Government is the largest employer in Santa Fe followed by the hospitality industry. There are a growing number of technology based businesses locating in the city as well. Santa Fe is considered the third largest art market in the U.S. based on sales with 250 art galleries and dealers in town.

There are four distinct seasons in Santa Fe including snow during the winter in the city. The hottest month is June when temperatures reach into the mid to upper nineties. The daily temperature typically changes 30 degrees due to the city's elevation and cool evenings. Normal rainfall is 14 inches a year.

On average, Santa Fe attracts 1.2 to 1.4 million visitors annually. The most popular months for visitors are April through October peaking in July, August and October. Santa Fe's visitors come from all over the world but most frequently come from Texas, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Florida and Arizona. The highest number of international visitors come from Canada, Germany and the U.K.

The Albuquerque Sunport is the closest, major airport to Santa Fe. Santa Fe is located one hour north of Albuquerque by car. A municipal airport is located just outside of Santa Fe and handles only commuter and private aircraft. Santa Fe is a little more than one hour's drive south of Taos, New Mexico.

• A Perfect Autumn in Santa Fe: The aspens high in the Sangre de Cristo mountains bordering Santa Fe are turning golden as Fall approaches. With hiking trails criss-crossing both mountain ranges outside Santa Fe, the Santa Fe ski area operating its four person chairlift daily for fall color viewing from September 19 through October 6 and a designated scenic highway running from downtown into the high country, enjoying autumn's splendor here could not be easier. Mild temperatures (highs in the mid to upper 60's), sunny days and plenty to do make September and October some of Santa Fe's best months.

• The Fall chairlift will begin running through the aspens for hikers and leaf peepers alike at Ski Santa Fe located 16 miles from downtown Santa Fe. The four person chair runs to an elevation of over 11,000 feet providing a stunning, 8.000 square mile view of the Rio Grande Valley. The chair runs from 10am to 3pm daily and costs $7.00 for a round trip or $5.00 one way and will operate from September 19 through October 6. For information, 505-983-9155 or www.skisantafe.com. For weather conditions call 992-5090.

• Winter in Santa Fe means winter sports and Ski Santa Fe is one of New Mexico's most popular winter recreation areas. With 43 named runs and plenty of other trails hidden in the trees and glades, 1,650 feet of vertical terrain and a large children's center that provides both lessons and daycare, Ski Santa Fe is perfect for families, groups and individual skiers and snowboarders. The area is convenient to downtown so there is plenty to do for non-skiers in this most historic of U.S. cities. Ski Santa Fe is scheduled to open November 29, 2002. 505-982-4429; http://www.skisantafe.com

• Winter is Santa Fe's slowest time of year so lodging costs can be reduced from 20 to 40 percent at many hotels from November through March. For the coming winter All Santa Fe Reservations and Ski Santa Fe have created ski packages to combine the beauty of being in the southern Rocky Mountains with the luxury of some of Santa Fe's finest accommodations at value prices. Rooms start at $45/per night for a standard motel room and run to $299/night for a luxury 3 bedroom condominium with every price and room configuration in between. Included in the ski package are discounts on lift tickets, ski school and equipment rental. All Santa Fe Reservations, 877-737-7366 or book online at http://www.all-santafe.com.

• Finally, Winter is Santa Fe's second season for performing arts. Following the summer's run of performances by the Santa Fe Opera, Chamber Music Festival and many of the city's other performing arts groups, winter is the season for the Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus, Santa Fe Concert Association, Santa Fe Pro Musica performances and the continuing calendar at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. In addition, ongoing exhibitions at the Museum of New Mexico's four museums, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian and the newly opened Museum of Spanish Colonial Art means there is more to do than any one trip can accommodate. For updated calendar information any time, http://santafe.org/Calendar_of_Events/