Founded in 1610, Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the country, and there’s no shortage of history here. While you’ll find plenty of modern architecture and attractions, a large part of the city’s appeal is the Pueblo-style buildings that line the streets and the history accompanying them. Make Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza your home base tobe within walking distance of many of the main attractions like the city’s cultural hub, Santa Fe Plaza. There, you’ll find the adobe Palace of the Governor at the New Mexico History Museum and a variety of unique shops and street vendors selling Native American-made jewelry, textiles, pottery, paintings and handicrafts. You’ll also be within walking distance from the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, home to the oldest representation of the Virgin Mary in the United States.

After a few days exploring all that Santa Fe has to offer, begin the 2.5-hour journey to Taos. Drive about an hour northwest through the stunning Valles Caldera National Preserve, passing the famous Los Alamos National Laboratory along the way. If the forested views weren’t rewarding enough, the Jemez Hot Springs certainly will be, as the rustic chic bathhouse has a small set of natural hot springs affording stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Soak, relax and rejuvenate yourself before hopping back in the car to cruise the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway. About halfway between the bathhouse and Taos, stop in the village of Chimayo to buy locally grown red chili powder and to visit El Santuario de Chimayo, a national historic landmark and one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the country. Grab a bite to eat at the pueblo-style Rancho de Chimayó before continuing to Las Trampas, where you’ll find the San Jose de Gracia de las Trampas, a mission church that was built between 1760 and 1776 and is one of New Mexico's best-preserved examples of Spanish Colonial architecture.

Taos is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in the country for skiing and snowboarding, but these are far from the only opportunities for adventure. Take a short hike at the Gorge Bridge or, for something more intense, head 25 minutes north to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and its nearly 243,000 acres (98,000 hectares) of public land. Hike, mountain bike, kayak or even white-water raft while keeping your eyes open for bighorn sheep, mule deer, black bears, coyotes and the newly reintroduced North American river otter.