Santa Fe & Taos
 

We are planning a trip to Snata Fe and Taos in the middle of April for 5 days and would appreciate information - we are 4 very active ladies in our early 60's celebrating birthdays and want to see as much as possible - 1)Is it advisable to rent a car and drive from the Albuquerque airport or should we take public transportation? 2)Will we need a car in Santa Fe or should we take cabs? 3)Should we drive to Taos or take a tour? 4)We want to see interesting art and architecture and museums carefully plan our days - what would you reccommend?5) What very good restaurants would you suggest? Thanks for your help!

I went to Santa Fe last summer with 4 friends for a similar birthday celebration. Yes, you need to rent a car in Albuquerque to drive to Santa Fe. We did a deluxe spa treatment at 10,000 Waves and went to Abiquiu to tour Georgia O'Keeffe's home. You need to call well in advance for reservations for this tour--and need to make reservations for the spa, too. We ate lunch at the Abiquiu Inn before leaving for the tour. Good salads and sandwiches. We drove to these places; otherwise, we just walked. We had our big celebration dinner at Santacafe (need to make reservations), and that was wonderful. We ate Sunday breakfast at Cafe Pasqual's. We ate lunch from the taco/fajita stands around the plaza, and our hotel provided breakfast. We shopped around Canyon Road, and went to galleries, etc. in Santa Fe.

For a mix of folk Russian and local adobe architecture, don't miss the Fechin Institute in Taos.

Not sure if Fechin Institute is still functioning. The Fechin Inn has closed and is being remodeled into timeshare thing.

You need a car. To truly experience what that part of the world offers, you need to drive it.
Drive to Ghost Ranch. Drive to Bandelier. Drive to Taos. You won't regret it, and you'll always remember it.

Taos Pueblo and Bandelier National Monument were the highlights of our stay in Taos a couple of years ago.

Thanks you all so much for replying and giving me so much information - Hoping for additional help...How much time should we allow for visiting the Bandelier National monument? Is it on the way to Taos? Have any of you heard about Las Vegas, New Mexico? Someone told me that is was as interesting as Taos - I'll look up the Fechin Institute and the other sites mentioned - Looking forward to learning about any other tips - Idleweiss

Skip Las Vegas NM - it is nothing to see and less to do.

I second Bandelier and 10,000 waves, both incredible. We went early May last year. Make sure you bring layers. We needed both sweatshirts and tank tops, the weather varied a lot, from the 50s to the 80s. The drive from Santa Fe to Taos is gorgeous (and not scary at all!)

I recall spending a couple of hours at Bandelier and we just took the main hiking trail and went up the ladders into the dwellings. We were staying in Taos, and I don't recall where Bandelier is vis a vis the route between Santa Fe and Taos.

Agree. Skip Las Vegas. We choose to drive through LV on the way to Santa Fe sometimes and its only for a little different scenery. Nothing for a destination stop, no offense LV!

Make your reservations for Ten Thousand Waves <i> now </i>. Take a hot tub then have a fabulous hot stone massage. ooooooh! Also, don't wait on your dinner reservations either.

Definitely rent a car.

Take the turquoise trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. Along the way is Madrid, a quirky, funky artist's community.

http://tinyurl.com/325dfu

Here is Bandalier's website to help with ideas to decide how much/how little you want to do:

http://tinyurl.com/2wcacw

After going to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu I highly recommend it for a hike or just to see Georgia's red hills. Also, a tour of Georgia's home in town is very enjoyable. From Santa Fe is about 1hr15min. Its not on the way to Taos but could go to Bandalier for a couple of hours, then up to Abiquiu/Ghost Ranch, then head over to Taos in time for checkin and dinner.

While in Taos, you have to visit Taos Pueblo.
www.taospueblo.com

Fechin Institute has been closed for some time I was told. Fechin House has an exhibition of Nicolai Fechin's work and is in the home he built for his family in the late 1920's.

If you enjoy history of this area you may want to visit/stay at The Mabel Dodge Luhan House.
www.mabeldodgeluhan.com

For us, there is more to see and do in Santa Fe than Taos, however, Taos holds its own charm. Love the quaint courtyards with all those beautiful hollyhocks and poppies.

