6) Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico is a historically rich desert city with breathtaking scenery and unique architecture. It can be a costly southwestern gem, however travelers can find relief in a series of cheap and somewhat secretive hotels for under $100 per night such as El Paradero on Manhattan Avenue and Hotel St. Francis on Don Gaspar Avenue. Some lower quality yet strong charactered establishments like the Silver Saddle Motel go for as little as $39 per night. While winter evenings prove to be much more frigid than the anticipated hot desert climate, the months of December through February may be the best time to plan a trip due to the overall vacancy of the city in terms of tourists. Founded in 1610, Santa Fe is one of the nation’s oldest cities and holds a strong Catholic significance— Santa Fe means “holy faith” in Spanish. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains present a glorious morning portrait for early risers, and the city’s collection of pueblo style homes and Cathedrals paints a cityscape like you’ve never seen anywhere else in the country.
