Santa Fe

March 13

After packing up near Los Alamos, the family pointed the rig toward Santa Fe. The plan was a hotel stay at the Hyatt Place—and then the Currys showed up. The kids had no idea they were coming, and the shock on their faces when everyone walked into the lobby together was worth the whole drive.

Dinner was at Tomasita’s, frozen margaritas and all the New Mexican comfort food the table could hold. While waiting for the table, the kids kicked off what would become a trip-long Hacky Sack tournament.

March 14

The morning started with what the family generously called a hike along the Santa Fe River Trail through downtown—more of a long urban stroll, but a good way to see the city on foot. Everyone changed back at the hotel and headed for The Shed for dinner, only to land on a waitlist stretching toward 8:30.

Plan B was La Palacio downtown, which turned out to be a fine consolation prize. Afterward, ice cream from our trailer and popcorn-and-movies night in the hotel room wrapped up the day exactly the way a hotel stay with kids should.

March 15

Rancho de Chimayo handled lunch, and from there the family drove out for a hike on the overlook trail above Santa Cruz Lake. The views across the reservoir and the surrounding hills were the kind that make you stop mid-trail just to look.

Back downtown, everyone wandered the plaza for a while—coffee overlooking the square for the adults, hot chocolate for the kids. Dinner was Dion’s pizza (a familiar comfort on the road), and the hotel pool and hot tub closed out the afternoon the way the kids had been asking about since breakfast.

March 16

Curry day. Tia Sophia’s for breakfast, a lazy late checkout from the Hyatt, and then the real shift: boondocking with the family’s first overnight guests. Cal and Meagan got to show off for the Curry’s all they have learned in setting up and leveling the trailer.

That evening, four kids and four adults squeezed into the Delta with soft blankets and wonderful company as they watched more movies and enjoyed each others company.

March 17

The Currys headed out after breakfast, and then we rendezvoused for lunch with Chris and Jasper at Cafe Fina, followed by a trip to a humongous off-leash dog park—the dogs had as much fun as the kids.

Later, everyone hit the Railyard Park in Santa Fe. Chris made pozole stew for dinner and feed for the kids, and the sunset over the high-desert hills outside was one of those quiet endings that does not need a photograph to stick in memory—though Meagan took one anyway.

March 18

The morning was split between the children’s museum and the Museum of International Folk Art with the Arrant-Teeters and Machado families. Lunch came from a food-truck yard—outdoor tables, casual, and exActly perfect for our crew.

The Shed remained elusive; another attempt, another bust. Instead, the group walked downtown and landed at Plaza Cafe for dinner with the Machados, Toles, and Arrant-Teeters. Sometimes the backup plan is the one you remember.

March 19

Grasshopper Canyon, just off the interstate, was the morning adventure with the Arrant-Teeters and Toles—a sandy hike under a big rock overhang with dogs and kids scattered everywhere. Everyone rested up in the afternoon.

That evening, we all rendezvoused and we finally made THE SHED happen. Dinner and a hangout at the plaza afterward. Beautiful evening full of beautiful people.

March 20

An early start for a hike at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks with the whole crew—the cone formations and the canyon views were worth the alarm clock. Back at La Tienda in El Dorado, sweet cream ice cream made a second appearance on this trip (no one complained).

Dinner was Upper Crust pizza at the Toles’ Airbnb. By the end of the night, every Findeiss had showered or bathed—an accomplishment that probably deserved its own journal entry.

March 21

Packing up and pointing the rig toward the next stop. Santa Fe had been a full nine days of reunions, restaurants that required patience, and enough hiking to justify all the pizza.