What Made Santa Fe a Top 2018 Destination?

Santa Fe was named a top 14 U.S. Travel Destination by Forbes and, in 2018, it saw increases in tourist arrivals, so what makes it such a great destination?

To start, Santa Fe is a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art, as well as a UNESCO City of Design. It offers plenty for art lovers to explore, in addition to tons of historical elements for history fans. There are ancient pathways to Pueblo ruins, national monuments, historic parks, landmarks, trading posts, museums and more. For those that want to get outdoors and have some adventures, there are plenty of opportunities to hike, bike, ski, fish and golf.

Of course, luxury travelers can enjoy the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe, which caters to every traveler with its high-end amenities and wealth of activities available to guests.

Sunrise Springs, an Ojo Spa Resort offers similar luxury, but with a focus on self-care. There are mindful meditation classes, yoga sessions, expressive art classes and even puppy play sessions.

“Forbes has figured out something we’ve known for a long time, the area of Santa Fe provides limitless adventure. People are coming to the Santa Fe area in record numbers,” said Katherine Miller, county manager. “Tourism to the area has seen double digit increases over last year, and that’s largely because of the incredible cultural and outdoor recreation offerings available to visitors. In the 1980s and 1990s, we had a heyday for tourism, as everyone had howling coyotes and southwestern décor. Today’s increases are with younger travelers flocking to Santa Fe for experiential tourism, cultural travel and outdoor adventures.”

“The Santa Fe area offers a wealth of culture, an international flavor, but without leaving the United States,” added Miller. “Over the past year, we’ve seen exponential growth, and we expect this trend to continue, as Santa Fe provides a truly immersive and life-changing vacation experience, while allowing people to stay active and explore the great outdoors. Santa Fe is a cultural hub, providing visitors the opportunity to learn about and explore Native American culture and New Mexican culture, as well as art, entertainment, history and cuisine from around the globe. Those factors, combined with our incredible outdoor adventure opportunities, have made Santa Fe a repeat destination for many visitors who come to visit and fall in love with our rich culture, our outdoor activities and our community.”