Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

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JMKEBogleGuy
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Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by JMKEBogleGuy »

I've seen a number of posts on travel here and the advice is always great... I'll be traveling solo to spend a few days (6) in Santa Fe with the idea of some exploring from Albuquerque to Taos. Interests are art historical museums , day hiking, perhaps a round of golf and local food...and any other interesting no spots to visit in the area. Interested in your experiences and suggestions. Thanks for any suggestions you have.

Was planning on taking the Sandia Tram and also the Georgia O'Keefe museum as a start.... I'll be based in Santa Fe so any good food suggestions there are appreciated.
goblue100
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by goblue100 »

A beer and a green chile cheeseburger here:
http://santafebite.com/

*Edit. I believe the beer I enjoyed was Santa Fe Nut Brown Ale. A local beer.
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Dottie57
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by Dottie57 »

Great place to go. Look at the art galleries. The jewelry marketplace is great. Lots of historical places to visit. Echo canyon is kind of fun. Tons to do. Taos is nice. I stayed in bed and breakfasts years ago. Worth the money.
adamthesmythe
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by adamthesmythe »

New Mexico Museum of Art is in the middle of town, both building and collection interesting

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture if you are into that sort of thing

La Fonda Hotel for more traditional food and also architecture and history

I can't advise on the current nouveau New Mexico cuisine joints but be sure to find one. Santa Fe is chile central.
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FrugalInvestor
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by FrugalInvestor »

Check out La Choza for authentic and excelllent New Mexican food.
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Minty
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by Minty »

Really loved the Coyote Cafe and Cantina for dinner. One of our favorite meals ever.
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telemark
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by telemark »

If I had the opportunity I would visit Meow Wolf.

http://grrm.livejournal.com/527627.html
LAR
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by LAR »

Bandelier National Monument it has a cool pueblo ruin. Las Golindrinas it is a colonial farm, but they have weird hours. Tent Rocks the tramway
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by LAR »

There are numerous routes you can take to get to Taos. The high road is beautiful, but the route that passes through Abiqui puts you by Echo Canyon and there is a place nearby called the Ghost Ranch where Georgia Okeefe saw inspiration for her paintings and they have a hiking trail. It also leads to the Rio Grande Gorge and close to the Gorge you can tour an Earth Ship. I recommend you google Earth Ships. Maybe drive up through Abiqui and back via the high road to Taos through Chimayo to see the Santuario de Chimayo.
Random Poster
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by Random Poster »

Palacio Cafe, on East Palace, in downtown Santa Fe. Just a bit diagonal from the Cathedral and across from the Drury Inn.

Service can be slow, but the owner and his wife are very friendly and the food is very reasonably priced. If you want New Mexican food, they have (some) of it. The green chile stew is excellent, and the breakfast burrito (smothered) will fill you up all day. If you just want a sandwich or a regular breakfast or something that isn't New Mexican cuisine, they've got that too.

The owner used to be the head chef at The Shed, so he knows how to cook.

There is a Palacio Cafe 2 on Don Gaspar, also in downtown Santa Fe, that I believe is operated by the owner's son. Haven't been there, but I presume that the menu is the same.

Note that their hours aren't tourist-friendly, as they close by 5:00.
bi0hazard
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by bi0hazard »

Bandelier!!
Disclaimer: I'm not very smart, and this is just my hypothesis.
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jimgour
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by jimgour »

JMKEBogleGuy:

You've been given some good advice so far. There is a lot to see and do in northern New Mexico. In addition to "The High Road to Taos", I would also recommend "The Jemez Loop", which is a nice day trip. Don't google "Jemez Loop" because I just made the name up. We have lived in Northern New Mexico for forty years now, so I will offer some additional things along the "Jemez Loop".

The Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos (there is no admission charge):
http://www.visitlosalamos.org/science-museum/

The Valle Caldera in the Jemez Mountains (no fee to drive through the area):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valles_Caldera

The Soda Dam in Jemez Springs (no fees to visit the site):
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_ ... exico.html

Jemez State Monument and Battleship Rock (fee for the State Monument):
http://www.jemezmountaintrail.org/Jemez ... ument.html

Los Ojos Saloon in Jemez Springs (good place to have lunch - no fee but you have to pay for your lunch):
http://www.losojossaloon.com/

The Gilman Tunnels (south of Jemez Springs - no entrance fee)
http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-mexi ... tunnel-nm/

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument (near Cochiti - National Monument fee unless you have a national parks pass):
https://www.theoutbound.com/new-mexico/ ... l-monument

Jim
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JMacDonald
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by JMacDonald »

Here are two things you can do for evening entertainment:

https://www.santafeopera.org/

https://www.entreflamenco.com/
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jimgour
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by jimgour »

PS Don't skip Bandelier National Monument. I didn't mention it in my post above because others already talked about it. It is a gem, and you won't regret going there. But you might want to spend a day there, including a hike through the Tsankawi part of Bandelier (a lot less people) which is physically separated from the main Bandelier area. Doing the Bandelier areas on the same day as the "Jemez Loop" would probably take too much time. PM me if you want more information.

