I will be in Santa Fe the first week in July and LA the second. I have picked up lots of tips of what to do from your forum. Will be attending the opera in Santa Fe and the Hollywood Bowl in LA and would love suggestions on what to wear. I understand both are outdoors. Sweater? Fleece? Ski jacket??? How dressy? Thanks in advance.

You'll see anything at the Santa Fe Opera from formal dress to a tux with blue jeans and a bolo tie to business casual to jeans and t-shirts. Wear what you like.

You might want a light wrap for the evenings, but I seriously doubt you'll need a fleece or ski jacket in July - unless the cooler than normal weather we've been having continues.

Have fun at the opera! What will you be seeing?

Lee Ann

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. I guess I"ll leave the fleece at home and go with a pant suit and a shawl. I am going to be on an Elderhostel program and will be seeing Natalie Dessay in Traviata and The Elixir of Love. Am really looking forward to it.

Well, it is snowing in the Santa Fe mountains today!

Personally, I would wear fleece. It can get pretty chilly in the evenings here. I would also dress casually here, comfort wins out for me. For the most part, Santa Fe, as is most of the SW, casual.

Deb

Hollywood Bowl attire covers the full spectrum. The classical performances tend toward a slightly more conservative appearance, but you could even wear jeans if you wanted to. Be sure to take a sweater, light jacket, shawl, whatever. If we're not having a heatwave (more likely in August/September), the evening temps in the hills can be cool.

That's true, Deb - I mentioned this thread to Mr. Pickle and he said he would bring fleece. He gets cold more easily than I do.

Lee Ann

Hope this isn't too late...

I live here in Santa Fe (San Diego/San Francisco transplant).
Daytime temps have been in the upper-80's. Summer monsoons have periodically appeared--when they do, they come and go quickly...but can dump A TON OF RAIN. Nighttime lows have been in the mid-50's--but that's been in the early-morning hours. Last night I went to the store and saw a thermometer readin of 72-degrees at 10pm.

I forgot to add one thing: We're at 7,000 feet altitude. Lots of tourists get light-headed/winded/dizzy during their first few days here. Drinking even one beer or glass of wine feels like drinking a six-pack or a couple bottles of wine (until you get acclimated.) Ya gotta pace yourselves the first few days. Drink LOTS of water to stay hydrated.

And when the thunderstorms hit, the thunder can be EXTREMELY LOUD...and the lightning storms can be SPECTACULAR. It can freak out lots of visitors--especially kids.