A Culture Vulture s Guide to Santa Fe

Get the Full StoryThere s no one right way to describe Santa Fe. It s the capital of New Mexico, the oldest state capital in the U.S., and the country s third-largest art market -- behind New York and Los Angeles. Spanish for Holy Faith, Santa Fe might be better known, though, for its self-proclaimed slogan, the City Different. And the destination, which is perched 7,000 above sea level, irrefutably does things differently. It s certainly historic -- visitors can get a glimpse into its storied past while visiting several neighborhoods, especially the downtown Plaza area and Railyard District, its museums, its nature trails, and simply by chatting up the friendly locals. It packs in flavor, too -- you may be asked more than once if you pledge your allegiance to the red or green chile that tops many a dish. And it s undoubtedly energetic, with a thriving art and architecture scene that includes a myriad of galleries, events like the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market and Indian Market, landmarks like the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Palace of the Governors, quirky installations see Meow Wolf below , and of course, earthy adobe buildings set against the backdrop of dramatic mountains and striking blue skies. This is all a roundabout way of saying the creative flair shines through in every nook of this city -- even down to the strings of chile ristras that hang from the doors. With so much to do and see, we narrowed it down to a few of our favorite arts and culture highlights below.

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