Attractions

Taos Ski Valley

Category: Ski Mountain
Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, United States
Taos Ski Valley, Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525 US

In my opinion, all ski towns in the United States should aspire to be like Switzerland. There's something about the quaint small town feel and gorgeous mountain scenery of the Alps that just makes everyone smile. That's why the Taos Ski Valley – with its climate, culture and geography resembling a Swiss village - is the ideal location for anyone in need of a serious ski vacation. Established as a small ski base camp by husband and wife Ernie and Rhoda Blake in 1955, the Taos ski valley has recently exploded into a thriving, world class resort. With over 110 total trails (24% beginner, 25% intermediate, 51% expert) 12 full service ski lifts and over 300 inches of snowfall annually, Taos is definitely a major resort in the same league as the best Colorado has to offer. The Taos Ski Valley also has the highest rated ski schools in America (according to an October 2006 issue of New Mexico Magazine).

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Kit Carson Museum

Category: Museum
Taos, New Mexico, United States
113 Kit Carson Rd, Taos, NM 87571 US

Wouldn't it be cool if your job was to be a frontiersman? How do you get into that line of work? Do you have to get your frontiersman degree? Those were some of the many questions to ask when entering the Kit Carson House and Museum – a 175 year old structure that used to be the home of one of the most legendary American frontiersman, Kit Carson. Once described by a contemporary as containing the "first in every quality which constitutes excellence in a mountaineer" Kit Carson was an explorer of the American frontier and legendary hero of the "Old West" much in the same vein as Davey Crockett and Lewis & Clark. And from the year 1843 until his death in 1868, Christopher "Kit" Carson lived in this U-shaped, Spanish Colonial structure with his wife Josefa Jaramillo, the daughter of a wealthy family in Taos. Dedicated as a National Historic Landmark in 1963, the Kit Carson House and Museum welcomes over 23,000 visitors per years and truly a fascinating portal into an era where being a frontiersman was actually a job.

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Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Category: Railroad Museum / Scenic Trail
Chama, New Mexico, United States
500 Terrace Drive, Chama, NM 87520 US

Fact: All children at one time or another fantasize about being a railroad conductor. Unfortunately, the old fashioned railroad cars we all grew up dreaming about are few and far between. Thankfully, hidden away in a corner of the southern Rocky Mountains lies the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad: a precious historic artifact of the great American West and every young conductor's fantasy. Built in 1880 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad company and changed little since, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic railroad is one of the most spectacular examples of steam-era mountain railroading in all of North America. Witness the gorgeous New Mexico countryside in supreme fashion when you travel down the 64 miles of track running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. Due to weather conditions the railroad usually runs between late May and mid-October every year. SPECIAL NOTE: For film buffs, the scene with River Phoenix as the young Indiana Jones was shot here in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!

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El Paso Llama Expeditions

Category: Hiking Trail
Taos, New Mexico, United States
Camino de la Sema, Taos, NM 87571 USA

I’ve come to settle an age old myth: Llamas will spit at you. False! Yes, Llamas do spit – but only at each other! It’s a form of communication not unlike a dog barking or a cat meowing. Pretty cool, huh? I learned this small nugget of wisdom firsthand while atop one of these noble yet awkward looking creatures high up in the gorgeous landscape of Taos. It’s all the part of the El Paseo Llama expeditions which allows the every day citizen the chance to take a day hike or a longer packing trek through the outdoor playgrounds of Taos atop a cute and cuddly llama. These furry, four legged friends are the perfect mode of transportation for carrying large amounts of gear over long distances without getting tired, and their temperaments are mild-mannered so even small children and incredibly clumsy adults (like me) can enjoy. NOTE: Half day and full day hikes are available at all times. Custom, multi-day hikes require an advance reservation.

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Rafting in Taos

Category: Whitewater Rafting
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, United States
4003 S. Hwy. 68, Rancho de Taos, NM USA

Imagine a normal day...Sitting in front of a desktop computer at work and bossman needs you to turn in a report by COB. You can barely focus enough to pour the coffee, let alone work. Now, imagine an abnormal day…while rafting in Taos, New Mexico. Thin beads of watery sweat drip down your face as a steep, shock white drop-off appears in front the boat. Your guide spins around and booms "Hold on tight!" The raft careens wildly into the bustling Taos rapids. Which one would you prefer: the former or the later? Taos is home to some of the best rapids in the world. For families in need of some boating relaxation, float down the calm water's of the Rio Chama – whose magnificent sandstone landscape was made famous by painter Georgia O'Keefe. Or if rafting is a bit too intense for your taste, just rent a boat and head out into Los Rios for a little fishing. Either way, you're about to have a pretty abnormal day!

