DAY 2 OF 32 ON THE ROAD:

Day one was absolutely brutal you loves. It was super hot and super long......11 hours to be exact. The panhandle wind was also stronger than usual if you can believe that really bruising our bodies.

Anyway....Hello Santa Fe!

Always love returning to the gorgeous adobe city even if it's only for 24 hours. Traded in a whole month in Santa Fe for a 9,000 moto trek northwest but I have zero complaints. I got all of my beloved faves in and will be visiting again for two days on the way back home at the end of July!

Santa Fe is a photographer's dream, with colorful landscapes and characters around every bend. Always impressed with the light and the color palette. Santa Fe has the bluest skies and the brightest sunlight but even during the warmer summer months, it still remains refreshing and comfortable. I also adore the architecture. There are no tall buildings in Santa Fe and no obstruction to nature; from any rooftop you can clearly see beyond. The style is primarily Spanish pueblo with its adobe-colored bricks and soft earth tones...but then you get these splashes of color in the doors and flowers. Santa Fe is an artist’s paradise.

All that gorgeous light I mentioned has been the inspiration for painters, photographers, and writers. D.H. Lawrence once wrote about how the light of Santa Fe stirred his soul. The serene vibe and laid-back energy has motivated many for years to call this place home. Georgia O’Keeffe, who lived in New York City, was often called back to its warmth and found inspiration for many of her paintings here. You can admire them by visiting her museum in the center of town. I actually did finally visit and will tell you about my experience here in a bit!

"Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest." Georgia O'Keeffe

So it's day 2 of our 32 day journey on the road and we left TAOS around one p.m taking the High Road into Santa Fe. You must take The High Road....pinky promise me. It's about 105 miles and there are so many interesting unique places along the way....give yourself time to enjoy the scenic byway and the tiny villages along the way. These adorable villages cling to their Spanish colonial roots and I just cannot get enough. This two hour trek can easily turn into an all day adventure so plan accordingly!

Route: From Taos Plaza, Hwy. 68 south to Ranchos de Taos; Hwy. 518 east; Hwy. 75 west to Peñasco; Hwy. 76 south to Trampas, Truchas, Cordova and Chimayó; Hwy. 68 south to Santa Fe; Hwy. 68 north to Española and Taos.

On your way into town go the scenic route and hit Tesuque Village Market. It's one of my faves everrrr. Such a funky cafe with a varied, eclectic menu centered on New Mexican fare, plus a general store & bakery. And the best margaritas in all of Santa Fe!

(PS: Our bike had to get serviced for the long journey ahead so we based this 24 hours on staying in The Plaza and doing things in or near The Plaza except for one restaurant that is our favorite that you must drive to)

1. Where to Stay:

Conveniently located in the heart of historic downtown Santa Fe, Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe offers unique accommodations like private terraces and premium suites. The hotel is LEED® Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council for energy-efficiency in the design and features on-property restaurant, Eloisa. The hotel is located within walking distance of the Plaza in Downtown Santa Fe and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, and is a short drive to Meow Wolf. The beds are the coziest and the property is dog friendly so bring Fido. And do beat the heat and take advantage of the rooftop pool. I love having cocktails up there while watching the sunset. The views are breath taking!

2. Where to Eat. (so tough to narrow it down..but remember this is a 24 hour guide)

Be prepared to line up for the city’s best southwestern fare at The Shed, a Spanish/Mexican fusion spot that’s earned multiple "Best of Santa Fe" awards from the Santa Fe Reporter. Don’t be put off by the restaurant’s tourist-heavy central location—every single dish is worth the wait. Their Christmas Chile makes me heart sing.

And do take an uber or whatever means you need to get to Tune Up Cafe. This is actually my favorite place in Santa Fe. Like I cannot go to Santa Fe and not go here. It's a local fave tucked into a tiny neighborhood and I am obsessed with the Salvadorian Pupusas and the Chile Relleno. The Mole Enchiladas are delicious too. And save room for Trés Leches. Trust me!!!

And get coffee and coffee flavored ice cream at Ikonic. Such a hip cafe in a lofty, industrial space with a roomy back patio serving espresso drinks & light fare.

3. What to Do:

Skip the traditional (and predictable) Canyon Road galleries (don't get me wrong, I love it but you have 24 hours) and instead make your way to the O’Keeffe museum. I cannot believe it was my first time to make time for it after all these years. A visit to the O’Keeffe Museum offers insight not only into the artist’s paintings, but also her creative process and the light and landscape that inspired her. In addition to the main Museum campus in Santa Fe, the O’Keeffe Museum maintains O’Keeffe’s two homes and studios in northern New Mexico, a research center and library, and a variety of collections relating to O’Keeffe and modern art. One of the most significant artists of the 20th century, Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was devoted to creating imagery that expressed what she called “the wideness and wonder of the world as I live in it.” O’Keeffe’s images—instantly recognizable as her own —include abstractions, large-scale depictions of flowers, leaves, rocks, shells, bones and other natural forms, New York cityscapes and paintings of the unusual shapes and colors of architectural and landscape forms of northern New Mexico. The Museum’s collections of over 3,000 works comprises 140 O’Keeffe oil paintings, nearly 700 drawings, and hundreds of additional works dating from 1901 to 1984, the year failing eyesight forced O’Keeffe into retirement. Throughout the year, visitors can see a changing selection of these works. In addition, the Museum presents exhibitions that are either devoted entirely to O’Keeffe’s work or combine examples of her art with works by her American modernist contemporaries.

In 2006, the Museum took responsibility for the care and preservation of O’Keeffe’s home and studio along the Chama River in Abiquiu, New Mexico, about an hour north of Santa Fe. A national historic landmark and one of the most important artistic sites in the United States, the home where the artist lived and worked is open for tours by appointment. O’Keeffe’s first home in New Mexico, about 30 minutes northwest of Abiquiu at the Ghost Ranch is also cared for by the Museum though it is not currently open to the public.

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Research Center opened in July 2001 and is dedicated to the study of American Modernism (late nineteenth century – present). The Center sponsors research in the fields of art history, architectural history and design, literature, music, photography, and other fields. The library collections and unique archives are accessible to researchers, in-house scholars, and the public by appointment.

Educational programs at the Museum serve more than 7,100 students and adults per year with a robust slate of workshops, lectures, conversations, and classroom activities.

So so impressed!!!

These are my three fave prints of Georgia.