A Perfect New Mexico Weekend | Late Checkout

Originally built as a roadside motel in 1936, it’s recently been remodeled into an 86-room hotel and grounds that include a hot tub and pool.

Right off of the main square in downtown Santa Fe, and the perfect meal to start your first day. I’m partial to the hand held breakfast roll, which is somewhere between a breakfast taco and breakfast burrito, and unlike anything I’ve had before.

A gallery rooted in Navajo and Native American traditions of the Southwest. While much of the inventory costs a pretty penny, their jewelry, textiles and homewares will leave you feeling inspired.

A Japanese spa set in the hills of Santa Fe, where you can spend some time in the soaking tubs and book a massage. They also offer a Japanese izakaya on site, if you’re looking to pair your spa treatment with a meal—but personally, I didn’t find it to be a match for the Japanese food that I can find in San Francisco. Be sure to make your reservation in advance.

A restaurant that specializes in entrée salads made with local produce. It’s also a total Santa Fe vibe, set in an adobe house with paintings and bright green tile at the end of a residential lane.

The bar at El Rey Court motel. I recommend a margarita.

Whether you’re in the mood for heartier fare or a lighter meal, they’ve got a range of offerings—including juice and smoothies, which can be hard to come by on vacation. And, you can shop around their curated offering of goods while you wait for your meal.

The meeting point for the O’Keefe Home & Studio tour. You’ll spend 75 minutes on a guided tour of Georgia O’Keefe’s iconic home and garden, overlooking the stunning New Mexico landscape. N ote: Tours are held from March to November for guests ages 10+. Tickets are $60 and reservations are required. At the welcome center, ask for a map to Plaza Blanca, a nearby rock formation that’s worth a stop.

A rock formation that’s worth a stop. Get a map at the O'Keefe Welcome Center

A 70-room immersive art experience for all ages. Tickets required, $42.

A South Indian restaurant in town

A Santa Fe Institution

Not only is it a nice stopping point to stretch your legs, it’s a beautiful part of the New Mexico landscape with an incredible landmark called La Ventana Arch. It’s a short walk on a paved pathway from the parking lot, though you could stop for a longer hike if you’re keen.

At this point, expect to be off the grid: no cell service, no WiFi, and an incredible absence of light and sound pollution. You’ll park in Quemado overnight, then be escorted by the groundskeeper to Lightning Field and its adjacent cabin, your lodging for the night

Lightning Field is the 1977 work by American sculptor Walter De Maria, and consists of 400 polished stainless-steel poles assembled in a grid that measures one mile by 1 kilometer. Lightning Field offers stays from May 1 to October 31 each year, with availability for 6 guests each night ($150-250 per person per night). During your stay, you can view and walk through the work at all times of the day, with sunset and sunrise being the most majestic. Visiting Lightning Field is an experience that should be on anyone’s bucket list—it’s indescribable, magical, memorable, and worth planning a trip around.

If you’re a child of the 90s, you’ll recognize this place from the iconic 1997 film Contact, starring Jodie Foster. While that made it famous, the Very Large Array is a site with 27 25-meter wide radio antennas in the high plains. Spend an hour doing the self-guided walking tour ($6 per person), and don’t be shy with the selfies.

A historic 45 room hotel and organic farm. It’s a relaxing oasis that will offer incredible farm-to-table meals and a relaxing guest room with their own lavender bath products that will leave you feeling restored at the end of your road trip.