Jim
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oldzey
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by oldzey »

Recommendations:
La Choza and The Shed (both very popular)
Maria's (been there forever, be sure to try their sopaipillas at least once, parking can be a challenge, George RR Martin dines there).
Tomasita's (also been there forever - large restaurant, ample parking, but busy)
The Compound (been there forever, good place to stop while art shopping on Canyon Road).
And yes, if you can see ANY show at the Santa Fe Opera, it's a bucket-list destination - one of a kind.
Also, a place that I found by accident at the upper end of Canyon Road is the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary (hike the trails).
Also, you can take 475 up towards Ski Santa Fe and have a nice picnic in the Santa Fe National Forest.
And when you're done with all that, stop for a refreshment in the French Pastry Shop at the La Fonda.
Or stop at the Collected Works Bookstore and curl up with a book, plus some coffee.
And yes, Bandelier, Los Alamos, Taos, and all the local museums. Shopping in the Plaza is great, albeit very expensive. Parking is outrageous, but there's usually free entertainment in the Plaza. If you're lucky, you can find a place to sit in the shade. :happy
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by LadyGeek »

This thread is now in the Personal Consumer Issues forum (travel).
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bluebolt
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by bluebolt »

Definitely allocate a few hours to walk down Canyon Road and spend time in the art galleries that strike your fancy. Walk around The Plaza and check out the Native American artists/vendors on the Palace of the Governors.

As mentioned above, Tomasita's is an institution, but you can find better food. I would check out Yelp/TripAdvisor to help you out.

Sounds like you are going soon/when the weather's warm, but if you're there Christmastime it's wonderful to walk through the streets of the old city and enjoy the luminarias. Also, Taos and Santa Fe have great skiing.
Topic Author
JMKEBogleGuy
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by JMKEBogleGuy »

Thanks so much everyone you guys have some great information !

Appreciate all your suggestions!
BusterMcTaco
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by BusterMcTaco »

I'd personally skip Albuquerque unless you have particular interest in something there. I recommend Horseman's Haven for breakfast, Meow Wolf for the experience, and Ten Thousand Waves in the evening for unwinding (and the Japanese, non sushi restaurant there is good, too).

Taos was worth an afternoon to me but is more for the drive than the destination IMHO. I bet others would disagree with me though.

Get away from the city lights and look at the stars if you can.
Strayshot
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by Strayshot »

Ojo Calliente is a fun spot for some mud bathing or hot springs if you don't want the 10000 waves spa experience.

If you will be in Albuquerque for the Tram, check out the ABQ Trolley Co tour also. The museums are nice but nothing particularly special, the biopark and aquarium are probably more fun. Tons of great microbreweries that regularly win international accolades, including Marble, La Cumbre, Canteen, Boxing Bear, on and on. Santa Fe brewing and 2nd Street are also great in Santa Fe.

If you are going to do a day in ABQ I'd hit Tia Betty Blues for breakfast, get on the Trolley at 10, finish around 4, spend 2 hours at the bio park, grab a pint at the Marble taproom on Montgomery on the way to the tram and eat from whatever food truck is there, then take an evening tram ride in hopes of it being light on the way up and dark on the way down. If not, stop at the Sandra casino rooftop bar on the way back to Santa Fe that night to enjoy the city lights (or just crash there for the night). Hotel Andaluz is another spot to crash and if you stay in town late catch a stand up show downtown.

Just some thoughts from an ABQ lifer......
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JMKEBogleGuy
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by JMKEBogleGuy »

Nice appreciate your suggestions! :sharebeer
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oldzey
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by oldzey »

P.S. If you're coming up from ABQ (airport?), then I'd recommend taking the Turquoise Trail (aka Highway 14) either coming up to or going back from Santa Fe.

P.P.S. Don't know if you have your hotel lined up, but I always stay at the Residence Inn south of town. Good location, homey, and reasonably priced. Besides the free daily breakfast, they offer a free light dinner or evening appetizers a couple times a week. It's a nice break after you've overindulged on southwestern cuisine and are getting tired of red and green Chile. It's located in a nice residential/business park neighborhood which is good for morning/evening walks and getting away from the hustle and bustle of the Plaza. :D
Last edited by oldzey on Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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InMyDreams
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by InMyDreams »

Bandelier. Jemez. Valle Grande (the sunken Caldera).

I have fond memories of The Shed in Santa Fe, but don't know how it's doing now.

Garduno's in ABQ used to be the place to eat New Mexican style food, but it had major money problems, & don't know if any of its sites still exist/are worth eating at. Bruno's took over one its sites, and was supposed to be good.
http://www.elbrunos.com/
http://gardunosrestaurants.com/
The state Question is: Red or Green? as in chile. Do you eat hot food?

