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Just back from spending a fantastic week in Santa Fe. What a great trip! We stayed at the very convenient and comfortable Las Brisas de Santa Fe timeshare, located just a short walk from the Plaza area in downtown. While not fancy or flashy, this is a very comfortable place to stay, and a nice way to get a feel of Southwest living. I’ve already submitted my review of the resort, which will appear soon. No question about it, we’d be happy to stay there again. Here are the high points of the week:
We arrived on Saturday, early enough to check in to the timeshare, get settled, and begin exploring the town. There is no end to choices for shopping, and every conceivable opportunity to spend your tourist dollars. We found prices to be rather high, and we were pretty selective in our purchases. The timeshare’s great location makes walking very easy, and because of the general lack of available parking in the Plaza area, we chose to walk as much as possible.
There are so many museums and galleries, and so much creative energy in the Santa Fe area, it’s easy to get “overloaded” on the culture. Most impressive was the extreme variety of art mediums being used. Unlike some cities where it seems most local artists tend to follow a certain style, in Santa Fe it seemed every artist has a different approach to their work. Painting, sculpture, metalwork, weaving, pottery, repurposed “found” objects, mixed media – the variety went on and on, and it was a feast for the eyes that covered just about every way works of art could be created. Collectively, it was thoroughly marvelous to experience.
Some of the museums, galleries, and historic places we visited include:
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (http://www.okeeffemuseum.org ) on Johnson Street, very close to the Plaza. Be sure to check for discounts. We were both granted admission at half price because of my military Veteran status. The museum was great, and we saw a number of O’Keeffe works we’d never seen before. Several short films were playing in a small theater on site, showing Georgia O’Keeffe speaking about her life and how she approached her art. It was a great insight into this prolific painter’s life.
Andrew Smith Gallery (http://www.andrewsmithgallery.com ) adjacent to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. A fantastic photo gallery with many rare images, including a lot of originals by Ansel Adams. Since I’m married to a photographer, this was a very pleasant experience, because of the education I received about the various famous photos on display. Admission was free.
Museum of Contemporary Native Art “MoCNA” (http://www.iaia.edu/museum/ ) which we found very intriguing. Instead of traditional native art work, (pottery, weaving, and such) it was a mixed media gallery of very inventive, highly creative work that needs to be experienced to be understood. This is not your old school Pueblo style art exhibit. Admission for us both was free due to my Veteran’s status. (This was unexpected, but much appreciated.)
The St. Francis of Assisi Church (http://www.cbsfa.org ) just off The Plaza, is a classic and historic church. I’m not Catholic, so can’t speak to the religious importance of the building, but it was architecturally beautiful, and the grounds were quite interesting, with various statuary on display.
Not far from the St. Francis Church was the Loretto Chapel (http://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase.html ) home to the well-known, marvelous and mysterious spiral staircase up to the choir loft. It is quite an incredible structure, and worth the $3.00 admission fee to view. Anyone who appreciates clever woodworking will have a hard time trying to discover how the staircase was built without apparent methods of joinery or support. It’s pretty amazing work, with an intriguing story of its creation.
Canyon Road (http://visitcanyonroad.com ) is a street near The Plaza that contains many shops and galleries, with a wide variety of artwork on display. The road is very narrow, and parking is impossible, so it needs to be walked to be enjoyed. We had a great time visiting the many shops, and speaking with a number of local artists and craftspeople who were happy to discuss their art. If you appreciate creating art in its many forms, this area is a great experience. Highly recommended.
We drove the High Road to Taos, and frankly, were disappointed with the whole experience. Most of the local shops and galleries we’d heard about along the way were closed, out of business, or deserted. Roads were poorly marked, and we got lost several times. When we finally reached Taos, we wanted to visit Taos Pueblo, but found it to be a tourist-trap rip off, so we chose not to enter. (An admission fee of $32 for two seemed wildly excessive.) As we were getting into our car to leave, we were confronted and harrassed for taking a snapshot of the area from the parking lot: “Have you two registered?” “No, we decided we’re leaving.” “Well, then you can’t take any pictures!” “That’s ok. We’re leaving anyway.” “I said you can’t take any pictures!” The rude man stood next to our car and glared at us as we drove away. (Apparently this kind of treatment is common. Read the many online reviews before spending any money there. It is terrible customer service, and a hell of a way to make a friend. We will NOT be back!)
In complete contrast, the high point of the week was our amazing visit to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. ( http://www.balloonfiesta.com ) We chose this week to visit Santa Fe specifically so we could go to the Fiesta. We had purchased Chaser Club tickets for a morning event, and had a marvelous time. (See reply #39 in this Tug thread: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200029&page=2 ) This event is something unforgettable, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Everyone needs to experience the Balloon Fiesta. ☺
Changeable Fall weather took over during the week, and there was a mix of cold temperatures, high wind, incredibly heavy rain, and even hail at the condo. Next day there was snow on the hills around Santa Fe. When it first started, we decided to try and get away from it by driving up to Abiquiu, to see Ghost Ranch and the area Georgia O’Keeffe found so inspirational. Sadly, the poor weather only got worse, and it became so stormy, we couldn’t see anything worthwhile when we got there. Other than a white-knuckle drive, there wasn’t much to talk about. But as quickly as it came on, it went away, and the next day dawned to brilliant blue skies and crisp, fresh air. Being from the Pacific Northwest, where clouds and rain hang on for days, it was nice to have that Santa Fe storm come and go so quickly.
