• All About Jill
  • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Ripped Jeans & Bifocals

Adoption, motherhood and midlife

  • Home
  • Christmas
  • Travel
    • Montana Travel
    • Texas
    • East Coast
    • West Coast
    • Midwest
    • Southwest
    • Way Out West
    • Everything Else
    • Disney
    • Cruises
    • Travel Tips
  • Lifestyle
    • Mom Life
    • Adoption
    • Entertainment
    • Cars
    • Recipes
    • Blogging
  • Mom Life & Adoption
    • Mom Life
    • Adoption
    • Listen To Your Mother

Where to stay in Santa Fe when traveling with kids

August 22, 2018 by Jill 1 Comment

My kids and I went on a pretty ambitious road trip this summer. We nicknamed our trip San Antonio to Santa Fe because we drove from the San Antonio area to Santa Fe and back (like you couldn’t figure that one out on your own.) We went by kind of a zig zaggy route versus a direct route and we were gone three weeks plus. It was the second time I’d traveled solo with my kids, although my husband was able to join us on the last few days of our adventure. It was an amazing experience and I’m already planning next summer’s epic trip. But, let’s talk about Santa Fe. It’s beautiful city with its own special charm and if you have never been, you should go. Today, I’m giving you the scoop on the best place to stay in Santa Fe with traveling with kids.

The best place to stay in Santa Fe New Mexico with Kids|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

Museum Hill is a great place to check out in Santa Fe with your kids – but you need someplace to stay!

I traveled to Santa Fe as part of a hosted media trip. All opinions are mine. Some of the amenities mentioned below are only available if you book directly with Inn of the Governors. 

Where to stay in Santa Fe when traveling with kids

[Tweet “Where to stay in Santa Fe when traveling with kids” @InnGovernorsSF @CityOfSantaFe]

For more details on where we went and what we saw on our San Antonio to Santa Fe trip, you can search social media for #SA2SF and check out my trip’s landing page, which I am still adding to as I get caught up from that whirlwind of a trip. There you’ll find the things we did in Santa Fe as well as the other content I’ve published about the trip to date. My hashtag use has been hit or miss, I’m sorry to say but I did share a lot of pictures on Instagram while we were traveling.

I’ve always perceived Santa Fe as a very “grownup” town. I dreamed often of going on a girls weekend there (which I still want to do) or a romantic get-a-way (I could go for that, too.) There are lots of spas and places to eat, drink and shop and there’s just something about the beauty of the desert that pulls me in and calls me back. But, Santa Fe is a great place to go with kids as well, which surprised me a little bit.

I’ll tell you a secret – Santa Fe was a write-in. We were initially scheduled to travel all the way to San Diego and our trip was cut short when I found I was invited to the media preview of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since I wanted to stick with San Antonio to San something, we picked Santa Fe and it was such a smart movie on my part (pats self on back.)

We stayed at the Inn of the Governors located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe and that’s my pick for families traveling to Santa Fe with their kids. It’s absolutely suitable for a kid-free stay as well but it was SUCH a warm, welcoming environment for my family and full of Santa Fe charm. The hotel and its accomodations stand one their own but my biggest takeaway was how kind the staff was.

The best place to stay in Santa Fe New Mexico with Kids|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

The area around the Inn of the Governors is very walkable…you can get to lots of things in downtown Santa Fe.

The Inn of the Governors is family owned, which gave the place a different vibe than a big box hotel. The location, in the heart of of downtown Santa Fe, cannot be beat. There’s also free parking, which means we didn’t need a car to a lot of the places we visited. Downtown Santa Fe is very walkable and there were lots of place to see and do near our hotel.

We stayed in a Mini Suite which offered two queen beds plus a spacious living area with a balcony and a fireplace. The couch in our living room pulled out into a bed, so this room can accommodate a larger family. We stayed in the middle of summer but we did use the fireplace one night, since it was a novelty for my kids. Also because my husband told them “Maybe we’ll have a fire” was soon as we walked in and saw the fireplace.  It was a novelty for my kids and we loved the Southwestern feel of the decor in this room. Santa Fe was our last major stop on the way home and it helped end our trip on a high note. We did visit Roswell, Carlsbad, Lubbock and San Angelo on our way back to San Antonio but Santa Fe was the last stop where we really felt like we “did the town.”

The best place to stay in Santa Fe New Mexico with Kids|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

One of the things we like least when traveling with our kids is having to be stuffed in a hotel room with them. The mini suite was perfect for us. Photo credit: Inn of the Governors

Our Mini Suite was on the inside corridor (which is important to me) and have plenty of room to spread out, plus a balcony with a small table. My husband was able to get some work done in the sitting area during an afternoon break taken when our kids ran out of steam. OK, I ran out of steam, too. That was a great nap and one of the few I took on our trip.

