I love the plaza and I love the events that Santa Fe hosts here. Especially the ones by the Kiwanis…read moreclub, which include the pancake breakfast on the Fourth of July, and day of the dead. I hope they get the obelisk situation sorted. It's a little embarrassing that that's still going on. But it's a essential place to visit if you come to Santa Fe.

When I was done visiting the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, I walked over to the historical Santa Fe…read morePlaza, more specifically to Canyon Road Santa Fe where there so many galleries, boutiques and restaurants. I walked all over the place making the most of my time in Santa Fe. I saw some really beautiful churches, parks and art installations throughout the Plaza. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (a French Romanesque Revival cathedral built in 1869) was stunning on the outside as it was in the inside. I didn't take any pictures of the inside of the cathedral - I felt it would be disrespectful to the people who were there praying/wanting to be alone with their thoughts. The stained glass windows, the alter and the detail in the woodwork of the doors was really beautiful - I would have loved to attend a mass here. I grabbed an early dinner El Callejon Taqueria and Grill - it was delicious. Everything about Santa Fe was beautiful - the scenery, the history, the food, the art scene, the spiritual vibe, the friendliness of the locals and the small town feel made this portion of my trip so memorable. I would love to come back.

I am a complete sucker for roadside attractions, oddities and little museums. Such explorations…read morehelp you really get to know the culture of the area you're touring. This chapel just off the Plaza did not disappoint! Out of curiosity, I read a couple of the other reviews before I began writing about my own experience. It's a chapel, so I wasn't expecting the tour I had at the Vatican. It's small and quaint, which is reflective of most religious edifices in the West built in the mid-1800s. The story of the stranger, the staircase and the miracle is fascinating. Whether you are a believer or not, the spiral structure is a delightful marvel. The detail and craftsmanship of the room itself are inspiring for anyone interested in architecture. It just glows and feels sacred. The cover is $5, which is nothing. I'd trade a burger for another trip through those doors.

Wow this is an easy 5 star, I could spend a whole morning here…read more Will comeback next year!

Placed just minutes from many attractions, it is a must spot to check. Just behind the oldest…read morechurch, nestled on De Vargas Street, this house, now an Indian Shop is a free to check, and you might even walk out with some cute memorabilia.

Make a visit to one of the oldest homes in the U.S. in Santa Fe, dating back to 1200 CE. Located…read morearound all the tourist spots in Santa Fe, there's something special about visiting the Oldest House Indian Shop. Admission is free, as part of the building is a gift shop and the other side is the actual house that you can walk through. What I especially like about the oldest house is seeing the structure and how the building was built. You can actually see the straws that were used in forming the walls with the clay. Where else in the U.S. can you see that? Very unique, so make sure to look up close at the walls. The rooms are small, with furnishings inside the rooms, making it so that you can picture what life was like back in its time. It doesn't take long at all to get through and there's very little information about the history, so I would suggest reading up on your own about it. It's worth a visit if you have time and are in Santa Fe.

We were staying right across the street and noticed the sign. We also saw the cross when driving…read morebelow. A nice parking area up top unless you like hiking uphill at over 7,100 feet. Such great history as a defensive position so many years ago. Great views of Santa Fe from here.

Truly an amazing area to be in!!! It felt really nice to watch one of the best sunsets over the…read morelovely Santa Fe city from up here. There is a little bit of a hike to get to the cross, but honestly no complaints because the whole place is simply beautiful, so I really dont get why some folks give it less stars. My one suggestion is to come around sunset or sunrise because that is when the views really are mesmerizing. I even saw 2-3 professional photographers setting up their time lapse cameras and a bunch of other people just standing around enjoying the views. I loved the whole experience and I would recommend it to everyone planning to visit Santa Fe!

Palace of the Governors (Palacio de los Gobernadores) at New Mexico History Museum was the former…read moreseat of government, opened in 1610 in Nuevo México, till 1901. The one story building style is adobe. The ticket is included in the history museum, and the access is only through the history museum. There are a few interesting exhibits. The early 20th century Cupboard doors were documented in the drawings by the Historic American Building Survey 1934. At that time, this was located in Room 2 of the Palace. Lew Wallace (1827-1905), the bronze bust by Randolph Rogers (1825-92). Wallace, a lawyer and Union general, served as governor 1878-81, during this period, he finished the novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880). W Palace Avenue separates the southern side of the Palace of the Governors and the Plaza. The Native vendors program is hosted in the outside corridor.

Palace of Governors is a must see. This tourist site is filled with treasures all will want to…read morevisit.

It was New Year weekend and we were not lucky to get inside but still worthwhile to be there. It's…read morea quaint place and next to the visitor center (was closed unfortunately). A must visit and they have clear schedule where you could plan your visit much better than we did! Our visit was random and it was so well worth it!

This Catholic Church (opposite from The Pink Adobe) is possibly the oldest church in the US,…read moredestroyed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The current building dated from 1710, with major renovations. The docent who's working in the garden, is retired from San Francisco, "I volunteer here, do whatever, taking care of the garden, and docent a tour ..."

Interesting and free local attraction (a little further away from downtown Santa Fe) that drives…read moretoday's needs for environmental awareness. Ethyl isn't super huge and as well known in Santa Fe yet, but it's hopefully making Santa Fe (and the US heading in the right direction with the use of recycling! Check this free local quirky attraction out if you have some time in Santa Fe!

