Santa Fe

THE BEST WAY TO SANTA FE, N.M. From LAX, American offers nonstop service to Santa Fe, and United, Frontier and American offer connecting service (change of plane). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $290. United, Southwest, American and Alaska offer nonstop service to Albuquerque, N.M., and Southwest, Delta, United and Frontier offer connecting service. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $284. WHAT TO DO Museum of Internation Folk Art, 706 Camino Lejo; (505)

Parents aren't supposed to pick favorites, but it's clear Hyundai has a soft spot for its Santa Fe. To hear the Korean automaker tell it, the crossover played a key role in Hyundai's transformation from maker of meek little econoboxes with shoddy reliability to a brand that rivals the best from Honda and Toyota. The third generation of the Santa Fe, rolling into dealerships now, demonstrates how far the company has come. This handsomely redesigned crossover is packed with utility and comes in two sizes: a five-passenger version and a seven-passenger model.

LAS VEGAS -- Talk about unholy deeds: Somebody is breaking the lock on the donation box inside a historic Santa Fe, N.M., mission and stealing more than just the congregation's good will. And not just once. In the fourth theft at the Santuario de Guadalupe in the last six months, a thief pried open the tiny wooden box holding donations and made off with the cash inside. Not long ago, someone broke through several iron bars in the back of the little church, smashed a window and made off with two wooden crosses.

Santa Fe Sage Inn in New Mexico's capital offers a spring getaway for $74 a night plus tax. The inn is in a convenient location, too, within walking distance of the Santa Fe Artists Market at the Railyard each Saturday or a shuttle hop to downtown.  The deal: I have written about this inn before because its prices are good in a city where you easily could spend a lot more. It's a basic motel-style building with a heated pool and inexpensive parking ($5 a night). Breakfast (waffles, pastries, bagels, yogurt, fruit, eggs, cereal and more)

NEW MEXICO In O'Keeffe country The Wayfarers' six-day "New Mexico's Land of Enchantment" trek visits landmarks in Santa Fe, including museums, restaurants and historic homes. Then the walking tour heads outside the city to a Native American pueblo and into the canyons and high-desert expanses that inspired Georgia O'Keeffe's sensual paintings. The Sept. 12 departure will be accompanied by photojournalist Ellen Barone. Itinerary: Santa Fe to Chimayo, Abiquiu, Box Canyon and Frijoles Canyon Dates: Sept.

SANTA FE, N.M. - It's fair to call me a chocoholic, but it wasn't until a trip to Santa Fe that I realized I'd never had the good stuff. What was supposed to be a casual late-December exploration of this New Mexican cultural hub wound up becoming a full-on chocolate extravaganza in which I dragged my husband, Jay, to a new exhibit, "New World Cuisine: The Histories of Chocolate, Mate y Más," at Santa Fe's Museum of International Folk Art, and...

"Oldest house," panted Robert Chavez, steering his pedicab past a 17th century adobe. "Oldest church," he added a moment later, nodding left toward the 17th century San Miguel Mission Church. Santa Fe - rich, tan, relentlessly artsy and frequently artificial - is really old, by American standards. The city turned 400 this year. When I visited recently, my mission wasn't really to chase after old buildings, odd galleries and new restaurants. I wanted a look at Santa Fe's newest downtown neighborhood, a once-blighted railroad zone whose revival is nearly complete.

We lucked into this superb new bed-and-breakfast in Santa Fe. It's only four suites, each featuring hand-carved furniture, hand-painted tile work, tribal rugs and other artistic furnishings matched to the individual theme of each suite. It's set in an old adobe building yet features the most modern amenities. Antigua Inn, 622 Castillo Place, Santa Fe; (505) 954-1231, http://www.antiguainn.com . Doubles from $139. Sandy Rand Pacific Palisades

Hyundai introduced the 2013 three-row Santa Fe crossover utility vehicle at the L.A. Auto Show Wednesday along with the Veloster C3 Roll Top, a California-themed concept car. The new six/seven-passenger Santa Fe will join Hyundai's two-row Santa Fe Sport, which went on sale in August. The newly announced Santa Fe is 8.5 inches longer and is also slightly taller and wider than the Santa Fe Sport. The three-row Santa Fe offers 1.9-inches of additional leg room for the vehicle's second row of seats -- which are available in captain's chairs if desired.

Santa Fe Sage Inn in New Mexico's capital offers a spring getaway for $74 a night plus tax. The inn is in a convenient location, too, within walking distance of the Santa Fe Artists Market at the Railyard each Saturday or a shuttle hop to downtown.  The deal: I have written about this inn before because its prices are good in a city where you easily could spend a lot more. It's a basic motel-style building with a heated pool and inexpensive parking ($5 a night). Breakfast (waffles, pastries, bagels, yogurt, fruit, eggs, cereal and more)

Jerome Oxman, who started a mail-order business in the early 1960s that grew into a sprawling Santa Fe Springs outlet that became both a military surplus store and a military museum, has died. He was 97. Oxman died of prostate cancer Feb. 22 at his Buena Park home, said his son, Brian. Oxman was an expert at buying items at government auctions, and his love for surplus military gear was honed by three years of World War II duty on a U.S. Army supply line in Iran. He worked at a Vernon surplus store before starting Oxman's Surplus Inc. at Rosecrans and Valley View avenues in 1961.

