a beautiful resort outside Santa Fe

sunset at Four Seasons Santa Fe (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

We had planned to spend two evenings at Four Seasons Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I'm resuming Travel Horizons after a hiatus of about three weeks. As most of my readers will know, we have just moved cross country from Berkeley, CA to Asheville, NC. As it would take a couple of weeks for our furniture to rejoin us, we took advantage of the situation with a cross-country road trip. After delightful stays at the Beverly Hills Hotel and Auberge de Sedona, we headed north through Arizona towards I-40, then drove east towards New Mexico.

We were upgraded to an Encantado Suite, the same size as the resort's 1100 square foot Sunset Suites but located at the very top of the resort with the panoramic view pictured above. Our suite boasted a King bedroom, separate living room with pull-out queen sofabed, and a large master bathroom with dual vanities, soaking tub, and step-in shower. There was also a powder room off the living area.

Santa Fe has beautiful hiking trails. Claire and I enjoyed walking the trails pictured below. Part of the Dale Ball trail system, it's right on the outskirts of Santa Fe at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The views were scenic with patches of snow on the ground, and the air was cool and crisp. I regretted not bringing along my good camera, but this iPhoto snapshot will give a sense of the winter landscape.

Our hosts at Four Seasons were looking out for us, and the GM personally informed us about the winter weather system forecasted to arrive early the next morning. We sadly left FS Rancho Encantado after only one night, getting out of the mountains before the next morning's anticipated snowstorm. This proved to be fortuitous advice, as the snow came earlier and accumulation was greater than anticipated. After spending a night in Tucumcari, NM, we headed out the next morning toward our next destination. Stay tuned!

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copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

planning a cross-country road trip

 

I reported the news in my last post that we are moving from Berkeley, CA to Asheville, NC. Claire and I will be driving cross-country, visiting some places both old and new to us along the way. Here's our tentative itinerary. I'd love to hear your suggestions about places to visit or site inspections to make during our journey — message me on Facebook.

Beverly Hills, California — We begin with a drive down the coast to Los Angeles where we'll spend a couple of days with my daughter who lives there — Virtuoso hotels in LA and Beverly Hills.

Sedona, Arizona — Famous for its red rocks, I think I may previously been near Sedona, but I've never spent any time there. I see this as a great opportunity for some landscape photography — Virtuoso hotels in Sedona.

Santa Fe, New Mexico — I actually spent a month here during the summer of 1991. A very interesting small town with wonderful Native American art and culture and great Mexican cuisine — Virtuoso hotels in Santa Fe.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — It will be a long slog across the Texas panhandle into Oklahoma, a state I've never before visited. I'm thinking of staying at the 21c Museum Hotel en route.

Little Rock, Arkansas — Another state I've never visited, we're interesting in seeing the Clinton Library. The Capital, the Virtuoso hotel in Little Rock, is apparently closed for renovations, so we'll stay at the DoubleTree.

Nashville, Tennessee — I've never been to Nashville, the home of the Grand Ole Opry. We may stay at one of the Virtuoso hotels in Nashville or possibly The Joseph, a Luxury Collection property.

Asheville, North Carolina — Our new home in this beautiful city surrounded by mountains, Asheville has been called the Berkeley of the East. 

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copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

travel souvenirs — part 9

 

I purchased this clay pot during an extended stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico during the summer of 1991. What do I remember about Santa Fe?

expansive, wide-open spaces... The beautiful landscapes of New Mexico are a recurring theme in the paintings of American artist Georgia O'Keeffe, and Santa Fe is the home of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. I was struck by the epic views just driving the highways, especially the sight of a storm rolling in. The vast horizons of the American West engaged my imagination.

Southwestern cuisine... There's a huge difference between the Mexican food typically encountered at chain restaurants versus the authentic local cuisine available in Santa Fe. I so enjoyed my meal at Santa Fe Bar & Grill, a very casual strip mall restaurant, that we kept going back.

Native American culture... It goes far beyond the turquoise jewelry you'll find in shops everywhere. Visit the archeological sites. Listen to the storytelling of Joe Hayes who appears weekly during the summer at the Wheelwright Museum (at least he did pre-Covid). And visit a craft show — I purchased the handmade clay pot (pictured above) at the San Juan Pueblo.

Santa Fe is a drivable destination. Call us to plan a vacation at one of its four Virtuoso™ hotels and resorts — and enjoy complimentary amenities (you'd otherwise pay for) including breakfast for two daily, $100 hotel credits, and upgrades if available.

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copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

summer vacation idea | Four Seasons Santa Fe

National Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

Looking for a summer vacation idea? I spent a month in Santa Fe during the summer of 1991 and really enjoyed the city. Warm, dry days (except for the occasional thunderstorm and flash flood) and cool, dry nights. We never had the air conditioning on in our condo.

Why Santa Fe? Three reasons...

1. Opera. The Santa Fe Opera House is one of the most renowned opera companies in the country, and its season runs from June 29 to August 25. If you're an opera fan, Santa Fe is a must-do destination.
2. Pottery. The American southwest is rich in Native American culture, and I especially enjoyed shopping for traditional pottery (and even tried my hand at spinning my own pot in a pottery class with my kids). My creation is sitting on my desk right now.
3. Art. Lots of artists live in the Santa Fe area, and you can enjoy galleries displaying paintings and craft shops featuring jewelry.

And don't miss the stories... Joe Hayes is a gifted storyteller, and you can hear his weekly stories every Saturday and Sunday evening at 7 p.m. (July 20-August 14) at the Wheelwright Museum. Free admission, and such a treat!

Where to stay? Four Seasons Santa Fe — Rancho Encantado — is an intimate resort with just 65 casita guest rooms, each a spacious 630 square feet. My clients receive exclusive added-value amenities that make your stay even more of a treat:

• Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom, served through In-Room Dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
• Food and beverage credit of USD100
• Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in (excluding signature suites and villas)
• Complimentary high-speed Internet access for all guest room and suite bookings

Four Seasons Santa Fe (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Four Seasons Santa Fe

The newest Four Seasons is now accepting reservations, Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado. Encantado, formerly an Auberge Resort, is the highest rated resort in Santa Fe by Star Service. Located 9 miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Four Seasons Santa Fe is a boutique resort with just 58 generously sized casitas (smallest size is 630 sq. ft.) and 10 large suites (1,100 sq. ft.).

The fine dining restaurant, Terra, offers Southwestern dishes prepared with organic, locally sourced ingredients. The spa offers 15 treatment rooms.

Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities include daily Full American breakfast for two (including room service), $100 food and beverage credit, a one-category upgrade at time of arrival based on availability, and complimentary internet for suite bookings. These amenities are available through any FSPP travel consultant at the same rates the public can access on the FS website, including Fourth Night Free or Resort Credit rates when offered.


Four Seasons Santa Fe (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website. .