Lodging in a Nutshell |
by Kate Winslow, Santa Fe Correspondent |
 With its 300 sunny days a year, more than 250 art galleries and museums, excellent restaurants, terrific skiing conditions and close proximity to ancient ruins, natural hot springs and breathtaking hiking trails, no wonder Santa Fe continues to be an enduringly popular destination for families, couples and business travelers alike.
The state capitol of New Mexico boasts a population of more than 65,000, and somehow straddles the fine line of maintaining big-city sensibilities and small-town charm.
Though many people think desert when they hear Santa Fe, the city is actually perched at 7000 feet, making this area the "high desert." Thus, Santa Fe is blessed with lots of sunshine, warm summer days and cool evenings (bring sweaters and long pants for your nights here). Winters see more sunshine, mild to cold temperatures and many bouts of sparkling snow which lure in skiers who hope to tackle the Santa Fe Ski Basin, less than 20 miles from downtown in the lovely Sangre de Cristo mountain range.
Santa Fe is well-recognized for its arts scene. Whether or not you agree that it's the third largest art market in the world, you have to admit that there's almost a daunting amount of art to be seen here. Much of it can be found in the art galleries that line the famed Canyon Road or around the Plaza downtown, many of which specialize in Southwestern and Native American art.
In addition, the audience and appreciation for contemporary work has increased with the growth of SITE Santa Fe, Plan B Evolving Arts and galleries such as James Kelly Contemporary and Charlotte Jackson Fine Art. Many hours can be whiled away wandering through the extensive Museum of New Mexico system which includes the Museum of Fine Arts, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, the not-to-be missed Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.
The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian and the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum add extra insight into the enormous range of native art. The world-famous Spanish Market in July and Indian Market in August and also attract tens of thousands visitors each summer.
Summer is a popular time to visit Santa Fe also because of the Santa Fe Opera, which schedules performances through July and August. Santa Fe Stages' summer season also brings in some of the most challenging theater, musical and dance performances that local (and visiting) audiences can hope to see. And to keep you further occupied, a multitude of other top-notch local performing arts groups schedule performances throughout the year, featuring the best in local and global talent.
Getting in and out of Santa Fe can be a little tricky. The most direct entrance into Santa Fe is through the Santa Fe Municipal Airport, just south of the city. It offers commercial (puddle-jumper) flights to and from Denver on United Express; shuttle service and rental car companies are located at the airport. Most travelers arrive at the Albuquerque International Sunport which is located about 50 minutes south of Santa Fe (a little more if there is construction on I-25, which there often is).
The Sunport is served by most major airlines, and several shuttle services can quickly whisk you up to Santa Fe, with or without reservations. As for getting around the city itself, renting a car is your best option. Downtown is easily navigated by foot, but for day trips or getting to hotels in the Cerrillos Road area, travelers will find it easiest to have their own transportation. A city bus system does exist, but even locals have a hard time figuring it out.
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