My Mom, sister and I are headed to Santa Fe for a long weekend getaway. We plan to saty at the Inn at Ansazi. Does anyone have any advice on what we must see/do while we're there? And of course, what we should avoid as well?

Coyote Cafe for a nice meal.

There are several museums in the Plaza area and lots of shops. The Georgia O' Keefe Museum is interesting. Pick up a grilled beef or chicken sandwich from the little cart near the plaza at the corner on your walk to the museum from the Inn.

Dee Dee,

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Appetizers and drinks at your hotel (great bar)

2. Breakfast, lunch or dinner at Pasqual's.

3. Paella and Flamenco at El Farol (in the canyon)

4. Margaritas at The Dragon Room

Have a great trip!

Davidcs

Cruising the art galleries is a great way to spend a half day. So is a trip out to Taos Pueblo; check ahead to see if it's open to visitors that weekend - the schedule can be somewhat irregular.

Santa Fe is my alltime favorite place to visit and can't wait until my next visit. The weather should be beautiful at this time of the year, but even though I come from a part of the US where it NEVER snows, I even like to be there when it snows.

Here's a happening thing in Santa Fe: Look in the weekly (Wednesday) paper for Gallery Openings and on Friday nights on Canyon Road (Do not miss shopping on Canyon Road--it's at least a half day event and is walkable--no parking to speak of), many galleries are "open" with great people watching, great art and free food and wine. How can you miss???

Another electic thing, if this is your sort of thing, TRADER JACK's Flea Market is held Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the road to the Opera House and is lot's of fun.

Enjoy, and I'm sure you will return!!

Do you gals like bare-hiney spanking? We've got some of that going on in town.

definitely coyote cafe, it's a great restaurant. also try geronimo's.

i took a 1/2 day trip out to the pueblos in bandelier. taos is very far away and bandelier is only about an hour or so away i think and very interesting and beautiful. there's a lookout point on the way overlooking the rio grande which is pretty spectacular too. we drove back to santa fe at sunset and were absolutely blown away at how beautiful the sky was against the mesas.

you will love the anasazi. it is the best place to stay in town in my opinion. have a great time!

Just got back from 5 days in SF. Love it. Our best meals were at Cafe Pasquale ($90 for 2), Il Piatto ($45)on W. Marcy, and Plaza Cafe ($40) for funky atmosphere and good mexican food. Santacafe excellent but overrated. Have heard the same but don't know from experience about Coyote. Check out the galleries on Canyon Rd for a couple of hours; the Georgia O'Keeffe museum is lovely. Shopping on Palace Ave, and the native sellers in front of the Palace of Governors shouldn't be missed. Don'[t expect a lot from the Bandalier pueblos unless you're on a tour. The drive to Taos is glorious, both High Road and Low Road, and well worth a day if you can afford the time. The town of Taos is wonderful, and the prices on pottery much better than in SF. Don't miss the San Francisco de Assis church a couple of miles south of Taos. Enjoy!

To do: Bandelier. Take the LONG hike back into the canyon, well past where most of the tourists stop. It WILL be rewarding. Puye Indian Cliffs is also a great outdoor spot. An Indian dwelling sitting on to top of a mesa. You have to take several ladders to make it to the top, but when you do, WOW.
I liked Paul's restaurant in Santa Fe and I think the Cowgirl Hall of Fame is lots of fun (the food isn't that great, however). I think the Coyote Cafe is way overrated. Take a spin down the Turquoise Trail and have lunch or dinner at the Lost Mine Tavern. Talk about a funky and lively place.
Personally, I love the drive to Taos, but I am not real impressed with the town of Taos. Also, the pueblo (though one of the largest and nicest and most photographed) in Taos is somewhat depressing. I'd also head out to Abiquiu. It's a great, quiet area -- and you'll see why Georgia O'Keefe painted what she did. Have fun.

has no one mentioned doing the whole spa thing at 10,000 Waves? it is a must do and an incredible experience. do the private hot tub for you all to share and follow up with a message, etc. for food the santacafe was fantastic and of course geronimo. you will do canyon road. check out the scuplture gardens and foundry outside of town (the name escapes me, but it was very beautiful and interesting.)
have a great time, such a unique and wonderful city!

I am surprised no mentioned the restaurant at your hotel - The Anasazi Restaurant. It was my favorite - you should definetly eat there. Another restaurant I really liked was Guadalupe Cafe. It would be a good place to have lunch. They have great salads. If you have time, I would drive up to Taos and go to the Taos Pueblo. We also like the Cliff Dwellings. You do not have to climb up to the top (which might be too much for Mom) - you can drive to the top. Have fun. You will love it.

We just returned from a week in Santa Fe. We stayed out on Cerillos Rd. Much cheaper, but you need a car and be willing to drive back and forth along a busy road. No one has mentioned the art collection at the state capitol. We highly recommend it. Its free and you will see a lot of painting and sculpture that will add to your understanding of New Mexico.