The thought of going to the Southwest in summer might be enough to give anyone heat stroke. But Santa Fe, NM, is 7,000 feet above sea level, so the climate is bone-dry and the average high temperature in summer is a mere 86 degrees. Besides the comfortable weather, there are many reasons to go to Santa Fe in the summer.

santa fe new mexico

Ancient Native American artwork can be found throughout Santa Fe

Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital and the oldest capital city in the U.S., will be celebrating its 400th anniversary through the summer of 2010. Santa Fe has a thriving arts scene (it’s one of only nine UNESCO-designated Creative Cities in the world) and has an array of museums and galleries, such as Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Gebert Contemporary, Jane Sauer Gallery, Allan Hauser Gallery, Blue Rain Gallery, New Mexico Museum of Art, The Museum of International Folk Art and The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. Set to open this year is the New Mexico History Museum.

Art and Events
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is the only American museum devoted to a female artist and houses more than 1,000 O’Keeffe paintings, drawings and sculptures. From now through September 7, it will show the “Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams: Natural Affinities” exhibit.

The Santa Fe Opera is one of the country’s premier summer music festivals. Slated for this season (June 27-August 23) are Falstaff, The Marriage of Figaro, Billy Budd, Radamisto and Adriana Mater.

Some other events for summer include: Flux Reflections on Contemporary Glass at the New Mexico Museum of Art, now through September 21; Santa Fe Seventh International Biennial “Lucky Number Seven” contemporary art show (www.sitesantafe.org), closing October 26; Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, July 12-13; 2nd Annual New Mexico Jazz Festival, July 19-29; Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, July 20-August 25; 57th Annual Traditional Spanish Market, July 26-27; 18th Annual Navajo Rug Auction at the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, August 2; Annual Indian Market Show at Blue Rain Gallery, August 19-24; SWAIA: Santa Fe Indian Market, August 23-24; 18th Annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta, September 24-28; New Mexico Women’s Book Festival at the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, September 27; The Santa Fe Music Fest 2008, August 8-10; Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Company at The Lodge at Santa Fe, multiple shows in August; and Native American Cooking Class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking and Market, July 2 and August 22. For more events, visit the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.santafe.org.

la posada resort and spa

La Posada Resort & Spa

Where To Stay
Authenticity is key in Santa Fe accommodations. The majority of these hotels are designed and decorated in Southwestern/Pueblo style and give guests a sense of time and place. These are a few choices that will let your clients feel like they’re part of their surroundings without giving up comfort.

Inn and Spa at Loretto. This is part of the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection. For reservations, call 800-727-5531 or e-mail [email protected]. Contact the concierge at 505-988-5531 or [email protected].

Inn on the Alameda. Call 888-984-2121 or 505-984-2121 or e-mail [email protected].

La Posada Resort and Spa. This is a RockResorts property. Call 866-331-7625 or 505-986-0000.

Hotel St. Francis. Call 505-983-5700 or e-mail [email protected].

Sage Inn. Call 866-433-0335 or 505-982-5952 or e-mail [email protected].

Inn of the Governors. For reservations, call 800-234-4534. The main number is 505-982-4333. E-mail [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].

Eldorado Hotel & Spa. This is a Preferred Hotels & Resorts hotel. Call 800-955-4455 or 505- 988-4455 or e-mail [email protected].

Hotel Santa Fe and Hacienda. Call 800-825-9876 or e-mail [email protected].

La Fonda. Call 505-982-5511 or 800-523-5002 or e-mail
r[email protected] or [email protected].

Inn of the Five Graces. This beautiful hotel, a Garrett Hotel Group property, is an odd combination of Oriental and Southwestern styles. Call 505-992-0957 or e-mail [email protected].

Inn of the Anasazi. This property is a Rosewood hotel. Call 505-988-3030 or e-mail [email protected].

Pueblo Bonito. This is a bed-and-breakfast. Call 505-984-8001 or 800-461-4599 for reservations.

All major U.S. airlines go into Albuquerque, a one-hour drive from Santa Fe. Santa Fe has a small municipal airport that accommodates commuter airline connections and private jets. There is also train service into Santa Fe from Lamy, 20 minutes away. Rail Runner Express is a high-speed rail that will run between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, set to begin service in December.