Weather History for Santa Fe
Most of the better courses in the regionand there are some outstanding onesare just outside town. The four courses operated by the city of Albuquerque have their charms, and the rates are reasonable. Each course has a clubhouse and pro shop, where clubs and other equipment can be rented. Weekday play is firstcome, firstserved, but reservations are taken for weekends. Contact the Golf Management Office (Tel. 505/8888115. Of the four city courses,
Arroyo del Oso (7001 Osuna Rd. NE, Northeast Heights. Tel. 505/8847505) earns high marks for its undulating 27hole layout; greens fees are $26 for 18 holes. The 18hole
Los Altos Golf Course (9717 Copper Ave. NE, Northeast Heights. the north face coupons Tel. 505/2981897), one of the region's most popular facilities, has $26 greens fees. There's also a short, par3, 9hole executive course.
Sandia Golf Club (Tramway Rd. NE just east of I25, Far Northeast Heights. Tel. 505/7983990. Greens fees are $51$61.
The University of New Mexico has two superb courses. Both are open daily and have fullservice pro shops, instruction, and snack bars. Greens fees for outofstaters run about $60 to $70, with cart. UNM North (Tucker Rd. at Yale Blvd., University of New Mexico. Tel. 505/2774146) is a firstclass 9hole, par36 course on the north side of campus. The 18hole facility at
UNM South (3601 University Blvd., just west of airport the north face online coupons off I25, Southeast Heights. Tel. 505/2774546.
Of the pueblos in New Mexico when the Spanish first arrived, Isleta Pueblo is one of two Tiwaspeaking communities left in the middle of the Rio Grande Valley. It was also one of a handful of pueblos that didn't participate in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, during which Isleta was abandoned. Some of the residents fled New Mexico with the Spanish to El Paso, where their descendants live to this day on a reservation called Ysleta del Sur. Other members went to live with the Hopi of Arizona but eventually returned and rebuilt the pueblo.
Facing the quiet plaza is Isleta's church, St. Augustine, built in 1629. One of the oldest churches in New Mexico, it has thick adobe walls, a vigacrossed ceiling, and an austere interior. Legend has it that the ground beneath the floor has the odd propensity to push church and community figures buried under the floor back up out of the ground; bodies have been reburied several times, only to emerge again.
Polychrome pottery with red and black designs on a white background is a specialty here. The pueblo celebrates its feast days on August 28 and September 4, both in honor of St. Augustine. The tribal government maintains picnicking and camping facilities, several fishing ponds, and a renowned 18hole golf course. It also runs the Isleta Casino Resort (11000 Broadway SE [NM 47], 87105. Tel. 505/7243800 or 877/7475382. It's a large and handsome space with plenty of slots and myriad gaming tables; the concert hall hosts a mix of oldies, pop stars, and countryandwestern actspast numbers have included Tom Jones, Vince Gill, and Tony Bennett. There's also boxing held throughout the year. A fullservice, upscale, 201room hotel and spa opened in 2008, making Isleta more competitive with other highprofile Native American resorts in the Rio Grande region, including Sandia, Santa Ana, and Pojoaque. Although Isleta is wonderfully picturesquebeehive ovens stand beside adobe homes bedecked with crimson chiliescamera use is restricted here. Only the church may be photographed. Admission: Free.
Charles Bttger, a German immigrant, built this pink twostory mansion in 1912. The lacy, richly appointed rooms vary greatly in size and decor; some have fourposter beds, slate floors, clawfoot tubs, or pressedtin ceilings. All have down comforters, fluffy pillows, and terry robesand a few are said to be haunted by a friendly ghost or two. The Wine Cellar Suite, in the basement, can accommodate up to six guests and has a kitchenette. A grassy courtyard fronted by a patio provides an escape from the Old Town crowds. Breakfast might consist of stuffed French toast or perhaps burritos smothered in green chile, which you can also enjoy in your room. Pros: Balloon, golf, and tour packages are available.
