The Indians got there First

by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

If the Indians were realtors, they would have an empire like Donald Trump. They seem to have an uncanny knack for picking the best locations.

In ancient times, Native Americans hunted and fished in the abundant valley at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. They grew crops in the fertile plain of the Santa Fe River. In 1610, Santa Fe was established as a Spanish provincial capital. Many adobe buildings from ther era still stand in the heart of the city. Traditions of both Indian and Hispanic cultures live today, cherished by the descendants of early settlers.

Hotel Santa Fe, owned by an Indian consortium, is right across from the new Railyard District. As the city has grown out to its location and it overlooks perhaps the trendiest new part of Santa Fe.

Besides the view of the Railyard, the hotel has two unique amenities. It has Amaya, an American Indian owned café with dining in a tepee as an option.  And it offers purple antique London taxi cabs to whisk you to the square or other parts of town.

Hotel Santa Fe offers a one of a kind experience, taking pride in maintaining the traditions of the past while providing the modern comforts of the present. The unique rooms and suites feature amenities and furnishings in the authentic flavor of Santa Fe Style. You will enjoy strolling by the handcrafted sculptures in the gardens, watching ceremonial dances or listening to their historian bring Santa Fe to life as you cozy up to a kiva fireplace.

The whole experience adds up to Mah~waan, mah~waan which means…"Welcome"in Tiva the native language of the Picuris owners.

What to do

There are lots of reasons to go to Santa Fe. Some people are intrigued by the art. Others enjoy the shopping. It is a town that must have the most museums per capita.  But my favorite activity might be eating. Luckily this is a walking town so you can burn up some of the decadent meals you will be tempted to indulge in.

While many of the shops are high end, window shopping and pretending you can afford them is a fun fantasy. I always schedule a trip to the Santa Fe Flea Market and Jackalope. The Flea Market is outside of town near the Opera House and you will need to get a cab to get there if you do not have a car. It is easy to take a public bus to Jackalope Market  and it will stop right in front.

Santa Fe has long been a center for arts and culture. Due to sales, it now ranks as the country's third largest art market with nearly 300 galleries and dealers. There also are more than a dozen major museums showcasing an array of art, culture, history and traditions, as well the world-class Santa Fe Opera, In recent years, the city has also earned a reputation with food-lovers. Whether you're hankering for basic New Mexican food, creative Southwestern cuisine, or authentic Italian, French, Asian and other world cuisines, the city offers more than 200 choices. Accommodations are equally diverse. You can choose from an array of resorts, motels, bed and breakfasts, inns, vacation rentals and other lodgings, including campgrounds and RV parks.

Where to eat

Rio Chama.  I am a big fan of Tom Kerpon and try to eat at his restaurant whenever I am in Santa Fe. You  could say I am a groupie. But then if you have ever tasted Tom’s food, you could easily understand.

Tom has long been considered one of Santa Fe’s most highly regarded chefs. Tom draws on French, Mediterranean and Asian influences to take regional cuisine to a new level. Having paid his dues at such venerable institutions as the Little Dix Bay Resort on Virgin Gorda, B.V.I., the Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas and the acclaimed Inn of the Anasazi, Tom now heads up culinary operations at Rio Chama.

Amavi Restaurant   I first ate there about a month after it opened and everything went smoothly and was instantly one of my favorites. (and the food in Santa Fe is so good that says a lot) Amavi Means "Love of Life" . You smell it when you walk in. You can taste it in every dish.

Amaya ….  Relax inside by a roaring fire or outside taking in the amazing New Mexico sky while dining in restaurant Amaya.  From the cold rivers of Alaska to the Great Plains the chef selects superb traditional Native American foods and weaves them together in a style that is both ancient and contemporary.

Restaurant Martin.  Martin Rios has been honored by the James Beard Association. Rios is generally considered one of New Mexico's best fine-dining chefs. In April 2008 he was featured in a cooking competition with New York Chef Bobby Flay. His resume includes executive chef positions at the Old House at the Eldorado Hotel, the Inn at the Anasazi and, most recently, Geronimo on Canyon Road. He is known for progressive American Cuisine. I have eaten at all of his former restaurants and am eager to try his new restaurant.

Two time New Mexico chef of the year. His new place is in an old, renovated adobe home near the capitol. I'd call it affordable fine dining. Sleek and cool inside, It has a great patio and an already loyal following.

What’s New

The Santa Fe Railyard development was opened in the fall of 2008. The Railyard features a new Santa Fe Farmers Market building and year 'round sales areas, outdoor performance space, public plaza, park area, xeric gardens, galleries, retail, multi-use path, and green space. The Railyard has revitalized interested in the Guadalupe Street area which it borders and attracted a number of contemporary galleries to the district.

My Santa Fe Mecca

I can’t go to Santa Fe without visiting the Flea Market. I am a cheapskate but will spring for a cab to get out here since there is no public transportation. Lots of native crafts, jewelry and many things you find around the square, but at lower prices.

An insider source just told me about a new flea market   The Santa Fe Traditional Flea is open Saturdays and Sundays at the old Santa Fe downs horse track near the Santa Fe airport. It's due to be open on Fridays too starting in July. It's a Pojoaque Pueblo enterprise run by Walt Borton and Sarah Cook, http://www.santafetraditionalflea.com/

When to go

There are four distinct seasons in Santa Fe including snow during the winter in the city. The hottest month is June when temperatures reach into the mid to upper nineties. The daily temperature typically changes 30 degrees due to the city's elevation and cool evenings. Normal rainfall is 14 inches a year. I often try to coordinate my visit with one of the many festivals going on.

Santa Fe Wine and Chile Festival
http://travellady.com/Issues/June07/4229SantaFeWine.html

International Folk Art Market
http://travellady.com/Issues/April05/827FineArtofShopping.htm

Art Feast
http://travellady.com/Issues/December04/592EnjoyfoodfromSantaFe.htm

Where to Stay

Hotel Santa Fe www.hotelsantafe.com

Restaurants

RIO CHAMA STEAKHOUSE
414 Old Santa Fe Trail
 Santa Fe
 (505) 955-0765‎S
info@riochamasteakhouse.como
http://www.riochamasteakhouse.com

AMAVI
221 Shelby St,
Santa Fe 87501
(505) 819-0650
WWW.amavi.com

RESTAURANT MARTIN
526 Galisteo street
Santa Fe  87501
505.820.0919
info@restaurantmartinsantafe.com
WWW.restaurantmartinsantafe.com

AMAYA
Amaya At Hotel Santa Fe  
1501 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe  87501-3721
(505) 982-1200
www.hotelsantafe.com

Tesuque Pueblo Flea Market  
www.pueblooftesuquefleamarket.com
6.5 Miles North of Santa Fe exit 171 off Highway 84/285
Tesuque, NM 87574
(505) 670-2599

How to get there

American Eagle’s non-stop service to and from Dallas to Santa Fe uses the 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 jet. The $20 million aircraft cruises at 500+ mph and 40,000 feet. It is, "one of the newest and most modern planes in the fleet," according to American Eagle's Managing Director of Sales, Brian Coutts.

The Santa Fe Municipal Airport was recently upgraded to handle regional jets like the Embraer and was voted "Airport of the Year" by the New Mexico Airport Managers Association in 2009. The airport is located on the southwestern edge of the city, about a 20-minute shuttle ride into historic downtown. Rental cars are also available. 

 http://www.santafe.org

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who thinks of Santa Fe as one of her favorite places to visit. She wrote this while planning her next trip and it brought lots of great memories and made her decide to stay longer this time.

Read her stories in www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com,