Under $100: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a fascinating town that will give you your fill of local culture, even on a budget.

Start your day with breakfast at Pantry Restaurant, where the food is worth the long lines. You can choose from either Mexican or American dishes, but a great option is a filling breakfast burrito with your choice of meat for just more than $10.

Spend the morning exploring the local history by taking a hike at Bandelier National Monument. About an hour drive outside of the city, this site is home to ancient Pueblo structures dating back to 1150 AD. The park entrance fee is $25.

For lunch, head back into town and grab some authentic Mexican food at The Shed where the most expensive item on the lunch menu is $12.50. Pair that with a beer and a tip and you’ll leave full and happy for around $20.

Take the afternoon to explore downtown Santa Fe. Visit Loretto Chapel, one of the most photographed sites in the city. With its beautiful winding staircase that has no central support beams, the chapel attracts the curiosity of just about every visitor to the city.

Afterwards spend a few hours experiencing the collection of artwork at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Entrance is $13 per person and some of the artist’s most well-known pieces are on display.

Before dinner head to Santa Fe Plaza, the “heart of the city.” The large open-air space is home to numerous shops and restaurants and is a popular place to shop for local handicrafts and artwork.

After a day of exploring the city grab some dinner and drinks at Fire and Hops Gastropub where you can put down a burger and a beer for $32 to round out your trip.