Santa Fe packs in 400 years of cultural fusion in a downtown area that’s small enough to walk with ease, a good thing with its narrow, winding streets. Fortunately, the numerous casitas, hotels, and B&Bs that are walking distance to the Plaza allow you to leave your car behind. Just strolling the streets to admire the architecture is a treat on its own, but having those historic buildings filled to bursting with shops, restaurants, galleries, and museums is what keeps one of America’s oldest cities thriving with new life.

So many tourist destinations have gift shops filled with kitschy, mass-produced souvenirs that don’t even come from the area. Not Santa Fe. I’ve traveled around the world, and no where have I seen such a wealth of high quality art and fine, locally made crafts. There’s so much, in fact, it can be a overwhelming. And the prices are all over the place from extremely affordable to jaw-dropping-expensive. If you’re planning to pick up some art or Native American crafts during your visit, you might want to do a little research.

(A good starting point is Hallmarks of the Southwest, by Barton Wright. There's a link in the Amazon box below.)

3) The Food

The restaurants of Santa Fe have been featured on the Food Network and other channels more times than I can count—and for a good reason. The food is spectacular! The cuisine goes far beyond red and green chili, although Santa Fe has proven you can put chilies in darn near anything. World-class chefs also offer succulent wild game, exotic delicacies, luscious desserts, and plenty of vegetarian dishes.

For a fine-dining experience try The Pink Adobe, Geronimo, or Santacafe.

Want something more affordable but still fabulous? Check out Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives for Guy Fieri’s top picks. I’ve tried them all, and wow.

For more of my personal picks, see my hub on Where to Eat in Santa Fe.

4) The Great Outdoors

Santa Fe is an outdoor lover’s paradise! Check out the links below for information on hiking trails, golf courses, renting bicycles, or scheduling a guided fishing trip.

5) The Funky Factor

Santa Fe continues to be a fusion of cultures, but it’s gone far beyond blending Native American, Mexican, and European heritage. It’s a magnet to artists, musician, and writers as a place that celebrates creativity while drawing outdoor enthusiasts who care passionately about the environment. Mix that together in the nation’s oldest state capital where tennis shoes and cowboy boots walk the same narrow streets, where food coinsurers rave about tacorita stands, and the world’s wealthiest jet-setters come to escape. Is it any wonder they call this the City Different?