Travel Notes: Santa Fe offers mix of history, galleries, shopping

Linda Strait is president of House of Travel Inc., a full-service travel agency in Springfield.

If you are looking for a great destination for your vacation this year, take a look at Santa Fe.

You will be surrounded by clear air, mountain scenery, dry climate, beautiful flowers and magnificent art. The entire area is rich in culture, history, natural wonders and modern sophistication.

The Spanish founded Santa Fe, the second-oldest town in the United States, in 1607 13 years before the pilgrims discovered Plymouth Rock. Evidence of the strong and colorful characters who formed Santa Fe's history, is still available throughout the town and its museums. A must-see is the famous staircase at the Loretto Cathedral, the Palace of the Governors and the San Miguel Mission.

The historic Plaza district, home to some of the galleries and most of the shopping, is compact. Because of one-way streets and lack of parking, plan to do some walking. The Plaza is host to many outdoor concerts and impromptu dances, and has an abundance of wonderful restaurants.

Don't miss Sunday brunch at Bishop's Lodge, green-chile stew at Blue Corn Caf or the Southwestern fare at the Ore House. Santacafe offers a mixture of Asian and Southwestern cuisines in a very modern setting. Meals are always memorable there; reservations are recommended.

Santa Fe is not known for its nightlife, but you will find the Paramount Night Club a good place for live music and dancing. El Farol and La Fiesta Lounge (in the Fonda Hotel) are also good places for live music. You may find rhythm and blues, country, flamenco, samba and bluegrass.

The historic area is full of bed-and-breakfast type inns, many of them less pricey than the big hotels like Eldorado and the Inn at Loretto. Many come decorated with rounded, bee-hive-shaped kiva fireplaces, wood-beamed ceilings and adobe walls. Some top choices are: La Tienda for a romantic getaway; Inn of the Turquoise Bear for a unique experience (goes back to the days of Georgia O'Keeffe, D.H. Lawrence, and Ansel Adams); and Dos Casas Viejas for nice art and privacy.

Santa Fe's hotels are often expensive in season, but justifiably so. Their ambience and locations are excellent, and they frequently need to be booked months in advance. I have stayed at the Inn at Loretto and loved the large rooms and the location, which offered easy walking distance to the Plaza and Canyon Road where many of the art galleries are. Many of the hotels offer packages which include spa, ski or weekend specials.

One of Santa Fe's best assets is its outdoor activities. You can go river rafting, hiking, horseback riding, skiing, fishing, mountain biking or hot-air ballooning.

Through the summer months, you will find many activities for families, including rodeos, art and music festivals, opera and a Native-American market.

And since you are in the area, plan to include Taos and Red River in your trip.