Taos New Mexico is one of the state’s most fascinating
cities. The nearby Taos Pueblo Indian Nation and enormous, multi-storied
adobe village connects it to a truly ancient past while it’s relatively
recent transformation into the country’s premier art conclave
grounds it firmly in the present.
Taos has been a well-known art colony for over a century, and is home
to more artists per capita than Paris, France. There are many, many
galleries that are worth a look. The Studio de Colores, for example,
exhibits some of the most acclaimed artists in the American Southwest.
The Fenix Gallery is an excellent venue for progressive modern art.
The Inger Jirby Gallery features the eponymous artist’s paintings
and sculptures in all their eye-popping color. The public record of
Taos’ unique art community’s evolution is on display at
the wonderful Hardwood Museum on Ledoux Street.
Other museums include the Millicent Rogers Museum, which houses one
of the best collections of Indian and Spanish Colonial art in the United
States, and the Taos Art Museum, which is housed in the former home
of Russian-born artist Nicholai Fechin. The Taos Historical Museum is
actually comprised of three houses. The Blumenschein Home and Museum
is the former residence of the co-founder of the Taos Society of Artists.
The Kit Carson house includes parts of the original home and possessions
of the great American frontiersman. And the Martinez Hacienda is one
of the few remaining late Spanish Colonial houses left in the United
States.
Shoppers in Taos will find numerous stores in and around the Taos Historical
District. Bargain hunters will bag lots of unique items, anything from
Indian Crafts to prints and posters from the city’s world-famous
art community. Shops and eateries with that distinctive southwestern
flavor can be found in the Historic Long John Dunn House Shops, or in
the Taos fashion with artsy flair at Artemisia Clothes and Accessories.
Taos and its surrounding areas have lots of outdoor adventures waiting
for them, with opportunities for hiking, skiing, rafting and more. The
famed Enchanted Circle is a scenic drive from which all the varied vistas
of Taos striking landscape can be seen. Taos Ski Valley provides challenging
slopes at as high as 11,000 ft. above see level. There’s plenty
of action for the white-water crowd at the Wild Rivers Recreation Area,
where the Rio Grande and Red River meet to cut 8,000 ft. canyons into
the living rock. Hikers who love expectorating quadrupeds will want
to make reservations for El Paseo Llama Expeditions, in which family-friendly
hiking trails are accompanied by llamas that act as pack animals and
mounts for the little ones.
Grabbing a bite in Taos is difficult only in that there are so many
“local favorites” to choose from. Try Lambert’s or
Michael’s Kitchen. Orlando’s New Mexican Café serves
affordable Southwestern. The Old Blinking Light is a family joint with
dinner portions fit for two.
Staying in Taos New Mexico is no hardship. There are a good number of
affordable chain motels and hotels. Those who want something a little
more special might try the Taos Inn, a little complex of Adobe houses
that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. The Abominable
Snowmansion Hi Taos Hostel & Classic Ski Lodge is a cozy, fun place
for families to stay, with several ways to spend the night and the time.
The nearby Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the
2nd highest suspension bridge in the United States.
The so-called Earth Ships just outside
of Taos are environmentally sound, self-contained living quarters that
exist “off the grid”.
Twin Heart Shuttles carry visitors from
nearby airports into town at reasonably low prices, but at 3 hours from
Albuquerque and 1.5 from Santa Fe, driving yourself may be a more pleasant
option.
The Taos Mountain Casino, located a mile
outside the Taos Pueblo village, is a smallish gaming house that’s
100% smoke free.
