Summer Visitors

August has been such a fun and busy month in the Southwest!  The weather is beautiful (and much more bearable than June and July) and we have welcomed three groups of visitors to our home.  My inlaws were here at the beginning of the month and had the opportunity to see our new house for the first time, help us get the baby's nursery ready, and watch Jaycob race in a triathlon.  The following weekend was a blast when both my brother and sister and their fiances made the trip to visit us for a rare "siblings weekend" before their upcoming weddings.  And last weekend my two best friends from college, who were both bridesmaids in my wedding a few years ago, took some time off for a Southwest getaway.  Their trip coincided with Santa Fe's famous "Indian Market," the city's largest annual art festival.

 We always have so much fun entertaining guests and taking them to all our favorite Santa Fe spots!  This is one of the best cities in the U.S. for culture, art, food, outdoor adventures, and sunshine, and showing friends and family around town makes me appreciate it even more too.  Here are a few highlights from our adventures with our guests:

  • Hiking on the Hyde Park Circle Trail and Dale Ball Trails
  • Experiencing the Santa Fe Farmer's Market and sampling some early season green chile
  • Purusing books at a couple of my favorite shops, Collected Works and Big Star books
  • Indulging in the famous and unique flavors "Whoo's Donuts," a Santa Fe favorite
  • Dining out at Fire & Hops, Jinja, Ranch House, Backroad Pizza, Rancho de Chimayo, Vinaigrette, Tuneup Cafe and Terracotta Wine Bistro
  • Exploring the interactive art experience at Meow Wolf
  • Happy hours at Coyote Cantina, Draft Station and Secreto lounge
  • Late night drinks at the Drury Hotel rooftop bar
  • Admiring the impressive pottery, jewelry, and paintings at the Indian Market
  • Sample oils and balsamic vinaigrettes at Santa Fe Olive Oil
  • Discovering new flavors at the Savory Spice Shop
  • Gather with a group of friends for a Harvest Dinner, in which everyone contributed a local or homemade dish to share

Katie, Nick, and Kua enjoying the sunshine on the Circle Trail

Nick, Katie, Audrey and Matt at the Santa Fe Farmers Market

Santa Fe Olive Oil

Matt and Audrey enjoying margaritas at Coyote Cantina

Nick and me at Meow Wolf

Live performances at Indian Market

The dessert table at the Harvest Dinner

Enjoying the outdoors at the Harvest Dinner in Eldorado with Renee and Maddie

Whoo's Donuts

The whole crew admiring the view on the way to Picacho Peak


My dad is roadtripping to the Southwest in a couple weeks, and we look forward to lots of visitors after the baby arrives in a couple months!

While I'm not yet ready for summer to come to a close, I always look forward to cooler temperatures and fall colors.  



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