Santa Fe, New Mexico

[luv2mickey]

I've been looking for a vacation spot this year that won't break the bank, can anyone tell me about Santa Fe?
Thanks

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I've been looking for a vacation spot this year that won't break the bank, can anyone tell me about Santa Fe?
Thanks

Great place to vacation, depending on the time of year. Will you fly to ABQ?

 

[princessnoelly]

I'm in Albuquerque, my mother is from Santa Fe. It's beautiful, avoid the spring- the wind is terrible and yuck!

I would fly into Albuquerque and rent a car to drive to Santa Fe. It's about a 45 minute drive.

Let me know if you have questions. Albuquerque is pretty too and we have lots to do here also.

 

[Falltime]

Definitely visit the Loretto Chapel to see the spiral staircase

If you go in Oct you can also catch the Balloon Fiesta in ABQ and riding the tram up the Sandia Mountains is always fun

of course there are lots of great mexican restaurants in both ABQ and Santa Fe

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

I am originally from Santa Fe, I live in Rio Rancho now. Santa Fe is absolutely beautiful, especially in the summer and fall months. Spring can be a toss up because of the wind at times. I agree with a PP who mentioned flying into ABQ (Albuquerque) and renting a car from there. With the option of the car, you can even take the opportunity to drive to some of the surrounding areas, if that is something your interested in, I can give you some ideas

Santa Fe can be a bit pricey at times, especially in the middle of summer, but the great thing about places like downtown, is the window shopping. The stores are really great, and the art galleries are wonderful, and are not too pricey for entry.

If I can be of any help, please let me know.

 

[bop28]

I just watched a Food Network program the other night called Diners Drive Ins and Dives that featured a restaurant in Santa Fe called the Tune Up Cafe or something similar. OMG...did it look good. I'd go to Santa Fe just for that!

 

[merekc]

Santa Fe is not what I think of when I think of a cheap vacation. My DH remembers it as the trip that all we did was shop.

We did this pre-kids, not sure you have any but if so, not sure what this area would have to offer to interest kids.

We did enjoy it though and we do want to go back.

 

[luv2mickey]

We will drive, we have 3 kids 19, 18, and 16, I've been looking for houses on VRBO. Any suggestions on sight seeing stuff would be appreciated.

 

[momabaarjo]

I just watched a Food Network program the other night called Diners Drive Ins and Dives that featured a restaurant in Santa Fe called the Tune Up Cafe or something similar. OMG...did it look good. I'd go to Santa Fe just for that!

Love the place...the hamburgers with fresh green chilis....

 

[momabaarjo]

If you go north to Taos (about an hour) there is lots of white water rafting trips on the Rio Grande...also great fishing and hiking near Red River and Eagle Nest...do the enchanted Circle Loop through these places...pretty drive.
In Taos, there is lots of artistic type shopping, there is the Rio Gorge Bridge, the Taos Pueblo. Lots of Native American gaming casinos, if you are in to that...not so much for us! Between Santa Fe and ABQ...there is a great Native American/Hispanic Replica Village/Mission/Museum...the American Girl Doll Josephina was based here.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

Love the place...the hamburgers with fresh green chilis....

Here in Santa Fe we spell chile with an E.

 

[nunzia]

Santa Fe is not what I think of when I think of a cheap vacation. My DH remembers it as the trip that all we did was shop.

We did this pre-kids, not sure you have any but if so, not sure what this area would have to offer to interest kids.

We did enjoy it though and we do want to go back.

ditto..I'm in Southern New Mexico and I can say there is alot to do down here...White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, Space Hall, etc., etc.

 

[nunzia]

Here in Santa Fe we spell chile with an E.

 

[vsimeone]

I've only been there once. in 1998(ish) we took a two week trip - flew into Albuquerque and drove north to Denver with a long stop in Colorado Springs. We drove back through Taos and Santa Fe. It was one of our most memorable trips and we'd LOVE to go back!

While we were in Santa Fe, we went to Bandalier (sp?) National Monument to see the Anasazi homes. Who knew that even more fascinating was seeing a mother bear with her two babies in the woods! While we're getting more wild bears here in NE Ohio, it is NOT something I have ever seen before or since!

I really don't know anything about Santa Fe other than to say that we really loved it and would love to go back again sometime!

 

[cuterlt]

Hello fellow New Mexicans!!!
I am in ABQ and have lived in NM for 30 some years if you have any questions or need suggestions. If you want to stay in Santa Fe, I suggest priceline - we've gotten Courtyard by Marriot for $43 (which includes tax and fees). I think Buffalo Thunder (a casino/hotel just outside of Santa Fe) does rooms for $79 - they are very nice!
Since you're driving, you might think about going through Jemez to get to Santa Fe the back way - it is absolutely gorgeous, through Valle Calderas, and Los Alamos. Takes more than the 45 minutes -60 minutes the straight way, but well worth the sight seeing.
Lots to do all over in New Mexico. Great food. Wonderful, friendly people. Depends on what you're interested in.

 

[leadfootlevi]

Hello fellow New Mexicans!!!
I am in ABQ and have lived in NM for 30 some years if you have any questions or need suggestions. If you want to stay in Santa Fe, I suggest priceline - we've gotten Courtyard by Marriot for $43 (which includes tax and fees). I think Buffalo Thunder (a casino/hotel just outside of Santa Fe) does rooms for $79 - they are very nice!
Since you're driving, you might think about going through Jemez to get to Santa Fe the back way - it is absolutely gorgeous, through Valle Calderas, and Los Alamos. Takes more than the 45 minutes -60 minutes the straight way, but well worth the sight seeing.
Lots to do all over in New Mexico. Great food. Wonderful, friendly people. Depends on what you're interested in.

