Santa Fe Gay Resource Directory
Photo Provided by the New Mexico Tourism Department
Santa Fe’s most popular nickname, the City Different, is a proud representation of its residents’ belief in distinguishing themselves by thinking outside the box while also honoring their roots. A very proud city that is not only very gay-friendly, but America’s oldest capital city, established in 1607.
The city’s rich history is most visually apparent in Santa Fe’s distinctive adobe buildings- a genuine manifestation of the confluence of Spanish and Native American cultures. Adobe, a durable material used for centuries to construct the area’s pueblos, is produced by combining sand, clay, water and fibrous organic matter such as sticks or straw. Adobe buildings were traditionally made by shaping the mud-based substance into bricks, with supports provided by large logs, called vigas. One of Santa Fe’s oldest examples of this technique is the Palace of the Governors.
Besides its historic architectural heritage (which draws a huge number of LGBT visitors), Santa Fe’s unique shopping and dining experience is a must for your visit list. The primary shopping district is downtown’s many shops and boutiques centered around the Plaza. Then , just southeast of downtown, Canyon Road is lined with more high-end options. The street is renowned for its art galleries, but is also home to dealers of fine leather goods and jewelry, ranging from southwestern to contemporary.
Photo Provided by the New Mexico Department of Tourism
Santa Fe is known as the second-largest art market in the country due to the large number of resident painters, sculptors, jewelers, photographers, and other fine artists. They choose to call Santa Fe home because the unique culture is conductive to the spirit of creative thinking. There are oodles of other artists here too: designers of fashion and furniture, of landscapes and home interiors, plus architects and builders, as well as quite a few innovators in the fields of science, sustainability, the healing arts, and water conservation. The wholeness-of-life atmosphere of Santa Fe originates from the area’s indigenous communities, most of whom have always recognized the interconnectedness between themselves and the world around them.
More than 200 restaurants in a town of 70,000 or so makes for a terrific eatery-to-customer ratio. That’s why this unique city has become such a culinary destination. The centuries-old Mexican/Spanish and Native American presence in this area, gives us a distinct food heritage (Vastly different from Tex-Mex and California-Mex). Relying on regional ingredients like chilies, corn, squash, and a host of other vegetables and meats, these two food cultures came together to create a savory blend of flavors like no other.
Photo Provided by New Mexico Department of Tourism
New Mexico’s love of her most prized crop, chile, sets us apart from other South-western states. We love it so much we keep almost 80 percent of the annual harvest to enjoy right here. Whether you prefer the kick of the roasted green or the smoky depth of a ripened, dried red, you can try them poured over an enchilada, stuffed and batter-fried, simmered into a piquant stew, or simply strewn across a hamburger. In addition to chile-inspired menus, practically every major ethnic cuisine and restaurant style is offered to the Santa Fe diner.