In between visiting the many galleries and museums, we were always looking out for interesting and worthwhile places to eat. With great information provided by several helpful Tuggers, (especially Luanne, who lives in Santa Fe), we had a good head start on things to see and do, and some better choices of restaurants to try. We aren’t much on “tourist food,” preferring to eat where the Locals eat. In that regard, Santa Fe had plenty of choices.
We used the Albertson’s store on North Guadalupe St. for groceries, an easy drive from the timeshare. (Santa Fe also has a Whole Foods and Trader Joes, among others.) This Albertson’s store also has a Starbucks, for those emergency caffeine needs. ☺
It seemed like good restaurants were everywhere, and we had to make tough decisions on where to eat out. Some of the restaurants we enjoyed during the week include:
Tomasita’s, (http://www.tomasitas.com ) in the Railyard area of town, and it was absolutely amazing. I was so impressed, I posted about it in reply #26 in this Tug thread: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200029&page=2
La Choza (http://www.lachozasf.com ) It was quite good, too. Comments are in reply #42 in this thread: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200029&page=2
Il Vicino Pizza (http://ilvicino.com/santafe/ ) We enjoyed this so much, we ate there twice. ☺
Marble Brewery Tap Room (http://www.marblebrewery.com/santa-fe-tap-room/ ) This place was selected not for the beer, (which looked quite good) but for coffee on a cool morning. We enjoyed sitting in their outdoor area, overlooking activities in The Plaza.
Palacio Café (http://palaciosantafe.com ) for fresh breakfast. It was very good, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. As a new restaurant in town, this place tries very hard to please.
The Pantry (http://www.pantrysantafe.com ) was the find of the week. An old Route 66 diner that has been around since 1948, The Pantry is a very busy place, hugely popular with Locals. The food was absolutely excellent, enough so that we ate here two days in a row. If I lived in Santa Fe, I’d eat here all the time. ☺
As a lifelong event, visiting Santa Fe absolutely did not disappoint. We were easily able to relax, and enjoyed taking a slower pace with things. There is plenty more to see and do that we didn’t do, but we found the week to be quite filled with plenty to remember. Now that we’ve had such a good time there, and knowing there is lots left to discover, we’re certain we’ll be back. Special thanks go to Luanne and the other Tuggers who gave us so many fun and interesting, helpful ideas. And Sheila, your Balloon Fiesta enthusiasm is contagious. Thank you all! You each made our week a great getaway.
Dave
We arrived on Saturday, early enough to check in to the timeshare, get settled, and begin exploring the town. There is no end to choices for shopping, and every conceivable opportunity to spend your tourist dollars. We found prices to be rather high, and we were pretty selective in our purchases. The timeshare’s great location makes walking very easy, and because of the general lack of available parking in the Plaza area, we chose to walk as much as possible.
There are so many museums and galleries, and so much creative energy in the Santa Fe area, it’s easy to get “overloaded” on the culture. Most impressive was the extreme variety of art mediums being used. Unlike some cities where it seems most local artists tend to follow a certain style, in Santa Fe it seemed every artist has a different approach to their work. Painting, sculpture, metalwork, weaving, pottery, repurposed “found” objects, mixed media – the variety went on and on, and it was a feast for the eyes that covered just about every way works of art could be created. Collectively, it was thoroughly marvelous to experience.
Some of the museums, galleries, and historic places we visited include:
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (http://www.okeeffemuseum.org ) on Johnson Street, very close to the Plaza. Be sure to check for discounts. We were both granted admission at half price because of my military Veteran status. The museum was great, and we saw a number of O’Keeffe works we’d never seen before. Several short films were playing in a small theater on site, showing Georgia O’Keeffe speaking about her life and how she approached her art. It was a great insight into this prolific painter’s life.
Andrew Smith Gallery (http://www.andrewsmithgallery.com ) adjacent to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. A fantastic photo gallery with many rare images, including a lot of originals by Ansel Adams. Since I’m married to a photographer, this was a very pleasant experience, because of the education I received about the various famous photos on display. Admission was free.
Museum of Contemporary Native Art “MoCNA” (http://www.iaia.edu/museum/ ) which we found very intriguing. Instead of traditional native art work, (pottery, weaving, and such) it was a mixed media gallery of very inventive, highly creative work that needs to be experienced to be understood. This is not your old school Pueblo style art exhibit. Admission for us both was free due to my Veteran’s status. (This was unexpected, but much appreciated.)
The St. Francis of Assisi Church (http://www.cbsfa.org ) just off The Plaza, is a classic and historic church. I’m not Catholic, so can’t speak to the religious importance of the building, but it was architecturally beautiful, and the grounds were quite interesting, with various statuary on display.
