SANTA FE, NM

My wife and I traveled last October to Santa Fe NM for some down time and to take in the sights for five days. We weren't disappointed. Being able to stay at a friend's second home in the mountains just 15 minutes away from downtown was an added bonus. Downtown Santa Fe is full of Indian and Hispanic culture. We're not ones for tourist traps so we took a walking tour of the art gallaries handcrafted beadwork silverwork clothing and leather goods and furniture. In nearly every shop we entered we were warmly greeted and told how we had come \at the perfect time of year\. I whole-heartedly agree with that. Temperatures weren't much over the mid to high 70's during the day and got into the mid 40's at night. The tourist season is essentially over by this time of the year so we could browse the shops and talk with the owners and/or artists at length. They were happy to oblige. The fall sun casts a beautiful glow on the adobe structures of most of the core downtown area. Some of the best restaurants are down little alley ways and hidden behind larger buildings. It helps to ask the locals for the type of cuisine you're looking for. Some of the restaurants - at least one was 5 star! perhaps more - are known only by the locals or seasoned travelers to Santa Fe. Overall it is an enjoyable time in a rustic setting with world class shopping sights and dining. Enjoy the mountain air expansive skies and the beauty of the desert.