It makes sense that in a place long known as the “City Different,” ordinary approaches to sightseeing and staging events just don’t cut it.
At least that’s the philosophy of Marcia Skillman, owner of Destination Services Santa Fe (www.santafedmc.com), who works hard to ensure groups experience the essence of what she believes to be a very special place.
“One thing we love to do is take groups to the San Ildefonso Pueblo, where there’s an amazing woman who makes pottery that’s in the Smithsonian,” she says. “You can see her build a pot and hear her stories. This is not just driving by and looking at something—it’s a way to make a real connection with the people who live here.”
Another favorite excursion is to head out to nearby Bandelier National Monument, a wilderness area and archaeological site with remnants of ancient cliff dwellings. After touring the site, Skillman likes to arrange for a picnic lunch with a Native American flutist or storyteller.
“Without sounding too Santa Fe about it, there really is an energy there from the ancient culture,” she says. “It’s a place that you need to savor and have some downtime there.”
In fact, Skillman insists that giving people plenty of downtime should be an essential part of the Santa Fe experience.
“This is the kind of place where you need to relax and enjoy things like watching a sunset from your balcony,” she says. “We let people get the feel of the place. Plus the attitude takes a little adjustment.”
When it comes to team building, Skillman likes to get people away from their cell phones and Blackberrys and send them wading in the Pecos River for a little fly-fishing. Teams compete to get the biggest or most plentiful catch.
Santa Fe’s artistic and Spanish colonial heritage offer a wealth of resources to draw upon for staging memorable events. Artful backdrops for receptions and dinners are provided by the city’s innumerable museums and galleries.
“The art galleries are a great resource and we have a huge variety to choose from,” Skillman says. “You can theme the event to tie in with the art, which could be anything from Western to avant-garde.”
Two of her favorite museums for events are the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and the Museum of International Folk Art.
“Both are splendid settings and have fabulous galleries,” she says. “However, all the museums here are group-friendly—it’s really a question of matching the right size.”
Entertainment for events is also easy to arrange for in Santa Fe, where flamenco dancers, Spanish guitarists, Native American dance troupes, and singers from the Santa Fe Opera are among the many options, she adds.