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Skiing in Santa Fe

Category: Ski Mountain
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
2209 Brothers Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505 US
Visiting Details
NOTE: The park opens in late November and closes in early April.

When most people think of Santa Fe they envision a small, quaint and bustling city renowned for its crystal blue skies, ancient pueblos and sun drenched landscape. However, if those people were to venture just 16 miles or so from the heart of downtown they might find something a little different. Nestled high up in the breath taking Sangre de Cristo Mountains is a series of powdery slopes known only as Ski Santa Fe. At a base elevation of 10,350, Ski Santa Fe – with its 1,725 vertical feet of skiing, 660 acres of stunning terrain and over 65 trails - is a true gateway for fun and excitement. Ride the New Millennium Triple Chairlift up to 12,075 feet in the crisp, blue sky to get a glimpse of what a bird sees every day. Then – at speeds of twenty plus miles an hour – soar down the powdery expanse atop your skis or snowboard. And for those with more extreme desires check out "The Bone Yard" for some groovy half pipe action.

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Pecos National Historic Park

Category: Historic Park
New Mexico, United States
Highway 63, Glorieta, NM US

It's pretty obvious that Pecos National Historic Park is special. Not many locations can honestly say they've preserved over 12,000 years of history. And very few spots can say they've been both a National Monument (dedicated in 1960) and a National Park (promoted in 1990). Located about 25 miles east of Santa Fe, PNHP is actually composed of several noncontiguous units – the main unit of the park preserving the ruins of the 14th century era Pecos Pueblo (a national monument itself declared in 1960). The national park also features other units including several colonial missions, numerous Santa Fe trail sites, the historic 20th century Forked Lightning Ranch, and the site of the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass. The park's website sums it up best when it says that Pecos National Historic Park is "one of those rare places where the impact of geography on human experience is strikingly clear."

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Oldest House in the USA

Category: Historic House
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
215 East DeVargas Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico USA
Visiting Details
There is a one dollar admission fee to enter.

I never knew something as simple as a house could cause controversy. But I guess when you name your abode the "Oldest House in the USA," you're gonna cause some trouble. That's because this particular "Oldest House in the USA" - located at 215 East De Vargas Street on the eastern side of Old Santa Fe Trail - might not actually live up to its name. In fact there are several other homes that claim the right to the title. Supposedly built around 1646, this Adobe structure has witnessed the administration of numerous governments including Mexican, Spanish, territorial, and – finally – the American state of New Mexico. And, like a lot of old houses, several people have complained of ghosts and apparitions living within the walls. The Oldest House in the USA is actually a privately owned establishment that has a museum adjacent to the structure.

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Santa Fe Plaza

Category: Town Center / Square / Plaza
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM US

Question: Why did the modern city eliminate the town square? You know - a large, central meeting place in the middle of everything where people meet to engage in social and cultural activities. Today this seems like an antiquated notion that's been replaced by strip malls and the internet. Thankfully, for those looking for a little nostalgia, the Santa Fe Plaza exists. Nicknamed "the Heart of Santa Fe," the Santa Fe Plaza (SFP) serves as a cultural playground for tourists and locals interested in learning more about the vibrant Mexican, Spanish and Indian customs that founded this region hundreds of years ago. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the SFP is organized around one large central park lined with colorful trees, grass and benches. It also features the Indian War Memorial Monument and a performing arts stage as well as several local shops and restaurants. With over 100,000 annual visitors and home to over half a dozen events (drawing an additional 25,000 folks) the Santa Fe Plaza is proof that the town square is alive and well.

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Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Category: Monument
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
22 Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505 US

Kasha-Katuwe? It sounds like the guttural noises people make when they're about to spit. But the name Kasha-Katuwe actually means "white cliffs" in the traditional Keresan language of the Cochiti Pueblo people who were the original inhabitants of this land. Located about 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a remarkable display of geology. With layers of volcanic rock and ash having been weathered and eroded over thousands of years creating the unique cone, or tent rock formation, this National Monument – established as one by Bill Clinton just before leaving office in January 2001 - is truly a sight to behold. The monument is only opened during the day and can be explored via a 1.2 mile recreation trail that leads to an amazing lookout point from above. Now if you could only figure out how to pronounce that name…

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