You won't be there for the Balloon Fiesta?
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Take the tram in ABQ to the top of the Sandias and enjoy the view and a walk. If you really want a hike - the La Luz trail.
http://www.sandiapeak.com/
http://www.laluztrail.com/

The Bosque along the river.
https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation ... sque-trail

You probably don't want to skip on down to the Socorro area? See where the Manhattan Project guys used to eat a burger. Trinity is only open twice a year. The VLA. The bird refuge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_( ... #Test_site
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_G._J ... arge_Array
http://www.nmgastronome.com/?p=176
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque_del_apache/

There's never enough time to see it all, wherever you go!
Volkdancer
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by Volkdancer »

In addition to the New Mexico Museum of Art, I found the collection of New Mexico Art in the state capitol building quite interesting. Plus the additional benefit of the free parking lot across the street and an easy walk to the plaza.

The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian has an excellent small collection and a shop where one can purchase authentic and vary fairly priced art objects (rugs, jewelry et cetera).

If you are hiking, there is a nice trail to Nambe Lake starting from the ski area. Then go eat!

Good luck finding your way around the streets of Santa Fe. It can be challenging even with a gps.

Karl V
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by PVW »

If you are a mtn bike rider, there are many options. For a physical challenge, do a vertical mile starting in Tesuque and ride up the Windsor trail then to the top of the Santa Fe Ski area. You can also go the other direction. If you need a hot soak, take a scenic trip up to San Antonio hot springs (clothing optional).

My personal food choices are:
- Blake's Lotaburger green chili burger is the best fast food burger in the country.
- In Santa Fe, Maria's, The Shed/La Choza, Plaza Cafe for breakfast
- Tomasita's is often recommended for out-of-towners, a solid choice, but there are better
- outside of Santa Fe, El Nido in Tesuque, Gabriel's on the way to Pojoaque, Los Alamos Chili Works for New Mexican fast food, Rancho de Chimayo, or El Paragua in Espanola.

Edit: Looks like El Nido has closed and reopened since my time there, so don't rely on my recommendation.
casualflower
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by casualflower »

Santa Fe resident here. Welcome to our fair city!

The food selection is broad and deep and delicious. It can get spicy, we have "chili" which is a red or green pepper sauce.

Most of the stuff I'd recommend has been covered, I'll emphasize:
Meow Wolf
Museum Hill
Georgia O'Keefe Museum
High Road to Taos with a stop at Sanctuario de Chimayo
10K Waves or Ojo Caliente

Some local restaurant favorites are:
Cowgirl (dinner)
Tune Up Cafe (breakfast / lunch)
2nd Street Brewery (dinner)
Pantry (breakfast)
Gabriel's (dinner)

There's a good public golf course, Marty Sanchez links and one 15 minutes outside of town at the Buffalo Thunder Casino.

There's dozens great hikes to be had. For out of towners, the Rio en Medio is pretty flat and shortish with a waterfall at the end. Driving up to the ski basin is nice, especially in September/October when the leaves change. They run the ski lifts then too.

Remember, Santa Fe is at 7,500 feet and the altitude will hit you especially if drinking alcohol and / or exercising. Plus more UV rays than you're used to. Drink lots of water and wear sunscreen. Bring rain gear. In the fall, we get frequent rains.
Dottie57
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Re: Santa Fe New Mexico - recommendations

Post by Dottie57 »

jimgour wrote:JMKEBogleGuy:

You've been given some good advice so far. There is a lot to see and do in northern New Mexico. In addition to "The High Road to Taos", I would also recommend "The Jemez Loop", which is a nice day trip. Don't google "Jemez Loop" because I just made the name up. We have lived in Northern New Mexico for forty years now, so I will offer some additional things along the "Jemez Loop".

The Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos (there is no admission charge):
http://www.visitlosalamos.org/science-museum/

The Valle Caldera in the Jemez Mountains (no fee to drive through the area):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valles_Caldera

The Soda Dam in Jemez Springs (no fees to visit the site):
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_ ... exico.html

Jemez State Monument and Battleship Rock (fee for the State Monument):
http://www.jemezmountaintrail.org/Jemez ... ument.html

Los Ojos Saloon in Jemez Springs (good place to have lunch - no fee but you have to pay for your lunch):
http://www.losojossaloon.com/

The Gilman Tunnels (south of Jemez Springs - no entrance fee)
http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-mexi ... tunnel-nm/

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument (near Cochiti - National Monument fee unless you have a national parks pass):
https://www.theoutbound.com/new-mexico/ ... l-monument

Jim
A companion and I drove around the caldera one October. Lovely ride.

Echo canyon is fun.

Try to see the deep slit into the earth that is the Rio grande.
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