PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

About 20 minutes south of Santa Fe, set along a series of ponds (springs), this resort offers graceful accommodations on a 70-acre compound. Its first incarnation was as a meeting and retreat center and parts of it retain that feel. But other parts provide some of Santa Fe's most reasonably priced luxury rooms. As well, the resort has a spa, biodynamic gardens, a Japanese tea house, and an arts and yoga center. All rooms have comfortable beds with good linens and very functional bathrooms stocked with locally wild crafted bath products. I recommend most the Pond View rooms and the casitas. The Pond View rooms are perfect for solo travelers; small but well appointed, they live up to their name, overlooking the shady waters. The casitas have vaulted ceilings and plenty of space, as well as gas fireplaces, private patios, and kitchenettes. Some have a "meditation studio" that can be used as an extra room, a great option for families. The Garden rooms are pleasant -- medium-size, with patios or balconies -- but the furniture could use updating. Service is accommodating and the rural setting provides a peaceful stay. The Blue Heron Restaurant serves some of the city's most innovative cuisine.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque, 12th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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