Not long ago I decided to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico. A city I had heard many things about but had never been. Santa Fe is a magical, historical place and I definitely encourage travelers to experience all that this lovely desert city has to offer.
I traveled to Santa Fe by car, and though the drive was a long one, it was also beautiful. For me, driving was cost effective, but if driving isn’t possible or takes longer than a day or two, there are plenty of low fares available from a variety of airlines.
Once there, you will fall in love with the charm that is Santa Fe. There is much to see and experience in this enchanting town. If it’s culture and history you are after, then you have come to the right place. In the center of town, there is one art gallery after another, with the majority featuring the work of local artists. The desert never looked so beautiful when depicted in a water color or oil painting. The colors of the earth and sky are truly spectacular. Art is everywhere you look in Santa Fe. There are more than a dozen museums within the town and over 200 art galleries. I visited the city in the chilly month of November so I did not get to experience the many outdoor art festivals; however, in the summer months, the city hosts the Santa Fe Indian Market, one of the largest events in the city with more than 12,000 artists from over 100 Native American tribes.
Of course, I cannot mention Santa Fe without enthusiastically recommending the Georgia O’Keefe museum. Georgia O’Keefe was visually and creatively inspired by the New Mexico landscape, and to see the museum dedicated to her work is to see this magical place through her eyes.
Even if you don’t have access to a car, there is plenty to see and do in the center of town. This area is known as The Plaza and is surrounded by historic buildings, a variety of shops, hotels and restaurants. Some of the more famous landmarks on the Plaza include St. Francis Cathedral, Loretto Chapel and the Palace of the Govenors. Visitors can spend several days seeing all there is to see in the center of this amazing city.
The dining in Santa Fe is, in a word, delicious. The variety of restaurants offering authentic Mexican cuisine are obviously numerous and one is better than the next. Many establishments offer live music and delightful dining ambiance. You will certainly be well-fed in this Land of Enchantment.
If you have not yet visited this part of the world, it is truly a magical place. This city has a lot to offer the visitor staying for a short weekend get-away as well as for a longer extended period of time. So next time you’re planning a trip where the food is great, the local people inviting, and the cost to stay is reasonably inexpensive, consider the beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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