If you're currently looking at your calendar and trying to decide where to spend your next long weekend, the results of travel's biggest annual reader poll just dropped a massive hint.
For the second year in a row, Santa Fe, New Mexico, has taken the top spot on Travel + Leisure’s list of the best cities to visit in the United States.
The ranking comes from the magazine's 2026 World’s Best Awards, where a staggering 207,000 readers cast over 660,000 votes to evaluate destinations on everything from local food scenes and culture to hospitality and overall value.
"The City Different" didn't just hold off classic heavyweights like Charleston and Savannah to defend its domestic crown—it also held tight to its global reputation, landing as the 19th best city to travel to in the entire world.
Related: I've Traveled the World for My PBS Show, and This Is the One U.S. Train Trip I Tell Everyone to Take
View this post on InstagramAnyone who's ever spent a few days exploring northern New Mexico knows that Santa Fe’s staying power is unmatched. The high-desert sanctuary has managed to earn a spot on the publication's top U.S. cities list every single year since 2002.
So, what is it about this mountain refuge that keeps travelers coming back year after year? The editors at Travel + Leisure captured its visual magic perfectly: “Set in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, it has Pueblo-style buildings instead of skyscrapers. The entire city revolves around a traditional plaza where arts and handicrafts are still sold to this day.”
By choosing strict, centuries-old adobe preservation over standard commercial development, Santa Fe offers something increasingly rare in modern travel: a distinct, authentic sense of place. The second you step onto the historic plaza, the scent of burning piñon wood fills the air, low-slung earthen walls frame the streets, and the surrounding mountain peaks change color as the sun moves across the sky.
Related: This New Mexico Secret Is the 'American Serengeti' You've Never Seen
It's a place where a single afternoon can blend deep history with cutting-edge creativity. You can spend your morning browsing authentic Native American jewelry under the portal at the Palace of the Governors, spend your afternoon diving into the mind-bending interactive art rooms at Meow Wolf or the contemporary galleries along Canyon Road, and wrap up your evening indulging in world-class regional cuisine.
The local food scene alone is worth the trip. James Beard Award-winning chefs have turned the plaza area into a creative playground, serving up legendary blue corn enchiladas, slow-simmered green chile posole, and elevated Southwestern menus that you simply cannot find anywhere else.
Whether you're planning a solo creative reset, a major culinary road trip, or a relaxing getaway at high-desert retreats like Ojo Santa Fe, the city's back-to-back victory proves it is still the ultimate domestic escape. It's a great reminder that you don't need an international passport to find a truly world-class vacation—sometimes, the most transporting destination in the country is waiting right in the high desert.
Related: The Charming Midwest Town That Inspired Walt Disney’s Main Street, U.S.A.
Hence then, the article about why travel fanatics are still obsessed with this high desert hideaway was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Why Travel Fanatics Are Still Obsessed With This High-Desert Hideaway )
Also on site :
- Jay-Z Celebrates ‘The Blueprint’ 25th Anniversary With Eminem, Pharrell Williams and Slick Rick at Yankee Stadium
- Quote of the Day: Dr. Ruth Westheimer Believed True Happiness Begins With Taking Charge of Your Own Life
- Walmart's 'Super Cute' Half Moon Shoulder Bag Brings the Cow Print Trend to Your Wardrobe for Just $20