Hi Everyone,

My parents moved to New Mexico last year (Las Cruces). We're going to visit them in Sept/October and we're all going up to Santa Fe/Taos for a few days.

Any recommendations for where to stay? Good restaurants? Not-to-be-missed sights?

Thanks a million!

Kathy

Just forwarded to a friend who lives in Santa Fe & has good taste in food & entertainment

Yes! I love Santa Fe. Nice Place to stay somewhat reasonable is the Inn on the Alameda. Sort of an oversized B and B. They have wine and appetizers in the evening, and breakfast is included in the morning. Walking distance to the Plaza (center of Town). They also have a place in Taos but it's a different name. It's totally a "foodie" town. The No.1 spot is Geronimo's on Canyon Road. The food is very yummy (I have a top 10 list and it's on there) but it is pricey. The Plaza Restaurant is good for lunch as is the restaurant right next door (on the Plaza/ A must eat place is Cafe Pasquales - always a line - no reservatons. SantaCafe is excellent. Anastazis too.

visit www.santafe.com. There is a list of restaurants and places to stay.

Ah, Kathy, you are right up my alley here! We love all of New Mexico but especially northern NM and have a vacation home up the mountain from Taos. As far as Santa Fe, I definitely second Kathy's (ChatKat) recommendation of Pasquales. It's a fun place with great food! A hotel we have liked is the St. Francis, which is about a half-block from Pasquales and therefore a great location for walking around to all the downtown shops and galleries. Small rooms in some cases but reasonably priced for Santa Fe. (It has been several years since we have been there, so I hope its standards haven't changed.)

As far as Taos, restaurants I can recommend are: Orlando's (a not-to-be-missed family cafe with wonderful, simple, inexpensive New Mexico food); Antonio's (interior Mexico type food, very fresh, nice service, recently moved to a new location in Ranchos de Taos we haven't visited but will try out in a couple of weeks); the Trading Post (varied menu, lovely patio area and service in the warm months, a little more expensive, especially in the evening; a dessert called a Napoleon that we have heard of people driving all the way from Colorado just to have!); and the Apple Tree (New Mexican food a half-block off the plaza). There are more good places, so just ask if you have specific questions. Oh, by the way, Julia Roberts, who has a home near Taos, gets her pizza at Taos Pizza Outback, we understand, but we haven't done that yet so that recommendation would be hers rather than mine. :cool:

Gee, can you tell we like to eat? Hope this helps.

Kathy, I can't help myself. One more recommendation in Taos: Villa Fontana, an absolutely wonderful Italian restaurant. It has won all sorts of awards and is run by a fun couple. So if you like Italian (and mushrooms -- the husband/chef is sort of a "mushroom specialist") that's the place to go.

Okay, now I'll stop. I promise.

Oh - I also forgoet the Cowgirl for BBQ - it's really fun casual dining and the food is probably the best BBQ and easy on the wallet.

Parking in downtown Santa Fe is limited, so park in a lot so you don't get a ticket.

Kathy - I live just north of Santa Fe in Tesuque - I will be happy to either e-mail or post a lot of ideas for you, but here are a few:

While we were building our house we most often stayed at the Inn on the Alameda, super friendly and helpful staff with a great buffet breakfast, wine and cheese in the afternoons & free parking and also at the Hotel Santa Fe, partly owned by the Picuris Pueblo. They have very reasonable rates on suites and a new building they call the Hacienda which is deluxe. The Inn of the Anasazi is very nice, but expensive. If you opt for that don't book the regular rooms (small & dark) - go up to deluxe or higher. Their restaurant is fabulous - one of the best in town.

Other good choices for restaurants - Geronimo for a splurge, La Casa Sena in a lovely courtyard, Pasquals for breakfast and/or dinner - they take reservations for dinner. We like El Farol on Canyon Rd. a lot (tapas, Spanish.) Tulips is off the beaten track, but has very creative food. Santacafe is very good - but best in summer when you can eat outside. Rio Chama has the best steaks, Maria's has the best margaritas & great enchiladas. For Italian, Julien's, Il Piatto and Andiamo are all good.

Will post some must-sees & dos next.
---
Leslie

Kathy,

I grew up in New Mexico. All these suggestions are good ones. Santa Fe and Taos are beautiful. You will have a great time. Las Cruces in an interesting town also and Mesilla.

