Santa Fe is celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2010.
The commemoration continues through all of the new year with arts, entertainment, festivals and food and wine events.
Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in North America. Spanish colonialists claimed New Mexico in the 1500s, and the capital of the territory was moved to Santa Fe in 1610.
Santa Fe's Palace of the Governors was made from adobe in the early 17th century and served as Spain's government headquarters for the region. Santa Fe describes the Palace of the Governors as the oldest public building in the U.S.; today it houses a library and history exhibits. A market for Native American vendors has been held facing the building's plaza for centuries.
Other noteworthy sites in Santa Fe, both historic and modern, include the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, which was dedicated in 1887; Loretto Chapel, built in the 1870s; the New Mexico Museum of Art; the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum; and Museum Hill, where you'll find four museums on a plaza, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Museum of International Folk Art, and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian.
The Railyard, an old part of Santa Fe, has recently been revitalized with a park, a farmers market, art galleries, restaurants and shops.
Details: www.santafe400th.com.
Conde Nast Traveler offers tips for port calls
The price you pay to book a cruise is only part of the cost of your trip if you plan on taking any shore excursions.
In the January issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine, consumer news editor Wendy Perrin offers tips for getting the most out of your port calls and land tours.
First, if you are set on visiting one particular sight or city, book your cruise to begin, end or overnight in that port. Otherwise, you risk missing out, as cruises can cancel port calls for all kinds of reasons, from weather to workers' strikes in the host country.
Second, plan ahead for how you'll spend your time in port. The ship concierge will try to sell you the cruise line's tours, and those are going to be expensive, so research your excursion options before you get on the boat. Check out tourism Web sites for any local events the day you'll be there, and visit Web sites specializing in day-trips, like ShoreTrips.com and Viator.com.
Check museum Web sites for exhibitions and hours. Finally, don't forget to figure in travel time from the ship to your land destinations, and the costs of local transportation. Is it a 10-minute taxi ride or a two-hour bus ride⢠The cruise line should be able to tell you.
Details: www.concierge.com/cntraveler
Armchair traveler
The 2010 Virginia is For Lovers Travel Guide showcases the Blue Ridge Parkway's 75th anniversary.
The parkway was constructed as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal during the Great Depression, and is considered to have been the first national rural parkway to be developed specifically for leisure road trips, with campgrounds, picnic areas, overlooks and other amenities along the way. The 469-mile road connects Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
The guide includes information on sites along the parkway and the best places to visit. Other highlights include Civil War sites and museums, wineries, and special events and festivals. It also showcases hiking and biking rails, state and national parks, fishing and water and snow sports.
Those interested in learning more about the Blue Ridge Parkway anniversary can also check out www.blueridgeparkway75.org. Events are planned throughout the year, from conferences to concerts. The free guide is available at www.Virginia.org or by calling 800-847-4882.
