Culture

At 7,000 feet, Santa Fe has dizzying mountain views, a great family ski area and a downtown packed with boutique shops, restaurants, hotels and historic adobe buildings. Consistently ranked as one of the country's top travel destinations, it has a population of 70,000, and that includes artists, movie stars, chefs, writers and musicians. The whole place is steeped in a history dating back thousands of years, starting with the ancient Native Americans and followed by Spanish settlers, traders on the Santa Fe Trail, pioneers, artists and writers, scientists and modern day retirees. The New Mexico History Museum offers lectures, films, and workshops exploring the history of these communities.