenic road up to Santa Fe’s ski mountain. They have a wide menu of treatments, from blissful massages, private hot tubs, meditation rooms and much more. I’m partial to their salt scrub massage and their fresh cucumber water that is available all over the property.

S0, break into that savings account, book a flight and ‘get your romance on’ in Santa Fe. After all, you only live once!

Thanks to Mark Coggins for the Santa Fe picture!

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