Life on Vacation: Art and Soul Converge in Santa Fe

Sept. 1, 2008— -- The first out-of-towners to visit what is now Santa Fe arrived from Mexico in the 16th century. Soon, people were coming from as far as Spain, and by 1610 the city had been firmly established, making it the second-oldest city in the United States, behind St. Augustine, Fla.

Now, nearly 400 years later, people are still being drawn to Santa Fe's myriad charms.

Compared with other Southwestern cities that have large second-home areas such as Phoenix/Scottsdale and Las Vegas, Santa Fe is still quite manageable.

"It's a city that lives like a small town," says Mary Schroeder, a broker with Prudential Real Estate and president of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors. "We have been on so many lists of the best places to live, to retire, the healthiest, it's hard to imagine. We are also seen as a safe haven with no natural disasters, hurricanes or earthquakes. We've always had strong second-home appeal, but since 9/11 we've had record sales."

Built by the Spanish in a traditional European layout, the city radiates from a main square, called simply the Plaza. It is here that Santa Fe's famous craft market, limited entirely to Native American artisans, is held every day. Surrounding the plaza, within walking distance, are five historic districts that make up what is known as Old Santa Fe. These are full of boutiques, restaurants, hotels, historic buildings and, especially, art galleries.

Once home to Georgia O'Keeffe, Santa Fe is known as one of America's greatest art cities with more than 250 galleries. The city also has a renowned opera company.

And did we mention the cuisine? Santa Fe features a regional take on Mexican food, combining traditional Southwestern dishes with the ubiquitous green and red chili sauces for which New Mexico is famous.

To work off the calories, residents flock to the mountains that surround the city on three sides. An extensive hiking trail system starts in the city and links up with the Santa Fe National Forest and the Pecos Wilderness Area.

Despite the mild climate, heavy winter snowfall is common at Ski Santa Fe, just 16 miles away, while world-famous Taos ski resort is 72 miles.