Walking Tour of Downtown Santa Fe for Families

Get on your feet!  The compact and cultural downtown area of Santa Fe is ideal for a walking exploration even for families. The art and history of the oldest city in America is perfectly melded with the must-see  sites of the The City Different located at an easy distance. The great news is that the downtown area is overflowing with world class museums and steeped in old world history. Unfortunately for parents, the kids probably aren't going to tolerate the abundance of art and history pursuits the city has to offer, but you can still hit the highlights and keep the kiddos happy.

Begin: The Santa Fe Plaza Historical National Landmark

End: Famed Canyon Road

Suitable For: This tour is designed with families, hitting the highlights of the city with the unique needs of children in mind.

Time: 4-8 hours depending on the length of time spent at each stop

~Early Morning at the Santa Fe Plaza~

Stop One: The Santa Fe Plaza Historical National Landmark

The Plaza has been the commercial, social, and political center of Santa Fe since 1610 and it remains the heart of the city today.  From the tree lined central park, a variety of architectural styles can be seen and experienced, as well as a glimpse of everyday life in Santa Fe. On one side of the plaza, the Pueblo style portal of the Palace of the Governors welcomes local artisans who display their crafts for purchase, while on the opposite side the Territorial style row of shops and restaurants welcomes tourists. The Plaza is a perfect place to start a day in Santa Fe and soak in the rhythm and culture of the city.

Time for a Break: Street Vendors or Crepes for Breakfast

The day may have just begun, but the museums in the area don’t open until 10, so the morning is perfect to stroll the plaza and grab some breakfast. Street vendors around the plaza offer plenty of yummy treats that can be enjoyed in the warm sunshine of the Plaza, but for a bit more formal breakfast, The French Pastry Shop and Creperie has both sweet and savory crepes.
 

~Cowboys: Real and Imagined at the New Mexico History Museum~

Stop Two: New Mexico History Museum

This relative newcomer to the Santa Fe downtown opened in 2009 and serves as the anchor of a campus that encompasses the Palace of the Governors, the Palace Press, the Fray Angelico Chavez History Library and Photo Archives. The museum collection includes permanent and temporary exhibitions that span the early history of indigenous people, Spanish colonization, the Mexican Period, and travel and commerce on the legendary Santa Fe Trail. For kids, the Cowboys: Real and Imagined exhibit offers a hands-on opportunity to live the life of a cowboy on the Santa Fe Trail. Kids can dress up in the authentic gear used by cowboys while learning about the necessity of each piece of clothing, or practice their calf-roping skills.

~Stopping to admire the icons at the Palace of Governors~

Stop Three: Palace of the Governors

Originally constructed in the early 17th century as Spain's seat of government for what is today the American Southwest, the Palace of the Governors is the oldest continuously operating government building in the country and the first of many buildings in downtown Santa Fe that reflect the place held by the city over centuries of history. The Palace of the Governors sets just across the breezeway from the New Mexico History Museum. The Palace of the Governors' four-foot thick walls, long galleries, small rooms and secure courtyard mirror its original purpose as a seat of government on a remote frontier. Period rooms and exhibitions at the Palace tell tales of nearly 400 years of New Mexico history; a history that included Spanish soldiers, Mexican Governors, Pueblo peoples, US Military, officers of the confederate states of America, and merchants traveling the Santa Fe Trail.

Stop Four: Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi

Built on the site of two earlier churches, the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis is one of the most visited and revered sites in Santa Fe.  The Cathedral features an adobe chapel built in 1714 and the Cathedral completed in 1887. The crowning glory of the Cathedral is a stunning stained glass window depicting the 12 apostles that was transported to Santa Fe via boat and covered wagon. The courtyard of the Cathedral is large and open, offering the perfect place for kids to let off a bit of museum and church steam. The little ones will likely be drawn to the labyrinth in the brickwork which is designed for prayer and meditation, but makes for a very entertaining maze to follow.

Stop Five: Loretto Chapel and the Miraculous Staircase

The Loretto Chapel has a lovely Gothic exterior, but the draw of this little gem is the mystery of the staircase inside. Two mysteries surround the intricate spiral staircase in the Loretto Chapel-the identity of the builder and the seeming impossibility of the architecture. After the completion of the church in 1878, it was discovered that there was no way to access the choir loft in the intimate space.  Carpenters were consulted, but they all concluded that a ladder was the only solution.

~Miraculous Staircase~

Legend says that the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena (a nine day prayer) to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the final day of prayer, an unknown man with a toolbox appeared and began to construct a miraculous staircase that bafflers architects. It makes over two complete 360-degree turns, stands 20’ tall and has no center support. It rests solely on its base and against the choir loft. The risers of the 33 steps are all of the same height. Made of an apparently extinct wood species, it was constructed with only square wooden pegs without glue or nails. The mystery carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks and was never heard from again.

Time for a Break: Lunch in Italy

If you started your Santa Fe wanderings around breakfast, lunch may be calling your name by now. There are a multitude of restaurants in the concentrated downtown area, but some are more family friendly than others.  Just across the street from the Loretto Chapel is Mangiamo Pronto, an old world café with plenty of kid friendly food and a charming alfresco patio. There is also a gelateria is also attached for a treat before you hit the streets again.

If you want another option, continue onto towards the next stop and follow your nose to the unmistakable smell of the wood-fired pizzas at Upper Crust Pizza. Gluten free pizzas and patio dining are available here just steps from the next stop.

~Exterior of the San Miguel Church~

Stop Six: San Miguel Church and the Oldest House in America

San Miguel Mission, also known as San Miguel Chapel, is a Spanish colonial mission church in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Built between approximately 1610 and 1626, it is claimed to be the oldest church in the United States.  The original adobe walls and altar were built by Tlaxcala Indians from Mexico under the direction of Franciscan Padres and remnants of those ancient structures can still be seen in the church. The church also houses a bronze bell case in 1356 in Spain that has a rich and perhaps miraculous story to tell. A legend states “Ring the bell of San Miguel, and spirits will return you to Santa Fe”

~Oldest Home in America~

Just across the street from the oldest church in the US is the house that claims to be the oldest private dwelling in the US. The Oldest House rests on part of the foundation of an ancient Indian Pueblo dating from around 1200 AD. This pueblo was once inhabited by a tribe from the Tano speaking tribes of the northern part of the territory.

~Strolling among the sculptures of Canyon Road~

Stop Seven: Canyon Road

The tree lined street of Canyon Road is at the heart of Santa Fe’s bustling arts and culture district. Strolling along the street that features the city's highest concentration of art galleries, souvenir shops and art boutiques is an ideal way for families to experience the creative culture of Santa Fe. Many of the artists feature outdoor collections, and the sculptures and creations are entertaining even for kids.