Even if you have only a few days, getting away to northern New Mexico can be exceptionally refreshing, an easy way to disconnect from your regular routine by immersing yourself in the state’s otherworldly architecture and rich history.
Isolated, countercultural Taos [1] is worth the extra 90-minute drive if you’re really looking to get off the map and off the grid.
Fly into Albuquerque [2]; head to Taos via I-25 and the low road. Pick a prime plaza-view room at La Fonda de Taos [3], or, more luxuriously, a suite at El Monte Sagrado [4].
After you check in, stroll the plaza and visit the Blumenschein Home and Museum [5] and the galleries on Ledoux Street. Have green chile for dinner at Orlando’s [6].
Visit Taos Pueblo [7] in the morning. In the afternoon, tour the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House [8] and the Millicent Rogers Museum [9].
If you’d rather hike, head for the West Rim Trail along the Rio Grande Gorge [10]—it’s fairly level, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble, despite the elevation. Be dazzled by dinner at Byzantium [11].
Get up early for a dip in Blackrock Springs [12]. Drop by San Francisco de Asis Church [13] later in the morning and then prep yourself for the drive back south with breakfast at El Taoseño [6] or, more lavishly, with brunch at Joseph’s Table [11].
Head out along the high road to Santa Fe [14] and then I-25 to the airport, which takes about four hours without much stopping; a straight shot back down the low road will shave about 40 minutes off the trip.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/albuquerque
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/accommodations/100-150
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/accommodations/over-250
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/sights/museums/ernest-l-blumenschein-home-and-museum
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/food/new-mexican
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/sights/taos-pueblo
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/sights/museums/taos-art-museum-fechin-house
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/sights/museums/millicent-rogers-museum
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/sights/rio-grande-gorge
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/food/fine-dining
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/sights/rio-grande-gorge/arroyo-hondo-and-blackrock-springs
[13] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/taos/sights/other-attractions/san-francisco-de-asis-church
[14] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/santa-fe