Another nice reason to visit the Santa Fe area in the Fall is because the cottonwood are in Fall colors. This means that everywhere you have creeks and rivers (like the Rio Grande !!) you have the cottonwood trees alongside them and then they then are completely yellow. Now, that color is amazing against the clear blue skies at 5000 elevation and the rock colors.
Have a look:
Here is a panorama to give you a feel for what it looks like when you look around:
As I mentioned, the colors around the Rio Grande river are amazing. Here is view of the river that is narrower and closer to the Rio Grande Gorge (closer to Taos).
Also, when you drive towards the mountains (here the Sandia mountains) the drives through the desert landscape are terrific:
I love such big sky views. Very relaxing and then with good music playing or just no sound at all is the best way to chill.