Santa Fe Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos

With its earth-colored adobe buildings set against burning red hills and a deep-blue sky, the countryside surrounding Santa Fe looks like a Georgia O'Keeffe painting. Wait, it is an O'Keeffe paining. O’Keeffe might have painted skyscrapers during her early years in New York, but it’s for her vibrant canvases of glowing clay structures and lush flowers that she is known. Visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, housed in artist’s home and steward to over fifty percent of her work. Santa Fe always has, and continues to, draw and inspire artists. If you visit in July, stop by the International Folk Art Market, where artisans from all over the world sell their arts and crafts.

Along Canyon Road, more than a hundred galleries compete for visitors’ attention and the pueblo revival-style Museum of Fine Arts has a wonderful collection of regional art. At the heart of the city is the Plaza, anchored by the Palace of the Governors, built in 1610. In the shade of the palace archways, Native Americans sell jewelry and pottery, and inside, the museum holdings include a world-class collection of pre-Columbian art. A block east of the Plaza is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, built between 1869 and 1886 under the supervision of Jean Baptiste Lamy, the real-life archbishop in Willa Cather's 'Death Comes for the Archbishop'. Had enough of art and adobe? Head out to Ski Santa Fe, a ski resort in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, around sixteen miles north of the city. At 10,350 feet, you’ll see more white stuff than dusty clay.

  • Ballooning, Family-friendly, Festival, Museums, Night-life, Relaxing, Shopping, Southwest, Spa, Theater, Usa, Wedding, Worldclassrestaurants
  • 88%

 
 
link35.681622-105.93806710Santa Fe, NM, USA
link35.6507719-105.9524977Skiing in Santa Fe
link35.681622-105.938067Oldest House in the USA
link35.685873-105.936495Santa Fe Plaza
link35.6383894-105.9283574Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
link35.681622-105.93806710Santa Fe, NM, USA
 
 
 
 

   

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 Attractions 

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Skiing in Santa Fe

  • Category: Ski Mountain

    Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
    2209 Brothers Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505 US

    Visiting Details
    NOTE: The park opens in late November and closes in early April.

     

When most people think of Santa Fe they envision a small, quaint and bustling city renowned for its crystal blue skies, ancient pueblos and sun drenched landscape. However, if those people were to venture just 16 miles or so from the heart of downtown they might find something a little different. Nestled high up in the breath taking Sangre de Cristo Mountains is a series of powdery slopes known only as Ski Santa Fe. At a base elevation of 10,350, Ski Santa Fe – with its 1,725 vertical feet of skiing, 660 acres of stunning terrain and over 65 trails - is a true gateway for fun and excitement. Ride the New Millennium Triple Chairlift up to 12,075 feet in the crisp, blue sky to get a glimpse of what a bird sees every day. Then – at speeds of twenty plus miles an hour – soar down the powdery expanse atop your skis or snowboard. And for those with more extreme desires check out "The Bone Yard" for some groovy half pipe action.

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Oldest House in the USA

  • Category: Historic House

    Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
    215 East DeVargas Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico USA

    Visiting Details
    There is a one dollar admission fee to enter.

     

I never knew something as simple as a house could cause controversy. But I guess when you name your abode the "Oldest House in the USA," you're gonna cause some trouble. That's because this particular "Oldest House in the USA" - located at 215 East De Vargas Street on the eastern side of Old Santa Fe Trail - might not actually live up to its name. In fact there are several other homes that claim the right to the title. Supposedly built around 1646, this Adobe structure has witnessed the administration of numerous governments including Mexican, Spanish, territorial, and – finally – the American state of New Mexico. And, like a lot of old houses, several people have complained of ghosts and apparitions living within the walls. The Oldest House in the USA is actually a privately owned establishment that has a museum adjacent to the structure.

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Santa Fe Plaza

Question: Why did the modern city eliminate the town square? You know - a large, central meeting place in the middle of everything where people meet to engage in social and cultural activities. Today this seems like an antiquated notion that's been replaced by strip malls and the internet. Thankfully, for those looking for a little nostalgia, the Santa Fe Plaza exists. Nicknamed "the Heart of Santa Fe," the Santa Fe Plaza (SFP) serves as a cultural playground for tourists and locals interested in learning more about the vibrant Mexican, Spanish and Indian customs that founded this region hundreds of years ago. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the SFP is organized around one large central park lined with colorful trees, grass and benches. It also features the Indian War Memorial Monument and a performing arts stage as well as several local shops and restaurants. With over 100,000 annual visitors and home to over half a dozen events (drawing an additional 25,000 folks) the Santa Fe Plaza is proof that the town square is alive and well.

