Santa Fe is a popular travel destination. According to Condé Nast Traveler and Travel and Leisure, this small city (pop. About 70,000) is one of the top five destinations in the US. People come here for the mystique and history; many fall in love and stay. We did. The guidebooks are loaded with things to do in Santa Fe and many of them; even the really touristy things are worthwhile and fun to do. Some stuff is less mainstream; mostly that’s what I’m going to share.
In and Around Santa Fe
One of my favorite tourist attractions is the Loretto Chapel, home of the Miraculous Staircase. Yeah, it’s a little touristy with its continuous-loop tape running telling the story of the miracle and the gift shop is a little too much, but. I always get a chill when I come here. The story is amazing and there is a special feel to the Chapel- you just have to shut out the drone of the tape running in the background and sometimes it is too crowded. Hang out a while, the crowds will leave.
Santa Fe has eight museums. My favorites are the Museum of International Folk Art (love the colorful Girard Gallery) and the Georgia O’Keefe Museum (depending on the exhibit). Two gems that don’t get much attention are the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art. Two private museums up on Museum Hill along with Folk Art Museum and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, both run by the State of New Mexico. The new History Museum, opened in 2009 is a new favorite and worth visiting. And really, all the museums are worthwhile if you are interested in their area of focus.
If you Google “Santa Fe Museums,” they all come up except for Site Santa Fe, the contemporary museum in the trendy new Railyard District. They are famous for their biennial exhibits. The eighth annual runs from June 18, 2010, and will run through to January 2, 2011.
If you like art, check out some of the over 200 galleries in town. The largest concentration is on historic Canyon Road, but they are spread all around the Plaza area and in the Railyard District. If you want to take home quality Native American and Spanish Colonial Art; Santa Fe is the place to shop. It can be pricey, depending on the artist; also rents are high, supposedly comparable to those in Manhattan’s SoHo. Shop carefully; there are a lot of reproductions floating around. A great place to shop for Native American jewelry and pottery is in front of the Palace of the Governors (the oldest government building still in use in the US). There is a very strict program for these artists and everything is authentic. The museum shops are also a great shopping resource and can be less expensive as they are non-profit.
Day-Tripping in Georgia O’Keefe Country
One of our favorite places (my traveling companion is my husband Steve) for a day-trip is Georgia O’Keefe Country a little over an hour northwest of Santa Fe. Made famous by the artist, there is much to see. Check out her home and studio in town (the famous one at Ghost Ranch is off-limits due to its fragile condition). Open from mid-March through late November, tours are by appointment only. Reserve early, as this is a popular destination. Ghost Ranch is worth a visit. Now a Presbyterian Conference, it is home to important fossil and dinosaur bone discoveries (we found this out when our then six-year-old grandson discovered it on Google). They have a hot new discovery due to be announced this year. There are two museums on-site and lots of great hiking trails. Visitors are very welcome, just check in at the office.
When leaving Ghost Ranch, go north a few miles to Echo Amphitheater. The rock formations here create echoes. I am a child at heart and love to yell “Hello,” and hear “Hello, hello, hello,” coming back at me.
Heading south again, there is an obscure road leading to Christ in the Desert, a Benedictine Monastery. They welcome lunch visitors and overnight guests. Please contact them for a reservation. This is a contemplative order and meals are taken in silence. The ride is about twelve miles over a poorly maintained dirt road and is slow (about 45 minutes). The views of the Chama River and the surrounding mountains along the way are beautiful. On the way back to Santa Fe (or on the way up) you can visit Plaza Blanca (O’Keefe’s White Place). It is on land owned by the Dar al-Islam Foundation; they too, are very welcoming. It is a short walk from the car to the unique rock formations that inspired the artist.
On out last trip up to O’Keefe Country in the fall we discovered something new to us, the Poshouinge Ruins. This historic pueblo is located on a hill overlooking the Chama River Valley. It had over 700 rooms. You can walk among the ruins, view the two plazas and the remains of a kiva (ceremonial chamber). We’re going back to explore more in the spring.
The Charms are Neverending
Love lavender? The Purple Adobe Lavender Farm between the highway and the Chama River has fields of purple and a lavender-themed gift shop. They are open by appointment only. As with any outdoor activity in New Mexico, bring lots of water, sunscreen, a hat and some snacks. We either pack a lunch or pick something up at Bode’s General Store serving Abiquiu since 1919 (the old store was in the village where it started under a different name in1890). This funky place is a trip. It is a gas station, a grocery, a hardware store, a vendor of souvenirs and O’Keefe memorabilia. The café offers sandwiches and a hot dishes and is popular with both locals and visitors. You can also opt to eat at the Abiquiu Inn.
Hope you enjoy your time in Santa Fe and the Land of Enchantment. It hooked us; perhaps it will hook you.
Photos by James Jordan,puroticorico, planet love, wordcat57
Share
Email