Not far from the St. Francis Church was the Loretto Chapel (http://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase.html ) home to the well-known, marvelous and mysterious spiral staircase up to the choir loft. It is quite an incredible structure, and worth the $3.00 admission fee to view. Anyone who appreciates clever woodworking will have a hard time trying to discover how the staircase was built without apparent methods of joinery or support. It’s pretty amazing work, with an intriguing story of its creation.
Canyon Road (http://visitcanyonroad.com ) is a street near The Plaza that contains many shops and galleries, with a wide variety of artwork on display. The road is very narrow, and parking is impossible, so it needs to be walked to be enjoyed. We had a great time visiting the many shops, and speaking with a number of local artists and craftspeople who were happy to discuss their art. If you appreciate creating art in its many forms, this area is a great experience. Highly recommended.
We drove the High Road to Taos, and frankly, were disappointed with the whole experience. Most of the local shops and galleries we’d heard about along the way were closed, out of business, or deserted. Roads were poorly marked, and we got lost several times. When we finally reached Taos, we wanted to visit Taos Pueblo, but found it to be a tourist-trap rip off, so we chose not to enter. (An admission fee of $32 for two seemed wildly excessive.) As we were getting into our car to leave, we were confronted and harrassed for taking a snapshot of the area from the parking lot: “Have you two registered?” “No, we decided we’re leaving.” “Well, then you can’t take any pictures!” “That’s ok. We’re leaving anyway.” “I said you can’t take any pictures!” The rude man stood next to our car and glared at us as we drove away. (Apparently this kind of treatment is common. Read the many online reviews before spending any money there. It is terrible customer service, and a hell of a way to make a friend. We will NOT be back!)
In complete contrast, the high point of the week was our amazing visit to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. ( http://www.balloonfiesta.com ) We chose this week to visit Santa Fe specifically so we could go to the Fiesta. We had purchased Chaser Club tickets for a morning event, and had a marvelous time. (See reply #39 in this Tug thread: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200029&page=2 ) This event is something unforgettable, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Everyone needs to experience the Balloon Fiesta. ☺
Changeable Fall weather took over during the week, and there was a mix of cold temperatures, high wind, incredibly heavy rain, and even hail at the condo. Next day there was snow on the hills around Santa Fe. When it first started, we decided to try and get away from it by driving up to Abiquiu, to see Ghost Ranch and the area Georgia O’Keeffe found so inspirational. Sadly, the poor weather only got worse, and it became so stormy, we couldn’t see anything worthwhile when we got there. Other than a white-knuckle drive, there wasn’t much to talk about. But as quickly as it came on, it went away, and the next day dawned to brilliant blue skies and crisp, fresh air. Being from the Pacific Northwest, where clouds and rain hang on for days, it was nice to have that Santa Fe storm come and go so quickly.
In between visiting the many galleries and museums, we were always looking out for interesting and worthwhile places to eat. With great information provided by several helpful Tuggers, (especially Luanne, who lives in Santa Fe), we had a good head start on things to see and do, and some better choices of restaurants to try. We aren’t much on “tourist food,” preferring to eat where the Locals eat. In that regard, Santa Fe had plenty of choices.
We used the Albertson’s store on North Guadalupe St. for groceries, an easy drive from the timeshare. (Santa Fe also has a Whole Foods and Trader Joes, among others.) This Albertson’s store also has a Starbucks, for those emergency caffeine needs. ☺
It seemed like good restaurants were everywhere, and we had to make tough decisions on where to eat out. Some of the restaurants we enjoyed during the week include:
Tomasita’s, (http://www.tomasitas.com ) in the Railyard area of town, and it was absolutely amazing. I was so impressed, I posted about it in reply #26 in this Tug thread: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200029&page=2
La Choza (http://www.lachozasf.com ) It was quite good, too. Comments are in reply #42 in this thread: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200029&page=2
Il Vicino Pizza (http://ilvicino.com/santafe/ ) We enjoyed this so much, we ate there twice. ☺
Marble Brewery Tap Room (http://www.marblebrewery.com/santa-fe-tap-room/ ) This place was selected not for the beer, (which looked quite good) but for coffee on a cool morning. We enjoyed sitting in their outdoor area, overlooking activities in The Plaza.
Palacio Café (http://palaciosantafe.com ) for fresh breakfast. It was very good, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. As a new restaurant in town, this place tries very hard to please.
The Pantry (http://www.pantrysantafe.com ) was the find of the week. An old Route 66 diner that has been around since 1948, The Pantry is a very busy place, hugely popular with Locals. The food was absolutely excellent, enough so that we ate here two days in a row. If I lived in Santa Fe, I’d eat here all the time. ☺
As a lifelong event, visiting Santa Fe absolutely did not disappoint. We were easily able to relax, and enjoyed taking a slower pace with things. There is plenty more to see and do that we didn’t do, but we found the week to be quite filled with plenty to remember. Now that we’ve had such a good time there, and knowing there is lots left to discover, we’re certain we’ll be back. Special thanks go to Luanne and the other Tuggers who gave us so many fun and interesting, helpful ideas. And Sheila, your Balloon Fiesta enthusiasm is contagious. Thank you all! You each made our week a great getaway.
Dave
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Hope you tried the frito pie at least once while you were in town.