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Adventure, Culture, History and Nature!
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Taos Plaza:
The Don Fernando de Taos Plaza was settled by Spanish colonists more than
300 years ago and still retains its original shape. The plaza was built
for defense; windows and doors faced into the plaza and the limited
entrances could be barricaded. Today, Taos Plaza forms the heart of Taos'
historic district and is an excellent point to start your walking tour of
old Taos.
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Shopping:
Taos offers truly special shopping opportunities for jewelry, clothing,
arts and crafts, Native American products, southwestern furniture,
antiques, collectables and more. You'll find area shops to be totally
unique.
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Galleries:
Taos got its start as a haven for artists when Ernest Blumenschein and
Burt Phillips arrived in 1898. Since then, the community has grown in
renown as an artist colony and a center for fine galleries centering
on Bent street.
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Museums:
Taos is home to six museums including the Blumenschein Home and Museum,
the Fechin Institute, Harwood Museum of Art, Kit Carson Home and
Museum, Millicent Rogers Museum, and the Van Vechten-Lineberry Taos
Art Museum. A single $20 fee provides one year admittance to all six
facilities plus the Hacienda de los Martinez (see below).
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Taos Pueblo:
Located in the valley of a small tributary of the Rio Grande just north
of Taos, the pueblo comprises a group of habitations and ceremonial centers
which are representative of a culture largely derived from the traditions
of the pre-historic Anasazi Indian tribes who settled in the area. Taos
Pueblo is thought to have appeared before 1400 and is the best preserved
of the pueblos in the southwestern United States.
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Taos Mountain Casino:
Located less than a mile from Taos Pueblo is a truly unique gaming
experience. The Taos Mountain Casino is a smoke-free facility offering
incredible window views of the Taos Mountain. Inside this cozy casino
with its two fireplaces, adobe mud plaster and traditional Southwest
design, players will find more than 130 slot machines, blackjack and
roulette for their entertainment. In addition, the casino's stage
comes alive with a variety of music from area musicians every weekend.
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Rancho de Taos:
Originally called Las Trampas de Taos, Rancho de Taos was the first
permanent European settlement in the Taos valley. Located a few miles
south of the current town center, the historic San Francisco de Asis
Church in the center of the plaza remains one of the most photographed
structures in the area.
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La Hacienda de los Martinez:
This late Spanish colonial period "great house" is one of
the few remaining in the American Southwest. Built in 1804, the
fortress-like structure with massive adobe walls became an important
trade center for the northern boundary of the Spanish Empire. Today
the hacienda's twenty-one rooms surrounding two courtyards provide a
rare glimpse of the rugged frontier life and times of the early 1800s.
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Golf:
Taos Country Club has become one of the best golf courses in New
Mexico. Ranked one of the "Best Places to Play" by Golf
Digest, Taos Country Club is open to the public. This 18 hole, 7,302
yard links-style course is laid out amid rolling sagebrush with
unforgettable 360° views.
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