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Taos, New Mexico
Taos is the cultural and artistic center of the American Southwest,
and visitors to this historic community will have the opportunity to immerse
themselves in a unique blend of art, Native American and Hispanic culture,
as well as exquisite natural beauty. Visit Taos Pueblo, an ancient living
Indian village that has stood unchanged for centuries, or explore historic
Taos Plaza with its maze of intriguing side streets. Whether you're a
history buff or the consummate shopper, Taos will not disappoint you.
TAOS PUEBLO
Located in a valley on tributary of the  Rio
Grande, the Taos Pueblo (village) is the most northern of the New Mexico
Pueblos. For nearly a millennium, the Taos Indians have lived at or near
the present site. Constructed of adobe (or sun-dried brick), the Pueblo
is the largest multi-storied Pueblo structure in the United States--with
a height up to five stories.
Today, the artists of Taos Pueblo create stunning handcrafted goods utilizing
methods passed down through generations. Sculpture, painting and  jewelry
are modern expressions of traditional art forms, and one would be hard-pressed
to find leatherwork of such simplicity and enduring quality. Best known
for micaceous pottery (made from the mica-rich clay of northern New Mexico)
that has served as their cookware through the centuries, the Pueblo of
Taos remains the link from these early inhabitants to the present native
culture.
In 1960, Taos Pueblo was designated a National Historic Landmark, and
added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 1992, the
United Nations admitted the Pueblo to the "World Heritage List,"
due to its uniqueness and universal value to the heritage of all mankind.
ART AND SUCH
 Everyone in
Taos knows something about art. This is because it pervades nearly every
aspect of daily life. Taos' love affair with art began with the arrival
in 1898 of two painters, Ernest Blumenschein and Bert Phillips. They established
an art colony, which subsequently propelled Taos into legendary status.
The area has inspired renowned artists like Ansel Adams, D.H. Lawrence,
and Georgia O'Keeffe, and today, a new generation of artists preserves
Taos' rich artistic tradition.
The lively Taos art scene includes visual, literary and performing arts,
and art-lovers can attend the event of their choice: the World Championship
Poetry Bout, Taos Inn's long-running Meet the Artist series, the Spring
Arts Celebration and Fall Arts Festival. Arts and culture come together
during other events that include the annual Old Taos Trade Fair and Yuletide
in Taos. Performing arts events are held throughout the year--from chamber
music and jazz concerts to one of the nation's premier independent film
festivals.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Elevations around Taos range from 5,000 feet to nearly 14,000 feet, offering
a variety of outdoor activities. During the warmer months, the Rio Grande
and Chama Rivers are ideal for kayaking and rafting, and the Sangre de
Cristo Mountains are the  perfect
destination for backpacking, horseback riding, hiking and jeep tours.
If you're a mountain biker, you'll love the challenging 27-mile South
Boundary Trail or the scenic West Rim Trail that follows the Rio Grande
gorge for nine miles.
If golf among snow-capped peaks is your desire, the Taos Country Club
and Angel Fire Resort have 18-hole championship courses, while El Valle
Escondido and Three Eagles Golf Course offer 9-hole challenges.
In the winter, cross-country ski through backcountry wilderness or glide
over groomed trails at the Enchanted Forest Cross-Country Ski Area. Taos
Ski Valley offers legendary skiing and the Red River Ski Area, Angel Fire
Resort, and Sipapu are just a short drive away. The Carson National Forest
has world class downhill ski slopes, serious backcountry ski terrain,
and family-oriented cross-country ski areas and snowshoeing trails. Snowboarders
have their choice of slopes at Angel Fire, Rio Costilla, Red River and
Wolf Creek ski areas. After all of this activity, reward yourself with
a soak in the natural hot springs at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs.
SHOPPING AND ATTRACTIONS
Taos Plaza offers a number of shops  and
galleries that have something for every taste. Browse boutiques that feature
Native American drums and moccasins, Southwestern attire and jewelry,
ceramics, dried goods, books and more! Park in the nearby community lot
and stroll on to Guadalupe Plaza and Paseo del Pueblo Norte for more fine
stores.
Just east of the Plaza is the Kit Carson Road, which offers specialty
galleries housed in centuries-old buildings. Kit Carson was a trapper,
scout, Indian agent, soldier and authentic legend of the West who made
his home in Taos at the age of fifteen. The Kit Carson Home and Museum
is a complex of buildings that include a portion of the original four
room home of Kit Carson and his wife Josefa. There is an 1855, three-room
structure known as the Romero House, and two, 1952 structures that house
the museum's retail shop and additional exhibition space.
The focal point of the plaza is San Francisco de Asis Church, which was
completed in 1815. It offers one of the best examples of Franciscan Old
World architecture combined with New World building techniques. Both Ansel
Adams and Georgia O'Keeffe were inspired by the church and featured it
in their artwork.
FOOD
Taos has over 50 restaurants ranging from the simple to the sophisticated.
Native Americans still bake bread in outside adobe ovens, while trained
chefs create sophisticated dishes that appeal to both eye and palate.
Several home-style eateries serve popular local dishes such as tamales,
enchiladas, chili rellenos and posole (hominy, beans and a variety of
chili and spices). The chili in Taos can be green or red, hot or mild.
If you can't decide which one to try, ask for "Christmas," the
code word for a combination of red and green chili.
The dishes commonly identified with New Mexico reflect a blend of Hispanic
and Indian cultures. Most of these southwestern dishes utilize four main
ingredients: tortillas, pinto beans, cheese and chili. For breakfast,
try huevos rancheros, a corn tortilla topped with fried eggs, cheese,
red or green chili and pinto beans. Or try a chorizo burrito, a flour
tortilla rolled with scrambled eggs, potatoes, onions, red or green chili,
cheese and chorizo, spicy pork sausage. For lunch feast on fajitas or
a steaming bowl of caldillo, green chili stew featuring savory chunks
of meat, beans and potatoes.
Other treats include the open-faced Navajo taco, which is loaded with
fresh lettuce, tomatoes, refritos (refried beans), guacamole, sour cream,
and red or green chili served on a tortilla or a piece of fry bread. Pan
dulce is an Indian sweet bread made with sugar and cinnamon, while piki
bread is made from ground blue corn that's boiled and then baked on a
hot flat surface.
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