Santa Fe is more tourist-y. Especially wealthy tourists. When California became too expensive in the 80-90’s many of that state’s residents moved to Santa Fe. There is a mix of rich people trying to ignore the tourists, celebs trying not to be recognized, Poor people and wannabe rich people catering to the tourists, and tourists trying not to look like tourists while keeping a sharp eye out for celebs. It just seems a bit…pretentious?..contrived? It almost seems to me that people say Santa Fe is cool, and the art is worth the asking prices because they don’t want to be the odd one that says otherwise? It is not not polite to giggle at the women of a certain age wearing 30# of silver and turquoise jewelry, peasant skirt, and Georgia O’Keefe hat. They are as ubiquitous in Santa Fe as the umbrella and hat ladies are in Vienna.
Albuquerque is a city filled with people earning livings for the most part unrelated to tourism or art. Yeah, there is a bit of that, but while Albuquerque would suffer a bit if tourists stopped coming, Santa Fe would crash.
If you are a Doper because you are Geeky, here are some places you might like:
National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque. Stuff like replicas of the only nuclear bombs ever used in warfare assembled from actual spare parts. Horrific to be sure, but there is a ton of science behind them, and much of it came from Los Alamos and Sandia National labs.
Taos Gorge and Earthships. A pretty cool arch bridge over a deep narrow gorge. Just up the road a mile or so is where a bunch of hippies are building earth sheltered dwellings out of tires. They have one set up that you can tour and as in information center…mostly to keep the curious from roaming about the community proper.
The big Radio Telescope is worth stopping at if you are already down that way, but not enough to go out of your way for. I have been there maybe five times and the wind was always honking with gusts to mother honking.
If your into bicycling there is a trail along the Rio Grand that stretches through all of Albuquerque north-to-south with only a few level crossings. You can also ride ~40 mi. down the Rio Grande to Belen and take the Rail-Runner train back. (No tandems allowed on train though)
If you like wine, there are some little vineyards that are worth a stop.
If you are into motorcycling, there are some nice twisty roads I can recommend.
If you have 4WD I can recommend some spectacular back ways that will actually get you somewhere.
Carlsbad Caverns is cool, especially if they are still running primitive tours of the smaller caves.
