The Santa Fe Trail

Albuquerque, NM -- I've been in Santa Fe, 60 miles north of the airport from which I'm now writing, for the past three days. Was attending a conference put on by a CIA think tank, and even though I'm a reporter I think it's pretty badass that I'm actually not allowed to tell you anything about the conference. Nyah nyah. But Santa Fe put me in mind of a book on my shelf that I haven't read yet, The Tourist City.

2 minute read

December 8, 2004, 11:47 AM PST

By Anonymous


Albuquerque, NM -- I've been in Santa Fe, 60 miles north of the airport from which I'm now writing, for the past three days. Was attending a conference put on by a CIA think tank, and even though I'm a reporter I think it's pretty badass that I'm actually not allowed to tell you anything about the conference. Nyah nyah.



But Santa Fe put me in mind of a book on my shelf that I haven't read yet, The Tourist City. The point of it, based on my skim, is that cities sometimes turn themselves into tourist attractions -- not real, living cities so much as Disneyland-esque "CityLands," places where visitors can get the sense of being in a city while actually engaged in little more than commerce. Shopping, I'm saying.



So I don't really know if that's what Tourist City is about -- hey, man, this is a blog, and I'm giving you exactly the amount of reportage that you're paying for. But that's what the book should be about. Santa Fe is almost entirely built in faux-adobe style. During the holidays, nearly every wall is topped by fake, durable versions of candles-in-paper-bags, for pretty. The downtown, and much of the surrounding residential areas, are non-stop shops. Galleries, boutiques, etc. (at least most of them appear to be independantly owned).



So, it's an artisanal economy supported by legislation (building codes in Santa Fe must be murder). I got no problem with that. But isn't there more to the urban experience than going to a big mall?



And if there is, what is it? Arts? Culture?



Are cities places for people to interact with people different than themselves -- Otheropolis -- or are they places for people to shop -- Shopolis? Or are those the same thing?



Discuss. I gotta go get on a plane.


portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

1 hour ago - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

30 minutes ago - Next City

View of passengers on transit bus at night.

Opinion: Transit Agencies Must View Service Cuts as Last Resort

Reducing service could cripple transit systems by pushing more riders to consider car ownership, making future recovery even less certain.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Man sitting on bench sillhouetted against golden hour trees in tranquil park.

‘Smart Surfaces’ Policy Guide Offers Advice for Building and Maintaining Urban Tree Canopies

Healthy, robust tree canopies can reduce the impacts of extreme heat and improve air quality.

3 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive