For hiking, you could consider the Silver City area. There are some nice rivers in the area, the Gila and the San Francisco (I think) and one has a nice catwalk. I seem to recall Silver City has quite a bit of art. If if looks like that is an area of interest, I can ask DH some good places to eat down there as he goes there for work frequently lately.

I love northern New Mexico! My grandparents had a vacation home in Taos for many years, and we all learned to ski there. My oldest brother still lives in the area.

I spent a Jan term at Ghost Ranch when I was in college, and love the Abiquiu area. A friend did a silent retreat at the monastery there last summer (linked), where they also brew ale. There is so much delicious food, art, and Native American culture in the area. I also read an article about Madrid, NM in a recent issue of Sunset magazine, and it made me want to visit there. It is an artist's colony. The train trip between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO is great fun.

The Shed is my all-time favorite restaurant in Santa Fe. Hopefully Lynn will chime in as she lives in the area.

Here is a link that might be useful: Christ Desert Monastery

Lucky you. One tip. Look at the Santa Fe opera schedule now (they do some less popular stuff) and maybe plan around that. If you become a member you can buy better seats. And do the dinner beforehand with a speaker (very nice) or tail-gating.

We went about 2 yrs ago. We booked the Encantado IIRC, and on the day we arrived they were being re-flagged as a Four Seasons (I guess I am predictable). Though very close to the opera, for a visit like yours id think in town would be better.

Happy birthday!

I've lived here for 31 years and know the Santa Fe and Albuquerque areas intimately. The two towns are approx. 45 minutes apart, a quick, easy, straight shot up or down I-25. Shopping? Antiquing? Restaurants? Fun things to do and see? I know too many to list all at once here, but will be glad to give you details on whatever.

Yes, Madrid (pronounced MAD-rid not ma-DRID like the city in Spain) is a small, funky former ghost town now artists' colony. That's where they filmed the movie "Wild Hogs" with Tim Allen. Lots of cute shops and art galleries, plus several (3?) restaurants.

Favorite ABQ restaurants:
* El Pinto for great New Mexican food (we don't say "Mexican food", ours is "New Mexican") in a gorgeous setting with mariachis, fountains, shade trees, etc.
* For quick delicious NM food, any Garcia's Kitchen{{gwi:807}}. There are quite a few locations around town and the food is wonderful!
* For a great, very reasonably priced gourmet lunch in the heart of Albuquerque, A&B's Lunchbox. It's right there in the Nob Hill area on Central Avenue. Lots of great shops and galleries you can walk to. The beautiful main campus of the University of New Mexico is right there, as well.

* In Albuquerque's Old Town, we have 3 long-time favorites:
1) Church Street Café
2) Antiquities : we just ate there last week. They have the best scallop dish I've ever had anywhere in the world!
3) La Crepe Michel: great French food in a quaint little place right off the Plaza

* for a meal to remember always, High Finance, at the top of the Sandia Mountains. You take the tram ride up from the east side of town on north Tramway Blvd. Time your tram ride up before it gets dark. The views are breathtaking and you can see for 50 miles or more from the top. Watch the sunset over the city and the lights come on while you enjoy great steaks, seafood, NM food or whatever. Gorgeous and very worth it. Reservations are strongly advised for the tram and for dinner.

Favorite Santa Fe restaurants?
* we love The Shed, which is right off the Plaza. But, do remember that they make their chile (sauce:red & green) hot for us locals.
* We're also crazy about Harry's Roadhouse. We were just there again two weeks ago and I'm already wanting to go back to celebrate my birthday next week. Love, love, love Harry's!
* The famous Pink Adobe has reopened again and that's always a fun place.
* If splurging is an option, you can't go wrong at Geronimo on Canyon Road. Their Elk Tenderloin is TDF. Picturesque Canyon Road itself is a must-see while in Santa Fe with it's wonderful shops, galleries and restaurants.
* for breakfast, we locals love Café Pasqual's, which is right around the corner from the Plaza on Don Gaspar. Love their Huevos Rancheros! I'm also very partial to their Chile Rellenos for lunch.
* a beloved favorite for locals is Maria's (actually Maria's New Mexican Kitchen). Always busy but so worth the wait! Everybody loves Marias!
* Coyote Café & Cantina
Again, there are many great places to eat in Santa Fe, these are just our favorites.

