Santa Fe, New Mexico

The pick for couples who like art as much as scenery. Canyon Road, a narrow lane climbing toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, holds more than a hundred galleries and studios, and drifting from one to the next with no plan is the best afternoon in town. Santa Fe is a state capital, so it has more restaurants and bigger hotels than Taos, yet the adobe center stays compact and walkable. Evenings turn cool and clear at this altitude, which is ideal for a fireside drink after dinner. It is busier than Taos, especially in summer, and better value outside the peak season.