Take Flight
Just call it the wind beneath our wings: Taos Ski Valley is now offering Taos Air, an airline that will provide daily direct flights from Dallas and Austin practically straight to the slopes.
It wasn’t always quite so easy to visit this popular skiing destination. The nearest major airport is in Albuquerque, three hours away, while Santa Fe, two hours away, has few regional flights.
But on the heels of a 10-year, $300-million renovation that includes a new main chairlift (Taos’s first high-speed quad), increased snowmaking, a “gondolita” and an upgraded children’s center, Taos Air could not be taking flight at a better time. Plus, next summer the Valley is building new mountain biking trails and a via ferreta, which is a protected climbing route.
Taos has also pledged a new environmental commitment, becoming the first ski resort designated as a Certified B Corporation. This certification helps ensure Taos Ski Valley meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, sustainability, public transparency and legal accountability. In other words — were going green.
Tickets for the 30-passenger chartered flight start around $400, and passengers land in El Prado, just down the valley from the ski area. Flights run Thursday through Sunday (and Monday holidays), now through March.
You’ve Got the Beat This Month in Taos
During the summer months, Taos comes alive with the sound of music. From rock ’n’ roll to country, swing and more, there’s something for every music lover this month in Taos. Here are a few of our picks for can’t-miss performances:
1. Taos Plaza Live: Every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. in Taos Plaza you can pull up a lawn chair or spread out a blanket for an evening of live music and dancing. It’s a family affair that brings locals and tourists alike to this historic plaza. And while there is no Taos Plaza Live on July 19, the community will celebrate Fiestas de Taos in the plaza July 20-22. Expect music, dance and a celebration of this community’s historic culture.
2. Taos School of Music: If classical music is more your groove, head over to the Hotel St. Bernard and Taos Community Auditorium for the Taos School of Music’s 55th season. The summer season also features concerts performed by Taos School of Music’s nearly 20 outstanding young artists in Taos and Taos Ski Valley. To learn more about Taos School of Music or order tickets, visit taosschoolofmusic.com.
3. Motet on the Mesa: On July 27-28, you’ll find Motet on the Mesa, an intimate festival that includes two days of music and Taos Mesa Brewing brews. Go for the beats, stay for the starlight camping at a vintage trailer hotel — Hotel Luna Mystica — just steps away from the festival. Click here to learn more.
5 Ways to Live on the Water this Summer
Summertime is water time — and we’ve got five fantastic ways you can hit the wet stuff this summer in Taos. From rafting to hot springs, paddle boarding the more, there’s a water adventure for everyone in Taos. How will you test the waters?
1. Hop Into the Hot Springs: New Mexico is home to some of the most indulgent and beautiful hot springs in the world. Just south of Taos, you’ll find Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. Deemed sacred by Native Americans, these legendary waters have been soothing body, mind and spirit for centuries. If you like your water a balmy 97 degrees, Taos has several hot spots for you right beside the Rio Grande.
2. Get Ready to Raft: Looking for a wild ride? Ride the Taos Box rapids, with names like Dead Car and Pinball. Calm and steady more your speed? Coast the mellow stretches of the Rio Chama. Several river outfitters call Taos home, including New Wave Rafting (great for kids!) and Big River Rafting Trips, so there’s no shortage of tours and rentals. It’s a fun family adventure you’ll never forget.
3. Paddle On: Standup paddle boarding, or SUPPING, originated in the Hawaiian Islands and is now one of the most popular water activities in North America and beyond. From coasting down a calm river to performing yoga poses on a paddle board, there’s something for every skill level and interest. Ready to get your paddle on? Try New Mexico River Adventures, Cotta’s Rio Grande Rafting or Far Flung Adventures, for top-notch rentals and tours.
4. Go Fish: What’s your pleasure? From serene solitude to bushwhacking, Taos waters have something for every fisherman (and woman). Northern New Mexico offers mid-summer anglers a welcome relief from the summer heat. There’s also a range of choices for bountiful lake and public and private river fishing. The Taos waters are well-known for excellent trout fishing — along with Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout, the Taos area is home to the native Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. And with a variety of services aimed at helping you create your perfect day of fishing — Red River Fishing, Rio Grande Float Fishing and more — you’re guaranteed to reel in a day of summer fun.
5. Kayak for Kicks: Kayak-lovers have plenty of lake options to choose from in Taos, including Racecourse and Lower Taos Box on the Rio Grande. The abundance of tall mountains and north-central New Mexico’s location just south of the Colorado Rockies create cascades of whitewater every spring. From small tributaries to the ‘Mother’ Rio Grande, the north-central waterways are a river runner’s paradise. Need a rental? We suggest: Cotta’s Rio Grande, Los Rios River Runners, New Mexico River Adventures and New Wave Rafting.
Here’s to you, Hopper!
For the past eight years, the city of Taos, N.M., has celebrated counter-culture icon and actor Dennis Hopper. Best known for his roles in “Apocalypse Now” and alongside Jack Nicholson in “Easy Rider,” Hopper was a champion of the arts in New Mexico. Today, people from around the world gather in Taos in May to celebrate his contributions to art, film and the state he adored.
Hopper was a major Hollywood star throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, writing and starring in several high-profile films of the time. Despite the appeal of the Hollywood lifestyle, Hopper was a lifelong resident, advocate and enthusiast of Taos, leaving many Taoseños with great stories of his early and later years in the community. Hopper passed away from prostate cancer in May 2010 at the age of 74.
Hopper edited the film “ he Last Movie” while living at Los Gallos, a 22-room adobe house in Taos that he rechristened the Mud Palace and envisioned as a counterculture Hollywood.
Taos plans to celebrate the life of Hopper, a former Taos resident, with a celebration on May 17 — Hopper’s birthday and Dennis Hopper Day in New Mexico. This year’s Dennis Hopper Day celebration will kick off at 7 p.m. with the Rebel Film Festival Screening & Hopper Birthday Celebration and last throughout the weekend. From the popular Easy Rider Rally & Ride to a Buffalo Barbecue and Hopper Commemoration Concert, the weekend welcomes all Hopper fans to remember their hero. Even the restaurants of Taos will serve up Hopper’s favorite dishes in celebration of the weekend.
Don’t-Miss Taos Landmarks
Whether you’re looking for a history lesson, unmatched natural beauty, an environmental landmark or a religious experience, there are plenty of landmark sites in Taos to keep your itinerary full during your visit. But with so many fantastic offerings, where do you start? We’ve compiled five of our favorites to put on your “must” list. Let’s take a look:
1. Taos Pueblo: Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and a National Historic Landmark. These multi-storied adobe dwellings have been are considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the U.S. — and have been inhabited for more than 1,000 years.
2. Rio Grande Gorge Bridge: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge — the second highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System — is a three-span steel continuous-deck-truss structure with a concrete-filled steel-grid deck. It was called the “bridge to nowhere” while it was being built because the funding did not exist to continue the road on the other side. At 650 feet above the Rio Grande, it is the fifth highest bridge in the United States. The bridge — a great place to spot bighorn sheep — has appeared in several films, including “Natural Born Killers,” “Twins” and “Terminator Salvation.”
3. Historic Taos Plaza: The Historic Taos Plaza has been the center of local trade and community events for centuries. Today, old mercantile stores house galleries, restaurants and shops. Nearby, Kit Carson Road, Bent Street, and Ledoux Street lead to even more historic homes, neighborhoods and shopping areas.
4. Earthship Biotecture: Earthship Biotecture is a passive solar house that is made of both natural and upcycled materials, such as earth-packed tires, pioneered by architect Michael Reynolds. Reynolds wanted to create a home that would do three things: utilize sustainable architecture, materials indigenous to the local area or recycled materials wherever possible; rely on natural energy sources so it would be independent from the “grid;” and be feasible for a person with no specialized construction skills to build. Eventually, Reynolds’s vision was transformed into the U-shaped earth-filled tire homes seen today.
5. San Francisco de Asia Church: Celebrating more than 200 years, the historic “Ranchos Church” was built in the early 1800s — and is the only original church which remains intact in the Taos area. San Francisco de Asis Church continues to be an integral part of the spiritual community. In fact, every June parishioners and community volunteers gather to re-plaster the church in adobe. This annual project is called “The Enjarre,” or “the mudding” of the church.
Photo credit: Earthship Global
Wanderlust: 5 Things to try in 2018
Have you kept up your New Year’s resolutions? We don’t know about you but we find resolutions are much easier to keep when we actually want to do them! To that end, we’ve created a fun 2018 “must” list for visitors to Taos. From cultural celebrations to relaxing hot springs, there are plenty of “musts” to try all year long. What will your first adventure be?
1. Enjoy the Snowy Trail Life: Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are both great ways to discover the natural beauty of Taos in the winter. West Rim Trail starts in the parking lot of the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center, and is one of the best trails for sliding and gliding is Taos. The natural landscape of the gorge is breathtaking — a perfect way to commune with mother nature in the heart of winter, or any time of year.
2. Visit a National Monument: Discover the Rio Grande del Norte public lands — proclaimed a national monument in 2013 by President Obama. The landscape is rugged, with wide-open plains, volcanic cones and steep canyons (with rivers tucked away in their depths). The unique setting of the monument provides a myriad of recreational opportunities, from whitewater rafting and fishing to hiking and mountain biking.
3. View Artistic Inspirations: A source of inspiration and muse of Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams — who were fascinated by its adobe contours and sculptural buttresses — the famous San Francisco de Asis Church continues to be an integral part of the spiritual community of New Mexico. Don’t miss the 18th century oil painting “The Shadow of the Cross,” which used to hang inside the church and now resides in the Parish Hall. When the lights went dark, the painting would mysteriously glow … now visitors can only view it in the dark.
4. Soak It Up: Located along the beautiful canyon of the Rio Grande, Black Rock Hot Springs is a unique place to visit. This small collection of hot springs was captured into one soaking pool. During the winter, and especially during spring runoff, the hot water will be completely inundated by cold river water — and impossible to locate. The pool frequently gets washed out, too, so this adventure is not without its risks. (Speaking of which, clothing is optional …).
5. Celebrate the Taos Fiestas: Taos embarks on a cultural journey July 20-22 for Las Fiestas De Taos. A celebratory tradition passed from generation to generation, the Fiestas preserve the rich tri‐cultural way of life that developed in Taos over the last four centuries. This culture is unique to Taos, encompassing pueblo and plains Indians, Spanish explorers, conquistadores, French fur trappers and American mountain men. Music, parades, food and drink, and shopping all have a place at this not-to-be-missed festive event.
‘Tis The Season in Taos
’Tis the season for yuletide in Taos! The holiday season marks a month of historic and unique New Mexican celebrations that transport visitors and locals alike to another time and place. While myriad holiday activities abound, here are a few of our festive favorites.
1. Taosfolk: Nov.24-Dec.24
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Stables Gallery
Taos’ famous POP-UP store is the perfect place to find affordable and beautiful handmade gifts by Taos artisans. Learn more at taosfolk.com.
2. Bonfires on Bent Street: Saturday, Dec. 9, 4-7 p.m.
John Dunn Shops and Bent Street
Enjoy bonfires, farolitos, luminaries, Aztec Dancers, carolers, Southwestern bites and cookies.
3. Christmas Eve Procession at Taos Pueblo & Christmas Eve Torchlight Parades: Christmas Eve
Sunset: Experience a one-of-its-kind event that features massive bonfires and the Procession of the Virgin with rifle salutes from the rooftops of the 1,000-year-old adobe pueblo buildings. Learn more at taospueblo.com.
6 p.m.: Watch as skiers make their way down the mountain in the dark — with flares as their only means of light. All the area ski resorts – Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire, Sipapu, Enchanted Forest and Red River – have torchlight parades and fireworks during the holiday season. You can also view this rare spectacle pos New Year’s Eve.
4. Taos Pueblo Deer or Matachinas Dance: Christmas Day, 2 p.m.
Taos Pueblo Plaza
Witness the ancient Native American ceremonial dance honoring the depths of winter, as danced and drummed by the people of Taos Pueblo. Learn more at taospueblo.com.
5. Town of Taos New Year’s Eve Celebration: New Year’s Eve, 7:30-10 p.m.
Historic Taos Plaza
Watch the Times Square Countdown on a massive movie screen, a light show, fireworks, a pig roast, live music and more at this community New Year’s Eve celebration. Cheers!
A Terrifyingly Terrific Taos Halloween
Who’s ready to get spooked? This Halloween, Taos comes alive to celebrate the day where the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest. It’s Halloween, and that means plenty of tricks and treats, thanks to an abundance of art, costumes, music, food and more. Here’s how you can join in on the fearful fun on Halloween day and night at the Taos Halloween Community Celebration.
Start your day by getting creature-creative at a free art program inspired by Halloween and Day of the Dead in the Taos Plaza. Come in costume and find the many skeletons in the Harwood Museum’s collection. You can even make a skeleton puppet or a shrine from a cigar box! Bring the whole family to enjoy this day filled with art making and other fun Halloween activities.
Next, from 3 to 6 p.m. check out Taos Plaza, Bent Street, John Dunn Shops and Teresina Lane for a Children’s Halloween Party. A live DJ, costume contests, carnival games, a haunted “house” and plenty of treats will keep the whole family in the Halloween spirit. All candied out? Wind down at Funky Sensations at Twirl for a tasty bowl of soup from SoulePOP — as well as some sensory surprises. We can’t think of a better place to get your “boo” on!
Bringing History to Life
Native culture is alive and well in Taos, and inhabitants and visitors alike celebrate that unique and rich tradition everyday through a plethora of arts, culture and music events. There are eight northern pueblos that are open-to-the-public, where visitors can learn how Taos’ native communities’ pottery, jewelry, dancing and food influenced the art and culture of the Southwest.
