Santa Fe Baldy still has its white cap, inviting Ski Santa Fe lovers to take those last few runs, but winter is officially over – today is the first day of spring! Santa Fe is #3 on Travel + Leisure’s list for best U.S. weather, thanks in part to more than 320 annual days of sunshine. Right now, that friendly sun is painting Santa Fe with swaths of color. There’s more than one way to explore the City Different through the eyes of an artist.

Santa Fe Is Right Before Your Eyes

Santa Fe is embarking on a Summer of Color, but maybe you just can’t wait that long. There’s nothing quite like spring color and I know just where to find it. A hike along the Dale Ball Trails in search of wildflowers is on my itinerary. This 22-mile trail network is perfect for those who simply want a stroll in the fresh mountain air, as well as avid hikers and bikers who crave the stunning view of downtown Santa Fe these trails offer. Two trailheads, one where Canyon Road intersects with Cerro Gordo Road and one in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on Hyde Park Road offer choice scenic greenery. Of course, a sunset hike promises a dazzling display of the mountains aglow with reds and purples!

Santa Fe has unforgettable sunsets – nightly! Santa Fe has unforgettable sunsets – nightly!

After an invigorating hike, you might be ready to catch some color at a different pace. Fortunately for your inner artist, that’s easy to find – simply make tracks for the New Mexico Museum of Art, getting a jump on the Summer of Color with the Colors of the Southwest exhibition. Iconic works by renowned New Mexico artists past to present offer an education in the Land of Enchantment’s magic. A variety of media is on display with watercolors, ceramics, oils and more showcasing the signature blend of light and color that consistently draws a rich pool of talent to New Mexico.

In their time, modernists like Dorothy Morang made the Santa Fe landscape look new.  (Photo courtesy of the New Mexico Museum of Art | Dorothy Morang, Sunrise, 1940, watercolor on paper, Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Photo: Blair Clark) In their time, modernists like Dorothy Morang made the Santa Fe landscape look new.
(Photo courtesy of the New Mexico Museum of Art | Dorothy Morang, Sunrise, 1940,
watercolor on paper, Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Photo: Blair Clark)

Put That Color on My Plate Please

Spring equals eating green in my recipe book. The stewpot has moved to the back of the shelf in favor of the season’s first greens from the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market. On Saturday mornings, you’ll find locals snapping up garden-fresh goodies. Baby spinach is on my shopping list, but anything green might end up in my market basket nestled next to a bar of handmade Milk and Honey soap or a hank of handspun yarn. The Farmers’ Market is great for breakfast too – the Café’s fresh Aroma coffee is the perfect companion for people watching. I’ll even share my secret – bring that traveling mug and a cuppa joe is only a buck fifty!

The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market is a must-do destination for locals and visitors alike. The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market is a must-do destination for locals and visitors alike.

If coffee has been banned from your beverage lexicon, you’re in luck! Santa Fe has the cold-press juice craze covered. Verde Juice’s bounty runs from the refreshing Apple Cleanse, a cucumber blend rich in iron, to my personal favorite, the Piña Verde, with just enough sweetness to sweeten my morning. Low-calorie and delicious, that’s my wake-up motto! BODY of Santa Fe offers up their Alchemy in a glass – a spicy garden cleanse with a hit of jalapeño. The newbie on the block, Modern General, has a turmeric health shot blended with orange, honey and cayenne that is the anti-inflammatory answer to whatever ails you.

Santa Fe Makes You Hungry For More

I get by early with small bites but when lunch or dinner rolls around, my appetite becomes huge in a hurry. I appreciate Vinaigrette’s heap of seasonal greens, which are mighty without being loaded with calories. The self-titled “salad bistro” lives up to its appellation with a creative collection, from All Kale Caesar to Omega and everything in-between. I love the colorful names, but I love the greenery even more. And my honey, who actually needs the calories (color me jealous), has a choice of fish or meat options for his higher fuel requirements.

Applewood-smoked bacon is a special surprise on Santacafe’s Maine Lobster Salad. Applewood-smoked bacon is a special surprise on Santacafe’s Maine Lobster Salad.

When I crave casual elegant dining, I choose Santacafé. I can honestly say I’ve never been disappointed with anything I order, but give me a Spring Citrus Salad with avocado and jicama for lunch or the Maine Lobster on iceberg lettuce for dinner, and I am one happy camper. I will, however, admit to the Santacafé burger when my need for green can only be satisfied by green chile!

Make Santa Fe Your Fresh Adventure

Still making plans for a spring escape? Look no further than Santa Fe for the new, the old, the modern and the ancient because we’ve got it all. Grab a getaway special for a fresh take on the City Different, and along with one-of-a-kind souvenirs and tales of artistic adventures, you’ll go home with a rainbow of rich memories about spring.

Bridge the time between winter and summer with a spring getaway in Santa Fe!

Bridge the time between winter and summer with a spring getaway in Santa Fe!