nEIGHBORHOOD
Santa Fe, New Mexico Attractions & Things To Do
Visitors to Santa Fe, New Mexico will always have a long to-do list filled with fun things to do and fascinating attractions to check out, including the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, Bandelier National Monument and San Miguel Mission. Learn more about these and other unique things to do in our Santa Fe, New Mexico neighborhood by perusing the list below.
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Santa Fe Opera
Fans of opera will surely be fanatic about catching one or more of the performances at the Santa Fe Opera. The Opera’s 2008 season features Falstaff, The Marriage of Figaro and Billy Budd. For more information, visit www.santafeopera.org.
Santa Fe Loretto Chapel
Loretto Chapel, which was built in 1878, was patterned after King Louis IX's Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Today, the Gothic Revival-style chapel is a private museum. One of the must-see aspects of the chapel is the Miraculous Staircase. For more information, visit www.lorettochapel.com.
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Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show
A New Mexico tradition for more than three decades, the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show features awe-inspiring arts, crafts and Indian dances. This is the largest outdoor public art exhibit created by Native Americans. Explore the fine work of jewelers, sculptors, potters, wood carvers and painters. For more information, visit www.eightnorthernpueblos.com/.
Georgia O’Keefe Museum
The first museum in the country to focus on one woman artist, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe features O’Keefe’s paintings, drawings and sculpture. Discover her singular works that focused on large-scale flowers, New York cityscapes, animal bones, as well as the deserts and cliffs of New Mexico. For more information, visit www.okeeffemuseum.org.
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Santa Fe Spanish Markets
There are two Spanish Markets in Santa Fe-Spanish Market in July and Winter Spanish Market in December. Both events, which are organized by the Spanish Colonial Arts Society, feature the works of some of the best Hispanic artists in the area. If you miss either event, you can view the Society's collection at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art in Santa Fe. For more information, visit www.spanishmarket.org.
Shidoni Foundry & Gallery
Situated in the village of Tesuque just five miles from Santa Fe, Shidoni is comprised of three elements-a bronze art foundry, a sculpture garden and a gallery. One hundred different sculptors from across America are represented at Shidoni, which is a Navajo word that is used when one greets a friend. For more information, visit www.shidoni.com.
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Museum of International Folk Art
Discover the world's largest collection of traditional folk art at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe. Dolls, masks, puppets, masks and ceramics are just some of the approximately 125,000 pieces you’ll encounter. Cultural festivals are also held at this diverse and inviting museum. For more information, visit www.internationalfolkart.org.
Ghost Ranch
Ghost Ranch, which covers 21,000 scenic acres, is a renowned study and conference center. Located in Abiquiu, New Mexico, Ghost Ranch also houses two museums-the Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology and the Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology. Plus, you can explore the area via the Georgia O'Keeffe and Ghost Ranch Landscape Tour. Movie buffs may also recognize the scenery as Ghost Ranch has been used quite regularly in films. For more information, visit www.ghostranch.org.
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San Miguel Mission
Built in the early 1600s, San Miguel Mission has taken many shapes and forms over the centuries. It’s been a military chapel, a school chapel and a barrio church. Today, it is not only a popular attraction, but it’s also a shrine to St. Michael and a working chapel. For more information, visit www.nosfarchives.org/sanmiguel.html.
Santa Fe Children's Museum
It’s all happening at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum. Everything from a 16-foot high climbing wall to Lego building blocks to the pin screen where kids have a chance to make "sculptural" impressions of themselves. For more information, visit www.santafechildrensmuseum.org.
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Santa Fe Cooking School
Internationally known and acclaimed, the Santa Fe School of Cooking is located in Santa Fe Plaza (Historic Downtown). In addition, it’s a market that specializes in foods of the Southwest. Classes are taught by some of Santa Fe’s best chefs. For more information, visit www.santafeschoolofcooking.com/.
Bandelier National Monument
An amazing trek back in time awaits you at Bandelier National Monument. Explore Pueblo homes and archeological sites that date to the 1100s. Enjoy the delightfully colorful pink mesas and picturesque canyons. There are many trails that afford incredible views of this must-see natural wonder. A popular way to get started is via the Main Loop Trail, an easy 1.2 mile walk that begins at the Visitor Center and takes you through archeological sites on the floor of Frijoles Canyon.
