S Fe v S Francisco
 

I am travelling to LA and San Diego on business next month and would like to extend my trip to the US by an extra week. Given that I am a woman travelling on my own, where would you suggest that I spend my week? (I get one internal flight included in my fare from London). At the moment it's a toss up between Santa Fe and San Francisco - but if you have any other suggestions....

Tough choice!! And talk about apples and oranges.....they are so different, but both very special, unique spots. Given that both have gorgeous views and interesting museums, do you prefer browsing in large, "known name" stores or small art galleries? Do you prefer a more cosmopolitan city or a smaller, SW feeling? Both have easy walk-around areas--San Francisco if you stay in the vicinity of Union Square, Santa Fe if you stay in the vicinity of the plaza. Also, if you rent a car, both have fabulously scenic nearby drives (for example: The Napa Valley and in the case of Santa Fe the "back road" to Taos through Truchas. You can't go wrong with either choice, just sort of depends on your preferences. If you're coming from London, perhaps you want a change from a major city....Santa Fe has certainly more to do than the average city of its size--but still lacks the "cosmopolitan" feeling of a major city. Not to say it doesn't have its own wonderful charm, however! Good luck deciding!!

Kathy has summed up the differences pretty well. I personally would opt for San Francisco as it is truly one of the great cities of the world. It all depends what your prferences are. Santa Fe is not one of my favorite spots but many others like it. <BR> <BR>San Francisco is very unique and there are some great places for day trips such as Monterey and Carmel, Muir woods, Napa Valley etc.

If you have a whole week...how about this: Take the Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to San Francisco (get a compartment, event tho it's not an o'nite). This is an incredible trip...for several hours, you are right above the Pacific...closer than any highway. The service is all first class; the travellers, being train folks, are friendly and chatty. Spend a few days in San Francisco, and you could still do your flight to Santa Fe from there? (e-m me if you'd like more train info; it's a splendid trip) Have you been to the US before? The previous comments make excellent points about both places...Santa Fe certainly would be an experience very different from the UK, whereas cities ARE cities, even when they're very special ones like SF. Having had a dreadful time trying to make the adjustment to driving in the UK earlier this year, I wonder how comfortable you will feel about motoring yourself about from either place? Hope you'll let us know what you decide -- it's a pretty neat dilemma to have and I'm curious as to how you'll resolve it.

What a decision to have to make! All prior comments are valid. Having lived in Santa Fe for the past 12 years, I would comment that it is unfornately changing very rapidly due to real estate and commercial entrepeneurs who don't realize the magic that they are disrupting and literally distroying. Go now before it becomes a major metropolitan city like San Fransico. <BR>