See This, Skip That: Santa Fe

— -- Beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a traveler draw year-round, with its bevy of deluxe resorts, vibrant arts scene and world-class cuisine. A journey here is a cultural adventure and, for many, a spiritual one, too. Here are a few special things to see and do in this truly special American city.

Skip the Museum, Do the Opera

Santa Fe’s Opera campus is a truly special cultural draw. This 150-acre property includes the Crosby Theater, an architectural marvel. The open-air structure offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains; the adjoining state-of-the-art roofs are not only renowned for the sound they produce but for their uncanny ability to collect up to 60,000 gallons of rainwater, which are used to maintain the grounds. Catching an opera? There’s no bad seat -- they all have views of the digital Opera Titles screen that offers English and Spanish translations. The nearby three-story Stieren Orchestra Hall, also a gorgeous design, hosts pre-performance lectures. But even if you don’t have a ticket to a show, call ahead for a backstage tour; on Opera Insider Days, they’re free, while periodic morning behind-the-scenes tours cost just $10.

Skip the Gallery, Pick up a Brush

The bevy of top-notch art galleries here – you can visit more than 250 –- is bound to inspire you. Santa Fe Creative Tourism offers visitors a variety of hands-on cultural workshops by linking them directly with artists. You can learn from Santa Fe’s resident experts to paint, draw, sculpt, blow glass, make jewelry and more. The lineup even includes a beginners’ class on belly dancing.

Skip the Hotel Bar, Sip Micro

For Steve Lewis, a public relations consultant based in Santa Fe, it’s tough to beat the micro-distillery cocktails at Santa Fe Spirits, where hand-crafted gin, vodka, whiskey and apple brandy become sumptuous sipper ingredients.

"Their tasting rooms, both at the distillery and in the Santa Fe Railyard, serve custom-created cocktails made to showcase the distinctive flavors of these small batch spirits,” Lewis says. "Whether it's during cocktail hour or during one of the company's tasting classes, these drinks are a far cry from the ordinary.”

In fact, their Spirits Academy draws thirsty students aiming to taste whiskey properly or learn to make quality cocktails at home. And their weekend 45-minute tours, which cost $15, include tastes of all five custom spirits.

Skip the Restaurant, Go to School

Lewis also like to eat what he makes, so he loves turning budding chefs to the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Here, morning classes are hands-on and always end with lunch comprised of what students have just made. “Santa Fe's indigenous cuisine has evolved over the centuries to incorporate ingredients from Native Americans, the Spanish Conquistadors and local farmers,” says Lewis. Classes focus on red chile, green chile, tamales, salsas and more. The school also leads restaurant walking tours.

Okay, Don’t Skip this Restaurant

My friend Dylan Haley, a California-based video producer and editor, grew up on a ranch in Santa Fe and says the Horseman’s Haven Café is not to be missed.

“Order anything, although I would get the enchiladas, Christmas-style -- that’s with both red and green chile, which is what the locals do. Then cool your mouth down with sopapillas with honey,” he tells me. "This place was only a little room connected to a gas station when I was growing up, with a line out the door. Now, it’s still next to a gas station but has its own standing building."

The restaurant sells quarts of chile to go; Haley has his family ship him some to California often.

Skip the Movies, Hit the Stage

A visit to Santa Fe would not be complete without experiencing its vibrant arts scene. There are several dance companies here, as well as at least half a dozen theaters; Teatro Paraguas, on Calle Marie, draws crowds with its focus on local playwrights and bilingual presentations of Latino works. If your travel schedule is flexible, visit during one of Santa Fe’s myriad festivals, like the summertime Santa Fe Bandstand, which takes over the Plaza for weeks with musicians stretching from folk to jazz to blues, and the Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival, which is dog-friendly and held over a three-day weekend each August. The Fiestas de Santa Fe, held every September, features the burning of a giant marionette effigy known as Zozobra, an activity that’s said to burn away worries.

Actually, Don’t Skip the Movies

Santa Fe actually draws movies buffs, not to mention Hollywood heavyweights, throughout the year. The year-end Santa Fe Film Festival balances intimate screenings with expert panels and roaring parties. And the cutting-edge vibe of the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, which takes place in October, has quickly made it one of the coolest film events in the country. A new film fest entered the fray in 2015 -- the Santa Fe Labor Film Festival, which aims to promote the labor movement through three days of cinema.

Skip Downtown, Go Ski

Headed to Santa Fe in the winter? Wax your skis.

"What many people don't realize about Northern New Mexico is the sheer diversity and quality of the skiing,” says my friend Michael Cervin, a contributor for Forbes Travel Guides. One of his favorite local ski venues? "The 10,000-foot elevation of Ski Santa Fe, just 45 minutes outside of downtown Santa Fe.”

Avid skiers also know that the prime snow destination of Taos is just two hours to the north, and Angel Fire Resort and family-friendly Red River are also nearby. Cervin adds, “Skiing in New Mexico means a little more powdery conditions, but far fewer crowds."

Skip the Hotel, Giddy Up

Santa Fe is known, in large part, for its gorgeous resorts, with places like the Inn and Spa at Loretto, the La Posada de Santa Fe and the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort consistently getting high visitor marks. But New Mexico is also home to several dude ranches, offering a more rustic stay. Located 45 miles outside Santa Fe, the historic Los Pinos Guest Ranch features log cabins, with no phones and no TVs. Home cooked meals are served in the lodge and activities range from bird watching to guided horse rides through the high mountains meadows and coniferous forests of the Pecos Wilderness. Visit Los Pinos seasonally, June through September.

Skip the Vacation, Get Away

Often, travelers get away to Santa Fe to, well, get away. There are numerous retreats here where personal revitalization, spiritual realignment and an escape from the mundane are the order of the day. Dream Catcher features a meditation labyrinth and interactions with therapeutic animals, like alpacas, donkeys and goats. Upaya Zen Center draws people curious about Buddhist teachings, art and meditation techniques.

Skip the Shiatsu, Go Deep

Luxurious kneading is alive and well in Santa Fe, where world-class spas often incorporate ingredients and techniques inspired by the region’s Native American roots and pristine surroundings. Take the 15-room spa at the 5-Star Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado, where Blue Corn and Honey Renewal soothes sun-kissed skin and the Mountain Spirit Purification features a massage using juniper, sage and local river stones followed by body mask of adobe clay. There are more than 20 deluxe destination spas in Santa Fe.

Gabe Saglie is Senior Editor for Travelzoo, which features exclusive deals to and in Santa Fe and throughout New Mexico here.