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.

Dali museum | Figueres, Spain

An hour north of Barcelona is the village of Figueres, Spain. We spent an afternoon there during our trip to Spain (after spending the morning in Gerona). Pictured above is the home of surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, right next door to the Dalí Theatre-Museum.

Built in the former Figueres Theatre, the town asked Dalí to design a museum commemorating his own work. The museum itself has been described as "the world's largest surrealistic object," and indeed it is. You can easily spend two hours in this museum - and be sure to visit the jewelry exhibit next door; a separate ticket is included in the price of admission.

Even if you are not a fan of Dalí or of the surrealist movement, the Dali Museum is worth a visit. I was impressed by his technical skill as well as by the sheer creativity of the artist. Pictured in the inset is a room size piece incorporating several different objects. Only when you climb some stairs and look through the lens at the assemblage of objects can you fully appreciate the artist's subject, actress Mae West.

For a whimsical and fun morning or afternoon, the Dali Museum is a wonderful diversion!


Dali Museum (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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