The Mini Suites offer a mini-fridge that comes stocked with various beverages for your convenience – it’s an honor bar so if you take something, you’ll need to so indicate on the little form so your room can be billed. There’s also a separate sink/vanity area outside the full bath, which can come in handy when more than one person is trying to get ready. The Inn of the Governor’s also has other levels of rooms at various price points, depending on the season. Many of the rooms have balconies and/or fireplaces, so if those features are important to you, make sure you ask about them. The traditional room (and the most budget friendly) are outside corridor rooms that are minus the balcony or fireplace but they are still very nice and decorated in the same warm, welcoming Southwest style as all the others.

The best place to stay in Santa Fe New Mexico with Kids|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

The Traditional Room has the same look and feel as the larger rooms. Photo credit: Inn of the Governors

The hotel lobby is really fun to explore. It has beautiful furnishings and it’s luxurious without feeling pretentious. There’s a daily tea and sherry hour from 4-5 p.m. where you can enjoy tea, sherry, and some delish homemade Biscochito, which is similar to Biscotti, except better. Even if you’re not a sherry drinker (although I was surprised that I almost liked the taste of it) it’s a nice way to get to mingle with other hotel guests.

The Inn of the Governors offers a free Santa Fe Kid’s Crawl Package so make sure you ask about that when you make your reservation. Your kids will receive a package of crayons and a coloring book drawn by a local artist. Parents, check out this coloring book and don’t write it off as “kid stuff.” The coloring book is a guide book that gives your family suggestions on things to do in the city. The Kid’s Crawl Package also includes a family admission to the Harrell House Bug Museum, so make sure you check it out! We didn’t get to make it to the Bug Museum during our two and a half days in Santa Fe but it’s definitely on the list for next time. I know my kids would have loved to go to a museum dedicated to bugs.

The best place to stay in Santa Fe New Mexico with Kids|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

The lobby is a great place to sit and relax, read a book, have a drink, or challenge someone to a game of chess or checkers.

Also check out the attached Del Charro restaurant and bar. The food is delicious. There’s an adults-only bar area and a family-friendly dining room. I recommend the blue corn chicken enchiladas, the stuffed green chile cheeseburger, and the Frito Pie. We are not normally “eat in the hotel” people, but if you travel to Santa Fe, make an exception for this one. In fact, even if you don’t end up staying at the Inn of the Governors, make it a point to eat at Del Charro. And, you absolutely HAVE to try the green AND the red chili when you visit Santa Fe. If you’re not a lover of all the spicy things (or even if you are) I recommend asking your server about the heat in dishes you’re interested in. I found Southwestern food to be, in general, spicier than the Tex-Mex we are used to. The Frito Pie at Del Charro is also really good. Did you know Frito Pie originated in the city of Santa Fe?  Neither did I until I visited.

Also included in the price of your rooms are the delicious Mountain Sunrise Breakfast (although your servers will appreciate tips) and $15 of credit per room per night to spend in the restaurant or the bar. You can apply that toward dinner, appetizers or even a Margarita.

But the most important thing in choosing a hotel your kids will love? The pool, of course!

The best place to stay in Santa Fe New Mexico with Kids|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

The pool at the Inn of the Governors is small but it’s so nicely landscaped and there are plenty of seats in the shade. It’s also heated, which we learned that many pools in the Southwest are not. The hotel provides towels and you can order food or drinks from the restaurant or bar to enjoy poolside. I always joke that it doesn’t matter how great the vacation is or how bad the hotel pool is, the hotel pool always wins when you’re a kid. Thankfully, there was no compromising here. Great vacation and great pool and everyone was happy.

The best place to stay in Santa Fe New Mexico with Kids|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

Besides the fact that the Inn of the Governors is an awesome place to stay, they are also a great Santa Fe Resource. The Eat, Drink, and Explore tab on their homepage is a great Santa Fe resource…the folks at the Inn of the Governors are really invested in their guests enjoying Santa Fe and their love for their city is definitely felt.

Make sure to book directly with Inn of the Governors – some of the perks I’ve mentioned might not be available if you book through a third party.

Where-to-Stay-in-Santa-Fe-with-Kids-Inn-of-The-Governors-Santa-Fe-with-Kids

Click to pin to Pinterest

You might also like:

 

 


1 Comment

« How to plan your Disney Hollywood Studios Day (Including the newly opened Toy Story Land!)
Taking the Mazda3 Four-Door Grand Touring to San Angelo Texas »

Comments

  1. Jerry says

    August 26, 2018 at 7:18 am

    Nice and informative read. Sometimes traveling with kids can get complicated because not all accommodations and establishments are child friendly.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

All About Jill

I'm a digital content creator and essayist who copes with parenting and most other situations with humor and snark. Just so you know, if this weren't the internet, I'd be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like "How are you today" with gems like "I like pockets."