THE BEST WAY TO SANTA FE, N.M. From LAX, American offers nonstop service to Santa Fe, and United, Frontier and American offer connecting service (change of plane). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $290. United, Southwest, American and Alaska offer nonstop service to Albuquerque, N.M., and Southwest, Delta, United and Frontier offer connecting service. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $284. WHAT TO DO Museum of Internation Folk Art, 706 Camino Lejo; (505)

SANTA FE, N.M. - It's fair to call me a chocoholic, but it wasn't until a trip to Santa Fe that I realized I'd never had the good stuff. What was supposed to be a casual late-December exploration of this New Mexican cultural hub wound up becoming a full-on chocolate extravaganza in which I dragged my husband, Jay, to a new exhibit, "New World Cuisine: The Histories of Chocolate, Mate y Más," at Santa Fe's Museum of International Folk Art, and...

The Modesto Central Catholic football team was hoping for some R&R this weekend - and that's just what it got. Not rest and relaxation, rather senior running backs Rey Vega and Ray Lomas. Neither has committed to college, but both will garner lots of attention after their efforts against Solana Beach Santa Fe Christian in the CIF state championship Division IV bowl game Friday afternoon at Home Depot Center. Vega had 202 yards and four touchdowns in six carries and Lomas added 183 yards and three touchdowns in 16 carries as the Raiders established state bowl records for points scored, total yards, rushing yards and winning margin with their 66-7 victory.

CIF state championship bowl games At Home Depot Center Friday's games Division I Granite Bay (12-3) vs. Long Beach Poly (12-3), 8 p.m. (TWC SportsNet): Both teams have won 11 consecutive games after starting the season 1-3. Each rose up after gaining resurgent rushing attacks. In its last two games, Granite Bay has rushed for 309 and 547 yards. John Cooley rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns last week in a regional bowl win. Poly's offensive and defensive lines have been dominant during the postseason, keying the Jackrabbits' surge.

CIF State Regional Championship Bowl Games Friday's schedule Division I Clovis North (12-1) vs. Long Beach Poly (11-3) at Veterans Stadium, 7:30 p.m. (TWC HD 700): After conquering La Puente Bishop Amat, Mission Viejo, Bellflower St. John Bosco and Santa Ana Mater Dei to win the Pac-5 Division, Poly continues its remarkable turnaround with this Division I regional bowl game. The performance from the offensive and defensive lines has been an important reason for Poly's success.

Whether you long to savor truffles or New Mexico scenery, this deal offers an April getaway to Santa Fe .  The deal: The 25th Anniversary Package gives guests 25% off the Eldorado Hotel's best available rate, which often starts at $169 during April. Guests also receive a box of truffles. The Eldorado is in downtown Santa Fe near the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Its pueblo-revival style guestrooms include 32-inch flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms include wood-burning kiva fireplaces.

For eight long months, ex-lawman Steve Dobbie has matched wits with a Santa Fe, N.M., escape artist whose spirit, tactical instincts and sheer will to remain free have repeatedly left him shaking his head in respect. Dobbie's quarry isn't human - he's a stray dog named Pepper. But Dobbie still experienced the thrill of fist-pumping victory when he finally got his man, er, dog, after some 240 days of sheer frustration and near-misses. “During his time on the streets, a day didn't go by when I didn't increase my respect and admiration for that dog,” Dobbie told the Los Angeles Times.

Ski Santa Fe in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains has some of the best tree-skiing and remote runs in New Mexico, according to Skiing Magazine . The Santa Fe Sage Inn just 5 miles from the ski area offers a two-day stay with daily lift tickets stating at $239 a night. The deal: Ski for Free in Santa Fe offers a good deal for those who want to tour the high-altitude city and get in some skiing/boarding too. The package includes two full-day lift tickets at Ski Santa Fe , two nights lodging, breakfast, shuttle to the city's downtown area, parking, Wi-Fi and access to the on-site fitness center.

Hyundai introduced the 2013 three-row Santa Fe crossover utility vehicle at the L.A. Auto Show Wednesday along with the Veloster C3 Roll Top, a California-themed concept car. The new six/seven-passenger Santa Fe will join Hyundai's two-row Santa Fe Sport, which went on sale in August. The newly announced Santa Fe is 8.5 inches longer and is also slightly taller and wider than the Santa Fe Sport. The three-row Santa Fe offers 1.9-inches of additional leg room for the vehicle's second row of seats -- which are available in captain's chairs if desired.