Riding the Rail Runner to Santa Fe
The Rail Runner Express is a commuter train 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. Rather than drive 50 miles to downtown Santa Fe, we rode the train.
We caught the train at 9:02 on a Saturday morning. After boarding, we took the stairs to the top level and were soon rolling on the tracks towards Santa Fe. In a little while, the ticket agent walked through the car checking tickets and collecting fares. The Day Pass is more economical than purchasing one-way trip tickets, so we bought two of them. The total cost for us to ride the train to Santa Fe and back was $18.00.
We had driven past Santa Fe on our visit to Bandelier. The Rail Runner took us 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 5 stops along the way.
The Kewa station is located in the Santo Domingo Pueblo, home of the iconic Trading Post.
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.
We arrived at the end of the line, the Santa Fe Depot, 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.
The 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 Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm. Over 100 New Mexico artists display and sell their work.
After looking at their displays, we walked through the area, where we found several murals.
Walking back to the Depot, we went inside, seeking information for our tour of the area.
The 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. Since the weather was perfect for a casual stroll, we decided to walk.
We verified the times of departure back to the Albuquerque area, thanked him, and stepped back out into the New Mexico sunshine.
This area is rich with historic buildings and churches. Our first stop was Old Guadalupe Santuario church on Guadalupe. The admittance is free, and services were not in progress.
Leaving the church, we continued north along Guadalupe, crossing the Santa Fe River at W. Alameda. We soon reached W. San Francisco and turned right, towards the Plaza.
The Plaza and Surrounding Area
The street is lined with shops, small cafes, and galleries. We stopped a few times to explore and view the art on display.
We hadn’t walked very far when we spotted this historic marker.
Reaching the Plaza, we saw more historic markers.
The Spitz Clock from our hometown, Kansas City!
This is the Santa Fe Plaza National Historical Landmark marker. The Plaza has been the heart of Santa Fe since its founding in 1609.
This stone marks the 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.
After walking the perimeter of the Plaza, we purchased lunch from a vendor. Sitting on a bench, we ate our food and listened to a singer performing in the center.
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 interior is amazing, with stained glass windows and ornate decorations.
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.
Our next stop was The Loretto Chapel. The chapel is famous for its mysterious staircase.
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.
We enjoyed our visit to Santa Fe and want to see more of the city the next time we are in the area. This little storyteller will always remind us of our time in New Mexico. So happy we found the perfect one in Santa Fe.
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.
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