Best Picks for Visitors to "The City Different" & Northern New Mexico

Ken's "crème de la crème" picks of favorite galleries, restaurants, in-town walks, hikes, excursions, etc.  Use this to assist in planning a visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I live.  Here goes.

[Last updated:  January 2, 2024]

Entry to house, Historic District, Santa Fe

Santa Fe Galleries

NOTE:  The galleries listed below have been selected as usually or always showing high quality artists.  Santa Fe, in particular, has many galleries, but most of them cater to the "tourist trade."

Downtown

·     Addison-Rowe (20th century New Mexico Moderns)

·     Andrea Fisher (Native American pots of the Southwest)

·     Community Gallery of the Santa Fe Convention Center  (Local artists)

·     Lyn A. Fox Pueblo Pottery (high quality Native American pottery and some jewelry)

·     Monroe (Focus: great news photographers)

·     Owings Gallery (Taos moderns, New Mexico painters)

·     Patina (Highly sophisticated craft artists - glass, wood, jewelry, ceramics)

·     Peyton-Wright (contemporary New Mexico artists, Spanish colonial, Coptic, Russian icons)

·     PoP Gallery (artists out of the mainstream)

·     Steve Elmore Indian Art (Native American - jewelry, pottery, other media)

·     T.A.D Tribal  Art (Pre-Columbian, Third World regions)

·     Wade Wilson Art (contemporary artists)

·     William Clift Photographs (Hours open very limited - in 2017, Tues, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m., Fri, Sat, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.) 

Canyon Road and vicinity

·     Adobe Gallery (very fine historic Pueblo pots, some drawings)

·     Art House (non-commercial; digital art, supported by the Thoma Foundation)

·     Chiarascuro  (Local and national artists)

·     Edition One (located upper Canyon Road behind Geronimo's Restaurant)

·     Ernesto Mayans  (A few artists carried by the gallery for years - few openings, little change in shows)

·     G2  (Contemporary artists drawn from mostly the entire U.S.)

·     Gebert Contemporary  (Contemporary artists drawn from mostly the entire U.S.)

·     Gerald Peters (esp. early 20th century New Mexico artists, with current shows feature contemporary artists)

·     Matthews Gallery (New Mexico - Taos & Santa Fe - 20th century "moderns")

·     Morningstar (museum-quality Native American from all of North America)

·     Peters Projects (in what was Gerald Peters gallery; putting on consistently innovative large survey shows on interesting themes)

·     Robert Nichols (Native American of the Southwest)

·     Turner-Carroll  (some emphasis on women artists) 

Railyard / Lena Street / Rufina Circle District, & Miscellaneous Locations

·     5 Points (top-notch artists)

·     Aaron Payne (20th century New Mexico Moderns)

·     Artes de Cuba

·     Argos (eclectic shows - photographty, works on paper)

·     Charlotte Jackson  (Main focus is on minimalist artists, usually painters)

·     City of Mud (featuring some topnotch local artists)

·     CONTAINER (1226 Flagman Way - an outpost of Turner Carroll Gallery))

·     David Richard (large gallery with interesting survey shows)

·     Form & Concept (435 S. Guadalupe) 

·     Freeform Art Space (on Cielo Court off Cerrillos Road)

·     Lannan Foundation (only open 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., Sat., Sun., when there are exhibits)

·     Lew Allen (Contemporary U.S. artists; also has a small but high quality classic 20th-century prints and drawings collection)

·     Liquid Light (Art glass, hot shop) 

·     Nisa Touchon Fine Art / International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction (1925-C Rosina St.)

·     Oscura Gallery (1405 Paseo de Peralta, corner of Galisteo, focus on classic photography and Native American objects)

·     PIE Projects (In a very contemporary building in the Railyard - Baca District)

·     PHIL Space (1410 Second Street)

·     Photo-Eye  (Very fine photography shows; has a separate, nearby store featuring photography books exclusively)

·    Scheinbaum & Russek (highest quality 20th century photographic masters - by appointment)

·     Strata Gallery (In the Design Center)

·     Tai (Asian contemporary, with a focus on Japanese contemporary basketry)

·     William Siegel Gallery (Superb ancient textiles and stone / ceramic objects, mainly from South and Central America and Asia)

·     Yares Art Projects (Baca Arts District)

Taos

·       203 Fine Arts (focus on the "Taos Moderns")

·      Couse-Sharp Historic Site (Open only the 1st Saturday of the month when a special exhibit is on)

·       Lumina Gardens  (Varied, touristy, but can be interesting)

·       Mission Gallery

·       Total Arts

Albuquerque

·       516 Arts

·      Richard Levy

Museums and Other Art Centers

·       Albuquerque Museum (Art and history - very good permanent art collection; often has excellent temporary exhibitions) 

·       Center for Contemporary Art [CCA] (Includes two art spaces and two movie theaters)

·       El Rancho de las Golondrinas  (18th century ranch museum, displaying life on a Spanish colonial ranch)