Cons: Not for the floralandfrilly phobic. 7 rooms, 1 2bedroom suite. Inroom: kitchen (some). Inhotel: parking. Credit cards accepted. Rate includes: Breakfast.
Near the first tee of the lush Paradise Hills Golf Club, this pleasant, wellpriced B resort atop the West Mesa is a golfer's dream: the 6,895 yards of bluegrass fairways and bentgrass greens challenge players of all levels. Works by local artists and craftspeople decorate the large rooms, which are filled with attractive, if functional, contemporary furnishings; the two suites have fireplaces. Many rooms have balconies overlooking the golf course. Golf packages are available. It's a good bet if you want to be close to Petroglyphs National Monument or Corrales. Pros: Special rates available during Balloon Fiesta.
Cons: Bridge traffic back to town can be slow. 16 rooms, 2 suites, 1 apartment. Inroom: kitchen. Inhotel: golf course, parking. Credit cards accepted. Rate includes: Breakfast.
Completed in early 2006 after much anticipation, this sevenstory casinoresort set a new standard for luxury in Albuquerque; unfortunately the service here doesn't always quite match the promise. Nevertheless, appointments like 32inch plasma TVs, handcrafted wooden furniture, louvered wooden blinds, and muted, naturalcolor palettes lend elegance to the spacious rooms, most of which have sweeping views of the Sandia Mountains or the Rio Grande Valley. The 700acre grounds, which are in the Far Northeast Heights, just across Interstate 25 from Balloon Fiesta Park, ensure privacy and quiet and include a superb golf course and an amphitheater that hosts topoftheline music and comedy acts. The Green Reed Spa offers a wide range of treatments, many using local clay and plants. One of the city's best restaurants for mountain views, Bien Shur, occupies the casino's top floor, and there are three other places to eat onsite. The casino is open 24 hours. Pros: 24/7 room service.
Cons: Smoking is allowed on premises; pool not open yearround. 198 rooms, 30 suites. Inroom: WiFi. Inhotel: restaurants, bars, golf course, pool, gym, spa, parking. Credit cards accepted.
This spectacular largescale resort, on 500 acres on the Santa Ana Pueblo, includes a toprated golf course, stateoftheart spa, and cultural museum and learning center. Most rooms, swathed in natural stone, wood, and adobe and filled with puebloinspired textiles and pottery, overlook the Sandia Mountains or cottonwood groves; many have balconies or patios. Cultural events include breadbaking demonstrations (in traditional adobe ovens), storytelling, and live tribal dance and music performances. Other amenities include waterslides over two of the outdoor pools, atmospheric bars, guided nature walks, and hotair ballooning nearby. The Hyatt's outstanding Corn Maiden Restaurant (
Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch) serves outstanding contemporary fare that mixes New Mexican, Asian, regional American influences and ingredients. Try buffalo topped with foie gras and a truffle demiglace, or crispyskin duck served with an applegreen chili pancake and orangewhiskey sauce. The Santa Ana Star Casino is a free shuttle ride away. And if you're looking for an exceptional horseback ride, arrange one with the Tamaya stables. As you drink in eyefuls of the spectacular pueblo backcountry and weave among trees and plantings, you'll wonder why you ever settled for the dull nosetobutt riding experiences of yesteryear. If you're too suave to wear the helmet or gloves offered, by all means do not forego a heavy layer of sunscreen, especially on your face, ears, and neck. Indeed, winter is the busiest season here, but during the warmer months it's a popular retreat with hikers, golfers, and other outdoorsy types who appreciate retiring each evening to spacious digs. Even the standard rooms are 500 square feet, and the larger deluxe units have feather pillows, skiboot warmers, and fireplaces. The resort also manages a variety of privately owned condo units, from studios to threebedrooms, which are available nightly or longterm. Pros: Slopeside location; fantastic views.