Santa Fe Travel Forum

FIVE OF US (GALS) ARE GOING TO SANTA FE FOR 8 DAYS VERY SOON AND WE HAVE OUR RESERVATIONS. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SOME FUN PLACES TO GO. I READ SOMEPLACE ABOUT A CLUB THAT HAS ALL COWBOY STUFF.

AND NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR GOOD FOOD - THAT IS A MUST.

I WOULD LOVE TO GO VISIT A SANTERO (CARVER) I HOPE THIS IS THE CORRECT WORD.

WHAT IS THE MUST SEE. WE ARE OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOME LOCALS.

WE LIKE: ART - FOOD - POTTERY - HISTORY - DANCING - PERFORMANCES - SIGHT SEEING. DON'T MIND RIDING THE BUS. WE USUALLY GO OUR OWN WAYS DURING THE DAY.

THANKS, SANDRA

You want a country & western dance bar? I don't think that exists in Santa Fe. It's not really that kind of town and most of the bars are pretty upscale.
But the Cowgirl Hall of Fame might work for you:
http://www.santafenow.com/rest/cowgirl/

Sandra, I am not sure Albuquerque qualifies as a local but I'll try anyway. I glanced at the Santa Fe top 3 (none from Santa Fe though). All had good restaurant tips and SFHulaGirl probably had the better Things to Do and Nightlife tips. In the newest pages list, Hobanma had a very good restaurant list and LinColorado had some good tips (again neither are from Santa Fe). I am beginning to see your point. The first Santa Fe person on the list was CCW. I did not recognize many of CCW's restaurants but that may be a good thing (insider info).

Anyway, I also have pages for Santa Fe, Madrid (don't miss it; it is close to Santa Fe) and New Mexico. If you are interested in going to Taos and places in between, take a look at my Questa pages (recent VT Artists Retreat and associated road trips). Don't miss Gabriel's (about 5 miles north of the opera house).

I suggest you go to the famous spa not too far from Santa Fe; I think it is called Los Ojos or similar, run by local Indians. I thought the sulfur bath was great and then they wrap you in blankets for a good sweat and then massage. Enjoy

I have a girl friend in Sante Fe: She is an artsy kind of gal and I will ask her if she is up to it. She will wanna know when you intend to come. I will post her email address to you if she is game.
John

Check my travel tips on Sante Fe for some things to do.

If you're there between now and the 15th of October, you could check out the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/Guests/i_guests.php They have mass ascensions of hundreds of hot air balloons - it's an awesome sight. If I remember correctly, it was only about a 45 minute drive from Santa Fe.

I'm not a local but I love Santa Fe and go about once every year. My favorite restaurants are: Tortilla Flats (unfortunately when we were there May 2006, they were closed for remodeling), Guadalupe Cafe in the Plaza & Bob Cat Bites for the best green chile cheeseburgers (sounds strange but trust me, they are fantastic!)
We like to go hiking around Bandelier National Monument. You will need a car to get there. Don't forget your camera. We like to walk around the Plaza and I usally buy a piece of jewelery from one of the Native American's.

Tortilla Flats has reopened (it's on Cerrillos Road, about 2 miles from downtown). Guadalupe Cafe isn't on the Plaza -- it's about 4 blocks away near the State Capitol -- but it's a good place for breakfast and lunch. The best green chile cheeseburgers, IMHO, are (1) Bert's Burger Bowl on Guadalupe (a few blocks north of the San Francisco St. intersection) and Dave's Not Here on Hickox Street (a few blocks S. of St. Francis). Bobcat Bite is great too, but rather far out on the east side of town.

The hot springs resort someone mentioned is Ojo Caliente, about an hour's drive NW of Santa Fe -- they have a web site (ojocalientespa.com) that has hours, rates, facilities, services, etc.

Re santeros, the best place to start looking would be the Folk Art Museum, which has a good-sized section of NM traditional arts. Ask the docents, or someone in the shop, whether they know any santeros who welcome visitors to their studios (some do, some don't). The best times to meet traditional artists are during Spanish Market (usually late July) and the smaller winter market (usually around Thanksgiving).

Have a great time! I think Oct. is the best time to visit: the days are still warm (but bring a warm jacket, as it gets down into the 30's at night), the cottonwoods are golden, and there are fewer tourists than during the summer months.

The Cowgirl is the Cowboy bar. It's a bit fake though - very touristy. Still fun with the right crowd. Willees and El Paseo are better bars IMHO - both have live music and are packed on week nights. For dancing, well, I don't dance, but there's only one nightclub in town - Swig. Lots of dancing going on there. There are other dancing events (salsa, swing, etc) advertised in the Santa Fe Report - it's web site is sfreporter.com.

Art - there's plenty of it it. I try my darndest to avoid it.

Sight seeing - definately spend a half-day in Madrid, visit Pecos National Monument, Bandelier National Monument, and the Museaum in Los Alamos.

I'd avoid eating anywhere near the plaza - prices are criminal with one exception - Il Vicino - really great, cheap pizza.

Places that I'd say are MUSTS for eating...

BREAKFAST / LUNCH:
Santa Fe Baking Company - its clientele pretty much defines Santa Fe. Great food
Counter Culture - similar in a way to SF Baking Company.
Bumble Bees: A "Baja Grill". Slightly pricey, but very tasty.

DINNER:
India House on Cerillos rd.(Indian food, obviously). Try the Chicken Tikkia Massala - their's is unique. You can't find better anywhere in the world.
Marias (great New Mexican food).
Mariscos (Mexican sea food)
Il Vicino - see above.
Cleopatra Cafe - Santa Fe's best-kept secret if you ask me. Try the Gyro sandwich.
Tortilla Flats used to be great - the service sucks now though. I would recommend avoiding it.

Those are the places I go the most - some other places that might be hot or miss with you: Osaka (Sushi/Japanese Grill), Second Street Brewery, Tinys.

SNACKS:
Roasted tomato salsa at the Ore-house - the only awesome and well-priced item on their menu. Wash it down with a margarita or two.

I'd second Santa Fe Baking Company, but it always seems to be PACKED. Not sure if I'm going at the wrong time or what.

It *is* always packed. Sunday mornings/lunchtimes are the busiest. In the 100 or so times I've been there though, I've never had to wait for a seat.

Oh, another place you should visit for lunch is the Zia Diner. Not typically New Mexican, but great food & service. Best Shepherd's pie in the state if you ask me. 2nd Street Brewery a close second.