Sante Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe
My sister Lisa, her husband and her darling twins lives in Albuquerque, so I have been able to spend a lot of time here.  It is unlike anything else in the US - it has a wonderful spiritual aura, amazing art and incredible New Mexican food.

Top 5 Days

1. Shop the Plaza for jewelry, art - Tne Native American Indians are here every day, but more on Saturdays.  Check out the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.
2. Canyon Road -  the 5th Avenue of unique art galleries and boutiques.  There is wonderful Native American art, but all other styles too.  Start from the bottom of Canyon Road, working towards the top, where most of the great restaurants are.  End your day with dinner at Geronimo's.
3. Nedra Matteucci gallery on Paseo de Peralta - inside exhibits plus lovely grounds with water, fountains, statues - a fun place to take kids, as there are many life-size statues
4. Ski/snowboard Pajarito Mountain - northwest of Santa Fe in Los Alamos.
5. Hiking - hit the trails in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Top 5 Foodie Finds

1. Rancho de Chimayo - My little brother Paul's favorite.  Mmmm... chips and salsa, margaritas and chicken sopapillas.  And go to the little church there.  Make it a day and drive the high road to Taos, stop at Chimayo en route to Bandelier.
2. Santa Fe School of Cooking - take a cooking class
3. Pasqual's - near the Plaza. Always busy, so make reservations, or sit at the communal table - great New Mexican food
4. Tomasito's - casual, outdoor dining, great New Mexican food - red or green?
5. La Casa Sena - beautiful courtyard dining, delicious food.

Top 5 High Style, Low Maintenance Hotels

1. Hotel Santa Fe - only Indian-owned hotel in the city.  Nice suites.
2. Don Gaspar Inn - my folks stayed here and had a lovely casita with a private, patio and a bedroom, bath, kitchen, large living room, and a small front porch. It's a bed and breakfast with NM breakfasts - anything from tamales, chili rellenos, fresh fruits, muffins.  The Inn sits on property close to the Plaza that had once been a large farm with an orchard, so it's lush and beautiful... and only about 5 blocks from the Plaza.
3. Rent a House in Taos - Close by and great if you want to ski/snowboard. 
4. Inn at the Anasazi - lovely, the nicest in town, but still casual.  Kivas in every room.
5. El Farolito Bed and Breakfast Inn - My sister and her husband always stay here - a great high-style B&B. Within walking distance of the Plaza.

Top 5 Misses

1. Celebrations Restaurant - We had a hilariously horrible family meal here. 
2. Casinos - d-e-p-r-e-s-s-i-n-g.
3. Dry, mountain air - I always feel exhausted the first couple days I am here.  Take lots of moisturizers.
4. Foliage - Sante Fe has lots of trees, but if you head further south, it is dry and I miss the trees.
5. Overpriced stores - the clientele here is high rollers, so food, art, etc... can be very expensive.

Top 5 Tips

1. Read local author Willa Cather - Death Comes for the Archbishop
2. Native American Jewelry and Art- I can't get enough of it.
3. Red or Green??? - this is the big question everyone will ask when you order food.  They make their own chili sauces.  It is like asking red or white when referring to wine.  I love em both, to I get my sopapillas with split sauce.
4. Read and understand Indian History - It is such a sad history.  When you are here, the environment is so unique that almost feel like you are outside the US.
5. Get out of Sante Fe for a day - head south of Santa Fe, Highway 14, or the Turquoise Trail, beautiful scenery and mountains, vistas, and the little artist's colony of Madrid - old mining town - great galleries and shops.