Few cities capture the essence of a region like Santa Fe. This 500-plus-year-old small city displays its history, multiculturalism and artistic flair boldly, making it a thrilling destination year-round.
The living room in Casa Juniper has a lovely wood-burning fireplace. Photo courtesy Hacienda Nicholas
When you stroll the streets of Santa Fe, you absolutely know you’re in northern New Mexico. The sweet, piney smell of burning juniper fills the air; people dress in clothing influenced by Navajo and Pueblo tribal patterns. You encounter public art everywhere. And most unique to this part of the world: the buildings are adobe—an architectural style literally built from the land because adobe is a mixture of earth, clay and straw molded into bricks and dried in the desert sun.
Santa Fe has a number of fabulous hotels, but during our 2011 stay, my husband and I discovered an outstanding option: a casita, or “little house.” Casa Juniper is part of the Alexander’s Inn Vacation Rentals—associated with two delightful eco-friendly B&Bs: the Madeleine Inn and Hacienda Nicholas.
[2019 update: Casa Juniper is no longer available, but Hacienda Nicholas does offer a comparable rental called La Casita. In addition, the Nicholas Suite in the main B&B has a similar feel to the place we stayed at in 2011.]
Staying in a casita is such a great way to go in Santa Fe. We were about eight blocks from the central Plaza—a little farther than the pricey hotels—but we had a large, 100-year-old adobe home with a wood-burning horno fireplace and banks of panoramic windows all to ourselves. It was our home away from home.
The wood and windows at Casa Juniper increase its Santa Fe flavor.
We learned the benefits of having a spacious casita our very first day. An early November storm blew through the area, which made walking around town daunting. So, Ken and I bought some groceries at the Whole Foods and hunkered down at Casa Juniper. While the wind howled outside, we lit a fire and sipped fair-trade coffee and organic tea that was stocked in the casita’s fully equipped kitchen.
Sheltering from the storm, we felt so lucky we weren’t huddling in a generic hotel. Instead, we fully experienced Santa Fe’s aura without stepping into the frozen rain. Inside the sturdy adobe walls, we felt safe. And because our casita had a gorgeous living room, we invited friends to join us. Amid Southwestern rugs on the saltillo-tile floors, wood beamed ceiling, and art from native and New Mexican traditions, we sat out the storm in style and comfort. Best of all, we felt like locals.
Queen bedroom at eco-friendly Casa Juniper
Fortunately, the Southwestern sun came out the next day—and we had plenty of time to explore Canyon Road’s art treasures, the Georgia O’Keeffe museum, and the city’s world-famous restaurants. After days of exploring Santa Fe, Ken and I came home to our spacious bedroom—a split-level retreat with closable wooden doors and a queen-sized four-poster bed.
In addition to loving Hacienda Nicholas, we felt good that our accommodations incorporated sustainable, earth-centered policies, such as:
- Eco-cleaners with no chlorine bleach, dyes or perfumed detergents
- Towel and linen program that reduces water consumption
- Energy- and water-efficient appliances
- Recycling program for glass, paper and plastic
- Xeriscape gardening (irrigated with graywater) grown with nontoxic fertilizers
- Stationary that’s printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink
- Energy-saving compact-fluorescent light bulbs
- Low-flow faucets, showers and toilets
Casa Juniper’s bathroom is decorated with Mexican tiles.
- Soap, shower gel, lotion, shampoo and conditioner dispensers to eliminate the waste of small plastic amenity bottles
- Filtered water rather than bottled
- Reusable glass or plastic cups instead of paper cups
- Rooms painted with no-VOC paints
In addition, the owner of the green Madeleine Inn and Hacienda Nicholas also runs the all-natural Absolute Nirvana spa. Its Indonesian décor is exquisite and relaxing.
—Laurel Kallenbach, freelance writer and editor
Originally posted January 2012
Updated September 2019
I’ve gotten so sensitive to fragrances and other chemical odors that traveling can be difficult. Thanks for the heads-up on a place I could comfortably stay!
I stayed in a casita once in Santa Fe, and it was the best experience of all my visits to the city. It feels more authentic than staying in a hotel; besides you can make our own meals.
The place I stayed is no longer open to the public, so I appreciate having other names.
Great info Laurel! I live in Santa Fe and didn’t know about this place!