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Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Kasha-Katuwe? It sounds like the guttural noises people make when they're about to spit. But the name Kasha-Katuwe actually means "white cliffs" in the traditional Keresan language of the Cochiti Pueblo people who were the original inhabitants of this land. Located about 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a remarkable display of geology. With layers of volcanic rock and ash having been weathered and eroded over thousands of years creating the unique cone, or tent rock formation, this National Monument – established as one by Bill Clinton just before leaving office in January 2001 - is truly a sight to behold. The monument is only opened during the day and can be explored via a 1.2 mile recreation trail that leads to an amazing lookout point from above. Now if you could only figure out how to pronounce that name…

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 Reviews(Average Rating: 88% for 6 reviews) 

  • faineg
    fainegReviews: 8
    Posts: 0

    Exotic In The USA: Closest You Can Get to Mexico Sans Passport

    10/12/2008

    85%

    Santa Fe, NM, USA

    Santa Fe is much more then adobe buildings, chili peppers, and art-collecting celebrities. This distinctive and antique city is totally unique in the USA, combining Spanish, Native American, and old-western influences to create something special. I love Santa Fe. Santa Fe is an adobe wonderland, a stucco-colored city nestled beneath the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Founded over four hundred years ago by a tough melange of Spanish settlers, Native Americans, and Western cowboys, the city has turned itself into a cultural mecca, attracting tourists from all over the world. Pleasant weather and comfortable, crisp evenings make this an ideal walking city, full of local-themed shops, eateries and galleries for all tastes and interests. Can't afford a trip to Mexico or Spain? Santa Fe may be the next best thing inside the confines of the good old USA. Culture vultures take note: this is an artsy city. Santa Fe is renowned for its galleries and museums, which showcase some of the country's and the world's most exciting and innovative works. Hit the city's Canyon Road, a legendary gallery ghetto, and you'll see a dizzying array of pieces, almost all of them for sale to the highest bidder. If you're more of a viewer then a buyer (like me), there's a museum suitable for every interest, ranging from traditional Native American art to modern masterpieces to works from the Spanish colonial era. There's also a museum devoted to the late, great, Georgia O' Keefe, who drew inspiration from the surreal and gorgeous desert landscape surrounding Santa Fe. It's hard to go hungry in this food savvy town, which boasts a proud and flavorful local cuisine that can't be found anywhere else. I've spent many happy hours chowing down on spicy red and green enchiladas, stuffed with chicken or cheese. Or perhaps green chili posole, spicy barbequed ribs, or flatbread Navajo tacos are more your style - all of which can be found in this city's enticing array of eateries. Old fashioned Mexican dives, sleek and happening bars, and palaces of fine dining all vye for business around here, ensuring a steady supply of spicy chilis, tasty tacos, and perfectly blended margaritas for every budget. True, the city has not escaped cliche: you may well run into an art collecting celebrity or a business magnate having supper at a luxe restaurant while visiting his nearby ranch, to say nothing of sunburnt European and American tourists. But popularity is inveitable when it comes to a seductive and sensual city like this one. Santa Fe can't be beat for those who want a taste of Latin America without getting a passport.

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  • Jamie542
    Jamie542Reviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Sanctuario de Chimayo

    08/28/2008

    50%

    Santa Fe, NM, USA

    Not far from Santa Fe, through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, sits the little known, yet powerful and mysterious Sanctuario de Chimayo. Built on the site in 1814 after a village farmer found a glowing crucifix buried in the ground, the Sanctuary has become a place important to pilgrims who seek its dirt's reported miraculous healing powers. Inside the church, near its colorfully painted altar, are the abandoned walkers and crutches of the healed, a testament to the sanctuary's power. Those seeking to be healed at Chimayo make a special pilgrimage each year on Good Friday, its most popular day for miracles. Chimayo sits in the quiet countryside outside of Santa Fe and holds services on fair weather days outdoors besides a picturesque running river. Listed since 1970 in the National Registry of Historic Places, Chimayo is worth a visit when you are in Santa Fe, even if you aren't in need of any healing, the journey to Chimayo and tranquility you'll experience once you enter can't do you any harm.

