Adventure Living in Santa Fe New Mexico La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asis - the colonial City of Holy Faith; ancient city of myth and mystery; one of Condè Nast Magazine's Top Five travel destinations (as rated by readers) five years running; Santa Fe, cradle of European history in North America, home to America's oldest church, oldest school, and the first provincial capitol of New Spain; Nuevo Espana; Nuevo New Mexico -- is a city of many names and cultures. And now it's one of Outside Magazine's Dream Towns, a "perfect place to live big, play hard, and work if you must." In Outside Magazine's September 2001 issue (currently available at newsstands), Santa Fe, termed the "Siren of the Southwest," is featured as one of North America's top cities in which to live for the adventure minded. And rightfully so. Situated on the edge of the Sangre de Cristos, the historic city marks the end of the high desert and the beginning of the Southern Rockies; America's oldest and highest capital. The diverse geography and ecology of the region makes the area ideal for the lover of the great outdoors, and lends itself to active adventuring at every turn of the trail. If you're planning an active vacation in this mysterious and remarkable area, you'll be pleased with the diversity of adventure opportunities it offers. In addition to a pair of National Scenic Byways (the Turquoise Trail and the Jemez Mountain Trail), the region is marked by a half dozen Alpine ski resorts, four national forests, 320,000-plus acres of wilderness, Class IV whitewater rapids on the Rio Grande, hot air ballooning festivals and more history and cultural sites than can be absorbed in a single visit. The nearby Jemez Mountains offer the largest volcanic crater in North America, abundant natural hot springs, Bandelier National Monument, prehistoric cliff dwellings and ruins at places with exotic names like Puye, Tsankawi and Otowi. The surrounding mountains are home to the largest elk herd in America. Brown bear and mountain lions inhabit the region and can often be seen from lofty vistas overlooking rugged canyons and meadows in the pristine wilderness area. There are no less than a dozen Indian Pueblos within an hour's drive of Santa Fe, ancient Native American settlements, which can be can be visited and savored for their colorful cultural diversity. Living on ancestral land, the Pueblos represent North America's closest relationship to the ancient Anasazi who occupied the nearby historical sites of Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde over a 1,000 years ago. If enjoying the outdoors without being too active is to your taste, Santa Fe is known far and wide as the art Mecca of the Southwest, and provides ample opportunity to simply stroll its historic art district and the hundreds of quality art galleries and studios you'll find there. The annual Indian Market, scheduled for the third weekend in August each year, is the largest and most prestigious Native American art festival in the world. Staged on the streets and central Plaza of the city, the market annually attracts visitors and buyers from around the world. Spanish Market is staged twice a year, in July and December, and is another major art festival that attracts visitors from around the world. Whether you're looking for rock climbing, hiking, backpacking, rafting, skiing, snowmobiling, or hot air ballooning opportunities, or just visiting one of the area's many natural or commercially operated hot springs or historical sites, Santa Fe may just be the perfect destination for the active traveler -- and resident. Take a virtual tour of Sante Fe through our online photo gallery and use the useful links below to discover more about America's most ancient city. Additional Resources Ski New Mexico Check in here for a complete list of area ski resorts near Santa Fe. During season, you can get snow and ski condition reports from this site as well. Pueblo Indian Culture Connect to more information about the Indian Pueblo culture of the Santa Fe area and throughout New Mexico. Many of the old traditions are still practiced in these historic villages. Adventure Day Trips There's plenty to do and see in and around Santa Fe, more than you can fit into a single trip. Check here and discover just a few excursions available during your stay in Santa Fe.