If you come to Santa Fe only for the few days of the WSATA 2007 Annual Meeting, that may be time enough for you to fall under the spell of the “Land of Enchantment.”  Should that happen, your only hope is to come back.  There are just too many things to see and do in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Taos area.  Then, there’s the rest of the state, which includes White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns, Chaco Canyon and much more.

 

If your tastes run to the outdoors, there are wonderful hiking trails, golf courses, fishing and camping spots, ski runs and lakes for boating.  Lovers of history have ancient Indian ruins, museums, Spanish missions and many historic sites to explore.  There are dozens of galleries, studios and museums for art aficionados and a wealth of restaurants for any appetite. 

 

Albuquerque has a fine zoo, aquarium, botanical gardens and museum of natural history.  In early October, that city hosts the International Balloon Fiesta (www.balloonfiesta.com).  From September 6 through September 9, 2007, Santa Fe will celebrate its annual fiesta with the burning of a 40-foot-tall Old Man Gloom, parades, concerts, a melodrama and religious processions.

 

Area Attractions

For more information, you may visit these suggested web sites:

 

New Mexico Tourism Department                        www.newmexico.org

 

Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau             www.santafe.org

 

Taos County Chamber of Commerce                      www.taoschamber.com

 

Albuquerque Convention and Visitors’ Bureau        www.abqcvb.org

 

Rio Rancho Convention and Visitors Bureau           www.rioranchonm.org

 

 

Tips for Santa Fe Visitors

The attitude for altitude:  Go slow.  Santa Fe is 7,000 feet above sea level and the air is thin.  You may need two days or so to adjust if you’re from a lower elevation. Don’t overdo it in the meantime.  Some people may experience a bit of “altitude sickness”, including fatigue, dizziness and nausea.

 

Beware of the sun. Santa Fe’s altitude puts it closer to the sun than most cities and intensifies the power of the sun’s ultra-violent rays.  It’s easy to get nasty sunburn in a matter of minutes.  When you go outside, it is well to imagine you are off to a tropical beach.  Put on sunscreen and a hat with a shady brim. 

 

Liquor is quicker.  The effects of drinking alcohol also are multiplied by altitude.  Visitors may unwittingly discover that one drink at 7,000 feet is equal to three drinks at sea level.

 

September weather.  Santa Fe weather in September is much like Santa Fe food year-round:  hot chilly.  The average high temperature in September is 77 degrees, while the average low tumbles to 44 degrees.  A warm afternoon may quickly turn rainy and cool.  It’s best to keep a sweater or light jacket handy.

 

What’s New in “The Ancient City”? To find out, you may want to read an article published in the August 5, 2007, edition of The New York Times, headlined “Is Santa Fe Ready for a Makeover?”  The link is:  http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/travel/05SantaFe.html