Taos and Santa Fe are both filled with art galleries.

Check out:

www.insidesf.com

They may send you a free guide before your trip so you can mark the galleries of interest as well as other spots in SF. Also, check out the Tesuque Flea Market that is out by the opera house (12 min from the square). It should be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm. Jewelry, accessories, etc.

Also, our trip isn't complete without a visit or two to the Tesuque Village Market, which is just across the highway from the flea market and opera house.

Restaurants:
Geronimo - fine dining
Santa Cafe - sw fine dining
Bistro 315 - french fare
Julian's - Italian
La Casa Sena - great courtyard

New Mexican Fare:
Tomasita's - best red and green chile
The Shed - historic must-do on plaza
Tia Sophia's - real NM fare. Great for breakfast, too.
Harry's Roadhouse - has everything
Pink Adobe

For Drinks:
Lucky's - bar or outside patio
Dragon Room at the Pink Adobe - must do!
El Farol - band on weekends (next to Geronimo)


Hope that helps a little.
Sheila

The only thing I would add is that the altitude in Santa Fe is over 7000 feet. Don't plan too much for the first day if you are coming from anywhere near sea level.

The fabulous Georgia O'Keefe museum in Santa Fe is very special!

Definitely rent a car and drive. For Taos check out
the Hotel La Fonda de Taos and Joseph's Table
restaurant. It centrally located on the Plaza and you can walk to many of the galleries and museums. On the way back drive the &quot;enchanted circle&quot;.

Here is specific info about tours of Georgia O'Keeffe's home. We loved the tour and it is very hard to get reservations for--that's why I'm sending this. You have to call--no online reservations. Tours are conducted by appointment only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from Mid-March through November by the Foundation. All Georgia O'Keeffe tours last approximately one hour and are limited to a maximum of 12 people.

Tours start from the Georgia O'Keeffe Home and Studio Tour Office next to The Abiquiu Inn. Guests will be taken by shuttle to the O'Keeffe Home and Studio.

Cost: $25 per person
$20 each for students or seniors over 65

For information and reservations, call the Foundation well in advance at
(505) 685-4539 or write:
Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation
PO Box 40
Abiquiu, NM 87510

We also are planning a trip end of May to Sante Fe. Flying into ABQ and staying the 5 nights in Santa Fe. Have points with Hilton, so 5 free nights at the Hilton Plaza. Is it too far for a day trip to Taos?

Definitely not, Julie. It's less than two hours from Santa Fe to Taos via the most direct route. So, you might consider making a real day trip out of it, and take the High Road up, and 68/475 back.

Ah, Beachbum. Thinking the same thing. We did it just the opposite. Went through Nambe and Chimayo and other stops on 503/76/518 first, and then Taos. Took main highway home, 68/285. We lingered around a long time at Santuario de Chimayo and other stops along the way. The scenery was beautiful. And of course, you have to stop at Rancho de Chimayo for lunch on the way up. It may be too dark to drive the low road at night depending on when you leave Taos.

Our booties were ready to get out of the car at the end of that day!

(btw, enjoying Tomasita's red sauce tonight, my green chile stew and the Pink Adobe's guacamole recipe! :)) )

Well, then I might be thinking bassackwards, BeachGirl, which wouldn't be unusual. ;-) I was thinking the High Road is the one through Nambe and Chimayo. And Sanctuario de Chimayo.... oooohhh.. easily our favorite stop.

Speaking of red sauce, have you had Ore House's charred tomato salsa? (or, have I asked you that already?) Oh man, I've still got one jar left of the six I brought home last fall. Don't know whether to eat it, knowing I probably can't get any more for a while, or build a shrine to it. ;-)

We're thinking the same thing! That is such a beautiful drive. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't taken it yet. Idleweiss, check it out as I think you would really enjoy it.

And, yes, the charred tomato salsa is pretty darn good! But go ahead and eat the darn thing! You can have them ship you more. Or, God forbid, you would have to go back to get more of that charred tomato salsa!!

I'm down to my last small tupperware of Tomasita's red sauce -- and its friggin' HOT!! =-O But I <i>do</i> still have 4 one-gallon bags of roasted green chiles left -- hot, of course! ;)

now where's the tagamet.....