For the traveler who would embrace a road less traveled if it was coupled with a 4 star resort, Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa might be calling your name. This Hyatt resort is situated on the sacred lands of Santa Ana Pueblo at the base of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico. From the moment you step onto this property, you are surrounded by culture of the Southwest with pueblo styled rooms overlooking beautiful mountain vistas and golf courses. The resort provides many opportunities to enjoy serenity in nature, as well as nearby day trips to the mountains and the charming town of Santa Fe. My trip report follows:

June 2013-Hyatt Tamaya was just a short 25-minute drive north of the Albuquerque International Airport. We decided to rent a car so we could have the flexibility to travel to the surrounding areas. Since it was our anniversary, they upgraded us to a room with a balcony overlooking the Sandia Mountains. The balcony on the second floor was enclosed on the sides, which made us feel we had the view to ourselves! Our package included free breakfast at the Santa Anna Restaurant. We sat outside in the cool each morning to take in the beautiful gardens and birds. The selections included New Mexican casseroles, made to order omelets, fresh fruit and pastries, smoked salmon, and even gluten-free and vegetarian options.

There were several options for dinner. We celebrated our anniversary one evening at the Corn Maiden sitting outside watching the sunset. The food and service were impeccable. They even treated us to complimentary champagne and dessert. The Rio Grande Lounge was a popular evening spot to watch the watermelon glow on the mountains while sitting in a rocking chair eating s’more parfaits in a jar. We also used the Trading Post one night to grab some quick sandwiches when we were in a hurry and wanted a cheaper option.

The resort offered spa relaxation, cultural exhibits, beautiful gardens and pools, shopping and plenty of activities. One of our favorites was the morning mountain bike ride. The guide fitted us with quality bikes and helmets and led us on a four-mile ride with great views all downhill for the last half! We watched the rodeo one night, beginning with a charming hayride down to the stables. They entertained with games involving the audience, petting of the baby animals, and a traditional rodeo including their rehabilitated rescue horses. Since we were not golfers, I asked if we could rent a golf cart to see the entire course. They were happy to oblige us in the late afternoon. What a treat to see the spectacular views! Let me not forget the s’mores around the evening fire, a private yoga class, beach cruiser bike rides on the nature trail in the morning and fruit infused water stations located throughout the resort. Even though this hotel was booked with conferences the whole time, we felt like it was the hotel less visited!

Just a short drive from the resort, we visited one of the most interesting geological features of the area called Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. We missed the guided tour offered by the resort, so we decided to head out on our own in the late afternoon. The shade of the slot canyon trail and constant breeze gave a welcome respite to the warm temperatures. Making sure to bring plenty of water, we spent an hour and a half hiking and climbing around these amazing unique structures. The views from the top were amazing!

Bandelier National Monument was a great day trip from the resort. We parked at the visitor center at White Rock to catch the shuttle. The center was well designed and packed full of information. The shuttle ride was about 20 minutes to the park and the driver dropped us off at the top of the campground so we could hike down into the village. During the first mile of hiking on the mesa I was wondering why I chose this option. But the second half of the trail offered fantastic views of the canyon. Several of the dwellings had ladders you could climb up to see inside, as well as petroglyphs on the wall and kiva remains. We finished up at the visitor center, which had a nice museum and a movie. The shuttle driver mentioned a scenic overlook on the outskirts of White Rock, which we enjoyed, on the way out of town.

The Jemez Mountain Trail, not far from the resort, provided a beautiful drive through incredible red rock formations with wide expanse reminding me of the Sedona area. We also ventured into Albuquerque one evening to drive the historic route 66 and eat at the Frontier Restaurant featured on Man vs. Food TV show.

Last but not least, the 45-minute drive to Santa Fe was one of our favorite activities. This town was a feast for the soul, eyes and appetite. We started by touring some of the beautiful historic chapels including Loretto Chapel and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The New Mexico History Museum had a beautiful outdoor garden area with fresco murals on the wall and outdoor sculptures. The New Mexico Indian art gave a great historical perspective on the area, while the upstairs exhibits had a nice contrast of contemporary art. The Loretta Line Tour gave a nice overview of the city including Canyon Road, an art Mecca! The tour guide told us about the best free art exhibit in town at The New Mexico State Capital.   We also enjoyed all of the great food options in town! It was a sensory overload.

We left our time at Hyatt Tamaya feeling pampered by the serenity of the resort as well as energized by all our excursions just a short drive away. It was luxury and adventure in one getaway!