We will be in SF July 3-6. Any recommended restauarant for 1 really nice meal (in the $25 entre range). Also any other recommended spots for dinner, not as fancy, but good food. We eat almost anything. Southwestern/Mexican would be good, but other optiosn welcome. Do we need to make reservation in advance in any of these places?

ALso we will be arriving in Albequerque in the morning. Is there a suggested, scenic route to SF? Any thoughts on must-see stops enroute?

Lastly, is there anything special happening for the 4th of July?

We'll be staying at the Inn of the Governors.

1 more thing. I was thinking of buying ticketrs to the SF opera while there. Carmen will be playin. Unfortunately I thought of this too late. According to the webstie, it's sold out. Do last minute seats ever open up?

For your "really nice meal" check out other postings on here -- there have been lots lately. Type in "Santa Fe Restaurants" in the search box at top of page. Also check the DESTINATIONS button at the top of the page and check out Fodors guide for SF, it's really good.


That said, we really like eating at Café Paris{31 Burro Alley; 986-9162}. You can sit outside and it is like eating at a French bistro. We have never made reservations, but if there is a matinee show at the Lensic Theatre next door, go before it gets out.

Cowgirl BBQ & Western Grill {319 S. Guadalupe Street; 982-2565} is fun too.

The Ore House on the Plaza is a good spot to eat and watch people. It is on the corner of the Plaza. Ask for a table upstairs and out on the patio.

The nicest route to Santa Fe from ABQ is via The Turquoise.

http://www.turquoisetrail.org/

And if the timing is right, have lunch at the MineShaft Tavern. And my favorite shop is right across the street where there is a glassblower who works outside and makes the most beautiful pieces. It's fun to watch even if you don't buy anything.

The only other route to SF is via the interstate and that's not very interesting.

Not sure about trying to get tickets to Opera. You might head out there and see, but it is a ways out of the city...maybe a 20 minute ride or so.

Hope this helps...
Debi

Check out Pancakes in the Plaza on July 4. I was there last year and it was really nice. Besides selling pancakes for charity, there was music and dancing in the plaza, food and craft booths and an antique car show. It's free and you can do all the plaza stuff, such as browsing the Native Americans' jewelry for sale and looking in the shops, etc.

Call the Opera and ask. Maybe you'll get lucky!

Another thought - KHFM, Albuquerque's classical music station, has a Santa Fe Opera ticket exchange. People who have tickets, but can't use them, contact the station. They usually air the information around noon each day.

I *think* the station has a website - do a Google search and see what you can find. You'll want to start checking now.

Lee Ann

There have been some recent threads with your information as DebitNM mentioned. As for opera tickets, I have heard of people getting last minute tickets so I wouldn't count it out.

Here are a couple of menus to fine dining restaurants -- in the $25 entree range. Some less some more but you can decide.
My favorite, Geronimo on Canyon Road.
http://www.geronimorestaurant.com/Menu/Dinner.pdf

Other like Santa Cafe:
http://www.santacafe.com/menu.html

Have a great trip and save some green chile and margaritas for me!

Sheila

Not one but TWO SCENIC routes exist on a trip from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. they are:
1. from Sunport International take Sunport blvd to I-25 going north. Exit onto US 550 to San Isidro, Then NM 4 to either Bandelier National Monument or Los Alamos NM. Then NM 502 to US 285 / 84 to Santa Fe. This is a very common weekend drive for locals. You will go past Jemez pueblo. Make sure to buy a loaf of the "elephants foot" bread from a road side vendor. NM 4 will take you into the beautiful Jemez mtns. You will leave the desert pass numerous red rock formations and cross thick green forests before descending into the metro Santa Fe area. ttl distance about 95 miles.

2. from Sunport International take Sunport blvd to I-25 go north. Exit east onto I-40 to Tijeras NM exit NM 14 to Santa Fe. You will go into the Sandia Mts that form the eastern edge of ABQ, go through the old mining towns of Golden NM, Madrid NM and Cerillos NM (slightly off road). Madrid is the home to a number of artists. Distance also about 95 miles. You will see tourist literature refer to this as the tourquoise trail drive.

thanks.

I've read about the tourquoise trail. We will be arriving on a Monday morning (7/3) at about 10am in ABQ. Our return flight is Thursday morning at 10:30. I guess on our arrival morning, we'll take the Turquoise. If we can give outsleves enugh time, maybe we'd do the Jemez Mtn route. Are the elephant bread stands easy to spot. Maybe we can pick up a loaf for the trip.

ABout the SF opera, has anyone had any luck waiting in line on the day of hoping to get cancellations? I read on the website they start selling these an hour before the show.

Sorry for the typos in my last post. I meant to say "If we can give ourselves enough time on the return, maybe we'd do the Jemez Mtn route".

We attended the SF Opera several years ago, and while we hated the particular opera that was performed, we loved the theater. Call your hotel concierge about tickets.

Yes the stands are easy to spot. You'll see them on the side of the road north of Jemez Pueblo on NM 4.

If you have the time, I would take the Jemez trail route from ABQ to SF, and the Turquoise Trail route on the way back to the airport. There is so much more to see on the Jemez Trail and it took me 6 hours to do a round trip from SF through the Jemez Trail and back. Lots of twisty-turning roads too - you can't drive fast through most of it.

And my favorite restaurants in Santa Fe are:

El Farol - a tapas restaurant on Canyon Road. The food is excellent and so is the sangria. The bar area, if you choose to go there after dinner, is usually a lot of fun, especially on Flamenco nights.

La Choza - on the patio. It's the sister rest. of The Shed on the Plaza. They have a wonderful patio area that's all fenced in with trees growing right in the middle. It was very romantic when we were there - dimly lit and quiet.

I also like the patio area of Gabriel's (north on 285). They make fresh guacamole at your table and the margaritas are really good!

Heidi

......and the view from Gabriel's patio is better than the guacamole ... and that's saying a lot.

I really liked their guac, Beach girl! It has been a few years since I've been there though. Hopefully, it hasn't gone downhill since then.

Thanks again. I am going to look at my map tonight!

Do i need reservations in advance at any of these restaurants?

It probably wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it's necessary. I'm terrible with reservations because I don't usually know where I'm eating until I decide to eat. I've never had a very long wait anywhere in Santa Fe.

Add Pink Adobe to your list also. It's a classic, but the food is still wonderful.

I would definately make dinner reservations, especially since you will be there over a holiday weekend. And with the opera, a lot of the restaurants will take early reservations so you can make it to the opera -- fingers crossed you get tickets!

I second Pink Adobe for the Dragon Room for drinks and we love the Steak Dunnigan - a house specialty for many years.

Where have you decided to eat? I'm living vicariously through you until we're back in Sept!

Sheila