There are some cities that live up to expectations.\u00a0 Las Vegas<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 You know before you go that there will be plenty of gambling and drinking, fine dining, sensational Cirque shows, tiny wedding chapels, and crowded clubs.\u00a0 New York<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 Bring on the Broadway shows,\u00a0 towering skyscrapers, bagels, hot dogs, cabs, and endless energy.\u00a0 New Orleans<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 This city is dominated by live jazz music, a never ending party, second lines, the French quarter architecture, above ground tombs, gumbo and beignets.\u00a0 \u00a0And Santa Fe<\/span><\/strong> is no different.<\/p>\n

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I’m not saying that’s all there is to do in these cities.\u00a0 \u00a0In fact, from downtown Las Vegas<\/span><\/strong> you can be in a completely different world, Valley of Fire State Park<\/strong><\/span>, in less than an hour’s drive.\u00a0 \u00a0The beach and amusement park at Coney Island<\/span><\/strong> are a stone’s throw from New York’s Wall Street<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 New Orleans<\/span><\/strong> boasts an amazing WWII Museum<\/span><\/strong> that’s 1 mile from Bourbon Street<\/span><\/strong>!\u00a0 There are unexpected things to do in every major city and again, Santa Fe<\/span><\/strong> is no different.<\/p>\n

You’ll get to see and do all you expect from Santa Fe<\/span><\/strong> – tour art gallery after art gallery, buy silver jewelry from street vendors at The Plaza<\/span><\/strong> downtown, walk picturesque streets and lanes lined with low adobe, Pueblo-style architecture,\u00a0 visit old churches and missions, enjoy Margaritas, Sangria, sopaipillas with honey, and it’s unique style of Mexican cuisine smothered in green or red chile.\u00a0 If you have additional time, their hiking trails and live theater get rave reviews as well.<\/p>\n

Below are photos from:<\/p>\n

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• San Miguel Chapel<\/span><\/strong>, the oldest Catholic Church built in the United States built around 1610.<\/li>\n
• Loretto Chapel<\/span><\/strong> with it’s mysterious staircase (read more here<\/strong><\/a><\/span>).<\/li>\n
• Saint Francis Cathedral<\/span><\/strong>, a centerpiece of Santa Fe<\/span><\/strong>, commissioned in 1850 by Santa Fe’s first bishop.<\/li>\n
• The Plaza <\/span><\/strong>is Santa Fe’s<\/strong><\/span> city square.\u00a0 This National Historic Landmark is a gathering place for tourists and locals.\u00a0 Local vendors line the street selling hand-made items.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
• Our 18th anniversary dinner<\/span> (complete with sparklers!) at Dinner For Two<\/span><\/strong>. The food and service were incredible, but I wore a pair of flats that tore up the heels of my feet while walking there.\u00a0 I was bleeding by the time we arrived and upon return to the RV afterwards, I immediately threw out the shoes.<\/li>\n
• A short walk (because of the blisters on my heels) at Dog Park Ridgetop<\/span><\/strong> above Santa Fe<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
• A visit to Cross of the Martyrs<\/span><\/strong> erected to commemorate the deaths of 21 Catholic clergy during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt<\/li>\n
• The New Mexico State Capitol<\/span><\/strong> is the only round capitol in the country.\u00a0 Santa Fe<\/span><\/strong> claims to be the oldest capitol city in the US because it was the seat of the Mexican province of Nuevo Mexico in 1846, but the “Roundhouse” capitol wasn’t dedicated until late 1966, the newest state capitol after Hawaii<\/span><\/strong> and Florida<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 It was filled with great artwork.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n

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