Why Fall is My Favorite Season in Baja and Santa Fe

I’m a Halloween baby and will have a 65th b’day retirement party for my first hotel, The Phoenix, on that night in San Francisco (you’re welcome to RSVP). But, that’s not the only reason I love this time of year: it’s also the World Series, warm days and cool evenings, and pumpkin pie with apple cinnamon ice cream. 

It’s also my favorite time of year in Baja and Santa Fe, the two places I spend most of my time due to our MEA campuses on the beach and ranch. In Baja, the waterfalls are running, the ocean is warm, the winter crowds haven’t arrived, and the birds are happier than ever. In Santa Fe, the aspen and cottonwood trees are changing colors, the pinon-scented evening campfires are aromatic, the summer crowds have left, and the remaining wildflowers from the monsoon season are still robust. 

This past week, someone asked me to make a list of the top 10 things I miss in each location when I’m not shuttling back and forth. You’ll find a lot of these in MEA’s Baja Discovery Guide and Santa Fe Discovery Guide. So, if I mention something below that is unfamiliar, consult the guide or talk with our team at either of the campuses. 

Baja

1. Las Palmas beach: someday, this idyllic, deserted beach may be a Four Seasons resort and residences, but in the meantime, it’s where I go to commune with wild horses and do some bodysurfing
2. Pescadero-Cerritos secret beaches and headlands hike: this is my favorite place to take my dog Jamie with tidepools, natural bathtubs and barely a soul in sight
3. Waterfall shower hike: given the recent rains, if you’re heading to the area in the next couple of months, get some directions from our team (it’s a 30-min drive from MEA); like being in Hawaii
4. Green Room: who doesn’t love a restaurant directly on the beach (toes in the sand) with spectacular food and drinks where you can marvel at the sunsets
5. Flora Farm: if you’ve never experienced this restaurant, gardens, and residences not far from the San Jose del Cabo airport, it’s a feast for your tummy and your eyes
6. Hotel San Cristobal and Benno restaurant after the Old Port hike: the Old Port hike is a moderate uphill trek that leads you to barking seals, so it’s great to enjoy a La Reina cocktail at the beach hotel and restaurant which always has a fashionable crowd
7. Hierbabuena restaurant: a Pescadero staple with consistently delicious food in a garden atmosphere that many locals frequently weekly
8. Agricole store: who knew the hamlet of Pescadero had a Whole Foods Market twin, albeit smaller; great produce, baked goods, and all kinds of goodies plus a nice restaurant
9. Sea of Cortez: Jacques Cousteau called it “the aquarium for the world” due to how many unique species of aquatic life are there plus amazing beaches and I love swimming with the seals as Los Islotes and the whale sharks nearby
10. Galleries of Todos Santos: we’re a miniscule version of Santa Fe or San Miguel de Allende’s art community, but there are a few great galleries in town that I’m always perusing: Galeria Militar, Galeria Todos Santos, Galeria Logan, and La Sonrisa de la Muerte

Santa Fe

1. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument: this other worldly spot is just 30 minutes from Santa Fe on a native reservation and represents one of the most epic hikes in the area
2. Ojo Caliente hot springs: I’ve been frequenting Ojo for 40 years and love the wide variety of mineral pools they offer with stunning rock formations as the backdrop
3. Ten Thousand Waves and Izanami: more hot springs and spa closer to town with a sophisticated Japanese aesthetic and a world-class restaurant
4. Aspens hike beyond Ten Thousand Waves: just beyond the Waves is the Aspen Vista Trail which is particularly stunning this time of the year
5. Blackbird Saloon and Casa Grande Trading Post: my favorite area in the Santa Fe area is a tiny saloon in the former mining town turned artist hangout Cerrillos and, after that, I go to the Trading Post and Mining Museum which has some of the best rocks and gems I’ve ever seen
6. Kakawa Chocolate House: I love chocolate and this little spot in the middle of town is for chocoholics; try the wafer-thin chocolate chip cookies or do a “flight” of various chocolates 
7. Los Poblanos Historic Inn, Restaurant, and Shop: Albuquerque gets a bad rap as it’s more interesting than it looks and this upscale spot full of lavender fields will make you feel like you’re in Sonoma or Napa 
8. The Railyard, Farmers’ Market and Violet Crown Theater: while Canyon Road is full of amazing galleries, the consistent quality in the Railyard plus SITE Santa Fe museum, the Farmer’s Market, and the well-curated Violet Crown Theater is a place I hangout after a long respite from Santa Fe
9. Fall Festivals: New Mexico specializes in festivals and this time of year, we have the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta, and the Galisteo Arts & Studio Tour. 
10. Sazón restaurant: while Geronimo is often considered the best upscale restaurant in town, I absolutely love Sazón’s Sopa de Amor, the best dish of soup I’ve ever had in my life. 

Lastly, some of you have asked about the village of Galisteo, NM, the historical arts community I’ve lived in the past few years that was profiled in the New York Times. Last year, I moved to the Wisdom Well modern home on the MEA Rising Circle Ranch just five minutes away so I’m now selling my home in Galisteo, 6 Magdalen, and would love to find someone who would appreciate this 400-year-old village that has regular community potlucks (in fact, I’m going to one tomorrow morning). 

-Chip