The nation’s oldest capital city is not on the East Coast but in the mountains of New Mexico. The city of Santa Fe, founded more than 400 years ago, is set at 7,000 feet elevation (more than Denver) and experiences more than 320 days of sunshine per year. In fact, the early Native American inhabitants called it “Dancing Ground of The Sun.” It is a city steeped in culture and beauty. No matter what is happening today — it’s always good to dream and plan of journeys to beautiful places.  Here are just a few ways to enjoy all that Santa Fe has to offer:

Appreciate the abundance of art: Georgia O’Keefe may be Santa Fe’s most notable artist, but there are also nearly 300 art galleries and dealers are based in Santa Fe, making the city the third largest art market in the country. Many of these can be found by strolling along Canyon Road in the heart of the Historic District, a half mile long stretch that has galleries and studios of all kinds of visual arts including international folk art, Native American art and contemporary art. For even more cultural immersion, there also more than a dozen state and private museums in the Santa Fe area.

Experience the magic of the opera – outdoors: The Crosby Theatre, home to the Santa Fe Opera, is an experience in and of itself. The striking, state-of-the-art, open-air theatre has won several prestigious design awards with its panoramic view of the Jemez Mountains to the west and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east. The starry New Mexico sky is the ultimate backdrop for summer performances, as visitors watch the sunset as the “curtain raises.”

Immerse yourself in into fantastic realms of storytelling: Meow Wolf’s The House of Eternal Return is an award-winning a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, and an expansive narrative amidst surreal, maximalist, and mesmerizing art exhibits. The collaboration of over 100 local artists and is described as a “unique combination of children’s museum, art gallery, jungle gym, and fantasy novel.”

Chew on centuries of culinary traditions: Santa Fe has a blend of Indigenous American, Spanish and Anglo culinary influences. The city has more than 400 restaurants and offers guided culinary tours. Those in the mood for a margarita (or a few!) can check out the Margarita Trail to taste 45 of the best margaritas in the world.

Explore the Outdoors: Biking, hiking, golf and skiing are popular activities that take advantage of Santa Fe’s blue skies, pure air and national forest. The interactive Santa Fe trails map points visitors in the right direction.

With its blend of arts, culture, culinary experiences – set in the magic of mountains – it is no wonder that Santa Fe is also known as “The City Different.”

© 2019 Silver Disobedience, Inc.