While planning our day trip to Santa Fe from Albuquerque, we discovered Ethyl the Whale, a…read morelife-sized blue whale sculpture made entirely from single-use plastics to raise awareness about reducing plastic waste and encouraging recycling. She's located at the end of the track at Santa Fe Community College. We parked across the street and walked over for some great photo ops. It's an impressive and meaningful sight, definitely worth a quick stop on your way to or from Santa Fe!

De Vargas Street House is a museum that claims to be the "oldest house in the U.S." While the…read moreaccuracy of this claim is uncertain, it's a charming little piece of American history. The entry fee is donation based, I contributed $10 since I visited alone, but the suggestion is $2 per person. Inside, there's a small gift shop with souvenirs. It's a quaint stop, I would say a bit of a tourist trap, but still an interesting place to visit just to say you've been there!

The Oldest House Museum, also known as the De Vargas Street House, is a historic site located on De…read moreVargas St. in Santa Fe. It's a two-room adobe building with a collection of historical artifacts not related to the home. The "oldest house" claim isn't accurate; a study of the wooden ceiling beams in the house reportedly showed they were cut between 1740 and 1767 - a century after the Braman-Nothnagle Log House which was built between 1638 and 1643 in Gibbstown, New Jersey. There also isn't a firm date for when the De Vargas House was constructed and different scientists and historians have posited different date ranges. Despite this, the museum not only makes the claim it's the oldest home, but has posted a condescending list of claims of why people shouldn't question them, writing "think about it." The museum isn't manned with any personnel or docent, and there isn't a check-in of any kind or reception area. You enter into the gift shop, take a left, read the condescending signs in the first room and then step down into a second room with unrelated items along the walls. To call this former house a "museum" is generous. It's a gift shop that happens to have two rooms attached with an undetermined history and will take about 10 minutes to walk through if you include the gift shop. It is not a member of the New Mexico Association of Museums. Don't waste your time here - there's much better sites to visit in Santa Fe.

I always wanted to visit Santa Fe and it didn't dissappoint! The historic district is so charming,…read moregreat to stroll its streets and discover it by foot. The Plaza is beautiful, full of charm, there are many historic buidlings around like the Palace of the Governrrs, many museums with architecture alike a pueblo, cathedrals in Spanish Revival sytle, great shops, art galleries, restaurants. This is the kind of place with so much personality that is hard to describe. They have events here often, market, the place is lively with lots of cultural activities to discovere, Georgia O'Keefe Museum is a must, but there are so many other great museums and small galleries that you can pop in any time. Santa Fe might remind you of a cute town in Mexico but it has its own original features, it is such an unique place!

The entire downtown area of Santa Fe is listed in the National Register of Historic Places…read more Do you know any other cities that qualify As National Historic Sites on such a grand scale? One or two buildings maybe, but this is the entire district. All historic, all the buildings. Historic and they mean to keep it that way. A number of years ago there was a resident in this historic area who replaced their roof with one that didn't meet the Historic Styles Committee's standards - they were politely asked to replace their new roof with one that fit the time and history of this area. This committee is serious. The roof was replaced. Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the US. Founded in 1610. But folks were living here LONG before 1610. Spain. Mexico. Pueblo Indians. This beautiful city, pushed up against the end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, has always been a good place to live. And it is a great place to visit. Visit www.santafe.org/events to see a calendar of events happening in the Historic District. Or expand your circle. Ski just 20 minutes from downtown, visit Indian Market in August - 1200 artists from 100 tribes; sit under the stars at the International Opera House; lift your troubles away at the burning of Zozobra; relax at Ten Thousand Waves Spa on the side of the mountain; sample Hispanic culture, food, entertainment & art at the Spanish Market; walk up Canyon Road; visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum; and endless more. Tickle the senses - step outside early on a winter morning and smell the pinyon wood fireplaces, chomp down on a big green chile cheeseburger, dance to a marriachi band, stroll the small lanes that were built for horse & buggies, visit Indian Pueblos that have been occupied for centuries, drink your evening away with sangria & margaritas . . . . life just doesn't get any better. Visit the extensive Southwest bookstore in the Palace of the Governor's Museum and take a walking tour of the Historic District. A small city, but with a big heart and lots & lots of history. This is a National Historic Site that you will never forget.

Santa Fe is a cool town but I was only excited for a few things there before visiting. When coming…read moreacross this place, I suddenly found myself in some type of wonder world. Walk around Santa Fe and you never know what could be around the next corner. This place isn't exactly a tourist destination. While I took pictures and walked around the place, I'm still not entirely sure of its purpose. It's my understanding that this church is named after a virgin from Mexico. Forgive my ignorance on the subject. You would think that a virgin church in the middle of many other churches(ONE OF THEM HAS TO BE HAS TO LIKE HER, RIGHT? RIGHT??)... virginity is rare so it has that going for it. Hook up with one of those other churches already! The place was locked as it was a mid-week weekday. We also weren't chased off by any type of security guard so we were able to snap pictures and view the outside. I wish it would've been opened so I could've checked it out.

Beautiful church away from the touristy Plaza. The grounds are covered with the most beautiful…read moreblooming rose bushes. The statue of Guadalupe catches your eye, but immediately in front of Guadalupe is a life size Rosary shown as pavers on the ground for the Rosary beads. Definitely a working church, as there were parishioners lining up for weekend mass while Hubby and I were visiting. We did not visit the sanctuary because of mass, but thought the grounds were beautiful.