Santa Fe

Tee off into the sunset at Santa Fe's finest municipal golf course-Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe. It lies only eight miles from downtown Santa Fe.

Take in some of the finest fly-fishing in the country. The Pecos fishing season typically lasts from April to late September.

Try to tame the Rio Grande's rapids in white-water rafting. Throughout New Mexico, the river carves picturesque canyons and supports a truly unique ecosystem.

From cowboy boots to concho belts, Santa Fe is a shopper's paradise of unique Southwest specialties. The famous Tesuque Pueblo Flea Market attracts hundreds of regional vendors Fridays through Sundays.

The majestic Sante Fe opera amphitheater is nestled in the rolling hills and offers breath-taking views of the surrounding Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains. The opera schedule plays from late June through the end of August every year.

Sample some of Santa Fe's exquisite dishes. Trattoria Nostrani was recently named one of the top 50 restaurants in America by Gourmet magazine. Visitors should go easy on cologne as the restaurant stringently enforces a no-scent policy. Smokers take note that lighting up is banned in all business and public places, including bars.

Posole is a thick Mexican soup chock full of pork and hominy. Onions and roasted chiles sharpened the taste. Aqua Santa offers a mouth-watering array of exotic delicacies. Its leafy patio has hosted artists and writers for decades and now Hollywood celebrities are discovering for themselves Aqua Santa's rustic beauty.

Art enthusiasts can find many Midwest gems available for purchase in Santa Fe. Santa Fe also hosts a collection of world-class galleries. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum features over 1,000 works--in all media--of the namesake artist. While many collections showcase local talents, SITE Santa Fe has garnered international acclaim for its global exhibition. Visitors should note that SITE is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

SITE Santa Fe has earned rave reviews for its global exhibition entitled, "The Disappeared." The collection showcases pieces from 27 contemporary artists who lived through military dictatorships, where their work would not otherwise be seen.

Truffle-infused halibut and braised shepherd's lamb complement an exquisite wine collection at Aqua Santa. Dine from its famed leafy patio that has hosted celebrities for decades.

Santa Fe Mountain Adventures offers scenic horseback rides and hikes deep into northern New Mexico to places like Bandelier and Tent Rocks.

With 300 days of sunshine a year, it is never a bad time to venture the New Mexico lands by horseback.

Santa Fe is stepped in tradition like the stringing of ristras. The chili harvest is at its peak during September and October. Ristras have increasingly become a popular home decoration.

Fiesta dancers are only example of Santa Fe's vibrant culture.

Santa Fe diners sometimes find themselves serenaded by the mellifluous odes of Cantina singers.

Eight Pueblo Indian tribe communities are located in or around Santa Fe. Visitors can observe some Pueblo ceremonies and gatherings.

Vendors peddle their goods outside the Palace of the Governors. The Palace of the Governors is America's oldest public building still in use. Today it serves as the state history museum and construction is underway next door on the New Mexico History Museum, slated for a 2009 grand opening.

Downtown Santa Fe still preserves the region's sun-baked adobe past.

Santa Fe hosts several world-class ski resorts. Angel Fire Resort soars to nearly eleven thousand feet and fresh powder abounds on its 67 skiing trails along with New Mexico's lone half-pipe. The resort has been hailed for its affordable "You Keep the Gear" program, which offers brand new ski/snowboard apparel with lessons and lift tickets.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, 40 miles Southwest of Santa Fe, owes its mysterious shape to a volcanic eruption.