Nearest Airport
: Albuquerque, N.M.
at 136
Miles
Nearest Ski
: Taos Ski Valley
at 15
Miles
Car: necessary
Taos, New Mexico grew up in the vicinity of the thousand year old Taos Pueblo, a World Heritage site which is still occupied. At various times of the year, it is the setting for ancient dances, little changed since long before Europeans ever set foot here. The public is welcome at many of these demonstrations of lasting Native American tradition.
The town has been a mecca for artists for well over one hundred years and the town to this day is filled with an array of fine art galleries featuring works of every medium. Joining these artists through the years have been a parade of authors including D.H. Lawrence, New York bohemians such as Mabel Dodge Luhan and actors. Dennis Hopper was a prominent local celebrity after having discovered Taos when making the classic 'Easy Rider'. There are multiple music venues in town with entertainment every night of the week somewhere and wonderful restaurants from which to choose.
Our house sits on the mesa just east of the thousand foot deep Rio Grande Gorge (with the Rio Grande here having been designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1968). In March, 2013, this became an integral part of the county's newest national monument, called the Rio Grande Del Norte. It is nearly a quarter of a million acres and according to the recent proclamation, was meant to protect the sweeping and austere expanse of the Taos Plateau, extinct volcanoes including Ute Mountain, San Antonio Mountain and Cerro de la Olla, and the landscape as a “testament to the geologic past of New Mexico and the 70-million-year tectonic history of the Río Grande Rift.”
We are also just west of Arroyo Seco, the gateway to the canyon which takes you to the Taos Ski Valley, less than 30 minutes away. The road to Santa Fe is either by the main highway - or the more historic High Road, which begins near the famous church south of town at Ranchos de Taos and goes south to the village of Chimayo, featuring the famous 200 hundred year old destination for Easter pilgrimages, Santuario de Chimayo. Along the way are many small mountain villages, including Truchas where Robert Redford filmed the wonderful (and instructive) movie, 'The Milagro Beanfield War' and Trampas with its adobe church dating to 1760. West from the Rio Grande Gorge is the famous hot springs and spa known as Ojo Caliente and not far past that is Abiquiu and the 'Ghost Ranch' where Georgia O'Keefe lived out so much of her professional career and life.
Taos has much to offer the visitor, from fishing, whitewater rafting and hiking to gallery walks, fine restaurants and music. And its a place to slow down and feel the pulse of history and traditions while enjoying the beauty of what truly is the 'Land of Enchantment'.
