THE FIRST 25 THINGS TO DO IN SANTA FE - Page 2 of 3 - SantaFe.com
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11. Santa Fe Farmer’s Market

At the bustling Santa Fe Farmers’ Marketdozens of farmers, ranchers, artisan cheesemakers, bakers and others sell their delectable goods to locals and visitors from around the world. The year-round market, consistently ranked as one of the top farmer’s markets in the country, features fresh produce, New Mexico-raised beef and poultry, artisan cheese, spicy salsa, roasted chile, and much more. As you shop, fuel up on freshly made local coffee and handmade breakfast burritos, dynamite donuts and delicious pastries. Check out the on-site Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Shops for local and international treasures.

12. The Santa Fe Railyard

If Canyon Road is Santa Fe’s art heart, then the Santa Fe Railyard is the city’s hub. The newest neighborhood, re-fashioned from remnants of the bygone railroad era, is abuzz with shops, cafes, restaurants, and the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market. Visitors and locals alike stop by to catch a movie, share a meal, listen to live music and shop the weekend artist and artisan markets. The 13-acre Railyard Park is the perfect place to share a picnic and meander through 28 gardens, admiring the rotating public art and enjoying one of the many free events offered throughout the year.

13. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is the perfect place to acquaint yourself with one of the world’s most iconic artists. The museum holds the world’s largest permanent collection of O’Keeffe’s work—with some 3,000 items including oil paintings, drawings and sculpture, some rarely shown during her lifetime.  Exhibits in nine galleries change throughout the year and include shows solely of O’Keeffe’s work as well as those combining her art with work by other American Modernists. The museum also operates insightful tours of the artist’s home and studio in Abiquiú.

14. Casinos near Santa Fe

You don’t have to go to Vegas to find high-stakes thrills. Just drive a little way outside Santa Fe and you have a host of options.

  • Santa Claran – located in Espanola, the Santa Claran Hotel & Casino offers a variety of games to play, restaurants, a full-service hotel, a great bowling alley and even a golf course.
  • Okhay Casino – Just north of Espanola is Okhay Casino, with tons of slots and electronic table games. The pueblo casino has a hotel, too
  • Buffalo Thunder – 15 miles north of the Santa Fe Plaza to Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, a world-class resort set on 587 stunning acres. The striking Pueblo-inspired architecture houses a 61,000-square-foot casino with 1,200 slot machines, 18 game tables, and a poker room. Ready to relax? The Wo’P’in Spa offers massage, skin and body treatments to recharge body, mind, and spirit. Or, tee off at the award-winning, championship Towa Golf Club. The resort’s restaurants showcase the flavors of the Southwest and the elegant hotel rooms and suites feature Native American décor.
  • Tesuque Casino – Santa Fe’s newest and closest casino has stunning views of the mountains, a gourmet restaurant and live entertainment. 10 table games, slots, Bingo and more.
  • Black Mesa Casino – about mid-way between Albuquerque and Santa Fe is Black Mesa Casino, with a wide variety of slots and electronic games, they also have an RV park, gift shop and more.

15. Cross of the Martyrs Park

The Cross of the Martyrs Park, northeast of the Santa Fe Plaza on Paseo de la Loma Hill in Fort Marcy Park, commemorates the 21 Franciscan friars and Spanish colonists who died during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. A moderate uphill climb takes you along a commemorative walkway, past 20 plaques detailing Santa Fe’s fascinating, multi-cultural history, from 500 AD to modern times.  At the top, a 25-foot tall cross stands as a solemn reminder of those who perished in the Pueblo Revolt. The park offers sprawling views of the city and the Jemez Mountains to the west and beyond, and it’s a great spot to see Santa Fe’s famous sunsets.

16. Ghost Ranch

Steeped in history, Ghost Ranch today serves as an educational and retreat center for the  Presbyterian Church but its grounds were once wetlands, roamed by dinosaurs. The striking rock formations and landscape were formed over millennia by water and wind. Georgia O’Keeffe was a famous guest at the ranch before 1955, when Ghost Ranch owner Arthur Pack gave the property to the Presbyterian Church. The center offers a wide range of creative workshops on the arts, spirituality, social justice and more. Day visitors can explore Ghost ranch on tours, hiking trails and horseback rides and visit museums devoted to anthropology, archeology, and paleontology

17. Take a Day Trip

If you’re able to spend more than a couple of days in Santa Fe, you really should take some time to explore the surrounding areas. The scenery here is simply too amazing. Luckily, there are plenty of places to visit within a short drive of town. You could head south to the former mining town/hippy haven of Madrid, north to the spiritual center of Chimayó, west to the Jemez Mountains or any number of other stunning and interesting places near Santa Fe. Check out 9 Great Day Trips from Santa Fe.

18. Santa Fe Summer Scene

Bringing diverse music to the historic Santa Fe Plaza each summer since 2003, Santa Fe Summer Scene is where the community gathers to shamelessly shake their collective groove thang. Both local and national bands of a diversity of genres play here. Get there early with folding chairs in hand to claim your prime spot.

19. The Santa Fe Opera

All the world’s a stage at the Santa Fe Opera, the internationally renowned summer festival established in 1956. Located 7 miles north of Santa Fe, on the former grounds of a rustic ranch, the open-air opera house showcases world premieres and classic and contemporary works performed by established and emerging opera stars. Don your finest duds for the longstanding tradition of pre-show tailgating in the parking lot, or dress casually in jeans and cowboy hats and you’ll still fit right in. For a more formal affair, enjoy the Preview Buffet’s opera-themed dinner as you listen to an opera expert discuss that evening’s performance. See the Santa Fe Opera schedule.

20. Take the Margarita Trail

Since the Santa Fe Margarita Trail opened in 2016 some 18,000 locals and visitors have traveled along it, sipping their way to earning commemorative T-shirts and other prizes by collecting stamps from each venue.  New venues have been added, too, taking margarita fans across the city and beyond its outskirts. You’ll visit bars with a celebrated history, classic BBQ joints, 5-star restaurants, local haunts and other intriguing spots, all offering custom margaritas you won’t find anywhere else. Here’s how the Santa Fe Margarita Trail works. You simply download the Margarita Trail Passport from the Apple Store or Google Play, or pick up your old-fashioned paper passport version from any of the participating venues. Then head out on the trail, sampling signature Santa Fe margaritas. Learn More.

This article was posted by Cheryl Fallstead

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