Santa Fe

Nestled on a plateau at the southern tip of the Rockies at 2,194m, Santa Fe is the USA's highest state capital.

The city has a stunning setting, surrounded by 1.5 million acres of protected forests of pine, fir and juniper, perfect for hiking and star-gazing. A year-round destination, Santa Fe’s altitude keeps it cooler than elsewhere in the West in summer, while spring and autumn have ideal conditions for visiting.

New Mexico's capital is proud of its melting pot of Native and Mexican-American heritage with original adobe houses, Hispanic churches and an historic central plaza. Incredibly, the city has some 250 art galleries, many of them along the colourful Canyon Road, as well as 20 museums. Highlights include the Museum of Fine Arts, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and the Museum of International Folk Art.

With more than 400 restaurants, Santa Fe is a great destination for foodies with varied cuisine that draws on Mexican, European and Native American heritage. There are many excellent Mexican restaurants and a famous farmers’ market on Saturdays. The city also boasts some fantastic boutique and luxury hotels.

An hour’s drive north-west of town in canyon country are the petroglyph cliff dwellings of Bandelier National Monument, inhabited by the ancient Puebloan people for more than 11,000 years.