New Mexico's gem and State Capital is Sante Fe. It means "Holy Faith" in Spanish, and enjoys a rich history dating back hundreds of years. At last count, there were some 62,000 residents living here. One curious fact about the city is that it's at an altitude about 300 meters higher than Denver, Colorado.

Due to a law that was passed in 1958, all newly built buildings MUST be designed with Spanish-Pueblo style architecture based on adobe (mud and straw) and wood methods. Surprisingly, the city has many Cape-cod style homes that work around this by adding roof tiles and fake adobe walls.

Since the 1970s, Santa Fe has enjoyed an arts and tourism renaissance. Living standards have risen dramatically over the last three decades, leaving behind a legacy of income and education levels that exceed national averages.

The Santa Fe city center is a hotspot for vibrant urban and historic culture. Many great restaurants, shops, and art galleries are packed together in the downtown district.

Quirky annual events include the September color-change of the local aspen trees and the burning of Zozobra (the effigy of gloom).

Santa Fe has a rich history dating back to 1607. It's the oldest capital city and the second oldest city in the States.