Taos Travel Guide

  For a town in the middle of nowhere, Taos has a lot going for it. From the numerous art galleries and shops in town to the magnificent ancient dwellings of Taos Pueblo, Taos has plenty to offer for nearly every lifestyle.

 An extra hour and a half northeast of Santa Fe, Taos is close to one of the oldest inhabited villages in North America at Taos Pueblo. The Red Willow culture has been calling the area home for 1,000 years, and many members of the tribe still live in the adobe buildings of the pueblo year round. There's a small fee to get in to the pueblo, and another if you plan on bringing a camera, but all proceeds go directly to the pueblo and its people. Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. Ladders are used to reach the upper floors and the roof.

 If you're in to art, Rancho de Taos, the main part of town, has plenty of galleries and local shops to keep you happy. Most of the galleries showcase local artists, and both painting and photography are popular occupations for the residents. Most of the emphasis is on the outdoors and the surroundings, but its difficult for it to not be considering the location of the town.

 There are numerous outdoor marvels as well. From the Rio Grande Gorge to the Southern Rockies, hikers, climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts should have no problem finding all sorts of activities in the area including skiing in the mountains nearby at several ski resorts. There is a visitors center on the south road into town with tons of information, as well as different places in town to find info about all the activities, shopping and sightseeing to be done in Taos and the surrounding Circle of Enchantment.