We are looking for a 4 bedroom rental. I have read that parking is expensive in Santa Fe. We would like to be close to town but far enough out that we wont have light pollution and can enjoy the evening sky.
Not being familiar with the area, I would love recommendations as to which part of town we should be looking at to rent.
I would also love to hear of your favorite restaurant recommendations. Local quisine with fresh ingredients is our favorite and although we would eat meat, we prefer vegetarian.

If you want to be in walking distance to The Plaza, you aren't going to be far enough out to not have light pollution. If you see rentals you like, post them for input.

Restaurants: these links may not be totally up to date, but most places are still open, alive and well.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ay-weekend.cfm

Looking at VRBO - there are only 44 four bedroom rentals. Not knowing your price range makes it hard to pick specific houses.

I would start by looking at ones that say "walking distance to Plaza" and go from there if that is what is your top priority.

If the no light pollution is more important, those properties will also stand out with terms as "views" and offering large acreage. Also, they will not say "walk to Plaza" LOL

If you go far out Canyon Rd a few miles, out by El Farol restaurant and bar, and cross the Santa Fe river, are large houses on and off of Alameda St. that are up high with views and less light pollution than you get closer to town. Some of them are newer homes. Get a map of that area and check the rental homes out there.

Hi Catbee,
I visited Santa Fe in May of 2013 with the help of my fellow fodorites, several of whom recommended a casita. I was a solo traveler, got a one-bedroom house. I found this place charming, well maintained, cool, comfortable and quiet, and a good location. It is behind the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. I know you said 4 BR, the biggest here looks like a 3 BR unit. I am posting for 2 reasons, a good experience in SF, and I got good info from my fodors queries:

http://www.casitas.net/casae_salon_spa.html#Three

Good luck!

If you want a place with great night skies and views look for condos in Pueblo Encantado. It's located across from Four Seasons Encantado, just 10 minutes north of the plaza area. We stayed there a lot and really enjoyed the beauty and peacefulness of the area and having 4 Seasons across the street and being close to town.

The units are all 2-bedrooms but there are several rentals in that neighborhood. You can hike right out of your unit and nice trail behind 4 Seasons, too.

There are 4-bedroom rentals in Las Campanas. We rented out there a few times and far enough for night skies but it is farther than we liked at night after a long dinner. However, it is a great location to spend your evening at the house watching sunset in a beautiful location.

Regarding parking costs, unless it is Indian Market or Spanish Market it isn't expensive. There are public garages in town that are around $8/day or street parking meters for 2-hour deposits at a time. Those streets in the immediate plaza area are more expensive than the streets a couple of blocks away where you can get 2 hours for $1.

I wouldn't let parking a vehicle dictate lodging location. Unless you want to be in the plaza walking area I would look at someplace that offers part of Santa Fe's beauty which is watching sunset with a view.

Here is a link to the city parking lots close to the Plaza.

http://www.santafenm.gov/m/parking_l...ave-site-alert