Maximize Your 3-Day Santa Fe Getaway: Free Parks, Museums, and History This Veterans Day
[blog_cta type="guide" text="Order My 2016 Santa Fe Travel Guide" date="VeteransDay"]
You can't see all of Santa Fe in three days—but you can experience a lot! This Veterans Day weekend, immerse yourself in the region's stunning natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. Enjoy free national park entry on Veterans Day and complimentary admission to state-run museums for veterans and families every day, making it a budget-friendly destination for all.
Secure a Santa Fe [blog_link url="https://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Specials/" text="hotel deal" date="2016-09-27"] and start planning. Here are top ideas for an unforgettable Santa Fe weekend.
National Parks "Free Entrance Day"
The Ancestral Pueblo people lived in homes built of carved blocks of volcanic tuff. (Courtesy of US National Park Service)
Plan a day trip to explore the breathtaking landscapes and cultures around Santa Fe. Take advantage of the U.S. National Park Service's [blog_link url="https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm" text="Free Entrance Day" date="2016-09-27"] this Veterans Day. Two nearby national parks offer rewarding escapes.
This site spans 7,000 years of continuous human habitation. (Photo courtesy of US National Park Service)
[blog_link url="https://www.nps.gov/peco/index.htm" text="Pecos National Historical Park" date="2016-09-27"] lies amid piñon, juniper, and ponderosa pine woodlands in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It highlights cultural exchanges and the history of Pecos Valley, including ruins of the Southwest's largest Indian pueblo, a key trading hub between Pueblo farmers and Plains hunters.
[blog_link url="https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm" text="Bandelier National Monument" date="2016-09-27"] spans 33,000 acres of canyons and mesas with evidence of human activity for 11,000 years. Hike the Main Loop Trail through excavated sites, or tackle longer paths to the mesa top. Don't miss the ancestral Pueblo "Long House" dwelling.
New Mexico's Veteran History
The New Mexico National Guard Museum is a hidden gem in Santa Fe. (Photo courtesy of NMNGHM)
Discover New Mexico's storied past at the [blog_link url="https://www.bataanmuseum.com/" text="New Mexico National Guard Military Museum" date="2016-09-27"]. From Kit Carson in the Civil War to Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, Navajo Code Talkers in WWII, and survivors of the Bataan Death March, New Mexico has one of the nation's highest veteran populations per capita. Admission is free. Follow up with other local museums.
Immerse Yourself in History, Culture, and Art
Veterans, active-duty military, and families enjoy free daily admission to all state-run museums and monuments. Explore Santa Fe's special Veterans Day exhibits.
From ancient artifacts to interactive displays, the [blog_link url="https://www.nmhistorymuseum.org/" text="New Mexico History Museum" date="2016-09-27"] revives 500 years of history in "Telling New Mexico: Stories from Then and Now," covering Native peoples, Spanish colonists, Santa Fe Trail traders, outlaws, railroads, artists, scientists, and more. Also see "Setting the Standard: The Fred Harvey Company and Its Legacy," exploring pioneers of cultural tourism, chain dining, and farm-to-table concepts.
Works like this appear in the "Southwest Sampler" exhibit. (Photo courtesy of New Mexico Museum of Art)
Across the street, visit the [blog_link url="https://nmartmuseum.org/" text="New Mexico Museum of Art" date="2016-09-27"]. "Southwest Sampler" features regional artworks from Taos Society of Artists, Santa Fe Art Colony, and others, capturing early Northern New Mexico life and art.
The Morris Circus models a 1930s "railroad circus." (Photo courtesy of MOIFA)
Near Santa Fe Plaza, hop the free [blog_link url="https://www.santafenm.gov/santa_fe_pickup_shuttle" text="Santa Fe Pickup Shuttle" date="2016-09-27"] to Museum Hill. The [blog_link url="https://www.internationalfolkart.org/" text="Museum of International Folk Art" date="2016-09-27"] houses the world's largest folk art collection, with kid-friendly interactives. See [blog_link url="https://www.internationalfolkart.org/exhibitions/exhibition-details?eventID=2833" text="The Morris Miniature Circus: Return of the Little Big Top" date="2016-09-27"], a 3/8" scale model built over 40 years.
On Museum Hill's Milner Plaza, the [blog_link url="https://www.indianartsandculture.org/" text="Museum of Indian Arts and Culture" date="2016-09-27"] presents "A New Century: The Life and Legacy of Cherokee Artist and Educator Lloyd Kiva New," honoring his innovations in fashion, business, and Native arts education.
Find great deals at our [blog_link url="https://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe/Specials/" text="Deals and Specials" date="2016-09-27"]. Order your [blog_link url="https://santafe.org/Visitors_Guide/index.html" text="2016 Santa Fe travel guide" date="2016-09-27"] and plan your getaway. See you soon!
