Santa Fe

Cradled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and 7,000 feet closer to heaven, Santa Fe displays a quiet brilliance and rare enchanting beauty. First-time visitors are awestruck by the sheer magnitude of undeveloped terrain with homes that seem to emerge from the hillside and follow the contours of the land. And although these castles in the sky are a spectacular sight, the simple pleasures Santa Fe offers are her greatest of luxuries. Just wake to an amazing sunrise, or witness the warm radiance of the afternoon’s saffron light, or watch a miraculous sunset dissolve to an endless sky of stars. The view from most perspectives is that Santa Fe is the place to indulge all of your senses and feel satisfied down to your soul.

With four seasons of near-perfect weather, Santa Fe stays high on the list of favorite destinations for avid skiers, rock climbers and those who come to play golf, tennis or hike and bike in one of the world’s most beautiful settings.

Fondly called The City Different, Santa Fe is a study in contrasts — which is part of the allure. Many fall in love with this romantic village sculpted of handmade adobes and kaleidoscopic gardens with the historical Plaza at its heart. But beyond its natural charms, Santa Fe is a vital city with an international profile — one that boasts a full spectrum of spectacular art, architecture and food, making for a decidedly different Southwestern travel experience — one that feels more European in flavor.

First established in 1608 as “La Villa Real de Santa Fe” (the Royal Town of Santa Fe) by Spanish Governor Don Pedro de Peralta, New Mexico’s state capital is the oldest capital city in the United States. Earlier it was home to an Indian pueblo with humble adobes around a central plaza. Today’s Plaza is still central to city life, alive with activity at every season. Under the portal at the landmark Palace of the Governors, local Native American artisans sell traditional pottery and jewelry year-round. Summer festivals and annual art markets draw thousands seeking original art and sampling the indigenous culinary delights by day; by night, local performers come out to play. Whether you prefer to be serenaded by colorful mariachis or catch the hottest new band in town, you’ll find something to satisfy most any musical ear.

Journey beyond the Plaza to the side streets where shops galore hold treasures from around the globe waiting to be discovered. The surprise of Victorian-style homes in the area nods to the American influence of the late 1800s when railroads transported window glass and other supplies to Santa Fe. Today the most innovative Northern New Mexico architecture features aesthetically enticing designs inspired by nature and built with environmentally friendly materials to protect it.

Local restaurants are consistently in the international spotlight — praised for their exciting and authentic creations. Often at the center of these creations is the New Mexico chile — harvested and roasted in the fall when its intoxicating aroma fills the air. Look for cookbooks written by local chefs to bring their artful dishes and the flavor of Santa Fe home to your kitchen. You’ll find cuisine from all corners of the world, all of equally high quality.

Santa Fe is an art lovers’ paradise. With its many museums, more than 230 galleries, and thousands of resident artists, the city has become America’s art destination and is the second-largest art market in the country.

For a historical take on Santa Fe, visit the Palace of the Governors where more than 15,000 New Mexico artifacts are on display. Just across the street at the Museum of Fine Art, works by the early masters share wall space with coveted traveling exhibitions.

Santa Fe has long a tradition of attracting freethinkers, writers and artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, honored with her own museum just off the Plaza, and whose home in Abiquiu is also open to the public.

Explore Museum Hill and you’ll find the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture featuring contemporary Native American art including works by famous Native American artist R.C. Gorman. The nearby Museum of International Folk Art, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art are terrific spots to spend an afternoon soaking up the state’s Native American and early Spanish history.

The Governor’s Gallery on the fourth floor of the state capitol also has impressive collections of work by contemporary artists from across New Mexico.

Collectors large and small find art aplenty to enjoy at the galleries all over Santa Fe. On Friday evenings stroll Canyon Road and the downtown area as galleries hold opening receptions for their artists. You’ll find the best in all media from contemporary to traditional. For a rare treat, experience ARTFeast, held the last weekend in February. Among its events, the Edible Art Tour pairs 30 of Santa Fe’s finest galleries with the city’s most notable restaurants for a feast of fine art, fine wine and fine food.

Venture off the beaten path and you may find a gem or a masterpiece. Locals and savvy visitors check out the Second Street galleries, alternative art spaces, as well as the artwalks and studio tours scheduled in towns located just outside the city.

Join in on a tailgate party at The Santa Fe Opera before experiencing an evening of wonder under the stars. The renovated Lensic Performing Arts Center, originally built in the 1930s, hosts scintillating dance and musical performances, film festivals, and interviews and readings by celebrated authors.

Getting into a tranquil mood and spirit is as easy as enjoying a day discovering Santa Fe’s natural beauty. The aspen-covered mountains laced with hiking paths are a cool respite from the summer heat. In fall they turn vivid shades of reds and yellows — a breathtaking vision against the brilliant blue sky.

Santa Fe’s incredible winter landscape has some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the nation. The Ski Basin promises a fun and challenging day for the entire family with runs for all experience levels. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are excellent for those who want to connect with nature and explore roads less traveled.

Near the end of Canyon Road is a trailhead for Dale Ball Trails — a well-marked system popular with mountain bikers, hikers and runners. Anglers, rafters and kayakers whet their appetite for excitement on the nearby Rio Grande.

After your active day, indulge all five senses at one of Santa Fe’s relaxing spas. From yoga and the healing arts to Zen retreats and soaking tubs, the possibilities are endless for those those who wish to cultivate their physical and emotional well being. Take time for a soul-soothing escape with luxurious massages and treatments designed to nurture, revitalize, and refresh the mind and body.

Whatever your pleasure, at the end of the day in Santa Fe, your experience will be all about the ‘ahhhh.’

CREATIVE AND DIFFERENT

Santa Fe was appointed a UNESCO Creative City in July 2005. Santa Fe is the first U.S. city to be named a Creative City by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and one of six in the growing Creative Cities Network worldwide. Currently, the other honored cities are: Aswan, Egypt; Berlin, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Edinburgh, Scotland and Popayan, Columbia.

Folk art traditions in Santa Fe date back to the Pueblo cultures of the Rio Grande, and from there to the Spanish colonization in the late 16th century. Strong traditions in pottery making, weaving, basketry, beadwork, jewelry, woodcarving and tinwork are showcased each year at Indian Market and Spanish Market. The Museum of International Folk Art boasts the largest collection of its kind in the world and the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market draws folk artists from around the world and thousands of visitors to this Creative City.