Santa Fe is charming. The downtown area is laden with music and the smells of delicious food wafting about. You could get lost for an entire afternoon going in and out of shops, discovering all of the little treasures each one holds. What really draws the discerning traveler to Santa Fe, however, is the vibrant local art scene. Local vendors selling their work at the Railyard or in front of the Palace of the Governor’s is certainly worth a few hours of your time. It’s a scene that teenagers will want to be a part of.

The art of two worlds

Santa Fe, New Mexico is an area that is filled to the brim with culture. It’s rich history is made from the histories of both Native American tribes and the colonial Spanish, which is still felt there today. The New Mexico Museum of Art and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art are two places where teens can go to discover more about these two very different cultures that have blended so beautifully to make Santa Fe the city it is today. Also worth a visit, the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts offers authentic work to achieve its mission of “increasing public understanding and appreciation of/for contemporary Native art, history and culture through presentation, collection/acquisition, preservation, and interpretation.”

Georgia O’Keefe

Widely respected as the “mother of American Modernism”, O’Keefe set out for New Mexico in search of inspiration and spent nearly 20 years painting what she found there. While she has painted many fabulous landscapes, O’Keefe is most widely known for her up-close paintings of flowers. Art lovers can see many of her works at the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, and it’s a short walk from the other attractions in the Plaza, so there’s no excuse not to visit.

Architecture abound

Art isn’t simply what you put on a canvas, however; it’s also about the beauty we see in buildings, and Santa Fe won’t disappoint. From the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi to the Pueblo style homes and shops nearby, the styles of architecture are quite varied and always interesting. The local buildings are really what creates the unique character of this little town.

Loving local artwork

While so many worlds collide in the museums of Santa Fe, what is probably most notable about it is the contemporary local art scene. Artists have set up shop all over the place, and it’s easy to find yourself in a shop that fascinates you, so set aside an entire day for discovery. All mediums from paint to sculpture to mixed media are covered, and it won’t be hard for your teenager to find a studio that will take their breath away. History lovers can even find artifacts for their collections from Samurai armor to well-loved turquoise rings.

Take the teens for an artsy getaway

There’s no right or wrong way to explore Santa Fe with your teen; in fact, the options are numerous. An artsy getaway to this charming New Mexican locale is really about discovery—discovering new mediums, discovering new artists and discovering a bit about oneself. What could be a better way to spend a weekend with a teenager than by immersing yourselves in art together? Get together and get connected through the art scene in Santa Fe.