After moving to Virginia from Mexico, I resumed the tradition of Thanksgiving Weekend trips. Just like previous times, this four-day trip comes with a packed itinerary. The 400-mile stretch between Denver and Santa Fe is scattered with natural and man-made wonders, perfect for a road trip.

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Day 1 – Garden of the Gods | Colorado

We arrived with an early flight to Denver, but left the capital of Colorado behind after picking up our rental car. This was the second time that the city made up the starting point of a trip, as three years earlier we embarked on an American Northwest RV-roadtrip from Denver. In summer, Denver definitely warrants a visit.

Our Thanksgiving meal from the Black Bear Diner served the purpose of both lunch and dinner. The bear-themed diner chain originated in California and can be found throughout Western USA.

The town of Colorado Springs is home to Garden of the Gods. As the name lets on, this natural wonder is nothing short of spectacular. Even though our fingers were freezing off, we thoroughly enjoyed a walk through this one of kind “garden”.

The trails in the center of the park are all paved, making for an easy stroll. We sidetracked onto the Palmer and Siamese Twins trails, but the views are stunning no matter what trail you pick.

Stay: Marriott Colorado Springs

We put our Marriott points to use for a one-night stay at the Marriott Colorado Springs. The hotel has a cozy mountain-retreat vibe, including an indoor pool and hot tub. The Concierge Lounge comes with beautiful views, afternoon snacks and breakfast.

Day 2 – Great Sand Dunes National Park | Colorado

The road to Great Sand Dunes National Park is part of the destination, with stunning vistas of the snow-capped Colorado mountains. Once past Walsenburg and onto the US-160 West, the views get better by the mile.

Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest dunes in the United States, scenically surrounded by the San Cristo Mountains. The dunes were formed thousands of years ago, when streams carried eroded sediments from the mountain ranges. Through mountainous storm winds, the tall dune field was formed.

The hike to Star Dune is only 6 miles round-trip, but takes a minimum of four hours to complete. Ploughing through the sand is very strenuous, even in winter temperatures. We made it about half-way before giving up, satisfied with the gorgeous views of the dunes and the mountains.

Stay: Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa

We continued to the state of New Mexico for a unique stay. The Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa is a stunning spa and resort, tucked between desert cliffs. Instead of buying day passes to the spa, we stayed the night at the resort. The stay includes access to the pools the full day of arrival and departure. The onsite Artisan Restaurant and Wine Bar had us sold with its beautiful lobby and outdoor porch.

Day 3 – Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort | New Mexico

The Ojo Caliente Resort offers a wide range of activities, including a trailhead right on the property. We started our day with a short hike through the rugged New Mexico desert, Breaking Bad in the back of our minds. The Barranca Hill via Posi Pueblo Trail provides just enough exercise to justify a full day of soaking and relaxing in the spa afterwards.

The communal soaking area consists of nine different pools, accesible to both day pass holders and hotel guests. Hotel guests get an additional two and a half hours of soaking from 7:30 AM, before the spa opens to day pass holders at 10 AM. There are a couple of restrictions at Ojo Caliente: loud talking and alcohol are not allowed in the springs.

The pools contain different minerals, each with specific benefits for the body. Water temperatures range from 80 to 105 degrees. In summer months, the large pool offers a welcome break from the New Mexico heat. During our winter visit, we had to mentally prepare every time we switched pools, with air temperatures close to freezing. But as long as you are in the water, the cold air-hot spring combination is just perfect.

Ojo Caliente definitely ranks high on the list of scenic spa’s. The adobe design of the property blends in perfectly with its gorgeous surroundings. We left wrinkly, relaxed and sad to leave this stunning oasis behind.

Day 4 – Santa Fe | New Mexico

With its adobe buildings and red chiles drying from the walls, Santa Fe is a unique destination. We planned to visit the city on our Route 66 roadtrip in 2020, but New Mexico’s strict quarantine rules forced us to skip Santa Fe altogether. Two years later, we saw our chance to visit.

The heart of the city is the Plaza Santa Fe, designated a National Historic Landmark. The plaza was founded by the Spanish in the early 17th century. But it wasn’t until the early 1900s that the city of Santa Fe re-embraced the old Spanish and Pueblo architecture to set itself apart from modern US cities. The iconic “Santa Fe style” was born.

Stay: The Sage Hotel

We stayed one night in The Sage Hotel, a simple motel-style hotel at walking distance from the historic center. We left the next morning at the break of dawn to head back to Denver, which marked the end of our road trip.