Things to do around Santa Fe

[wandering gnome Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wandering gnome]

We are going to Santa Fe later this month. Do you have any recommendations of things to do, places to eat, etc. in and around the Santa Fe area? We will probably make at least one trip to Albuquerque and would also like to visit the local national/state parks.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

I wrote a long reply, which apparently didn't post. This time, I'll try a short version.

Drive as though you are going to Los Alamos and BandelierNote: this drive is simply not the same if you do it from Albuquerque; I wouldn't bother to make it if I were starting in Albuquerque; if I were staying in Albuquerque, I'd drive to Santa Fe on I-25 and do the drive from there., but don't stop on this trip. Continue on west from Los Alamos. You'll pass a beautiful valley off to the right; it's huge. If it's been a wet spring, you'll see fat cattle standing in grass up to their bellies. You're looking at the world's largest caldera (blown-out top of a volcano) and it stretches so far you'll have trouble believing that's what it is. Be sure to stop and read the road-side marker about it. Continue west. You'll find a place to turn to Jemez Springs, and that's the way you want to go--I think it's highway 4 (but I could be way off on the number). As you go south, you'll pass a natural soda dam at Soda Springs. Get out, experience it.

Continue south until you come to the state park (ruins) on your left, and there's a monastery on the right. Explore the ruins. One of my favorite memories is approaching the altar about sunset and having the monastery bells across the road begin to chime at the same time. I've been there many times, but never at that moment again.

Continue on south. You'll come to a main highway; turn east and head for Albuquerque; it's clearly marked.

In Rio Rancho (town across the river from Albuquerque, really just a suburb), you'll have the opportunity to go to the Petroglyph National Monument, which in my opinion, is not to be missed. All the trails are super easy--some are a whole 10 minutes walk on level ground--and the petroglyphs are everywhere.

Favorite restaurant in Albuquerque-----very hard to say, but if I had to choose one, I'd pick El Pinto. As you go back to Santa Fe on I-25, you'll come to the Sandia Casino exit (it's a nice casino). To get to the casino, you turn right. To get to El Pinto, you turn left. The restaurant is on the left hand side of the road. Good food, great people, great atmosphere. Tell them it's your first visit and you were told to ask for an outside table or a "pretty room." They'll accomodate you.

Continuing back to Santa Fe, if you didn't stop for dinner, you'll see a turnoff at Bernalillo for the Coronado State Monument. It's one of my favorites.

The drive from Albuquerque to Santa Fe on I-25 is about an hour.

Doing these things is still one of my favorite days when I'm in the area. I usually have to sacrifice the Coronado State Monument because I can't give up El Pinto--and sometimes I need to stop at Sandia. We saw a James Taylor concert at Sandia last fall--great venue: open air amphitheater, perfect weather in the evening. You might want to check and see what acts they have while you're there. I know Sheryl Crow is going to be there this year Sandia Resort & Casino. Hotel & Entertainment - Albuquerque, NM

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

Thanks for the very detailed post. I will also be heading to Santa Fe for the first time on the 26th of this month, after a week in Flagstaff. I will be printing out your post to take along.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

Bandelier and the museum at Los Alamos are definitely worth the time. They're just a separate trip. The flea market on the weekends is quite something also--it's more sellers than I've ever seen congregated anyplace.

My favorite place to shop for jewelry is the Santa Fe plaza where you are actually dealing with the artist, but if you are looking for bargains, the place to buy is Gallup (though it's a drive, and you'd need to stay overnight). 95% of the Native American art in the U.S. passes through Gallup--and the prices are quite different from those you will find in Santa Fe, or even Albuquerque.

If you are going to buy, consider driving to Albuquerque to shop; prices are better-----other than buying from the artist on the plaza. To sell on the plaza, it is necessary to be Native American, and that's a different story from other venues.

If you go to Albuquerque, be sure to go to the top of Sandia Peak. The drive is lovely, and there is also a tram if you are interested.

As you can probably tell, I love New Mexico. We lived there only 2 1/2 years, but in many ways, my heart has never left.

[10AC-TYM Member Find all posts View Profile Close 10AC-TYM]

We followed your information today..Albuquerque to Santa Fe. Thanks for the information. We enjoyed the drive and sights.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

I'm glad; it's always nice when a recomendation works for someone.

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

When we were in Santa Fe many years ago, the highlight of our trip was an excursion to an old Anasazi pueblo, the site of one of the largest cave dwelling ruins. At that time you could climb ladders to various levels of cave dwellings, and end up on the mesa where there were more ruins and a pretty well maintained kiva. Very interesting.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

Probably Bandolier.

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

I don't think it was Bandolier, as it was quite a bit smaller and not developed in the same way. There wasn't even a visitor's center, but then again this was probably 25 years ago!

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Besides what has already been mentioned, in Santa Fe:
- Georgia O'Keefe museum
- Palace of the Governor's tour
- one of the ghost walks

Restaurants:
- Cafe Martin
- Plaza Cafe
- Cafe Pasquel

[10AC-TYM Member Find all posts View Profile Close 10AC-TYM]

We are staying at Otra Vez for the week. We'll check out the ghost tours.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

We are staying at Otra Vez for the week. We'll check out the ghost tours.

We did two different ghost tours on our first visit. Both were enjoyable. Learned a lot about the history of the area in addition to the "ghostly events". I think I found the information on the Santa Fe tourism website (which is very good by the way).

We're going to be staying at Otra Vez this Thanksgiving. I'll be interested in your feedback. It looks like a great location.

[flexible Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close flexible]

We followed your information today..Albuquerque to Santa Fe. Thanks for the information. We enjoyed the drive and sights.

We were in Sante Fe until two days ago. We took the Fall Scenic Chairlift to see the changing colors of leaves and it was spectacular!