Girl Who Travels

Travel Date: March 2026

From Relaxation to Retro Fun: A Day at Buffalo Thunder

There are travel days meant for hitting every landmark on the map, and then there are days meant for pure, unadulterated recharging. Today was firmly the latter. We spent the day soaking in the vibes at Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder, and it was exactly the reset we needed.

Interestingly, we didn’t realize the destination was a casino when we first booked, so walking in was a bit of a surprise! However, even though we’re not much for gambling, the stay landed firmly in the “Win” column. The rooms leaned into a beautiful Southwest aesthetic, featuring handcrafted furniture that felt unique to the space rather than your standard hotel fare.

The Ultimate Spa Reset

We started the morning by leaning fully into the “vacation” side of the trip. There’s something about the atmosphere here that just forces you to slow down. Between the quiet luxury of the facilities and the rare chance to actually hear my own thoughts, the morning and early afternoon disappeared into a cloud of relaxation and serenity.

The spa was fully equipped with saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, and cozy tea settings. Honestly, if you’re traveling through the high desert, never underestimate the power of a professional massage! Funnily enough, I was most impressed by the small details—specifically the high-quality disposable (reusable?) hair brushes they provided for after your shower. It’s the little things.

Claw Machines & Nostalgia

Once we were sufficiently relaxed, we decided to balance out the Zen with a little arcade energy. We hit the floor to try our luck at the claw machines, and it’s funny how much joy a pile of stuffed animals can bring an adult.

There’s a specific kind of adrenaline that comes with watching that metal claw descend, and today, the odds were in our favor. We walked away with a haul of rubber ducks, a ball, and several plushies. We also found a Nerf shooting game that was a total blast (pun intended); we definitely spent quite a few swipes of our cards on that one. It was a small arcade, but it delivered plenty of fun.

The Big Find: A Stuffed Sinclair!

The absolute highlight of the day—and perhaps the most “me” moment of the trip—was finding a stuffed Sinclair dinosaur. For those who appreciate a bit of classic Americana and gas station kitsch, you know this was a major score. This green dino is the perfect mascot for the rest of our journey, and he’s already claimed a permanent spot in the car for the miles ahead.

Current Trip Mood: 100% recharged and ready for the next leg of the road trip.