Go Here: High and Dry in Santa Fe

I’ll cut to the chase: this is a guide to Santa Fe, a place I love, a spiritual vortex, a place of immense power. There is something about the desert, with its beautiful but unforgiving environs, that makes me feel more human, connected to the spirit of Mother Earth.

It could also be the legal weed.

Whatever the cause, I love to visit Santa Fe.

My most recent trip was cobbled together from on-the-ground curiosity (the most important travel asset), friends’ suggestions, and resources I tend to trust, like Yolo Journal, Wildsam, or the comments section of Blackbird Spyplane. Travel is and should be intensely personal, and while I love the guidance of those who came before me, I also question it. I like to find out for myself.

I need to feel a connection to a place. I love tasting regional food (even if I don’t love it), which makes a place come alive. I want to shop at the farmers market, and I get frustrated when I can’t cook from a good one, which is why I prefer a house over a hotel if I’m staying more than a few nights.

If I have too many days that are just cute bakeries and shops, I get depressed. Too much commerce makes me feel gross. At the same time, I love supporting local entrepreneurs. I try to visit buzzy places because I want to see what has captured the zeitgeist and why. (Mostly I’m reminded that the current era is in shambles, and capturing the zeitgeist isn’t something to aspire to.)

And I’m typically traveling with my family, which changes the wants and needs of a trip. Traveling with kids can be a fucking nightmare, but the trips are never without the moments of wonder and family connection that, in the end, make it worth the effort. And I’ve found that you never remember the breakdowns. Trips are always a delight when you’re looking back; they wear the glow of time passed.

If this resonates with you, then read on: