Santa Fe, New Mexico- What to Expect

A contemporary urban oasis in the high deserts of New Mexico, the city of Santa Fe is known as an epicentre for arts and culture backed up by 400 years of history and Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-American cultural influences. Its picturesque avenues and lanes, low adobe houses, charming Spanish colonial churches, as well as the abundance of Native American arts and crafts and contemporary art have long been a travel attraction for people around the world.

Here are a few things that come in handy while planning your trip to this beautiful city:

1. The Winter Months Last through Dec to March with an average high of 4.4°C and an average low of -7°C.
2. An Average meal for one person costs about 16.06$ in a non-expensive restaurant.
3. A Pint of Domestic Drought Beer costs about 5.35$ on an average.
4. A Litre of gas Costs 0.90$.
5. A monthly Travel pass on regular rates would cost around 40.14$.
6. The monthly rent of a 1BHK a little off the City Centre is about 1,236.13$.

Main Attractions:

1. Who doesn’t love a Love great sunset, Head for the Martyrs Park atop a Santa Fe hill on the historic Eastside. The site is known for one of its best west-facing views in the city. Once home to Fort Marcy which was built by the US Army in 1846. Read the historic plaques installed along the way to get a touch of the local history. Don’t want the mild uphill hike? You can also access the park by car from Artist’s Road.
2. The Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary is an ideal site for birds and the personalities who love them. A sanctuary is an excellent spot for a hike. You can comfortably access Santa Fe’s extensive Dale Ball Trail from the city centre. Sit quietly while watching birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Artists sometimes set up their easels and paint the woodland’s splendour. Hit the indigenous plant and pollinator gardens where you can observe native bee dwellings. The site is also available for rent for special events. Admission is free; donations are appreciated.
3.  Once a trade route leading to the establishment of Pecos on the eastern slope of the hills. Today The Canyon Road hosts various artists’ studios, galleries, and craft workshops, as well as cafes, tea-houses, and restaurants. 
4. The Santa Fe Opera House is the state’s top performing arts centre, offering a broad variety of operatic works that range from traditional favourites like Madame Butterfly to contemporary performances like Doctor Atomic. One of the most endearing traditions here in Santa Fe is tailgating – a unique sight indeed as throngs of theatregoers in formal wear mingle in the parking lot while nibbling on upscale finger-food. In addition to seasonal performances, the opera house provides apprenticeship programs for all aspects of production, and backstage tours are available to visitors year-round.
5. One of the crowning jewels of the Southwest is the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. established in 1909 with the mission to preserve the tangible culture of the Native Americans of the region. In 1947, the museum was combined with JD Rockefeller’s Laboratory of Anthropology, an institution dedicated to the ongoing study of the cultures of the Southwest. Today, the museum hosts impressive collections of pottery, jewellery, basketry, and saddle blankets, as well as regular performances of Native American music, dances, storytelling, and other traditions. The facility is also home to extensive archives and research collections that include photographs, ethnographic records, and archaeological materials.
6.  The Museum of New Mexico Complex houses four museums that traverse the state’s heritage. The New Mexico History Museum chronicles the state’s history from the 16th century onwards by way of exhibits that look at the native populations, colonization, and the ways the Santa Fe Trail shaped the state’s economy and development. The museum is housed in The Palace of Governors, the former 17th-century seat of the Spanish government, which is a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can tour this adobe mansion and see rooms complete with period furniture, set up as they would have been during the 1600s.
7. The busy heart of the town’s life is the Plaza, a market square that was built by the Spaniards at the spot where the Santa Fe Trail ended. Today, the Plaza is a lively place surrounded by numerous shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes. Visitors will also find that it is the best place in the city to find Native American Arts and Crafts, especially jewellery. The Plaza is just as popular with locals as it is tourists and is an ideal spot for people-watching. Many of the city’s special events, especially cultural gatherings are held here.
8. El Rancho de Las Golondrinas is a living history museum located on a former Spanish ranch dating back to 1710. This expansive 200-acre facility has 33 historic buildings, including originals, as well as relocated historic buildings from around the state. These include a variety of homes, as well as barns, a chicken coop, general store, schoolhouse, and mills. Living history interpreters provide demonstrations of everyday life, including spinning, weaving, cooking, tin-smithing, farming, and blacksmithing, among others. The ranch also has traditional corrals and hosts special events throughout the year.
9. Established in 1953, the Museum of International Folk Art has the largest folk art collection in the world, ranging from baskets, textiles, wood carving, to ceramics. The collections are divided into the geographical region: Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Contemporary Hispano and Latino, European and North American, and Latin American. There are also divisions incorporating Spanish Colonial Textiles & Costumes.