Attractions and Dining in the North Central Region

As mentioned above, Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Taos are popular travel destinations for those visiting New Mexico and can be found in the North Central Region of the state. The mountains in this part of the state make for great camping adventures in the summer and skiing in the winter time.

 

Santa Fe is the state’s capital city and if full of cultural gemstones. If you are an art lover, this is a great place for you to visit. In Santa Fe you can find the Georgia O’Keefe Museum showcasing her work inspired by the landscape of New Mexico. Her attraction to the state’s natural beauty was so strong that she chose to relocate here where she spent the rest of her days. The Museum of International Folk Art is also an entertaining treat for art lovers where you can find over 100,000 imaginative handmade objects. The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture displays amazing artifacts that are some of New Mexico’s oldest works of art. You will see pottery, jewelry and art crafted by the Pueblo, Navajo and Apache Indians.

 

If you prefer architecture, be sure and stop by the Cristo Rey Church built by architect John McGraw in 1940. This is the largest adobe structure in the United States and was constructed just as the Indians would have done it – mixing mud-and-straw adobe bricks and hauling them into place.

 

If you are at all interested in the rich history of New Mexico, make time to visit the Palace of Governors. This 17^th century building was the seat of Spain’s government and now serves as the state’s history museum, depicting the history of Santa Fe as well as New Mexico.

 

The only task harder than deciding how to spend your time in Santa Fe, may be deciding where to dine. Full of restaurants with authentic and eclectic Southwestern cuisine, Santa Fe infuses its love of art and culture into its original cuisine. One of Santa Fe’s most highly acclaimed restaurants is Anasazi. The food is primarily influenced by Native American culture but also adds flair from the American cowboy and Southwest. This restaurant excels at incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into their menu as well as serving organic meats.

 

For a fun environment that serves magnificent food, either inside or out, try La Casa Sena. The menu is innovative American/Southwestern cuisine and the wait staff will keep you entertained by serenading you with jazz and Broadway music selections nightly.

 

 

If Albuquerque is on your itinerary, you might want to check the variety of attractions the city has to offer. The Old Town Plaza is a great place for shopping, dining and even perusing art galleries. You may even find mariachi bands and dancing senoritas during fiesta time. If you are a nature lover, you won’t want to miss the Albuquerque Aquarium and Rio Grande Botanic Garden. The 64-acre Rio Grande Zoo is also sure to please avid animal lovers.

 

Just like Santa Fe, this city has a host of fascinating museums full of history, art and Indian artifacts. The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History has the nation’s largest display of Spanish-colonial artifacts as well as treasure chests full of jewels, religious relics, sculptures, life-size depictions of conquistadors and much, much more. The Turquoise Museum, Petroglyph National Monument and Indian Pueblo Cultural Center can also help quench your thirst for Indian history and culture.

 

After a day of sightseeing, rest your weary bones at the Restaurant Jennifer James for a quiet, romantic ending to your day. The restaurant is located in an old adobe home that is not much to look at but the food is impeccable.

 

La Placita is located directly on the Old Town Square and serves authentic New Mexican cuisine in its authentic New Mexican setting.

 

For the most genuine experience of Indian culture, you must visit Taos in North Central New Mexico and the Taos Pueblo. It is here that adobe walls make up the largest collection of pueblo dwellings in the United States. Also, Indians are still living here in these pueblos, keeping their tribal traditions alive. Although the public is invited to observe their way of life, respecting their culture is requested. Also worth visiting in Taos is the Taos Art Museum at the Fechin House, The Hardwood Foundation art collection and of course a drive across the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge – the second largest expansion bridge in the United States – are musts to add to your itinerary.