Thursday's Child: Destination: Santa Fe

Thursday, August 23, 2012


Destination: Santa Fe, New Mexico

When we visited: July 2012

Why to go:  Santa Fe is the second-biggest art market in the United States, next to New York. 

What to see


There is so much to see in Santa Fe, but we decided to devote our time there to visiting the galleries.  Since we were browsing for art rather than buying, we asked our bed and breakfast owner for a list of great galleries to see, and followed his advice.

Nedra Matteucci was less a gallery than an art museum.  We admired the beautiful art we saw as we gasped at the prices (six figures, or higher, weren’t uncommon).  The highlight of Nedra Matteucci was the beautiful sculpture garden in the back of the gallery.  The sculptures, the waterfall and the gorgeous array of trees and flowers made us feel like we were in someone’s exquisite private garden.


From here, it was a short walk to the Canyon Road galleries.  Canyon Road is home to over 100 galleries, specializing in folk art, Russian art, modern art, native art  and much more; everything you could possibly want to browse (or buy) is somewhere along here.


Where to stay:  
We stayed at El Farolito, a charming bed and breakfast that’s about a ten-minute walk from the centre of town, the Santa Fe Plaza.  The Plaza is an exciting district, full of galleries, boutiques and restaurants, but at the end of the day we loved walking home to the quiet residential area we were staying in.  The breakfasts were delicious, and our room was nicely decorated in a southwestern theme.

Where to eat:  If you’ve read my other travel posts this month, you’ll remember that we ate very well on our trip.  So well that, by the time we reached Santa Fe, I wasn’t actually hungry any more.  Which is why we loved La Boca so much.  This little restaurant served the most perfect tapas, delicious but small enough that they felt like a snack.  We enjoyed it so much the first night that we returned the following evening; both times it was busy enough that we couldn’t get a table, but we were happy to eat at the bar.  Try the grilled artichoke – it was incredible.

34 comments:

Kayte said...

What a fun post, gorgeous photos of it, and really loved reading about the art. I did not know that about Santa Fe being No. 2 after NYC! Lovely photo of you and your date...so cute, both of you.

Jess said...

Mmmm, great art and grilled artichokes! Sounds like a dreamy destination :)

Bonnie said...

I may be repeating myself, but Santa Fe is a favorite spot to visit. Many of my favorite restaurants are in Santa Fe. I adore the photos.

Valerie Gamine said...

Sold. I'm ready to go!
Sometimes a restaurant's bar is the best place to sit.

Neesie said...

Oh my I'd love to visit but then at least you gave me a quick tour. ;D
The Nedra Matteucci looks so beautiful and I adore all those sculptures. They look amazing!
Santa Fe is another destination to add to my list!
Thanks so much for inviting me...I loved it.
Have a wonderful weekend. :D

Unknown said...

Beth! Fantastic post and what a nice love letter to that great spot! I was just there for first time two weeks ago and fell in love with it. Your pictures are wonderful...La Boca was my favorite, too! Supreme tapas! Cheers, Nina

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic post!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Loved the pictures. It sounds like such a great trip. Thanks for sharing about it.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

What a marvelous trip! I know I would love Nedra Matteucci. It looks like I better put Santa Fe on my bucket list~

Anna said...

Those scissors are so cool! What a great bunch of pictures.

Belinda said...

Santa Fe is one of my favorite places in the world. So unique...not to mention the food!

amy (fearless homemaker) said...

I have visited Santa Fe before + loved it. I should go back! I majored in Art History in college, so I know i'd love all the art galleries. that scissors/origami sculpture is awesome! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. =)

Anonymous said...

I had no idea about the art there. Thank you for sharing these fantastic pictures.

Gloria Baker said...

Nice trip:) what lovely pictures!

Kristy said...

Great pics! Definitely makes me want to visit!

Catherine said...

Dear Beth, Beautiful photos...it looks like you had a wonderful time. Blessings, Catherine xo

Ellen B Cookery said...

I love the artsy landscaping!

nancy at good food matters said...

Bill and I love Sante Fe---the last time we visited was 4 years ago. It is a magical place, beautiful art, unique delicious food, amazing vistas. (and the al fresco opera)

thanks for this post--triggered some great memories.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like another great trip!

Vicki Bensinger said...

My husband and I went to Santa Fe once and we loved it. I'm not sure why we never went back, I think it was the drive to get there that my husband wasn't in the mood to do again for just a long weekend. Great galleries, shops and restaurants. I'd go back again in a heartbeat. Sounds like you had a great time.

Jennifer Kendall said...

sounds like a wonderful trip!

Carol said...

Fantastic! This looks like a really fantastic trip. I enjoyed the pictures.

Food Gal said...

Santa Fe is one of my fave places. So artsy and beautiful.

Kathy said...

Oh those sculptures are incredible! I am so enjoying your trip, Beth! Beautiful photos!

grace said...

i don't know the first thing about sante fe, but when i think of it, for some reason i think of delicious tex-mex food. i'd like to prove that to myself someday. :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Grilled artichoke? That sounds superb! As does the town of Santa Fe itself. I know it was a real arts destination, but I didn't realize how important it was. Your whole trip has been great - I've thoroughly enjoyed following your adventures. Thanks so much for making us part of it.

chow and chatter said...

sounds like a neat place on my list of places to visit and see the cooking school there

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

Santa Fe sounds like an up and coming town my friend, thanks for sharing :D

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

Angie's Recipes said...

I really enjoy those clicks of sculptures!
Thank you so much for sharing them, Beth.

Joanne said...

I never knew that Santa Fe had so much art! That makes me want to visit all the more!

Janet Johnson said...

What an awesome gallery! I find sculptures just fascinating. I have another friend who is in love with NM . . . maybe I'll have to make some plans to visit one of these years. :)

Julie said...

Santa Fe is on my bucket list!! Sounds like a wonderful visit. The restaurant sounds delicious.

Katerina said...

It looks like you had a wonderful trip not only foodwise but culturewise as well!

lisa is cooking said...

Sounds like a lovely, relaxing time in Santa Fe. Strolling about to look at art is one of my favorite things to do on a trip.

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