LGBTQ: Santa Fe, N.M.

Over the past 400 years Santa Fe has certainly earned its nickname as The City Different. With remarkable adobe buildings lining every street and the second-largest confluence of artists in the country, the city is entirely unique in terms of culture and appearance. It’s also welcoming to the LGBTQ community.

The heart of Santa Fe is centered on the downtown plaza where you’ll find a seemingly endless array or art museums, shops peddling unique — and sometimes expensive — crafts, along with an assortment of boutiques with luxury apparel or Native American-inspired clothing.

There are more than 200 restaurants in the city giving it one of the highest eateries-to-human ratio in the nation so you’ll never lack for great food. Our neighbors to the south with quite a bit of Spanish influence inspire much of it.

Outside the city, you’ll find numerous mountains and slot canyons with opportunities for camping, hiking, biking and more. Santa Fe is often thought of an outdoorsman’s paradise thanks to the easy access to the wild. While the city itself doesn’t provide much to boast about in the way of nightlife, you’ll feel welcome no matter which bar you choose to explore.

Hotels around town can get shockingly expensive as the city relies heavily upon tourism, but you can find great deals through Airbnb. All in all Santa Fe is a relaxing, yet vibrant place to explore a town rich with artistry and a friendly bunch of locals.