Santa Fe is renowned as a destination that is just a bit off the beaten path as far as conventional tourist spots are concerned. Located in the high desert country of northern New Mexico, Santa Fe attracts a diverse gathering of newcomers as well as visitors who enjoy partaking in unusual fun activities. If you’re curious about unusual things to do in Santa Fe, keep reading.
Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return
Here’s a great place to kick off your unusual Santa Fe vacation. This quirky attraction is actually an arts collective where the works of more than 100 local artists are put on display. There’s also a maze inside that resembles the distorted rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland. Yes, the House of Eternal Return stays true to its namesake as a really unusual place to spend a few hours on an afternoon.
Museum of International Folk Art
It’s a given that unusual places have a tendency to attract all manner of artsy types. And you guessed it – Santa Fe is a bastion of folk art. Folk art from around the globe is put on display inside this large museum, including the Alexander Girard collection. There’s a wing named after the iconic folk artist and features many of his works including paintings, toys, miniatures, textiles, and other items. In keeping with the theme, many of the pieces of art are hard to explain. It just doesn’t get any more unusual than this.
Santa Fe School of Cooking
Seriously? Who goes on vacation to improve their culinary skills? Apparently, there are many. And Santa Fe is high on the list. The staff of this cooking school puts on classes whereby visitors learn the fine craft of cooking authentic New Mexico/southwestern food, including spicy tamales, green chiles, salsas, and Rellenos.
El Rancho De Las Golondrinas
The Hispanic culture is prominent wherever you go in New Mexico. Historic ranchos such as De Las Golondrinas are a major attraction in the Santa Fe area. This rancho – built in the late 18th century, is the oldest of its kind in the region. It is located on Royal Road just outside of Santa Fe. Spend a day exploring the desert and old adobe – style buildings to get a feel for the rich western history. El Rancho De Las Golondrinas has been used for decades for fashion shoots to do shoot western films.
Santa Fe Margarita Trail
Believe it or not, there is a class of traveler who visits different cities or regions of the globe to imbibe. Santa Fe has its own claim to fame when it comes to booze. The city is famous for the margaritas cooked up by local bartenders. The Santa Fe Margarita Trail features an amazing 31 different types of margaritas, all of which are made with 100% agave tequila. Enjoy!
Santa Fe National Forest
Established in 1915, this national forest covers 1,558,452 acres and is an outdoor person’s paradise. You can do almost any outdoor activity here: hiking. Camping. Fishing. Swimming in pristine lakes. There are even opportunities to do water rafting!