On the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains, in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, sits the lovely city of Taos, New Mexico. This is the ultimate New Mexico town, with tons of culture, beautiful art, incredible food, and full of color and life. Whether you want to get out in nature or do some urban exploring, Taos has what you are looking for. It is the perfect place for an extended weekend away. We recently went on a road trip and spent a couple of days in Taos, and we have all that you must do in Taos below. This is all you need for a rewarding time during your visit.
A Little Background
Taos is about an hour and a half drive north from Santa Fe, an ideal spot to stop on a New Mexico road trip. Though people have lived in the area for a thousand years, the most famous of them was Kit Carson. His home is still here, which is open to the public. There is also a museum nearby in Cimmaron along the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
It is a town with a rich history in art. For years, artists working in a myriad of mediums have made Taos their home. For centuries, the native people honed their skills making beautiful works of pottery and fabric, but Taos took off in the early 1900’s when a group of artists formed the Taos Society of Artists. They were drawn there by the stunning landscape, a place that would give unlimited inspiration for their hearts and minds. Since then, it has been one of the premier art destinations in the Southwest. Today, it is full of shops and galleries showing off the work of local artists.
Taos is a high-altitude town, sitting right at 7,000 feet. However, it is surrounded by mountains making it an ideal place for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. Taos Ski Mountain has some incredible slopes, and it sits at 10,000 feet. Near there is Mount Wheeler, the highest point in New Mexico sitting at 13,161 feet. You don’t always think of mountains when you think of New Mexico, but this town and the surrounding areas are up there. Pro tip – make sure you get acclimated to the elevation, drink plenty of water, and wear protection from the sun.
So what should you do? Where should you stay? What are some good places to grab a bite to eat? We went during the summer months, so skiing was definitely off the table. However, there are plenty of other things you must do in Taos when you visit.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
The Rio Grande River flows right by Taos and on this section of the river stands the Rio Grande Gorge. This gorge runs for about 50 miles from the Colorado border to the north all the way past Taos on the south. About 10 miles outside of the city limits, you can find the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. This massive bridge spans 1,280 feet across the Rio Grande Gorge. The gorge in this area is massive, with a 600 foot drop from the bridge, making this the seventh highest bridge in the United States.
There are parking areas on both sides of the bridge where you can get out and walk across the bridge or along the nearby trails overlooking the gorge. We recommend driving across the bridge from Taos and parking on the far side with the bathrooms. There is much more parking available there and vendors are set up selling homemade crafts and goods. The walk across the bridge is not for the faint of heart, but it is completely safe and gives you some spectacular views. And the best part? It is totally free – unless of course you spend money at the vendors, which you know Meg will always do. This is definitely a must do in Taos.
Taos Plaza
In the heart of Taos is the Taos Plaza. If you were to close your eyes and picture a high desert town plaza, this is what would appear in your mind. It is simply beautiful. There is a great green space in the middle of the plaza with statues commemorating the history of the town and plenty of seating and spots to relax. All around the plaza are great stores where you can get anything you may need. There are the touristy spots where you can get the t-shirts and magnets along with higher end galleries and boutiques for something a little more special. It is a fun way to spend an afternoon. There is a nice little coffee shop on the corner, and a couple of restaurants – the Gorge and La Luna were two of the many places in Taos that are highly recommended.
The shopping is not limited to the plaza. As you walk out farther from the city square, you will find plenty of specialty shops along the alleyways and avenues. We enjoyed exploring and stumbling upon so many wonderful shops. This is a really special place to just get lost, enjoy the scenery and shop.
The Historic Taos Inn
When we were looking for places to stay in Taos we really struggled. We struggled because there were so many cool places that we wanted to try out. Ultimately we landed on the Historic Taos Inn and we were not disappointed. We chose this place because it is within walking distance from the plaza, great food, and other shopping. It also was decently priced for the room we got, which is always a bonus.
Even though it is a historic hotel, the rooms are incredibly large. The bathrooms are tight and dated, but it fits the feel for the room. A lot of the rooms have a sweet adobe fireplace in the corner that makes you feel very welcome in New Mexico. Most of the rooms that are not in the main building are situated around peaceful courtyards, so you have a relaxing spot for your morning coffee.
There is no pool at the hotel, but they have a great restaurant and large bar on property. But again, you want to stay here because you are so close to the action of downtown. It is a great place to get some rest to head back out.
Places To Eat In Taos
We had three meals in Taos, all of them were great. The night we got in we ate dinner at Taos Mesa Brewing. This was one of the funniest experiences we have had at a restaurant. They have wood fired pizza here, and it was really good. However, the wait staff was just out there. We had four different people take our drink order, three different people take our food order, and the food or drink never came until we asked for it. It was just a strange experience. Not dogging anyone, just a funny memory we took from the place. The pizza though was straight fire and the atmosphere was very chill.
We had breakfast the next morning at Michael’s Kitchen. This place was perfection. Everything you want in a breakfast place in a fun town. Plenty of greasy food and healthy options, so they have something for everyone. They are known for their bakery. The cinnamon rolls, donuts, and other pastries are all fantastic (and dangerous). A great place for an early breakfast or brunch. We were there on a weekend morning and walked right in and got a seat at 9 am. When we left, the line was out the door and it was probably an hour or more wait, so plan appropriately.
We had another great meal at the Farmhouse Cafe and Bakery. This place is outside of the city center, but is worth the drive. It is in between downtown and the gorge, so it is a great place to eat when you head that way. This is a farm to table restaurant that makes everything from scratch daily. It is sourced by over 20 local farmers and you can taste the freshness with every bite. The best part about the restaurant may be the bakery, make sure you try something sweet before you leave. There is a great outdoor seating area with beautiful plants and flowers. If you want to sit out there though, you will have to wait a little longer.
And where to get amazing Ice Cream you may ask? That would be the Taos Cow. We love finding a local and homemade Ice Cream spot and this one did not disappoint. One of the best ones we have found! Can’t go wrong with any flavor and the scenery is cool too.
Taos Pueblo
People have been living in the Taos Pueblo for close to 1,000 years. It is considered the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. Today, around 150 people still live in and around the Pueblo. This is a self-governed community that has their own elementary school. The main way the members of the community make money is through tourism. This is definitely the biggest tourist destination in the town. There is a fee to enter the Pueblo ($25 for adults, $22 for students, $22 for seniors) and once inside you can purchase handcrafted arts and crafts at the various home shops. Most of the people that live there are super engaging and love to talk to people visiting, just don’t go knocking on doors that are closed.
The Enchanted Circle
If you like to drive, there are few drives more scenic in New Mexico than the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. It circles some of the most beautiful areas in the state – deep into Taos Canyon and circling Wheeler Peak. It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to drive the circle. However, if you are planning making multiple stops, you may want to give yourself a little more time. Museums, scenic overlooks, and the first Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the U.S. are on the loop. For a detailed driving plan, check out Taos’ website. This is a must do in Taos.
Have you visited Taos, New Mexico and what were your favorite places to check out? Share with us in the comments!
If you are looking for more fun US towns to visit check out these other posts: Tucumcari, New Mexico San Antonio, Texas or New Orleans, LA
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