Betty

Here is my friend's reply re Santa Fe:

Oh yeah
The three best places to stay in Santa Fe are : Inn of the Anasazi, La
Posada,
and El Dorado....figure $200+
A little less, but also near the old plaza are : Santa Fe Inn and
Motel, Hotel
Santa Fe ( Indian owned and run), and Don Gaspar Inn and B&B....figure
$125.
Finally there is a resort that has cottage type accommodations, horse
back
riding etc ...Bishop's Lodge... about $145, but out 4 miles from town.
We also have a Hilton that is near the plaza, and then all the rest of
the
chains in the less attractive areas of town.
The best restaurant is Geronimo's, then the Compound. Also, Santacafe',
Pasquale's, Rio Chama....for a taste of old New Mexico there is Maria's
which
serves 100 different kinds of Margaritas. For a drink on the Plaza try
The Ore
House. Bishop's Lodge Restaurant is woth the little drive. La Casa Sena
is great
and has live singers. The bar at the Palace restaurant is a must (
huanted and
in red velvet).
In Taos, the best is El Monte....I think $250+....we like the Inn at
Taos....figure $125. Joseph's Table is a great restaurant....El Monte's
Serpentine Bar is not to be missed. Also El Monte's resaurant is tops.
For sights around Santa Fe....Shidoni foundry, Bandolier Cliff
Dwellings, Pecos
Ruins and National Park , Tent Rock National Park, lots of hiking
trails near
town in Santa Fe National Forest.
Every Thursday there is a section in the local paper called Pasatiempo.
It
carries all the current activities aimed at tourist and locals alike.
If your friends have particular target activities, we'd be pleased to
help their
planning. Lots of info can be viewed in Santa Fe web sights. Las Cruces
will be
warm to hot. Santa Fe and Taos are 6000 feet higher elevation and
cool...like
60s. It is 4.5 hours drive from Las Cruces to Santa Fe.
Hope they enjoy New Mexico.

Chiming in again - I do not recommend La Posada. It has been sold recently,hopefully a good thing, but is still managed by the same company. The service is truly indifferent and only if you are willing to go up in room category to something like a suite casita would I even consider it. Plus you have to pay for valet parking, they assess a "resort" charge, etc.

The Palace restaurant was taken over and redone by the guys who own Geronimo and is now worth a try, although it is expensive. They kept the feel of the red velvet, but now it is ozzing in style. Across the street is another one of their ventures, Swig, a very hip bar with multiple rooms and fabulous ASian tapas. Wednesday is $5 martini night.

September, October is one of the best times to come. If you come in late September the Aspens will be turning gold in the mountains. It is a beautiful drive (about 30 minutes) up to the ski area. They run the chairlift during peek aspen season - you can ride up and down or even better, ride up and hike down the ski runs. Stop on the way back at Ten Thousand Waves, A Japanese spa in a lovely setting.

Also, at the end of September (this year Sept 21- 25) is the Wine and Chile Fiesta - http://www.santafewineandchile.org/ - with many wine and food related seminars and tastings, chefs dinners with wine pairings and the big event is the Saturday afternoon food and wine tasting, held outside at the SF Opera with all the local restaurants serving tastings and wineries all over the country (and world?) serving tastings. It costs about $75-100 pp and is just fabulous.

more later....

Leslie

Leslie,

We were up there last year for a photography class at the Santa Fe Workshops. The fall color was spectacular and rivals that of New England.

I used to live in NM. Here are my favorites:
The EL Dorado is a great hotel. It often has $139.00 specials if you go to their website. The coyote cafe has excellent margaritas and food. The view from the balcony of the "big sky" is spectacular.
In Taos, we always stay at, and eat at, the Taos Inn. Their resataurant, Doc Martin's, has great food and a great ambience.
I LOVE NM. Have fun!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

I'm carefully copying everything to MS Word for safekeeping. :)

I can't imagine how we ever managed without this board. I knew just where to come to get exactly what I needed. Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to respond. :lct:

Kathy

Kathleen,

Don't forget to report back on what you've decided. I love Santa Fe and won't get there for a while (maybe next year, if I'm lucky)

If you like spas, we enjoyed Ten Thousand Waves. I still remember our dinner at Geronimo's from six years ago (where I was introduced to Macrostie Chardonnay). The golf at Conchiti was a lot of fun; touring Los Alamos was also very interesting. Have a great time! Cheers, Anne

reviving this topic for you Kathy:

We just went skiing up in Angel Fire and stayed overnight at El Monte Segrado in Taos.

WOW!!!!!

They have an incredible package special - "getting to know us" - it includes on night in a Native American Suite, 2 one hour massages, taxes and gratuities for $345. The massages alone would set you back $115 EACH plus tax and tip,so the room cost less than $100 - (a 500 plus square foot suite.)

This is really an exceptional and ecologically visionary property, plus it is just gorgeous.

So, if you plan to stay in Taos, check out their specials. At the very least, stop in for a drink and/or snack at their Anaconda Bar and take a peek.

----
Leslie

The museum on the square is a don't miss. We just happened to hit it on a Friday night and the entrance fee was waived but at thet ime (2000?) it would have been about $5 and worth it.

The chapel with the circular stairs with no center support is interesting. The movie they made about it was stupid, tho.

Saturday morning we found a neat outdoor flea market, can't remember where exactly but it was in town and walking distance to the main square.

Now I'm getting really excited about the trip. Thanks so much for all the great ideas, everyone!!!!

Kathy