Standing on a ledge looking out over the high desert to the needle-like cliff formations of Plaza Blanca, I can see why artist Georgia O’Keeffe was entranced by this part of northern New Mexico.

It was a view she saw every day from the window of her house at Ghost Ranch north of Abiquiu, which in turn is about 60 miles north of Santa Fe. Not only is it a view she imprinted on her heart, it’s one she incorporated into several of her paintings.

Santa Fe and its surrounding area have always held a similar allure for me. On previous visits, I mainly focused on the town itself — the historic plaza and Palace of the Governors, the posh Canyon Road galleries, its acclaimed restaurants and renowned cooking school.

I traveled the Turquoise Trail, a National Scenic Byway linking Santa Fe to Albuq

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