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  • tawniwaters
    tawniwatersReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Santa Fe, City of Secrets

    08/21/2008

    97%

    Santa Fe, NM, USA

    Who knew brown could be so beautiful? Nestled at the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe, New Mexico is more than cactus and coyotes. Its majestic adobe buildings carry in their bellies centuries of history, while its endless blue skies and wide open vistas ignite the imagination. Santa Fe’s unique culture, a blend of past and present, old and new, spans centuries. In Santa Fe’s breathtaking historic plaza, traditional Native American artisans display their wares on hand-woven blankets, while, steps away, inside the walls of Santa Fe’s many fine galleries, world-renown artists exhibit their masterpieces. In this city of secrets, treasure is buried behind every hand carved door. Turquoise jewelry. Indigenous sculpture. Mariachi music. And lest all the treasure hunting become tiring, Santa Fe offers outdoor adventurers pristine wilderness hiking trails, horseback riding, and stellar golf courses, not to mention an array of world class health spas. Santa Fe’s sun kissed days are punctuated by balmy nights, perfect for experiencing its one-of-a-kind night life. Add all this to Santa Fe’s unique brand of mouth watering New Mexican cuisine, flavored with green chiles and pinon nuts, and you have a once in a lifetime fiesta for the senses.

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  • Ray Co9
    Ray Co9Reviews: 2
    Posts: 0

    Rancho de Chimayo, just north of Santa Fe, NM

    08/14/2008

    98%

    Santa Fe, NM, USA

    Rancho de Chimayo is a lovely restaurant located in the little northern New Mexico community of Chimayo. Open since the mid - 60's, I’ve been going there for at least 20 years. I truly wish I had known about it earlier. There are no surprises here - you can always count on a great experience and great food. The margaritas and sangria are always fresh, not mass produced. The menu occasionally changes a little, but the traditional New Mexican dishes are always there. My favorite continues to be carne adovada - only get this one if you are a real meat eater. The have traditional steak, fish, chicken dishes which are good (I've tried almost everything on the menu), but if you are going I would highly recommend eating one of the traditional New Mexican dishes. Try the sopapillas with honey butter. In New Mexico these wonderful fluffy fried breads are served as a bread accompaniment to the meal. Their menu includes a number of great desserts, but traditional flan is just the right amount and not too heavy after a big meal. Try it! Chimayo is just a short drive from Santa Fe. If it's summer, be sure to ask for a patio seat when you make your reservation. The mountain views are fabulous. While you are in Chimayo, also check out some of the weaving shops and southwestern architecture. They are known around the world for their exquisite woven blankets and rugs.

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  • Ray Co9
    Ray Co9Reviews: 2
    Posts: 0

    Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, NM

    08/14/2008

    100%

    Santa Fe, NM, USA

    The historic Santa Fe Plaza, in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, is the heart of “the City Different.” This small state capital city has one of the oldest and richest cultural histories in the US - from Pueblo Indians to Spanish conquistadores to Mexican settlements to the vivid multi-cultural society it is today. The Santa Fe Plaza is surrounded on three sides by Southwestern galleries and restaurants. On the north side of the Plaza is the Palace of the Governors, the original home and office building of past governors and their families and now a state museum. Today under the Portal of the Palace Museum Pueblo Indians sell their crafts. Colorful blankets are spread with pottery, turquoise jewelry and baked goods. Strict laws limit sales under the Portal to the state’s very first residents. On the Southeast corner, at the end of the Old Santa Fe Trail, is a cornerstone of the Plaza’s history and tradition - The La Fonda Hotel. Drop into their lobby for a quick look-around . . . hear some live Spanish music, have a margarita in the cozy little bar, watch a film being made in the central lobby rich with cowboy history! THE SANTA FE PLAZA IS TRULY IN THE CITY DIFFERENT IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT!

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  • River rafting Misty
    River rafting Misty
    • Top member
    • Travel guru
    Reviews: 16
    Posts: 254

    An Art Lover's Heaven

    07/30/2008

    97%

    Santa Fe, NM, USA

    You can't walk around Santa Fe and not notice one thing: galleries everywhere. I mean it. There are galleries up and down every street in and around the city. And, if that wasn't enough, there are open-air markets most weekends, where artists set up and sell their wares on the streets. Even the local flea market has its own painters and photographers. Since it was really the art community that reestablished this city, it does make sense. This was a favorite spot for both Georgia O'Keefe and Ansel Adams. The city with its pueblo buildings and beatific setting seems to just draw people from everywhere. The scene seems to lend itself to imbuing in you the spirit of freedom and transcendentalism. Yet, it's not only American and Native American art that you find here; it's also Middle Eastern, Chinese and many other cultures. Santa Fe is truly one of the great melting pots of the country.

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