For a wonderful spa experience, I recommend the spa at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort (pronounced Ta-my-ya, with the accent on the "Ta"/ second accent on the "ya") just north of Albuquerque. I wrote about it on the Spa Thread over on the Conversations side. It's about 15 minutes from I-25 off Exit 242.
If you'd like a more funky but still nice spa experience, check out Ten Thousand Waves. It's a Japanese-style mountain spa. I can't vouch for how nice the resort is, but their private outdoor hot tubs are wonderful and make for a very memorable NM experience.

I know many, many great antique shops in Albuquerque. I've found Santa Fe's to be a lot more pricey and, as I love a great bargain, I stick to the ABQ ones for the most part. There are many along scenic Fourth Street, north of the city, but I also know several great ones in the downtown area.

For a totally awesome New Mexico experience you should plan a day trip to Acoma Pueblo . A pueblo built on top of a high mesa and has been lived in/at for an estimated 2000 years. There are tours every day in the Old Village/ Sky City and that is the only way visitors are allowed up there. It's about 60 miles west of Albuquerque on I-40 and it is very worthwhile seeing. We love taking out-of-state company there.

There are casinos everywhere out here, all on the (many) Native American reservations. I don't gamble so I haven't experienced any personally, but can definitely aim you to the nicest ones if you're interested.

I love and know Taos, too, but am not quite as familiar with everything there.

DH always tells me that I'd make a fantastic New Mexico tour guide- LOL! But actually, it's easy to feel this way in our beautiful Land of Enchantment.

Let me know if you need recommendations for places to stay once you've decided which city to make your home{{gwi:807}} base for the trip.
Lynn

{{gwi:1491575}}

This post was edited by lynninnewmexico on Tue, Jan 28, 14 at 19:16

Thanks, everyone!

Tish, my grandparents loved Silver City but it's a little too far south for the trip we've planned-- much as the cliff dwellings are intriguing (I sort of remember there are some in the northwest of the state also though) I will let you know if our plans change. Would definitely be up for recommendations.

TexanJana - i just know I'll love abiquiu! The outdoors and the mineral springs! Hadn't thought of the train ride but I'll check it out. How cool that you learned to ski in Taos! a Madrid looks fun and funky-- definitely worth a stop!

Mtn - yup, the Santa Fe Opera was the unexpected highlight of my last trip (it was a gift from one of my traveling companions) and is a definite for this trip... We didnt tailgate or do the dinner last time. Will definitely plan for it this trip! I've looked at the Encantodo and it is gorgeous--- but I agree, I think we'll stay in town when in Santa Fe and a little further out if we move bases.

and thank you for the birthday wishes!

Lynn.. what a great and encompassing list! I am familiar and have been to a handful of you recommendations -- including Sandia Mountains/Tram, Acoma and a few of the restaurants. I love the idea of eating at High Finance as the sun sets. We'll definitely plan some splurges so will check out Geronimo's too.

A few friends have recommended skipping Albuquerque but I've always enjoyed the city... and the quick trips to Sandia, Acoma and now I've added Madrid to the list! I also find it less expensive than SF. Can't wait to hit the antique shops. We'll both love that.

I was looking at Ten Thousand Waves-- haven't been to one before but their private hot tubs look amazing. I was also looking at Ojo Caliente. Since the bf will be with me-- I want a spa location that will let me indulge somewhere while he finds something else to do. It's possible he'd enjoy Ten Thousand Waves.. but not likely the other spas. Tamaya may be the answer! I can do my thing.. he can do his! I'll check it out.

One question-- do you have any experience with the SF Cooking School? Is it a touristy kind of program or the real deal?

As for a place to stay-- would definitely welcome your thoughts. I stayed at the Hyatt in ABQ and would love a place with a little more charm. I am thinking about renting a casita, condo or small home in SF and using that as a home base... but then I think, this is a vacation. Perhaps I'd prefer the full amenities of a resort. I just don't want to spend $4-500/nt.. I'd rather put that money into art, antiques and experiences.