·       Harwood  (Located in Taos with a branch in Albuquerque - Contemporary art and Taos Moderns; special room of Agnes Martin paintings)

·       Marion Center for the Photographic Arts  (Part of the Santa Fe University of Art & Design)

·       Millicent Rodgers  (Taos - Native American jewelry)

·       Meow Wolf Art Complex

·       Museum Hill

o   Museum of International Folk Art

o   Museum of Indian Arts & Culture

o   Laboratory of Anthropology

o   Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts

o Wheelwright Museum  (Small private museum, Native American art)

·       New Mexico Museum of Art

·     Palace of the Governors (Segesser Hides, New Mexico colonial history, special collection of New Mexico carved santos and bultos)

·       New Mexico History Museum

·     O'Keeffe Museum  (Dedicated to Georgia O'Keeffe, but puts on temporary exhibits covering 20th century modernism)

·      Ralph T. Coe Foundation [Open 1st Friday afternoon of the month, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.; for other times, call 505/983-6372; 1590B Pacheco St. ]

 ·    Randall Davey House / Audubon Center (Tours of the historic house and its early 20th century art on Fridays at 2:00 p.m.)

·     Round House, The (State Capitol) - Capitol Art Foundation (A superb collection of NM-related art - paintings, sculpture, photography, fiber arts)

·     Santa Fe Art Institute (on the campus of Santa Fe University of Art & Design)

·       Shidoni (Tesuque - Crafts, Sculpture Garden, studio for art glass-blowing)

·       Site Santa Fe  (No permanent collection - focus is on very cutting-edge artists; has a biennial)

·       Tamarind Institute (Albuquerque - graphic art and printing)

Performance Venues

·       Gig (interesting jazz and international folk music performance space on 2nd St.) 

·       Santa Fe Sol Stage & Grill (on the south edge of the city)

Shopping

·       Cost Plus World Market  (National chain - items for home and kitchen, gourmet foods, wine department)

·       Foreign Traders  (Imports)

·       Nomads  (Imports)

·       Photo-Eye Books  (Superb inventory of photography books)

·       Plants of the Southwest  (Beautiful setting, native plants exclusively)

·       Santa Fe Oriental Rugs

·       Teresa Vorenberg (Canyon Road, gold jewelry)

·     Two Star Trading (310 Allegre, off Griffin Street - fine Native American tradition jewelry, off-the-beaten track)

·       Trader Joe’s (good selection of very inexpensive wines)

·       Trading Post  (Imports)

·       Travel Bug (travel guides and books, maps, travel photo show most Saturdays @ 5:00 p.m.))

·       Traveler’s Market (DeVargas Mall - miscellaneous booths of imports)

·       Tropic of Capricorn  (upscale garden store, primarily garden pots, sculpture, etc.)

·     Wine Shops

• •         Cost Plus World Market (good selection at reasonable prices)

  •         La Casa Sena Wine Shop (most sophisticated selection of wines)

  •         Susan's Wines & Spirits (very broad, comprehensive selection of wines, tastings on Fridays, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.)

·       Whole Foods Market

Lodgings

·       Santa Fe Motel & Inn (best value in downtown Santa Fe; 2007: $85/night except summer, $115/night); rooms are very attractive, full hot breakfast included)

·       El Paradero B&B Inn (close to downtown, low key, lovely; 2007:  least expensive room during low season: $90/night, full breakfast included)

·       Hotel Santa Fe (least expensive rooms are quite affordable; 2007:  $109/night)

Restaurants & Cafes  <<<<  Use link here for most up-to-date information on Santa Fe restaurants

Pojoaque / Espanola Area

·         Gabriels  $$  (Not the world's greatest food - it's all traditional New Mexican - but the outdoor dining area is very attractive)

Taos and nearby

·       Byzantium  $$$  (Off-beat, but unusual, vaguely Mediterranean-style cooking)

·       Common Fire  $$$  (noteworthy flatbreads and Asian fusion creative dishes - superb review, Pasatiempo 10/07/2016)

·       Doc Martin’s  $$$  (Can be creative and satisfying)

·       Dragonfly Café  $$ (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

·       El Monte Sagrado  $$$$  (Restaurant associated with a very upscale spa resort)

·       Graham’s  $$  (lCalifornia-style appetizers and main courses)

·       Love Apple  $$ (not tried, but good reviews)

·       Old Taos Inn  $$ (lobby and patio for drinks)

·       Sugar Nymphs  (Peñasco)  $$  (Has scaled back to being, primarily a sandwich and snack place)

·      Trading Post  $$  (lVery-well made comfort food)

Bernalillo / Corrales

·     Casa Vieja (Corrales)  $$$ (A beautiful, sprawling old house, with a lovely patio for warmer-weather eating)

·     Range Café (Bernalillo)  $$  (A real favorite - always well-made classic breakfasts, lunches, dinners; never disappoints, great deserts, always busy)

