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Also what are people's impressions of Las Cruces? I drove down there after visiting ABQ, seemed pretty chill and warm in the winter too. I got the impression it has a bit more Texan feel than other parts of the state.
Ummm...could it be because it's so close to the Texas state line?
I personally find Las Cruces to be just as "New Mexican" as Santa Fe and Albuq. I'm not sure whether or not it has a higher percentage of Hispanics - but my impression is that, being closer to the border, it does.
On occasion I find myself out of state talking to some well-heeled people, and a frequently recurring theme is that they consider Santa Fe to be some sort of superior existence than Albuquerque (i.e. "once you have it made you can have a house in Santa Fe").
And the odd thing is that neither I nor anyone I know who lives in Albuquerque would ever want to live in Santa Fe if they ever hit it big. Lots of Albuquerqueans greatly dislike Santa Fe; maybe it's the perception of carpetbaggers, or corrupt politicians, or people with their noses in the air. Maybe it's the disproportionately bad traffic, colder weather, fewer amenities, or lower standard of living for the price.
Nothing against most Santa Feans; I'm sure many of them prefer living in Santa Fe and there's nothing wrong with that.
So what I'm racking my brain about is not so much what do these out-of-staters know that I don't, but what do I know that these out-of-staters don't? How does Santa Fe retain such a disproportionately positive reputation outside the state?
Probably because a good chunk of the city's income depends on a well-heeled out-of-state tourist trade, and as a result, they market the highly stylized Santa Fe image heavily – because they have to in order for Santa Fe to survive in its current guise.
It's not a bad thing, I mean if I had to choose to visit NYC or Santa Fe, I'd take Santa Fe everytime.
Probably because a good chunk of the city's income depends on a well-heeled out-of-state tourist trade, and as a result, they market the highly stylized Santa Fe image heavily – because they have to in order for Santa Fe to survive in its current guise.
It's not a bad thing, I mean if I had to choose to visit NYC or Santa Fe, I'd take Santa Fe everytime.
It'd be interesting to see how much Albuquerque pulls in versus Santa Fe in tourist dollars. Given the number of hotels in each, Santa Fe may explain a per-capita higher tourism spend but not an overall higher tourism spend.
Could it just be the simple "state capital" thing? Kinda like how people might have talk to you about Bismarck when you tell them you're from North Dakota but odds are you've never been there willingly?
Could it just be the simple "state capital" thing? Kinda like how people might have talk to you about Bismarck when you tell them you're from North Dakota but odds are you've never been there willingly?
That probably has a lot to do with it, along with the Santa Fe Trail & Santa Fe Railroad and old Western movie references in the pop culture lexicon.
Besides, Santa Fe is a lot easier to spell than Albuquerque.
It'd be interesting to see how much Albuquerque pulls in versus Santa Fe in tourist dollars. Given the number of hotels in each, Santa Fe may explain a per-capita higher tourism spend but not an overall higher tourism spend.
Could it just be the simple "state capital" thing? Kinda like how people might have talk to you about Bismarck when you tell them you're from North Dakota but odds are you've never been there willingly?
World class opera, third largest art market in US, Indian Market, Spanish Market, Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Trail, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis, skiing, celebrities, restaurants, museums, Loretto Chapel, The Plaza, Fiesta de Santa Fe, top ten tourist destination 11 years in a row, Rodeo de Santa Fe, shopping...oh, and state capitol (not capital).
World class opera, third largest art market in US, Indian Market, Spanish Market, Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Trail, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis, skiing, celebrities, restaurants, museums, Loretto Chapel, The Plaza, Fiesta de Santa Fe, top ten tourist destination 11 years in a row, Rodeo de Santa Fe, shopping...oh, and state capitol (not capital).
Good list, but you left off one very important element - the panorama surrounding the town. MUCH more scenic than the other large cities in the state, and I don't think I'm alone in that opinion. And more accessible to adjacent, even more scenic areas. Oh yes, and don't forget the year around mild weather.
The 'state capitol' thing employees quite a few people.
The majority of employees in my wife's IT office, commute from Albuquerque.
My guess would be that would be the norm, and not the exception, for state employees and contractors?
While tourism is THE big money maker for the Santa Fe area, these state employees and contractors make considerably more than minimum wage.
Thus pumping quite a bit of money into the local economies of Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
the panorama surrounding the town. MUCH more scenic than the other large cities ...
That might be an interesting poll question. Not [What is the most scenic?], but [How would you rank them?]
My ranking for ( city limits only (*)) scenic panoramas is
(1) - Albuquerque ... Sandias, Manzanos, volcanos, W Mesa, river Bosque, Jemez Mts, Mt. Taylor, Ladron Pk, S. Baldy Pk.
(2) - Taos ............. Sangre de Cristos, W Mesa, Wheeler Peak group, Taos Mountains, Cerro de la Olla, Ute Peak, Pueblo Peak
(3) - Las Cruces ..... Organ Mountains, W Mesa, river Bosque
(4) - Santa Fe ....... Sangre de Cristos, Jemez Mts, Sandias, Cerrillos Hills
Such a poll would require sixteen entries where some votes might be (1) (2) & (3) and [don't care/no opinion] ..
... but voters would have to pick one ... I wouldn't know how to set it up.
Places like Grants, Gallup, Tucumcari, Silver City outrank the best places in most other states, IMO.
The only cities on the coast that compares would be San Francisco, Seattle, and New York.
I'm not into monotonous, flat ocean, so Los Angeles and San Diego and Miami would be right out.
That might be an interesting poll question. Not [What is the most scenic?], but [How would you rank them?]
My ranking for ( city limits only (*)) scenic panoramas is
(1) - Albuquerque ... Sandias, Manzanos, volcanos, W Mesa, river Bosque, Jemez Mts, Mt. Taylor, Ladron Pk, S. Baldy Pk.
(2) - Taos ............. Sangre de Cristos, W Mesa, Wheeler Peak group, Taos Mountains, Cerro de la Olla, Ute Peak, Pueblo Peak
(3) - Las Cruces ..... Organ Mountains, W Mesa, river Bosque
(4) - Santa Fe ....... Sangre de Cristos, Jemez Mts, Sandias, Cerrillos Hills
Such a poll would require sixteen entries where some votes might be (1) (2) & (3) and [don't care/no opinion] ..
... but voters would have to pick one ... I wouldn't know how to set it up.
Places like Grants, Gallup, Tucumcari, Silver City outrank the best places in most other states, IMO.
The only cities on the coast that compares would be San Francisco, Seattle, and New York.
I'm not into monotonous, flat ocean, so Los Angeles and San Diego and Miami would be right out.
(*) so Taos Gorge doesn't count
This, except I'd put the view from Tesuque looking north, west, and east as #1.
This, except I'd put the view from Tesuque looking north, west, and east as #1.
joqua was talking about "(other) large cities in the state."
The definition of "large cities in the state" may vary. I'm going to say for New Mexico,
Tucumcari is as small as I'm willing to go at just over 5k people.
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