As we turned west to head back to the hotel, there we saw something we had not expected. Directly in front of us, dipping below the sageland-strewn desert horizon, was the Full Moon. Yet, it was unlike any other Full Moon I had ever seen. It was, simply put, enormous. It was so large that it actually took a while for it to register in our minds that it was, in fact, the moon and not an airplane hangar or another version of Biosphere looming close in front of us. It was, and will remain, one of the most glorious sites that I have experienced, a perfect close to our mini-vacation in New Mexico, four wonderful days spent with Alex and my family exploring the Land of Enchantment. We spent this last day/night in Santa Ana Pueblo with the first three spent in Santa Fe.

I was charmed by Santa Fe and New Mexico. We experienced big sky, aspen forests, earth-hewn mesas, and a land that has rich stories embedded within. In addition there were streets abounding with art, buildings made of adobe, and incredibly friendly and humble people. For all of this, I now include Santa Fe among my pantheon of favorite locales.

Since Planetary Apothecary isn’t a travel blog. I won’t go into the ins and outs of Santa Fe. Yet as it’s a site that does focus on health and wellness, I thought I’d pay homage to some of the places there that resonate with these sentiments and which I was delighted to discover (and am excited to share).

Santa Fe Farmers Market: The Santa Fe Farmers Market is a must-see (or shall I say a must-see-and-eat). It was teeming with the picks of the season—including greens, garlic, and radishes—juxtaposed with homemade mainstays such as sourdough bread, goat cheese, and jam (Heidi’s raspberry/chili/ginger jam is not to be missed!) and interspersed with vendors offering mugwort smudge sticks, herbal tinctures, and other of-the-earth crafts. Whether you want to sample the local bounty or just experience a slice of local Santa Fe life, I’d definitely recommend the Farmer’s Market. The Market is held on Tuesday and Saturdays, 7am – 12pm, at the Railyards.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs: About an hour’s north of Santa Fe lies the town of Ojo Caliente and its famed Mineral Springs Resort and Spa. There you’ll find pools filled with the area’s geothermal mineral-rich waters. There’s an iron pool, arsenic-iron pool, and soda—think baking soda, not pop—pool. Our favorite was the mud pool. Next to it was an urn filled with mud, which you slather on your skin. As you lay in the sun and the mud dries on you, you can the alchemical pull of toxins being siphoned away from your cells. Not only was the spa a wonderful mecca, but the drive itself was spectacular. (If you don’t have the time to make the trek, consider going to Ten Thousands Waves, which, while not mineral springs, features Japanese-inspired baths and is supposed to be lovely.)

Aqua Santa: Thankfully, I stumbled upon this restaurant on the Design*Sponge blog because, at least from a culinary perspective, it was one of the highlights of our Santa Fe trip. Contained in an intimate one-roomed building, this restaurant is of the slow-food, farm-to-table tradition. Aqua Santa’s menu features locally grown/raised foods cooked with great care, the latter made evident by the design of the open kitchen that allows diners to watch chef/owner Brian Knox as he painstakingly prepares and plates each dish that leaves his kitchen. (While everything we had was delicious, the slow-cooked lamb was a stand-out, one of the best dishes I have ever tasted.)

Labyrinths: It seemed that everywhere I looked in Santa Fe there was a labyrinth, the meditative mazes created for quiet contemplation. There’s one at Ojo Caliente, one in front of the glorious St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral Basilica, and another outside the Museum of International Folk Art (itself not to be missed if even only for the expansive Girard collection of dolls, icons, and relics from throughout the world). If you’re looking for a way to relax for a few minutes and tune into yourself and the Santa Fe environs, I’d definitely recommend walking one of its many labyrinth.

The Teahouse: The Teahouse on the gallery-riddled Canyon Road is a very sweet spot. In addition to a menu of breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads, their piece de la resistance is, not surprisingly, their extensive tea menu. It was their interesting selection of handcrafted chai that most caught our attention. My brother had the Coyote Chocolate version, I went for the Original Blend, and Alex ordered what turned out to be my favorite: the WhiteSage Mint, which featured green rooibos, sage, mint, cardamom, and other spices.

Santa Fe seems to be a mecca for health, healing, and spiritual quests. I look forward to returning to explore more of its enriching offerings at some point in the near future.

Do you have a favorite health and healing spot in Santa Fe? If so, please consider sharing it with other readers in the Comments section below.