Taos: Art, Pueblo Culture, and Landscape along the Rio Grande

Taos combines vibrant Pueblo culture, art history, and impressive landscapes along the Rio Grande. There are also trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, winter excursions, and a distinctive cuisine from northern New Mexico. When searching for a vacation rental, it is therefore worth first organizing the experiences you want from your trip: Should culture be the main focus, would you like to spend time in the landscape, or do you want to combine different interests?

Art, History, and Special Places

The Harwood Museum of Art was founded in 1923 in Taos, New Mexico. Its collections and exhibitions tell a comprehensive story of art in Taos and northern New Mexico. The permanent collection includes the Agnes Martin Gallery, an installation of seven paintings. The Couse-Sharp Historic Site offers another perspective on regional art history, with the homes and studios of E. I. Couse and J. H. Sharp, the founding members of the Taos Society of Artists. The site also includes gardens, a chapel dating from the 1830s, a machine shop and laboratory from the 1930s, a research center, and galleries with exhibitions.

The Millicent Rogers Museum also has a clear focus: More than 7,000 objects convey the diverse heritage of the Southwest to visitors. Taos Plaza lies at the heart of the Taos Historic District. Locals meet there for live music and farmers markets, while visitors browse shops and galleries. San Francisco de Asis Church is an active parish dating from the 18th century. Through Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe, it became an icon of modern art and a distinctive landmark of Taos.

Taos Pueblo opens up another historical perspective. The multistory adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years. For visitors, Taos Pueblo is normally open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except when ceremonies require it to close. The D. H. Lawrence Ranch has different visiting hours: Weather permitting, it is open to the public Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. During his stays at the Kiowa Ranch, D. H. Lawrence wrote the novella “St. Mawr,” the biblical drama “David,” and parts of “The Plumed Serpent.”

Landscape and Activities along the Rio Grande

La Junta Point offers a view of the confluence of the Red River and Rio Grande and is accessible to wheelchair users. Another landscape experience awaits at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which spans the river 650 feet above the ground. A hiking trail runs along the edge of the gorge from the parking lot on the west side of the bridge. Orilla Verde extends several miles south of the Taos Junction Bridge along the Rio Grande within the gorge.

For active days, Taos Valley Overlook provides 2,600 acres for non-motorized recreation. The interconnected trails are suitable for mountain biking and hiking, as well as horseback riding. The Rift Valley Trail forms a nine-mile loop there. Taos Ski Valley offers hiking opportunities year-round on trails suitable for different fitness levels. In winter, visitors can travel from The Bavarian to Williams Lake on a four-mile round trip using snowshoes or touring skis.

The Taos Box is also one of the region’s distinctive natural experiences: Its rapids are rated Class IV. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore weigh cultural days, a longer loop trail, an accessible viewpoint, or winter activities. Families with different interests can plan their trip so that active and more relaxed activities fit alongside one another, without trying to include every experience in a single day’s itinerary.

Regional Cuisine and Practical Orientation

In Taos, you can sample the full variety of northern New Mexican cuisine. This includes red and green chiles, as well as the “Christmas” combination and “caribe” served with enchiladas, tamales, burritos, and cheese fries. The North Central Regional Transit District also operates a free shuttle between Taos Regional Airport and the Town of Taos. This connection can be incorporated into your personal travel planning when you arrive.

Those who want to combine museums, Taos Plaza, Pueblo culture, and regional cuisine can choose Taos as the focus of their vacation rental search. This creates a travel plan based on personal interests rather than a general list of attractions.

More Places to Consider

For further orientation, you can also visit these places: Taos, Taos Ski Valley, Ranchos De Taos, Questa, El Prado, Red River, Valdez, Arroyo Hondo, and Costilla.

To the main travel overview: New Mexico.