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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The post Must Do In Taos, New Mexico first appeared on Go The Adventure Way.

Tucumcari is located about 40 miles from the Texas border along I-40, the road that took over Route 66 in many places. When 40 came in, it bypassed all of the wonderful small towns whose lifeline was feeding and housing weary travelers. Instead of stopping and taking in all a town had to offer, travelers wanted to just pass through. They began opting for a quick hotel stay at a chain by the on-ramp and bypassed places with character and community.

Cars Town

The Disney movie, Cars, does a good job of telling the story of the small town along Route 66 that was hit with hard times. As a matter of fact, Tucumcari, New Mexico is the town that Radiator Springs was based on. Just like in the movie, Tucumcari fell on hard times. But, there has been a movement over the past decade to bring this once great town back to its former glory.

Tucumcari, New Mexico became famous because of the billboards found along the Mother Road that simply read, “Tucumcari Tonite”. The reason for that is because there were so many incredible motels that had over 2,000 rooms available for travelers. Motorists would plan their whole trip around getting to Tucumcari in time to find a room at one of their famous motels. There was nothing better than to ride in on the main strip and see the neon lights hit you from every side. Today, people are coming in and renovating many of the famous motels that once made Tucumcari proud – neon lights and all.

If you are like us and love a good road trip, Tucumcari, New Mexico is a must stop along the road. It takes you back to a time when traveling was simpler. Where you stopped and took a breath at the end of a long day. Where you got to know the staff and management of motels, restaurants, and shops that you visited. Tucumcari, New Mexico is the perfect place to get back to the roots of our road trippin’ heritage. Below is all you need to know in order to have an awesome time in this wonderful Route 66 town.

Where To Stay

As mentioned above, there are a ton of really awesome motels that you can stay in. These are not modern hotels, they have been refurbished to their 1940’s and 50’s glory. Most of the rooms are smaller, but not so small for a family of four. The bathrooms are a little dated, smaller showers and older plumbing, but the place we stayed at was exceptionally clean and the reviews and videos we have watched of other motels would make us think the same for them.

We stayed at the historic Blue Swallow Motel. They have been in operation since 1939 and this was just a fabulous experience. This is probably the most famous motel from the old Route 66 along with the Wigwam motels of California and Arizona. The rooms are really comfortable and surprisingly affordable. During a recent trip to New Mexico and Colorado it ended up being one of the cheaper rooms we got, but probably the most memorable.

What stands out the most is the incredible neon light sign. We had so much fun just taking picture after picture of it as it came on and the night got darker. We weren’t the only ones either, people came from all over to line up to take pictures. Most of them weren’t even staying at the motel. A really great thing about the motel is the courtyard that everyone hung out in and relaxed after a long day on the road. Robert and Dawn who own the place were incredibly welcoming and kind. Robert makes a mean pot of coffee and it flows freely. If you get to stay there, spend some time with him hearing about how he came to own the place.

There are plenty of other great motels in the area. Motel Safari and the Roadrunner Lodge both have been highly recommended and when we go back we will try and stay at one of those.

Pro Tip: If you want one of the historic motels, get a reservation early. Those rooms are limited.

Where To Eat

You won’t find a ton of chain restaurants in town, those are off on the highway. However, there are plenty of great local places to eat. We had a great meal at Del’s right on the main drag, a short walk from our motel. They have a very large menu with something for everyone, a nice salad bar which was nice after eating a not-so-healthy lunch, and a lot to look at while the food is cooking. They have a really cool little gift shop that we enjoyed checking out, along with plenty of history all over the walls. Our son said he had the best burger of the trip that night for dinner.

Other restaurants that were recommended to us were La Cita, a Mexican restaurant with incredible neon lights. This is one of the most popular places to eat by locals and tourists alike. Watson’s BBQ and Kix on 66 are also good options. Kix is best for breakfast. Maybe the best thing we ate while in town though were the donuts we had from Donut Pro. These donuts were just majestic, perfectly made in every way. The family that owns the place is really great, and you get a lot for your money here.

Donut Pro Tip: If you go to Donut Pro, get the Old Fashioned, the best one we have ever had.

Where To Shop

There are plenty of places to get some Route 66 and Tucumcari souvenirs around town. Pretty much every restaurant and motel has a gift shop attached to it. The two best places to shop though are the Route 66 Welcome Center and Gift Shop and TeePee Curios. We enjoyed TeePee Curios the best. They had a really great selection, and the building itself was just special. There is a pretty scary looking skeleton called The Helk on a truck outside, so make sure you don’t get attacked by him. Like many other places along the main drag, TeePee Curios has some incredible neon. It may be the best behind the Blue Swallow Motel.

Pro Tip: If you go in to TeePee Curios, throw a couple of bucks into the box to help keep the neon on if you can.

What To Do

Tucumcari isn’t about doing things, it is about experiencing it, taking a step back in time. So, when you get to Tucumcari spend time slowing down and taking it all in. Drive the main strip at night looking at the neon. Hopefully, as more people come back to the town more neon will get restored, but what is there now is really great. Walk around and take pictures of it and just imagine what the town was like in its hey day.

During the day, take an hour or so and drive around the downtown area looking at all of the murals. There are almost 100 murals around town. Tucumcari has done a great job of putting together a map and checklist of them, so see how many you can find. We loved the Tucumcari Tonite! mural on the side of Motel Safari and the Legendary Road mural on the side of Lowe’s Market.

Another great thing to do is to check out the Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum. There are a ton of dinosaur bones collected by students of the college, and many replicas statues. The cost is pretty cheap as well – $6.50 for adults and $4 for kids. It isn’t a super large museum, but it will keep you busy for an hour or two.

Have you ever been to Tucumcari or another old road tripping town? What are some of your favorites. Hope you can get out and get your kicks on Route 66 soon, and that takes you to the neon lights of Tucumcari, New Mexico.

If you enjoyed this post about Tucumcari check out some of our other Bucket List Trip Ideas :

One Day in Badlands National Park

10 Things to do in the Outer Banks

A Weekend In San Antonio

The post Bucket List Road Trip To Tucumcari, New Mexico first appeared on Go The Adventure Way.