Welcome To Sante Fe

(CBS)  With 300 days of sunshine a year baking 400-year-old adobe walls, year-round skiing in short-sleeves, and world-renowned art museums dotting the Georgia O'Keeffe Trail, it's easy to see why Outside Magazine selected Santa Fe, N.M., as one of the 30 Best Towns in America.

New Mexico's state capital, with 75,000 residents, offers an earthy blend of elite regional and international art collections, Pueblo dances, exquisite Southwestern dining and world-class skiing:

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Photo Essay: Santa Fe

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Skiing
2Angel Fire Resort soars to nearly 11,000 feet and fresh powder abounds on its 67 ski trails along with New Mexico's lone half-pipe. The resort has been hailed for its affordable "You Keep the Gear" program, which offers brand new ski/snowboard apparel with lessons and lift tickets.

Museums
The Palace of the Governors is America's oldest public building still in use. Founded in 1610, the adobe palace served as the government headquarters for the entire Spanish colony of Nuevo Mexico, spanning from modern-day California to Colorado. Today it serves as the state history museum and construction is under way next door on the New Mexico History Museum, slated for a 2009 grand opening.

Opened in 1997, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum features over 1,000 works - in all media - of the namesake artist. Through Jan. 13, 2008, the world-class museum is featuring an exhibition of the works of female artists who inspired O'Keeffe and led to her emergence early in the 20th Century.

Though most Santa Fe art museums focus on regional talents, SITE Santa Fe has garnered international acclaim for its global exhibition entitled, "The Disappeared." The collection showcases pieces from 27 contemporary artists who lived through military dictatorships, where their work would not otherwise be seen. Visitors should note, however, that SITE is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Restaurants
3Aqua Santa offers a mouth-watering array of exotic delicacies. Truffle-infused halibut and braised shepherd's lamb complement an exquisite wine collection. Its leafy patio has hosted artists and writers for decades and now Hollywood celebrities are discovering for themselves Aqua Santa's rustic beauty.

Trattoria Nostrani was recently named one of the top 50 restaurants in America by Gourmet magazine. Top chef Nelli Maltezos dazzles with local specialties though visitors must come ready to splurge as entrees regularly exceed $40. Visitors should go easy on cologne as the restaurant stringently enforces a no-scent policy. Smokers take note that lighting up is banned in all businesses and public places, including bars.

By Karl Moats

[NMlost]

Having lived in NM for thirty-three years, I can say from experience that rattlesnakes have no more desire to find you than you do to find them. During that time, I hiked, rode and worked in rattlesnake territory without a close encounter. Maintain reasonable awareness and you shouldn''t have any run-ins. It was a regular thing to ride on 110 + degree days, I simply kept myself and my horse well watered and conditioned. Drought happens, but rarely ever would bother a tourist. Always keep water available if you are going out of town, whether hiking or in a vehicle and ALWAYS let someone know where you are going and WHEN you should return. New Mexico has a stark beauty, whether you are in the Ponderosa forests, the high desert in the south or the Continental Divide in the west.

[max1west]

Outside Magazine didn''t say year round skiing, it said: "year-round adventure, from the powder of Santa Fe Ski Basin to the singletrack of the Winsor Trail, which rises 3,500 feet as it winds through ten miles of pine-and-aspen forests." It''s a shame the writer who lifted this story didn''t get his facts straight.

[whatever_12]

No where in New Mexico will you EVER find year-round skiing. Angel Fire is two hours away from Santa Fe. Why on earth wouldn''t you discuss the Santa Fe ski area for a story on that city? Even Taos ski area is closer to Santa Fe than Angel Fire is. Plus, Angel Fire doesn''t get very much snow. (Last year was a fluke.) If you''re there for spring break, you''ll be skiing over rocks and patches of grass. Don''t get me wrong, I love AF and have spent many incredible winter and summer vacations in the entire area, but this article misses the mark. And it absolutely does NOT get hot during the summers.

[ada748201946]

It doesn''t get that hot. It is 7000 feet elevation. My daughter in law works at Ski Santa Fe and they definitely don''t have year around skiing there. I believe that was an error about year around skiing. Angel Fire in Taos doesn''t list that as a possibility either. I would highly recommend visiting Santa Fe. It is a fantastic place to see and enjoy.

[godseyesore-2009]

What about rattlesnakes, drought, water resources, and *** hot 300 days?