I really do love pockets, though.

I spent 26 years in the USAF, which went by really, really fast. I'm very proud of my service but I'm loving my second act even more. Writing gives me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and that's what makes me happy. Welcome.

Read More…

Recent Snaps

rippedjeansandbifocals

Freelance Writer & Travel Expert
Producer, Listen to Your Mother SA
💜Mom via birth & adoption
🐈 Human to @remusthebengalcat
🇺🇸 USAF veteran
📍#texas

Jill Robbins
Sometimes, I just need easy. Yesterday was one of Sometimes, I just need easy. Yesterday was one of those days.
.
Deadlines, soccer practice, laundry, one sick kid, the calendar I can’t seem to stay ahead of...I could go on but you get the idea.
.
Yesterday was our @maidprosanantonio and it couldn’t have been more well timed. Our house was sort of a disaster and I’m incredibly grateful I could hammer away at my to-do list and let someone else put the kitchen back together.
.
And, to keep things from getting too messy too fast, dinner was baked potato bar FTW.
.
If you’re in the San Antonio area and need some easy in your life, why not outsource your house cleaning? @maidprosanantonio is locally owned and supports local moms with jobs (they’re hiring BTW) and I’m proud to support them.
.
Check out the link in my profile for $100 off a recurring cleaning.
.
#maidpropartner #maidprosanantonio #alamocreatives #satx #maidpro #igsanantonio #satxbloggers #momlife
Have you ever driven to and around Walt Disney Wor Have you ever driven to and around Walt Disney World?
.
Despite having many trips to Disney under our belts, driving around Walt Disney World Resort and to and from the parks was something we'd just never done. Our last trip was a little different - we had a second leg of our trip outside of Orlando and needed a car. Our trip luckily coinicided with the opportunity to review the 2021 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD. 
.
The Mazda CX-9 is a roomy midsize crossover with some seriously luxe touches. The second row has roomy captain's chairs which is perfect for our boys and would also work for adults. We didn't use the third row and kept it folded down for extra cargo space but if you need extra seating, you've got it. 
.
This car has a lot of nice features but I have to say the wireless charging pad and the cooling seats were my favorites. It was above 90 on one of our Disney days and it was definitely nice to cool off in the car after a long day having fun in the parks. 
. 
My profile has a full review of the Mazda CX-9 and also some helpful information on driving at Disney World and why you might want to consider it for a future trip. Happy to answer any questions!
. 
#mazda #drivemazda #mazdacx9signature #mazdacx9 #shedrives #disneyworld #disneykids #nowmorethanever #waldisneyworld #waltdisneyworldresort #getyourearson #familyvacation #disneyvacation
Masks at Walt Disney World: a small change effecti Masks at Walt Disney World: a small change effective today: guests may briefly remove their face coverings for outdoor photos while maintaining appropriate social distance. 😷
.
Prior to today (like in this snap of my family at EPCOT last week) face coverings were required unless eating or drinking while stationary. This small change makes me so happy and hopeful. I appreciate all Disney is doing to keep us safe and look forward to our next set of magical photos where you can SEE our smiles.
.
Do you have any questions about visiting Walt Disney World right now?
.
This trip was sponsored by @visitflorida in collaboration with @travelingmom 
.
#disneyworld #disneyfamily #nowmorethanever #lovefl #tmom #travelingmom #epcot #disneycreators #disneymagicmoments
Flying on Easter Sunday is a new one for us. We ar Flying on Easter Sunday is a new one for us. We are together and that’s what matters...there might be a little something chocolaty waiting for us at home this evening.
.
Thanks @travelingmom @visitflorida and their partners for giving us lots of memories this week. We can’t wait to share more pictures, videos and stories about what we did in Florida and to help inspire you to plan your own adventure.
.
#tmom #lovefl #visitflorida #travelingmom #happyeaster #eastersunday #familytime #familytravel #southwestairlines #orlandoflorida
Happy "another year around the sun" to my best fri Happy "another year around the sun" to my best friend and partner in crime. Here's to celebrating doing what we love best. Thanks for never laughing at me when I lose stuff and never calling my crazy ideas crazy, even when they are a little. 

#lovefl #unlocktampabay #tampabay #happybirthday #thisisus #travelingmom #tmom
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 Ripped Jeans and Bifocals by Krizzy Designs

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT