North of Town: Santa Fe

Heading north from the Plaza and following the main highway towards Taos, it won't take long to get outside city limits and into the dramatic landscape that makes up the Pojoaque Basin and Rio Grande Valley beyond. The classic, wide-open Southwestern vistas are dotted with small developments and Indian Pueblos accompanied by the requisite casinos and resorts that often offer up great package deals for visitors. The Pueblo of Pojoaque recently teamed up with Hilton to open the Buffalo Thunder Resort, offering golf, gambling and live entertainment in a sprawling facility 15 minutes north of town. Undoubtedly though, the premiere attraction to the north is the world-famous Santa Fe Opera – an open-air facility offering a unique cultural experience. Taking in a performance of 'La Traviata' while an electrical storm lights up the sky over the distant Rio Grande is an evening only Santa Fe can deliver. © NileGuide