1. Taos Pueblo: Taos Pueblo (“The Place of the Red Willows”) is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-story adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years. Archaeologists say ancestors of the Taos Indians lived in this valley long before Columbus discovered America and hundreds of years before Europe emerged from the Dark Ages. Ancient ruins in the Taos Valley indicate those native to the region lived there nearly 1,000 years ago. The main part of the present buildings were most likely constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D., and appeared much as they do today when the first Spanish explorers arrived in Northern New Mexico in 1540.
2. Picuris Pueblo: Named Pikuria (“Those Who Paint”) by Spanish colonizer Juan de Oñate, Picuris is located about 20 miles southeast of Taos in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Although it was once the largest, today Picuris is one of the smallest Tiwa pueblos, with less than 2,000 inhabitants. Like Taos, it was influenced by Plains Indian culture, particularly the Apaches. Picuris Pueblo is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
3. More to Visit: There are eight pueblos you can visit today in northern New Mexico, each with its own unique traditions and culture. In addition to Taos Pueblo and Picuris Pueblo, Nambé Pueblo (“Mound of Earth in the Corner”), Ohkay Owingeh (“Village of the Strong People”), Pojoaque Pueblo (“Water Drinking Place”), San Ildefonso Pueblo (“Where the Water Cuts Through”), Santa Clara Pueblo (“Valley of the Wild Roses”) and Tesuque Pueblo (“Cottonwood Tree Place”) each provide a unique footprint of Native American culture.
Learn more about the rich history of the region during your next trip to Taos. And remember: Before you visit, research the rules of each pueblo, such as photography and areas of the pueblo that are accessible to the public. Individual websites for each pueblo will give you the 411 on these Southwestern treasures.
Take a Hike
Spring is here, and with it comes a time of rebirth and renewal. Can you imagine a better time to explore the Taos Ski Valley’s plentiful hiking trails? From Williams Lake to Wheeler Peak, there’s a hike for every nature lover — whether you’re novice to advanced.
Carson National Forest offers seven unique hiking trails, ranging from the two-mile Williams Lake Trail to the eight-mile Wheeler Peak Trail. For beginners, Williams Lake is a fantastic choice. You’ll discover nature in all its green glory, thanks to a valley dotted with aspen, Englemann and blue spruce; western white fir; and even red fir and bristlecone pine. And don’t miss the lush meadows, alive with colorful wildflowers. For expert hikers, test your skills by climbing New Mexico’s highest peak, Whealer Peak. The more than 13,000-foot summit is known for its unmatched views, and occasional glimpses of a bighorn sheep, elk or mule deer.
No matter which hike you choose, remember to come prepared for varying temperatures, and to hike early to avoid afternoon lighting and rain showers. Waterproof boots and hiking poles are recommended, since many trails stay wet from winter snows into the summer.
If you’re ready to indulge in nature’s majestic beauty, why not take a hike?
A Hot & Cold Adventure
While Taos is known for its scenic skiing adventures, those of you looking to get in touch with your inner yogi will love a unique event offered by Heritage Inspirations.
Snowshoe & Hot Yoga is a full-day tour, available Thursday through Sunday, that indulges both your spiritual and athletic sides. Kick off your day with a snowshoeing adventure through the Amole Canyon — an 8,150-foot elevation — for two hours of snowy bliss. Then, after a gourmet lunch and warming beverage, relax at Hot Yoga Taos Studio for a muscle-soothing hot yoga session. The tour includes all necessary gear; learn more at heritageinspirations.com.
Whether it’s for the unmatched views, mind-calming yoga or simply an unexpected day date (Valentine’s Day weekend, maybe?), why not try something new during your next visit to El Pueblo Lodge?
Wine Time
Sip, swirl, ski? Ok, maybe not in that order …but on Feb. 1-5, visitors to El Pueblo Lodge will have the opportunity to attend a special Taos Ski Valley event that will please the palate of even the most particular of wine lovers.
At the Taos Winter Wine Fest, visitors and locals alike will savor the ability to blend world-class skiing with fine wines and top-notch cuisine. The weeklong event offers seminars, wine tastings, and wine dinners hosted by vintners and paired with Taos chefs.
Two Grand Tastings feature more than 75 unique wines from 20 wineries and savory bites from a dozen Taos and Taos Ski Valley restaurants. Looking for a keepsake to remember your time in Taos? A silent auction of rare wines will benefit the New Mexico Nature Conservancy. Sold!
Learn more about tickets, view a schedule of events and find transportation options at taoswinterwinefest.com.
Cheers to 2017!
