About

Welcome to the Santa Fe Selection blog!

I was born on the northwest coast of England. I first arrived in Santa Fe in 1984. I had traveled extensively for many years as a fashion model, and lived in many amazing places; New York, Paris, London, L.A.

My first visit to Santa Fe had me hooked. I was drawn to the diverse culture, history, landscapes, weather and lifestyle.  I decided to make it my home and moved here permanently in 1990.  I’m grateful that I have been able to live in this very special place for so many years.

In 2011, I began Santa Fe Selection, the free mobile and online guide to the authentic Santa Fe experience. It is aimed at helping guide travelers to Santa Fe and the businesses and experiences, that I believe, contribute to its uniqueness. I hope you’re able to visit here someday. There really is no place like it.

And if you like my blog, please comment. I am available to help you with your questions about your trip here. Feel free to comment or contact me directly at info@santafeselection.com or (505) 470-2991. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Wishes,
Maria Johnson.

Please like us on Facebook at facebook.com/santafeselection, and on Twitter at @SantaFeTrip. Happy exploring!

7 thoughts on “About

  1. Great blog Maria, one side of my Hertitage is based in the Santa Fe area by my Great Grandparents who settled and established the oldest non incorporated village in Southern Colorado called Guadalupe who built the oldest church in Colorado. The church was rebuilt after a disastrous fire and relocated to present day Conejos. The village of Guadalupe is still there.

    Thanks Joe Martinez
    Irvine, California.

    • Hi Joe, Thank you for your very interesting note. It’s so great to hear from those whose families were pioneers in the area. I’m sure you have some fascinating stories. Thank you for reading the blog! Cheers! Maria

  2. I am so happy to have found you! My ancestry is strong in northern NM back to 1500s and beyond to Spain. My maiden name Ortiz has historical roots in Santa Fe. Apodaca, Chaves (ez), & Martin (ez) are other names in my genealogy. I have so much history I could not begin to post here but would love to share with you. I live in beautiful Oregon but when in NM find it difficult to leave…part of me belongs to NM. I am looking forward to more interesting postings to plan my trip this fall.

    • HI Dolores, Thank you so much for reading my blog and for your comment about your fascinating family history. I hope you’ll use my travel guide site at santafeselection.com to help you with your trip plans this fall. You can also contact me at info@santafeselection.com with specific travel questions, if you wish. Have a wonderful visit!!
      Best Wishes,
      Maria

  3. I have just now started to explore for our trip to Santa Fe next Spring. I am reading “Appetite for America” by Stephen Fried and so anxious to get out there. We are planning for May 2016 (is that a good time of year?) to come out for about 10 days. Will definitely have a couple day stay at La Fonda. So much to see and do…all suggestions are welcomed! Thanks

    • Dear Michael,
      Thank you for reaching out to me regarding your upcoming trip in 2016. Please go to SantaFeSelection.com Travel Guide for all my favorite things to do, places to visit, restaurants, museums, classes and more. Should you have any specific questions, please contact me directly at (505)470-2991 or email: SantaFeSelection@gmail.com. Thank you so much! Maria

  4. Maria,
    You have helped me tremendously finding us a place to stay to see the infamous Zozobra. Thank you for all you have done to make our trip more relaxed and a lot more enjoyable!

Thanks for reading my blog. I'd love to hear from you!