With sky high gas prices, the full-time, part-time, and occasional Rv’er has to put creativity to the test in order to get the best mileage out of a trip.  One beautiful destination just for this is a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  With over 300 sunny days per year, who wouldn’t find something fascinating to experience?  There is so much to see and do in Santa Fe that you won’t need to spend a lot of gas and mileage trying to find an activity for everyone. 

For the dedicated RV’er desiring to see and do all from his/her RV, six great RV camps stand out in the Santa Fe area, these are:

Santa Fe RV Parks and Campgrounds

Hyde Memorial State Park – www.nmparks.com

(restrooms, showers, tents, RV hookups, hot showers)

Los Campos De Santa Fe RV Resort – www.hometown.aol.com
3570 Cerrillos Rd

(hot showers, laundry, pool, restrooms, RV hookups)

Rancheros de Santa Fe Campground – www.rancheros.com

736 Old Las Vegas Hwy

(cabins, hot showers, laundry, modem hookups, RV hookups, pool, restrooms, shelters, tents)

Santa Fe KOA RV Park – www.santafekoa.com
934 Old Las Vegas Hwy

(cabins, hot showers, laundry, modem hookups, restrooms, tents, RV hookups)

Santa Fe Skies RV Park – www.santafeskiesrvpark.com    
14 Brown Castle Ranch

(hot showers, laundry, modem hookups, RV hookups, restrooms)

The Trailer Ranch RV Resort and 55+ Community – www.trailerranch.com
3471 Cerrillos Rd

(hot showers, laundry, modem hookups, pool, restrooms, RV hookups)

Check out these web sites for current information relative to each RV park listed.

For those RV’ers who would like to take a break from their home on wheels, several wonderful hotel resorts are available to give you first class attention.  These are The Hilton of Santa Fe, La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa, The Inn at Sunrise Springs, The Inn of the Five Graces, The Bishop’s Lodge Resort and Spa just to name a few.  For a complete guide to the city of Santa Fe contact www.santafe.org and order your updated guide.

I stayed at The Hilton of Santa Fe and loved the rustic appearance of the interior design. Heavy beams with rich wooden furniture and fireplaces just lent to the romantic atmosphere of this incredible city.  Whether you enjoy the amenities of the RV parks or the hotels, you’ll get spoiled very fast in Santa Fe.  Spas and health facilities are available through out the city.  One just needs to decide which type of massage or health therapy you’re “into” and then make reservations.  I called La Posada de Santa Fe and was told for a week’s stay I could experience some of the most rejuvenating classes and therapies.  Laurance S. Rockefeller once said, “Our environment is part of us.  How we care for our environment and live with it, utilize and enjoy it, determines the kind of people we are and will be.”  I agree.  Putting yourself in one of these resort hotels with health classes and learning to become one with your environment is a benefit for all.  Now some may not think that to be much of a vacation, but I would love to have daily massages, breathe in fragranced air and listen to soothing music.  For those wanting to de-stress, here is your opportunity.

The Santa Fe area just tantalizes the senses.  Fabulous restaurants can be found in pueblo or adobe settings.  This is the place to try seafood with a Castilian flare or scrumptious mouthwatering steaks and Mexican cuisine.  Don’t worry, Italian and Chinese food can be found as well.  I recommend Rio Chama Steakhouse located at 414 Old Santa Fe Trail.  You need reservations to dine here.  1-505-955-0765 will put you on the reservation list.  Casual “country club” attire is appropriate, but if all you’ve got are jeans, boots, and a shirt, they will welcome you in as their guest.  Try the steaks with calamari.  The calamari is served with a red chili sauce and a white dressing for dipping.  WOW! You will not want to leave.  Pair the steaks with one of the red wines made in New Mexico and you have a winning combination.

For the visual senses, there is art and architecture everywhere you look.  Whether you are acquainting yourself with the Native Americans at the Palace of the Governors, viewing their beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry and hand made pottery, or just walking along admiring the adobe buildings, gasps of delight will escape your lips upon each treasure you see.  You can’t walk down even a side road without finding wrought iron trellis and planters sporting majestic flowering plants.  Colorful windows and gates stand out brilliantly against the earthy terra cotta adobes.  Secret gardens beckon you down brick trails to breathe in the fragrances.  Splashes of hand painted tiles are used indiscriminately throughout the city.  All I can say is “bring a camera or your video.”  This is one place you’ll weep over if you lose out on taking pictures!

Here’s to those of you RV’ers looking for peace, relaxation, and solace in these times of high gas prices.  Soothing, romantic Santa Fe is just a gas tank away for the southwest traveler..  Happy Traveling!

(Photos are courtesy of Santa Fe, New Mexico office of Tourism)