Victor Montoya

Santa Fe's highly appealing outdoor amenities are celebrated year-round at Hyde Memorial State Park. You'll find several excellent spots to enjoy a picnic or just relax as you toss the frisbee around with the kids and enjoy the scenery. There's also more fun to be had on the hiking trails that offer still another chance to get closer to the amazing natural beauty of the park. Camping is another attraction, as the park offers 350 acres of woods and meadows. Plus, the park is located just three miles south of the Santa Fe Ski area which makes it a great stop during ski season.

Nature lovers love to get up close and personal with their natural surroundings, and sometimes, the best way to do that is to simply hit the trail! In Santa Fe, one of the most popular ones is the Atalaya Mountain Trail. One of the reasons that this trail is so popular is because of its easy accessibility, as visitors can take the "M" city bus to the trailhead on the campus of St. John's College. This trail is one of the area's more challenging excursions, as it heads up a 9,121-foot peak and has areas that are a challenge, even for the most seasoned outdoorsman.

The Native American role in Santa Fe's rich history is a significant one, and that fact is celebrated every May with the Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival. Shop for beautiful jewelry and other one-of-a-kind pieces made by more than 180 established and emerging artists from the Native American pueblos and tribes. The proceeds from the event benefit the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.