Steven, have you tried the Buckhorn in San Antonio (NM)? I'm hearing from a lot of places that the Green Chili Cheeseburgers are better there than at the Owl.
Ironic, isn't it, that two of the best places in the world for this wonderful delicacy are in a town of a few hundred people. I sure wish there was an airport near San Antonio.
Actually the BEST green chile cheeseburgers are at a little railroad car out side of Santa Fe called
'Bobcat Bite'. I've tried the others and they just don't compare. They make thier own hamburger fresh every day from multiple cuts of meat. When they run out, it's over for the day. I sometimes do lunch out there and it's one of the places we go for out of town guests. They were even featured on a show called soemthing like 'The top 100 buger joints in America'.
The best margarita's
anywhere are at
Maria's in Santa Fe
. There are 150 to choose from and if you'd rather you can also do flights of tequlia. I was setting in the lobby waiting for a table one day and this couple setting next to me was from Pa. He went and got them both a margie. When she tried her's, her comment was "these aren't like the margie's in Pa". My not so silently held response was 'thankfully"! IF you drink two plan on someone else driving. If you try three just plan on spending that night at the table.
Argueably, the best New Mexican (please, please, please don't confuse this with Tex-Mex or any other type of "mexican" food you get anywhere else) food is at a place called Tomasita's. It's in the old (now restored) train yard area close to downtown. Expect a wait but it'll be worth it.
There is always something happening on the downtown plaza. We enjoy playing tourist and often go down on the weekends to just wander around and people watch. There's the New Mexico History museum that's really new, the Georiga O'Keefe Meseum, New Mexico Mesuem of Art and tons of gallery's, resturants, etc downtown or close to the plaza. The north end of the plaza has the Inn of the Governor's where the local indian tribes (pueblo indians) sell their jewelry. Often there are bands or events going on on the plaza that mix the local cultures (Indian, Spanish, Mexican & gringo). 17 miles from the plaza is the Santa Fe Ski basin and right now the aspen are turning a golden yellow (makes for a beautiful drive).
East of the plaza is Canyon road full of galleries and restruant's. On Christmas eve it's closed to traffic and many of the locals do the 'Canyon road walk' in the evening. Small bon-fires are setup on the side of the road and sholder to sholder people are out with the season spirit singing christmas carols, drinking cider, listening to small group performances and just enjoying the cold night air with the spirit of community.
A little south of the plaza is the oldest church in America. Remember that the spanish came through this way years before pilgrams landed at Plymouth Rock. Santa Fe is the oldest contionusly operating capital in the US and we just celebrated our 400th anniversay as a city.
There's also Museum Hill that houses 4 or 5 other museum's out by St John's college.
To the north are the great sites mentioned in previous posts (Bandelier National Park, Los Alamos, etc).
Even though Taos was mentioned there are a few things there besides the gorge bridge. Taos has a nice airport on the west side of town. The drive further to the west takes you to the gorge bridge. White water rafting is very popular down the Rio Grande up north especially in season. Continue west from the gorge bridge and the road will bend to the north. Within a few miles you'll come to a place where you know the aliens have landed and are living in Taos. These are fully self contained homes fully sustainable and off the grid. One of the earlier earthships is open to the public for a tour of the technology and design. It's well worth seeing if you're up that way.
East of Taos is the ski basin which includes Angel Fire, Red River & Taos.
South of Santa Fe is
Tent Rocks National Park.
If you're a golf fan then you gotta try some of our desert courses. you don't even want to get me started there...do you???
Also, don't foget the LOE flyin on starting the 9th of October. We're driving down for that party! We lived in Las Cruces for about 18 years, before moving to Plano (north Dallas) for 6 years, and now Santa Fe for 5.
Bob