Thank you so much for the time you put into sharing your many suggestions! You are truly an ambassador for your lovely state!

Funky, I can tell you that in downtown Santa Fe, there is a grea French bakery that has added to hubby's waistline since he started working up there.

I cannot give you answers on specific places to stay, but I would search for bed and breakfasts in Corrales or Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. Both areas are easily accessible to Santa Fe and Albq and should have the charm you seek.

Your question is a good reminder to me that I need to start enjoying some of the things of NM instead of just going about my day to day.

Lynn, I would be grateful for the antique shop recommendations. I am familiar with Legacy Antiques (which we have liked) and Gertrude Zachary (which is really wonderful but generally out of my range). We have been to a few others but they are often so-so. Where would you recommended?

Glad I could be of help, Funkyart. In Santa Fe, I can highly recommend the B&B, El Farolito. We've stayed there twice for romantic weekends away and loved it. Great host/owners. Beautiful, quiet, peaceful grounds and rooms. Gourmet breakfasts. Walking distance to the Plaza.

Check to see prices at Tamaya for rooms. We won a night there a few years ago and really enjoyed it a lot. Beautiful rooms, resort, restaurants, golf course, spa, and views!

I know enough about both towns so please just check back with me before making any lodging reservations. And by all means, do NOT stay anywhere close to Central in ABQ! The Nob Hill and University areas are wonderful, for shopping and restaurants, but there is no decent lodging in that area and some places along Central are downright iffy.

Tish, I thought you were in the Las Cruces area? As far as good antique places go in Albuquerque, Morningside Antiques is head and shoulders above the rest. It's on Central in a good area of town. It's owner, Christian, is wonderful, very knowledgeable and honest. He's very respected throughout the area. We've bought a number of pieces from him over the years and can highly recommend him. I've added a link to his site below so you can see where it's located on Central.

After Morningside, I would look up and down North Fourth Street in the Los Ranchos area. I used to always stop by Antique Co-op, but haven't been there in a while only because I just don't need any more stuff lately. I always have liked Legacy. It's pretty, well organized, clean and has good parking. The prices are fairly reasonable but I've never actually gotten anything from them.
"Morningside Antiques"
My laptop is almost out of power and I need to iron a shirt for DH. I'll come back tomorrow with more shops.
Lynn

Thank you, Lynn. I am actually in the east mountains. Dh accepted a job in Santa Fe this year but we are likely staying put, despite the commute. Las Cruces has exactly the same climate we were escaping when we left Palm Springs, CA.

Tish, am sending you an email.
Lynn

Love that site/shop, Lynn.. so many interesting and cool things and Christian is great!

I need to do some thinking and research on where to stay after we leave ABQ. I need to figure out what all we'll do and where and then think about how much privacy we want.. and what amenities are important for this trip. We'll rent a car but would also like to be able to walk/bike in town. We arent to a place to set travel dates or make reservations yet but I'd like to narrow it down to a short list now.

Any experience with the Santa Fe Cooking School short classes?

This thread is great for me, as I live closeish. Hard to do the tourist thing when you actually live here, but I do go up to Santa Fe periodically. Haven't been in a while, so I think I'm due for a trip.

I always say I'm going to make it up to Taos, but never quite get that far!

Would love to hear from someone who knows Taos. I did stop there on one of my previous trips and was just not as in love with it as I expected to be. We were only there a few hours so I am guessing we missed some great spots.

In fact, of my group of 4, we all much preferred a quirky little cafe/gallery we found along the road to angel fire to anything we saw in Taos.

Funkyart: I haven't heard anything ~ good or bad ~ about the Santa Fe Cooking School. The only one I've heard great things about is Jane Butel's. She's very well-known in the Albuquerque -Santa Fe area, has been on local tv many times over the years, has written many articles on cooking for the Albuquerque Journal and cookbooks, as well. She now has a well-respected cooking school in Corrales, which is a very pretty village just north and west of Albuquerque proper. Here's a link to her website:
"Jane Butel's Cooking School"

Lynn