Sassy Sante Fe New Mexico

Sante Fe, located about an hour's drive north of Albuquerque New Mexico, is a charming town, filled with classic abode architecture, art galleries, and romantic hostelries. It's a unique place to spend a relaxing honeymoon.

Sante Fe History

Sante Fe traces its history back further than most cities in the United States. Founded between 1601 and 1607, it is the second oldest city in the country (behind St. Augustine, Florida). "Settled" by the Spanish, Sante Fe remained Spain's provincial capital until the Spanish-American War ceded the territory to the United States in 1848. Today, the city's Spanish and Native American heritage is still widely evident.

What to See in Sante Fe

Sante Fe's compact size makes it easy to get around and explore the many nooks and crannies of this historic city. Among the many things to do are:

• Historic District – Strolling through the downtown historic district is a must. Local zoning laws prohibit any building not in the pueblo or adobe style so the entire area has a Native American ambience. Shopping in the district offers good buys on pottery, silver jewelry, and other craft items.

• Art Galleries – The streets of downtown Sante Fe are lined with small galleries featuring a variety of art, especially "Southwestern Art" and American folk art. You'll also find jewelry, glass pieces, and textile art.

• Georgia O'Keeffe Museum – American painter, Georgia O'Keeffe lived most of her life in and around Sante Fe and some of her best work depicts the plants, people, and landscape of New Mexico. The museum that bears her name includes more than 300 of her paintings.

• Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi – Built in the late 19^th century, this French Romanesque Revival-style church is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

• Ski New Mexico – Sante Fe, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, is 7000 feet above sea level and offers a number of nearby ski resorts. In addition, the town is just 70 miles from the world-class resort of Taos, New Mexico.

Visiting Sante Fe

Although Sante Fe has a small airfield, most visitors fly into Albuquerque and make the hour's drive north to Sante Fe. Albuquerque is easily accessible via non-stop flights from Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles, and via connecting flights from all over North America and Europe.

A car rental is a necessity when visiting Sante Fe to explore the countryside surrounding the city and to get back and forth to the airport at Albuquerque.

Sante Fe offers a wide array of accommodations. Even the more traditional hotels, such as the Hilton, are housed in unique adobe-style structures. Bed and Breakfast inns abound in the city, many of them offering singular accommodations with high-beamed ceilings, walled patios, and scrumptious Mexican-style breakfasts.

Image: Typical Sante Fe Architecture

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