Santa Fe, New Mexico, has lengthy held a sure lure for dreamers. Two well-known musicals even function songs about craving to depart New York for the Southwest capital metropolis.

“The Metropolis Totally different,” because it’s known as, boasts a powerful artwork scene, legendary delicacies and unimaginable cultural historical past, so it’s solely pure vacationers flock to this vacation spot 12 months spherical. However as many Santa Feans have seen, guests are likely to make just a few missteps throughout their travels. We requested locals to share what they’ve generally noticed.

From misunderstanding the New Mexico local weather to lacking the town’s prime notch artwork choices, we requested locals to share errors vacationers usually make whereas visiting Santa Fe ― and a few recommendation for avoiding these errors throughout your travels.

“Numerous vacationers assume Santa Fe is a scorching, desert city and a great place to flee chilly winters. They’re shocked to study that Santa Fe truly sits at over 7,000 toes elevation, is surrounded by mountains, and has a ski resort. The native mountain, Ski Santa Fe, is surprisingly within the prime 10 highest elevation ski resorts within the nation. Locals love this false impression about Santa Fe as a result of it retains the slopes clear within the winter and the mountaineering trails clear in the summertime months.” ― Charles LaCalle, a advertising and marketing skilled

“Probably the most widespread errors many vacationers make when touring to Santa Fe is assuming the town is in a ‘desert’ local weather just like Phoenix … This additionally signifies that they may not contemplate the four-season local weather we get pleasure from in Santa Fe, particularly some snowy, chilly winter days and our gentle summer time temperatures that not often prime 90 levels most days.” ― Joanne Hudson, public relations supervisor for Tourism Santa Fe

“Not strolling is a mistake! In case you are into artwork or structure, Santa Fe is a spot for exploration! You by no means know what lovely previous gate or mural you may discover simply across the nook! Essentially the most important stroll, for me, is to start out on the Supreme Court docket Constructing and stroll East De Vargas Avenue previous the San Miguel Mission to Canyon Street. It was a historic little townlet, known as the Barrio Analco.” ― Rachel Preston, a designer and preservationist

“When staying close to the plaza, don’t anticipate to drive in all places. It’s an important downtown space to stroll.” ― Daniel Quat, a photographer

“Ask permission earlier than photographing locals and particularly indigenous individuals who have a protracted historical past of being exploited by settlers, the federal government and even vacationers. Ask permission, and don’t {photograph} indigenous jewelers and crafts individuals on the plaza in entrance of the Palace of the Governors. That’s thought-about impolite and insulting.” ― Quat

“Be respectful of native pueblo and Navajo cultures. Don’t take pictures with out asking for permission.” ― Bunny Terry, creator of the I Love New Mexico weblog

“Many vacationers skip out on the meals vehicles, which is a large mistake. One native meals truck, El Chile Toreado, is up for a James Beard Award. These are superb lunch spots. Different good ones embody Fusion Tacos, Saya’s Frybread and Craft Donuts.” ― LaCalle

“With the excessive elevation, many guests might want to take a day or two to acclimate and may need to plan much less strenuous actions the primary day, plan to hydrate and drink extra water than regular, and go straightforward on the margaritas.” ― Hudson

“Coming from sea stage is tough if in case you have respiratory points. I at all times inform individuals that you simply’re going to be drained in half the time and wish twice the water you usually would. And in case you are having complications, deliver a kind of sports activities oxygen bottles or go to the oxygen bar, and it’ll assist!” ― Preston

“Don’t anticipate to have the identical power as you do at sea stage. Drink a lot of water. Know that liquor can have a stronger impact on you as you’re 7,000 toes above sea stage, so drink with warning. Put on sunscreen. The ambiance is thinner and the solar can have an effect on you extra strongly.” ― Quat

“One mistake vacationers make isn’t understanding that us locals like our meals spicy. Our chile is often too spicy for somebody who isn’t accustomed to consuming meals with larger ranges of warmth. So please, ask your waiter to place the chile on the facet should you can’t deal with or don’t get pleasure from spicy meals. ― Stephen Baros, creator of 505 Native Foodie

“Order your inexperienced or crimson chile on the facet should you’ve by no means eaten them earlier than. Chile is each native’s favourite dish, however the spice ranges will be uncomfortable for vacationers on the primary go to.” ― Terry

“Save time for excursions outdoors of Santa Fe. You may take a look at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in downtown Santa Fe, however the true artwork aficionados can even go to Ghost Ranch (about an hour outdoors of Santa Fe) for a hike or horseback experience on the ranch the place Georgia O’Keeffe lived and painted a few of her most well-known works.” ― LaCalle

“New Mexico has phenomenal pure websites to go to ― many between 60-90 minutes from Santa Fe. There’s Bandelier Nationwide Monument, Santa Fe Nationwide Forest, Angel Hearth Mountain, Ghost Ranch, and Los Alamos Nationwide Laboratory, which all provide out of doors actions like mountaineering, horseback using, mountain biking and mountain climbing. There are a lot of previous and exquisite church buildings as effectively, and loads of Indian reservations and pueblos.” ― Quat

“Though Santa Fe has an distinctive fantastic eating meals group, the error I see many vacationers make isn’t branching out to extra native informal eating places that aren’t situated within the vacationer scorching spots. Our native New Mexican delicacies is exclusive and completely scrumptious. The crimson and inexperienced chile is like nothing else on this planet. Oh, and don’t overlook to benefit from the sopapillas ― sort of a fried fluffy pastry. They are often eaten together with your meal or after, with honey, as a dessert.” ― Baros

“Santa Fe is a cultural Mecca. In case you don’t love artwork, music, opera, theater and tradition, this won’t be an important trip for you. We’re the third largest artwork market within the nation after New York and Los Angeles. With greater than 250 artwork galleries, six lovely museums, and anthropological websites, there’s at all times lots to see right here. Now we have tons of indoor and out of doors musical venues all year long too.” ― Quat

“Santa Fe is residence to many retirees and caters to older people however has been rising in issues that curiosity the youthful crowds. However the place closes down early at evening. Most eating places shut by 9 p.m. There’s some nightlife ― but it surely’s not a late-night metropolis, so don’t anticipate that. Go to mattress, and rise up early to see a number of the most lovely sunrises on this planet.” ― Quat

“Plan forward. Wonderful points of interest just like the opera, theater, concert events and Meow Wolf require tickets. You should buy these forward of time, so that you don’t miss out on all that’s accessible. Plus you will get all-in-one passes to museums in Santa Fe forward of time. And should you’re seeking to go to for 3 days, don’t hassle. You may be upset as there’s a lot to do there. Plan at the very least a five-day go to plus journey days.” ― Quat

“[Don’t miss] getting an outline of the town earlier than [you] leap in. My favourite level for that is the Cross of the Martyrs at what was previous Fort Marcy. It’s a surprising view of city! Different favourite spots for this are La Fonda’s rooftop bar, as effectively of that on the Drury.” ― Preston

“Don’t restrict your purchasing and consuming to the Plaza space. Santa Fe’s Railyard District, Museum Hill, and Canyon Street are each nice various locations.” ― Terry

“A mistake is making an attempt to do an excessive amount of and never allocating sufficient time. A few of our museums are smallish, and others are enormous. The place you are able to do the IAIA Museum of Modern Native Arts in beneath an hour, the Museum of Worldwide Folks Artwork may require your entire day in case you are involved in Alexander Girard’s model of ‘It’s A Small World’ within the A number of Visions exhibit.” ― Preston

Quotes have been edited and condensed for readability.