Jemez Springs - take a dip in the natural hot springs. Splash around Soda Dam. Then head over to the local saloon - Los Ojos Saloon for their "Los Ojos Special." A 1/3 pound burger served open-faced on a bun surrounded by fried, topped w/cheese/red or green chile (go for the red). I'm salivating just thinking of it.

The red rocks are gorgeous. Be sure to stop for an Indian Bread Taco at one of the roadside stands.

I wish I could remember the name of it, but I can't. It's a rock bridge that you drive under. The view is amazing. It's somewhere around the Jemez area. Maybe south a little? I found it - Gilman Tunnels.

San Ysidro Church is one of my all time favorite church's.

As for Santa Fe - the market around the governors mansion is cool. There's not a lot else to do in Santa Fe except for shopping/browsing. The architecture is beautiful. There's a church with a very unique staircase, a couple of museums. Try to plan your visit around one of the festivals either in Santa Fe or one of the surrounding Indian Reservations. Restaurants in Santa Fe are pricey (as are the shops, but you can bargain with the artisans at the outdoor market).

Do go to Bandelier National Monument. I could just drive and eat my way through New Mexico. It's really beautiful.

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

Hello fellow New Mexicans!!!
I am in ABQ and have lived in NM for 30 some years if you have any questions or need suggestions. If you want to stay in Santa Fe, I suggest priceline - we've gotten Courtyard by Marriot for $43 (which includes tax and fees). I think Buffalo Thunder (a casino/hotel just outside of Santa Fe) does rooms for $79 - they are very nice!
Since you're driving, you might think about going through Jemez to get to Santa Fe the back way - it is absolutely gorgeous, through Valle Calderas, and Los Alamos. Takes more than the 45 minutes -60 minutes the straight way, but well worth the sight seeing.
Lots to do all over in New Mexico. Great food. Wonderful, friendly people. Depends on what you're interested in.

Jemez Springs - take a dip in the natural hot springs. Splash around Soda Dam. Then head over to the local saloon - Los Ojos Saloon for their "Los Ojos Special." A 1/3 pound burger served open-faced on a bun surrounded by fried, topped w/cheese/red or green chile (go for the red). I'm salivating just thinking of it.

The red rocks are gorgeous. Be sure to stop for an Indian Bread Taco at one of the roadside stands.

I wish I could remember the name of it, but I can't. It's a rock bridge that you drive under. The view is amazing. It's somewhere around the Jemez area. Maybe south a little? I found it - Gilman Tunnels.

San Ysidro Church is one of my all time favorite church's.

As for Santa Fe - the market around the governors mansion is cool. There's not a lot else to do in Santa Fe except for shopping/browsing. The architecture is beautiful. There's a church with a very unique staircase, a couple of museums. Try to plan your visit around one of the festivals either in Santa Fe or one of the surrounding Indian Reservations. Restaurants in Santa Fe are pricey (as are the shops, but you can bargain with the artisans at the outdoor market).

Do go to Bandelier National Monument. I could just drive and eat my way through New Mexico. It's really beautiful.

It's so great to see so many people from NM on here.

I would agree with the two posters above...San Ysidro Church is beautiful, as is the Loretto Chapel, with its "mysterious staircase", as well as the Cathedral if you are interested in churches and their history. Taos is a beautiful drive, and the scenery going up there is breathtaking if you have never done it, as is the "scenic route" through the valles caldera.

As I mentioned before and as the poster I quoted did as well, Santa Fe can be pricey if you shop a lot...but if you play your cards right, and come at a certain time of year, most of the time you can talk down the native american jewelry makers that sell downtown by the art galleries to some decent prices and get some great jewelry at a bargain. There really isn't much for kids unless you come during the winter months and you enjoy skiing...of course in October we have the International Balloon Fiesta which is a great thing to see. In September we have our State Fair, so there are plenty of rides and great food to be had there, along with some decent concerts and rodeos. Also in the beginning of September, we have our Fiestas de Santa Fe which is a big celebration over the course of 5 days beginning on a Thursday, where they burn Zozobra, followed by the pet parade on Saturday and a huge parade on Sunday.

And of course there are a few casinos near the Santa Fe/Albuquerque area as well. We've got the Hard Rock Casino in Isleta, Sandia and Santa Ana Casinos in Albuquerque/Bernalillo respectively. Hollywood Casino in San Felipe, Camel Rock Casino just outside of Tesuque, Which coinsidentially has a rock shaped like a camel just opposite the casino across the highway that is a tourist attraction all on its own, and Buffalo Thunder and Cities of Gold in Pojoaque.

If I can think of any other exciting things to see or do, I'll come back and post.

 

[goingthedistance]

Here in Santa Fe we spell chile with an E.

And the answer to "red or green?" is both, of course!

To add to what the other people have said about what to do, the Valles Caldera National Preserve is another very scenic area in northern New Mexico.

 

[momabaarjo]

Here in Santa Fe we spell chile with an E.

And where I come from rudeness is never tolerated...pointing out ones faults and in this case typos one should remember that when pointing at others 3 fingers point back at you.

 

[nunzia]

And where I come from rudeness is never tolerated...pointing out ones faults and in this case typos one should remember that when pointing at others 3 fingers point back at you.

Wow..I don't think it is is rude to nicely point out a cultural local standard.