Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe
Eat, Stay, Play
by Jen Pinkston
DESTINATION:
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe, New Mexico
OCCASION:
Summer family vacay
WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS HOTEL?
We first visited Santa Fe with the kids in 2018 and fell in love. It’s such a charming, artful town, with natural vistas, great food, and kind people.
HOW DO YOU GET THERE?
It’s such an easy destination from Texas. From Austin it’s an 11-12 hour drive, but we usually fly into Albuquerque and drive the hour to Santa Fe.
DESCRIBE YOUR ROOM:
The casitas are the reason we have stayed here three times! It’s so perfect for a family. There’s a king-size bedroom with a sprawling bathroom, big enough for a crib (which they provide upon request), and a separate living room with a full-size foldout sofa. There’s a private back patio with a hammock and chaise lounges, and both an indoor and outdoor fireplace. It truly feels like your own home-away-from-home tucked into the desert of New Mexico.
DESCRIBE THE HOTEL:
The first word that comes to mind is private. There’s a main hotel where the restaurant and reception/check-in area are, then a secondary area with a gym and pool. The casitas are spread out around these two buildings and feel really private. It’s all still very compact, though. You don’t feel like you have to walk far to get anywhere. You can take yoga classes in the mornings and rent poolside cabanas to enjoy lunch and drinks throughout the day. There are guides at the hotel that will take you on amazing hikes. We’ve done two different ones as a family and loved them both.
HOW WAS THE FOOD ON THE PROPERTY?
We ate at Terra every morning for breakfast and loved the variety. Aaron said their omelets were "perfect" and the Huevos Rancheros that I ordered every morning was among the best I've ever had. There were so many options for the girls, too! They loved the blueberry pancakes best– crispy on the outside and light and fluffy in the middle. There is a fire pit outside the restaurant where you can make smores after dinner.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE SHOULD KNOW?
At least a dozen times during our last three day stay Parker exclaimed, "The people here are so nice!" It's true. Everyone we encountered at the Four Seasons resort was so warm and welcoming, in a calm and low-key way that makes you feel like you've met before. The service and hospitality is truly unmatched!
