Welcome to Santa Fe, the rugged, high-desert city hovering in the backdrop of the inky-azure Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Cast under sunny skies with vast landscapes and puffy marshmallow clouds, and dotted with Pueblo architecture—it’s no wonder artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Agnes Martin came here to work and live. Now's a great time to uncover the town’s many gems: earthy New Mexican cuisine, fashionable boutiques, hip art galleries, and venerable museums. Then savor the area’s sweeping expanse of nature. Below, three ways to experience the “City Different.”

The Hip Side of Santa Fe

What to Do

These days, Santa Fe is turning up its arty edge and indie spirit. This season, ceramist Kimmy Rohr (Whiskey and Clay) and furniture maker Jonathan Boyd (Boyd and Allister) are teaming up to showcase their talents inside a small shop also carrying American-made wares and sustainable beauty products. For a tightly curated collection of LPs, check out Lost Padre Records or Guy in the Groove.

Later, hop over to Sky Coffee for a lightly steamed cortado and then zip to Photo-Eye for the latest in photography. A few miles away on Canyon Road, Hecho a Mano displays jewelry, prints, and pottery from Oaxaca. Across the street, a patio seat at the Teahouse affords a sample of many varietals from India, China, and Sri Lanka. For contemporary art, Site Santa Fe hosts edgy up-and-coming shows alongside well-known names like Louise Bourgeois and Ed Ruscha. You’ll want to carve out a few hours at the art collective known as Meow Wolf—a mind-bending, family-friendly, immersive art-meets-sci-fi installation that conjures up a bit of The X-Files with Stranger Things.

For turmeric shots and local wares (ceramic mixing bowls and garden tools), Modern General has you covered. Across the parking lot, nab a leafy kale salad and a glass of rosé at its cheery sister eatery, Vinaigrette. Find modern Mexican cuisine at Paloma, where mezcal margaritas accompany rock shrimp tostadas and crispy carnitas. Meanwhile, La Choza (sibling to the legendary Shed) serves earthy enchiladas and tamales smothered in red or green chili sauce. Don’t miss Opuntia, an airy café moving to the Railyard District this fall and serving loose-leaf teas alongside eggs, vegan bowls, salads, and a curated selection of wares (i.e., Wonder Valley olive oil and potted succulents). Wind down at Radish and Rye with sweet corn fritters, bourbon cocktails, and craft beers.

Where to Stay

Last year, Cali tastemakers and designers Jay and Alison Carroll reimaged an old Route 66 motor inn, El Rey Court. Its 86 rooms are kitted out in Navajo fabrics, Matouk-lined beds, handsome custom furniture, and vinyl record players; some rooms have kitchens, patios, and kiva fireplaces. The Alexander Girard–esque bar La Reina is where hip locals mingle, with live music and tequila cocktails.

The Classic Side of Santa Fe

What to Do

Fuel up for breakfast at the locally loved Café Pasqual’s, where warm coffee, corn pancakes, and huevos rancheros top the menu. Then pop over to the Santa Fe Farmers Market in the Railyard District for the season’s bounty; think hatch chiles, farm-raised meat, eggs, and locally made lavender soaps. On the Plaza, the beloved design emporium Shiprock displays a dazzling collection of pristine Navajo rugs alongside special rotating exhibits. A few blocks away, Japanese designer Hiroki Nakamura’s zen-meets-Southwestern shop Visvim offers high-end bespoke clothing and pottery in an airy Victorian house. On East Palace, Santa Fe Vintage hawks a collection of cowboy boots, vintage denim, indigo-dyed fabric, and chunky turquoise pieces by Jules Barth; it also has a larger appointment-only warehouse space.

Nearby, the intimate Georgia O’Keeffe Museum showcases a vast collection of the artist’s works, from her New Mexico landscapes to her Lake George paintings. Across town, the Museum of International Folk Art houses designer Alexander Girard’s vast 100,000-plus-piece collection as well as a special exhibit of the designer’s textiles, furniture, and sculpture. Later, stop by the venerable Canyon Road restaurant Geronimo, where the amber-and-gold toned room supplies craft cocktails and honey-grilled Mexican white prawns.

Where to Stay

Just steps from the town’s historic plaza, the 58 rooms of the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi are outfitted with adobe walls, wood-beamed ceilings, Navajo rugs, local art, handcrafted textiles, kiva fireplaces, and leather furnishings. In the early evening, guests gather in the lounge for buzzy Silver Coin margaritas and achiote-glazed chicken nachos.

The Great Outdoors of Santa Fe

What to Do

While city limits offer many diversions, you’ll want to step out into the pinion-infused air. Come morning, unwind at the tranquil grounds of Ten Thousand Waves, which smacks of Japan, and includes a spa with shiatsu massage and hot tubs (private and public). Afterwards, snack at the warm, wood-clad Izanami, whose Michelin-starred menu includes house-made tofu, Wagyu steak, and a large selection of sake. For hiking, Dale Ball Trails offers a vast network, while Randall Davey Audubon Center has 135 acres for bird-watching. More lung expansion? Bandelier National Park supplies countless trails with striking panoramic views.

About 60 miles north of town, tour Georgia O’Keefe’s Abiquiu home (reservations required), a simple affair of midcentury pieces alongside artworks by her friends (Noguchi, Calder). Farther down the road, Ghost Ranch offers several hiking options along with a horseback ride that lets you see O’Keeffe’s summer home. Hungry? Nab breakfast burritos and deli sandwiches at the general store and mercantile, Bodes. And, when the weather allows, the highly touted Santa Fe Opera hosts five rotating shows alongside an elegant tailgating setup with mountainous views.

Where to Stay

Drop your bags at the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado, tucked in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where 65 contemporary casita-style rooms are kitted out in Southwestern decor à la dark-wood headboards, landscape photography, and wood-burning fireplaces. In the evening, sip local bubbles from Gruet winery, soak in the epic sunsets, and sit around the modern firepit.

Bonus Road Trip: The High Road to Taos

Roll down your windows and set out on the 56-mile drive from Santa Fe to Taos. You’ll visit El Santuario de Chimayo, a landmarked church whose dirt floor is known to hold healing properties; you’re allowed to take a sample. You’ll also pass the small towns of Cordova and Truchas, doubling with dramatic peaks and vistas. Make a requisite stop at the Taos Pueblo and visit the adobe homes of its resident artisans. Afterward, inside the famed Taos Inn, drop by for lunch at Doc Martin’s, where James Beard Award–winning chef Zak Pelaccio has repurposed the soulful menu to include king trumpet mushrooms with huitlacoche mole alongside a robust natural wine program.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest