Santa Fe: Eat & Drink

I generally have trouble with forced relaxation, but I resolve to get better at it! I want to go on the kind of vacation where you don't do a darn thing but sit somewhere warm and worry what to drink next. I've got my eye on Mexico's Riviera Maya and several islands in the Caribbean--particularly Jamaica and St. John. --Erik Torkells   The Easy, Breezy Riviera Maya Get in good enough shape to ski a full day.--Brad Tuttle   In Search of the Perfect Ski Village Milking my frequent flier status; subscribing to last minute fare sale newsletters-- and actually jumping on a last minute flight; going someplace far, far away.--Nina Willdorf   The New Rules: How to Use Miles Now Learn to speak more fluently in Korean so I can reconnect with my roots.--Pam Abbott   How to Stay at a South Korean Temple I resolve to have more beach time this year. --Suzy Walrath   Secret Hotels of the Caribbean Buy new luggage and learn to pack light. --Laurie Kuntz   An Introduction to Packing Go somewhere warm. --Rebecca Simpson   10 Great Islands You've Never Heard Of! Go to Toronto. --Laura MacNeil   Landscape: A New Art District in Toronto Wear a big hat at the Kentucky Derby! --Tiffany Sharples   Crash the Party: The Kentucky Derby

El Rey Inn 1862 Cerrillos Rd., 800/521-1349, 505/982-1931 elreyinnsantafe.comA Southwest oasis that locals love to recommend. Its quiet 86 rooms, contoured white walls, and vibrant gardens suggest Old Mexico rather than New Mexico. Slip into the tiled outdoor pool and you might even forget you're in the desert. From $75 in low season, $89 in high season. Grant Corner Inn 122 Grant Ave., 800/964-9003, 505/983-6678 grantcornerinn.comA romantic retreat just off the Plaza, with brass and four-poster beds, antique quilts, and second-story porches; it oozes colonial charm. The daily breakfasts and afternoon teas justifiably draw locals as well as inn guests. From $130 in low season, $145 in high season. Hotel St. Francis 210 Don Gaspar Ave., 800/529-5700, 505/983-5700 hotelstfrancis.comA beloved downtown landmark since 1880 with Old Victorian decor. Daily afternoon tea served in the spacious, elegant lobby also belongs to another era. Got questions? Revered concierge Inger Boudouris knows everything about Santa Fe. From $129 in low season, $149 in high season. Inn on the Alameda 303 E. Alameda St., 888/984-2121, 505/984-2121 inn-alameda.comA downtown inn tucked behind adobe walls, with 71 rooms showcasing the essence of Santa Fe style-rustic wood furniture, balconies, hand-hewn vigas, round kiva fireplaces, and stained wooden gates leading to brilliant gardens abloom in spring and summer. It's so peaceful, it's easy to oversleep and miss the hefty breakfast spread. From $130 in low season, $215 in high season. Inn on the Paseo 630 Paseo de Peralta, 800/457-9045, 505/984-8200Small and sweet, with 18 southwestern-style rooms, contemporary art, and a community breakfast table where hearty meals fuel the day. Step out the door into the stream of the city and walk to any downtown attraction. From $79 during low season, $109 in high season. Pueblo Bonito 138 W. Manhattan Ave., 800/461-4599, 505/984-8001 pueblobonitoinn.comOriginally a judge's estate and later an apartment complex for struggling artists and rising politicians, the 18-room adobe B&B charges more than yesteryear's $35 monthly rate, but it's still a bargain. From $85 in low season, $130 in high season. Territorial Inn at the Marcy 105 E. Marcy St., 866/230-7737, 505/989-7737 territorialinn.comFourteen eclectic guest rooms featuring turn-of-the-century furnishings and an inviting lobby with wingback chairs that practically require relaxation with a snifter of brandy. Indulge in the spa and gourmet breakfasts. From $69 in low season, $139 in high season. The Madeleine 106 E. Faithway St., 888/321-5123, 505/982-3465 madeleineinn.comAn 1886, three-story Victorian estate at the top of a sleepy side street; it has turrets, a clay roof, and other ornate architectural features that sprang up in Santa Fe once the railroad arrived. Settle into one of five old-fashioned rooms that reflect an earlier, slower era. From $120 in low season, $145 in high season. La Fonda 100 E. San Francisco St., 800/523-5002, 505/982-5511 lafondasantafe.comFormerly a famed Harvey House, the hotel's 167 rooms epitomize Santa Fe style, but that's just one reason this multitiered historic adobe hotel streams with guests year-round. Anchoring the corner of downtown Santa Fe Plaza, it's a hotspot. From $219 in low season, $299 in high season. La Posada de Santa Fe 330 E. Palace Ave., 866/331-7625, 505/986-0000 laposada.rockresorts.comA pricey renovation transformed these Pueblo Revival-style adobe casitas into a downtown luxury resort with high-end spa and restaurant. To steep in history, hang out in the library and lounge at the Staab House, an 1880s brick mansion built by a Santa Fe merchant whose wife reportedly still haunts the halls. From $139 in low season, $209 in high season, plus resort and parking fees. TIP:Altitude sickness If you're a sea-level dweller, drink lots of water and don't overindulge in alcohol. The sudden change in altitude can cause headaches, dehydration, and nausea.

TO/FROM THE AIRPORT Sandia Shuttle Express 888/775-5696, 505/474-5696, sandiashuttle.comShuttle between Albuquerque International Sunport and most Santa Fe hotels costs $23 each way, $43 round trip. Reservations required. Check online for schedule. Santa Fe Shuttle888/833-2300, shuttlesantafe.comShuttle between Sunport and most Santa Fe hotels costs $21 each way, $38 round trip. Reservations required. Check online for schedule. Twin Hearts Express & Transportation 800/654-9456Shuttle between Sunport and Santa Fe hotels costs $20 each way. Reservations required. Check online for schedule. BUS Santa Fe Trails505/955-2001, santafenm.govRide the city's bus service with a $2 all-day pass. Route maps available at most hotels. TAXI Capital City Cab505/438-0000Initial fare $2.50, $2.20 per mile, and 48¢ per minute of waiting time, plus 7 percent tax. BICYCLES Sun Mountain Bike Company102 E. Water St., 505/982-8986, sunmountainbikeco.com Day rentals ($26) include helmet, lock, and map. ON FOOT Downtown extends from Santa Fe Plaza and is best explored on foot. A short drive to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains leads to excellent hiking at both moderate and challenging levels. Free basic trail maps at the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau (201 W. Marcy St.); the Travel Bug (839 Paseo de Peralta) sells more-detailed maps. WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND TOWN Free on the street:Santa Fe Reporter, sfreporter.com At newsstands:Journal Santa Fe, abqjournal.comThe Santa Fe New Mexican, santafenewmexican.com TOURS Santa Fe Detours800/338-6877, 505/983-6565, sfdetours.com Seasoned tour operators arrange raft, train, and horseback trips; hands-on classes in Pueblo cooking and pottery; as well as respectful excursions to Native American pueblos and historic ruins. Tours start at $10. Check online for events. Santa Fe Southern Railway 888/989-8600, 505/986-8600, sfsr.comRide an old-time train 36 miles round trip from a 1908 depot in downtown Santa Fe to sleepy Lamy, a bustling railroad stop of the Wild West era. Seasonal events include Friday cocktail trips and Saturday barbecue bashes with campfire and cowboy songs. Yeehaw! From $28. Palace of the Governors Downtown Walking Tour505/476-5109, palaceofthegovernors.orgMuseum docents offer an expert education on centuries of Santa Fe history. April-Oct., Mon.-Sat., 10:15 a.m., starting from the blue gate on the Lincoln Avenue side of the palace, the state's history museum. $10, kids under 17 free. Museum of Fine Arts Downtown Walking Tour505/476-5072, mfasantafe.orgSavvy guides focus on Santa Fe art and architectural history during downtown walking tours. April-Nov., Mon., 10 a.m., starting at the museum gift shop. $10. NUMBERS TO KNOW   Museum of New Mexico Info Line 505/827-6463, museumofnewmexico.org   Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 505/843-7270 (in Albuquerque), indianpueblo.com

"The town of Serena Station, where my newest mystery is set, is roughly based on Casmalia, California. I fictionalized many details about it, including a restaurant called the Hitching Post, which I renamed the Blue Moon Café. Casmalia has no traffic lights and no sidewalks, so to find this superb steak house is a marvel. My husband and I had dinner there with the retired Detective Sergeant Bill Turner of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and his wife, Deborah Linden, Chief of Police for San Luis Obispo--all in the interest of research, you understand." --Sue Grafton