Great Walks in Historic/Old Santa Fe

·       Museum Hill east across Old Santa Fe, down Camino Rancheros and various streets off it

·     Walk small streets off upper Old Santa Fe Trail (Camino Acoma, Conejo Drive are particularly fine)

·            Walk small streets off upper Old Santa Fe Trail (Camino Acoma, Conejo Drive are particularly fine) 

·       Upper Canyon Road to San Acacio to Calle Santander and down Camino de Monte Sol

·       Lower Canyon Road to Camino de Monte Sol and down Garcia

·       Up Acequeia Madre and its various side streets to the south

·       Circuit of Cerro Gordo and Upper Canyon Road including Canyon Trust’s Wildlife Preserve off Cerro Gordo near where it meets 

     Upper Canyon Road

·       Up Hillside (extension of Marcy St.) to Armijo – walk various smaller streets and return via Palace Ave.

·     Along Paseo de la Cuma (off Old Taos Highway) and surrounding streets (e.g., Paseo de la Loma)

·       Various side streets off East Zia Road, e.g., Camino Acoma, Conejo Drive to Venedo Lane, returning via Fort Union Drive

·       Wildlife Sanctuary trail – trail begins at the far end of Camino Pequeño (off E. Alameda where it turns by Cristo Rey Church)

Hikes and Outdoor Places (those in bold are absolute favorites)

·       Ancho Rapids Trail

·     Aspen Vista (near Santa Fe Ski Basin)

·       Atalaya Trail

·       Bandelier National Monument (Tsankawi, Loop Trail through Frijoles Canyon, Falls Trail)

·       Barrancas (Pojoaque Valley)

·     Blue Dot / Red Dot Trail (White Rock)

·       Circle Trail (Hyde State Park)

·       Dale Ball Trail + PNM Watershed (Nature Conservancy)

·       Diablo Canyon / Caja del Rio / Buckman Bosque

·     Dockwiller Trail (Pecos Wilderness; trailhead at Panchuela Campground)

·       East Fork of the Jemez River (near Valles Caldera National Park)

·       Echo Amphitheater (just north of Ghost Ranch)

·     Galisteo Basin Preserve trails network (across from Lamy, Santa Fe County)

·     Ghost Ranch: Kitchen Mesa, Box Canyon, and Chimney Rock Trails

·       Grass Mountain

·       Hamilton Mesa from Iron Gate Campground trailhead

·     La Vega Trail (Pecos Wilderness, Santa Fe Ski Basin side)

·     Nambe Lake Trail (from Santa Fe Ski Basin)

·       Plaza Blanca (property of Dar es Salaam mosque & Islamic center, near Abiquiu)

·       Rail Trail

·       Randall Davey Audubon Center

·     Rim Vista Trail (across from Ghost Ranch)

·       Rio en Medio (particularly beyond the falls up to the junction with the Winsor Trail)

·       Santa Fe Canyon Preserve (Cerro Gordo & Upper Canyon Rd.)

·     Santa Barbara Canyon (near Peñasco)

·       Tent Rocks

·       Trails at Lama Center nr Abiquiu

·       White Rock Overlook

Excursions

Miscellaneous

·       Galisteo (including Galisteo Inn)

·       Santa Fe County Road 41 from Hwy 285 to Galisteo

·       Cerrillos Hills Historic Park

·       BLM’s La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site (3.4 miles south of the New Mexico 599 turn off at Airport Road)

        [Superb examples of petroglyphs easily reached on a short climb up and then along an extended "barrancas" or cliff face]

·       Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve in La Cienaga

·       Las Golondrinas in La Cienaga

·       NM 503 from Nambe to turn-off to Chimayo

·       Waldo Road (County Road 57 from Cerrillos to Exit 267 of  I-25)

·       Taos (High Road, Rio Grande Canyon)

·     Petroglyph National Monument

·       Salinas National Monument

·       Bosque del Apache

·       Chaco Canyon National Historic Park

Fall Foliage

·       Tamaya Resort – Bosque trails (3rd – 4th week, October, Cottonwoods)

·       Santa Fe Ski Basin (end of September – 10th October, Aspens) – Big Tesuque Trail, Aspen Vista, La Vega

·       Jemez Canyon (3rd – 4th week, October, Cottonwoods)

·       Chama River Valley near Abiquiu (2nd week, October, Cottonwoods)

·       Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama >> Antonito (very beginning of October, Aspens)

La Cienaga

·       Masterson Studio

·       Las Golondrinas

·       Sunrise Springs

·       Leonora Curtin Wetlands Natural Area

Special Sights and Places

·       Plaza Sena

·       Milner Plaza (Museum Hill)

·       Pueblo dances (check schedule on Native American calendar)

·       Studio tours (check schedule, usually held on weekends, September – November)

·       Northern New Mexico wineries

·       Bosque on Santa Ana Pueblo’s Hyatt Tamaya resort complex (Bernalillo) – spectacular in late October