Riding the Rail Runner Express
The Rail Runner Express is a commuter train that runs between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Sandoval County/U.S. 550 station in Bernalillo is only two and a half miles from the RV park where we were staying. Rather than drive 50 miles to downtown Santa Fe and search for parking, we decided to ride the train. The scenery was great, and the ride was fun.
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We caught the 9:02 train on a Saturday morning in April. After boarding, we climbed the stairs to the top level, selected our seats, and soon started rolling on the tracks toward Santa Fe.
Before we traveled too far from the station, the ticket agent walked through the car to check tickets and collect fares. The Day Pass is more economical than purchasing one-way trip tickets, so we bought two of them. The cost for the two of us to ride the train to Santa Fe and back was $18.00*.
We took the highway past Sante Fe when we traveled to Bandelier. The Rail Runner traveled through different parts of the area and allowed us to relax and take pictures as we rode. From Bernalillo, the train travels through several of the 19 Pueblos and makes five stops along the way.
Kewa Station
The Kewa station is located in the Santo Domingo Pueblo, home of the iconic Trading Post.
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Zia Road Station
The Zia Road Station is located at the intersection of Zia Road and St. Francis Drive in Santa Fe. This “kiss-and-ride” station serves local residents. There is no available parking.
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Santa Fe Depot
We arrived at the Santa Fe Depot, at the end of the line, a little after 10:00 am. After departing the train, we followed the crowd to the water tower, a top-rated destination for Santa Fe pictures.
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Railyard Arts District
The Santa Fe Depot is located in the Railyard Arts District. Across from the water tower, the Santa Fe Artists Market is set up on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Over 100 New Mexico artists display and sell their work.
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After visiting the artist’s tents, we walked through the area and discovered a couple of amazing murals.
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After a quick walk around the area, we returned to the depot to get information for our walking tour of the area.
The station attendant gave us a copy of the Santa Fe Selection Mini-Guide and pointed out a scenic route to the historic Plaza.
He also told us about the free Santa Fe Pick Up Shuttle if we needed a ride to the Plaza and back. Since the weather was perfect for a casual stroll, we decided to walk.
After verifying the departure times for the trip back to Bernalillo, we thanked him and stepped back out into the New Mexico sunshine.
The areas we walked through on our way to the Plaza are rich with historic buildings and churches.
Our first stop was the Santuario de Guadalupe church. The admittance was free, and services were not in progress.
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After leaving the church, we continued our walk north along Guadalupe, crossing the Santa Fe River at W. Alameda. When we reached W. San Francisco, we turned right, continuing to walk towards the Plaza.
Plaza and Surrounding Area
West San Francisco is lined with shops, small cafes, and galleries. We stopped several times on our way to the Plaza to explore the shops and view the art on display. This marker was located on the side of the building, between a trading post and a restaurant.
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Reaching the Plaza, we saw more historic markers. The Spitz Clock got our attention because it was from our hometown, Kansas City, MO!
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This is the Santa Fe Plaza National Historical Landmark marker.
The Santa Fe Plaza has been the heart of the city since its founding in 1609.
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This stone marks the official end of the Santa Fe Trail.
From a distance, I thought it was a headstone and wondered why a grave was in the Plaza. I was glad I was mistaken.
On the north side of the Plaza is the Palace of Governors, where artists participating in the Native American Arts Program display and sell their work. This includes members from the 19 Pueblos, Apache, and Navajo tribes.
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After completing our walk around the perimeter of the Plaza, we were ready for lunch. There were several local vendors were cooking hand-held food items along one side of the park. After selecting our meal, we ate lunch on a bench while listening to a musical group performing in the center. It was a nice place to rest, people watch and take in the Santa Fe atmosphere.
Leaving the Plaza, we walked east to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. On the grounds is a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be recognized as a saint. The cathedral’s interior is extraordinary, with stained glass windows and ornate decorations.
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Across from the cathedral is the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. We did not have time to tour the museum and added it to our ‘next time list.
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Our next stop was The Loretto Chapel. The chapel is famous for its mysterious staircase.
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We continued to walk through the area, exploring shops and galleries displaying Native American and Southwestern art and souvenirs.
Soon it was time to head back to the Santa Fe Depot. Our southbound train home was leaving at 3:15 pm.
Our route back to the Railyard took us through Burro Alley. This short walkway between West San Francisco and Sandoval streets celebrates Santa Fe’s history and colorful past. Along the alley, you will find statues and paintings of burros.
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The 1941 Dodge Pickup is in the parking lot on Montezuma Ave. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of the plaque and couldn’t locate any information about it. If you have a picture of the plaque, let us know in the comments.
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We enjoyed our visit to Santa Fe and want to see more of the city the next time we are in the area. The Rail Runner is a great way to explore the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. Check it out if you are planning a trip to that area.
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This little storyteller will always remind us of our time in New Mexico. So happy we found the perfect one on our trip to Santa Fe.
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*We rode the Rail Runner to Santa Fe in April 2018. Ticket prices may have changed.
Peggy Staver, the author of this blog, is a freelance copywriter specializing in outdoor recreation and hospitality. You can contact her at PSCopywriting.com. The majority of photos are taken by Photography by Andreas. Visit his portfolio here.
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