Santa Fe, New Mexico – Exploring The City Different
Written: Jul 11 '05 (Updated Jul 17 '05)
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Pros: Plaza area with shops, galleries, and cathedrals.
Beautiful natural surroundings. Mild climate.
Cons: Can be expensive. Adobe everything - not much architectural diversity.
The Bottom Line: Santa Fe,New Mexico is worth visiting, especially if you like art galleries and outdoor cafes. If you really like to shop bring plenty of cash.
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| trailhound's Full Review: Santa Fe |
Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of the most unusual cities I have ever visited. That is not a bad thing because the city’s nickname is "The City Different" – the city revels in its image of being unusual. I traveled to Santa Fe in June 2005 to visit a friend who relocated there from Minneapolis.
Setting
Santa Fe rests on a high plateau in Northern New Mexico at about 7,000’ in elevation. The stark beauty of the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains provides a nice contrast with the city and the nearly-always-blue sky. Most homes and buildings in Santa Fe conform to an "Adobe-Style" architecture and there are very few tall structures. The city’s 66,000 residents are from very diverse cultures and there are quite a few new residents from other states, particularly California.
Attractions
The Plaza
The best place to begin exploring Santa Fe is in the Plaza area, which is a one block park-like area in the center of the town. Numerous art galleries, boutiques, cafes, and historical establishments surround the Plaza. We visited on a late Saturday afternoon and the crowds were modest in size with most people were just milling around or sitting on park benches. Parking was on street a few blocks from the Plaza at a coin parking meter. My friend who lives here says the meters are patrolled constantly for violations.
Palace of the Governors
The Palace of the Governors has traditional adobe construction with vigas (the end piece of a log beam) sticking out the front. It was built in 1610! Today it is a museum of Santa Fe and New Mexico history on the inside and a showcase of authentic Indian Art (called Art Under the Portal) on the outside. Since the museum was closing shortly we skipped going inside and looked at the Indian artwork being sold outside along the Plaza.
The arts and crafts are all high quality and are made by representatives of about 40 Indian Tribes in New Mexico and Arizona. My friend (who is a professional photographer) mentioned that the Indians selling their wares here do not like to be photographed up close. I was glad that she mentioned that, so I shot a few pictures from a respectful distance.
105 W. Palace Ave. $5/adults for museum. Phone: 505 476-5100
Cathedral of St Francis the Assisi
About two blocks off the Plaza is the Cathedral of St Francis. This is a beautiful Catholic Church that was built in 1869 and it has what they called Romanesque architecture. We saw the interior and stained glass windows briefly but had to depart since a Saturday evening mass was beginning. The church is free to visit from 6AM-6PM daily. Phone: (505) 982-5619
Loretto Chapel
When we stopped by the Loretto Chapel there was a wedding in progress (which a nearby shopkeeper said is a common occurrence), so we were unable to enter. This Gothic-style chapel is noteworthy because of a beautiful spiral staircase inside.
The legend is that the original builder of the church died before it was completed and the nuns were left with a choir loft but no means to access it. The nuns prayed for a resolution and one day a man appeared and built a beautiful spiral staircase to the choir loft using only a few simple tools. It has no nails and is totally self-supporting. The man who built it left town without being paid or even thanked for his work and the nuns considered it to be a miracle.
211 Old Santa Fe Trail, $2.50
Shopping
There are numerous shops and art galleries in the immediate area of the Plaza. Most are art-oriented, clothing, and gifts with a Southwestern style. I saw ristras (strung-together chiles) Indian blankets, turquoise jewelry, paintings, and various Indian crafts in this area. I can’t remember one store from the next, but most were selling high quality goods.
Dining
There are many eating establishments to choose from around the Plaza area. The first night I was in Santa Fe we ate at The Blue Corn Café, which is just a block or so off the Plaza at 133 Water Street. About $12. http://www.epinions.com/content_186841599620
Others:
The Pink Adobe at 406 Old Santa Fe Trail. Nationally known chef offers Southwestern and Continental Cuisine. About $20.
The Palace at 142 Palace Ave. Beef, seafood, and pasta. About $20.
On Cerrillos Road are numerous fast food and chain restaurants.
Accommodations
The accommodations near the Plaza area are generally expensive. The downtown accommodations of La Fonda Hotel, Inn of the Anasazi, and Hotel Loretto cost $200+ per night (rack rates). However, less expensive motels such as Holiday Inn, La Quinta Inn, and even Motel 6 can be found along Cerrillos Road on the south side of town. These run from $50-$90/night. Fortunately I stayed at my friend’s house for free!
Museums
The way our schedule worked out we did not have time to see any of Santa Fe’s numerous museums. Some of the museums in town are as follows:
Georgia O’Keefe Museum – 217 Johnson Street. (505) 995-0785. Largest collection in the world of this artist’s work.
Museum of Indian Art and Culture – Camino Lejo and Old Santa Fe Trail. (505) 476-1250. Extensive collection of historical items from region’s Indians.
Museum of International Artwork – next to Indian Art and Culture Museum. (505) 476-1200. Folk art from around the world.
Canyon Road
Canyon Road is a mile or so stretch of a winding road with narrow walking paths where residential artists and art galleries co-exist among and sometimes inside the homes of residents. These art galleries are world-class and very expensive. Homes in this area easily top $1Million.
Many galleries sell Native Indian art, paintings, antiques, sculptures, and jewelry. There are also a few cafes and restaurants in the area. People shop here from throughout the US, and even from overseas. Hollywood movie stars and entertainment celebrities are frequent visitors to Canyon Road. We only window-shopped!
*Other review that may interest you:
Travel Guide-Santa Fe in a Week
http://www.epinions.com/content_184141647492
Your Visit
Santa Fe is unusual because of its large number of museums, art galleries, high-end shops, and pleasant climate. This attracts visitors and residents from all over the country. However, Santa Fe may seem like a museum to some people. There is a startling sameness with all the Adobe-style construction, and the town seems to be set-up more for visitors than residents.
From what I heard from my friend who moved here, some long-term residents are not happy with the strict building codes and the numerous wealthy residents who have gobbled-up all the housing near the Plaza. And many of the new residents do not have the same traditional values steeped in Catholicism that older residents hold. Clashes over public displays of religious symbols and the strict building codes are points of simmering disputes.
Nonetheless, my friend loves Santa Fe for its cultural diversity, art museums, and mild high-desert climate. The area receives just 12” of rain each year and 20” of snow. It is often sunny with low humidity and temperatures seldom exceed the low 90s or fall below the mid 20s.
I recommend visiting Santa Fe more for couples than families. It’s a great place to stroll around, shop, look in museums, and have meals in street-side cafes. There are also several National Parks, State Parks, and Albuquerque, NM all within one hour of Santa Fe. It can be an expensive city to visit if you like to shop, but it is well worth visiting at least once.
© trailhound. 2005.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Sep - Nov
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