Taos is New Mexico True
Taos, NM

Press Kit

HISTORY:

Nestled at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southernmost range of the Rockies, is the town of Taos. It grew in the late 1700s as a fortified plaza and trading outpost for the neighboring Taos Pueblo and Hispano communities. The English name Taos derives its name from the native Tiwa language, meaning “place of red willows.”

Since then, the Town of Taos has become renowned as an art colony and is home to world-class skiing, historic sites, a rich Native American culture, and a thriving music scene. This small town, New Mexico’s Soul of the Southwest, captivates visitors from all over the world, drawn by clean air and mythical light to experience its rich traditions, renowned art culture, and distinctive cuisine.

WHAT’S NEW/STORY IDEAS:

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ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS

Visit any of the town’s 70+ art galleries to bask in the impressive works of artists who have been inspired by the light and life of Taos.

  • Taos Art Museum
    The Fechin House, home of the Taos Art Museum, is one of the many establishments in the area that provides an authentic Taos experience through art.
  • Harwood Museum
    The 12 unique galleries in the Harwood Museum of Art tell a complete story of Taos. The Harwood displays art ranging from work by the Taos Society of Artists to the Taos Moderns, from Pueblo to Hispano, and traditional to cutting edge. This museum represents these diverse artistic and cultural traditions and demonstrates how they have influenced each other.
  • Mabel Dodge Luhan House
    Once home to Mabel Dodge, a prominent figure of the arts, the Mabel Dodge Luhan House is now a historic inn that showcases the authentic adobe architecture and rich history of Taos.

CULTURE

Native American culture has long shaped Taos with generations of resilience.

  • Native American Culture
    Come experience the history of the people who have lived in this area for thousands of years. Learn how their pottery, jewelry, dances, and cuisine influenced, and continue to influence, the art and culture of the Southwest.
  • Taos Pueblo
    Just three miles northeast of Taos Plaza lies the Taos Pueblo, the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The pueblo’s multi-story adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. Anticipated to re-open later in 2022, the artwork of the Indigenous people can also be found throughout town including the Taos Visitor Center.

Please reach out to IdeaPeddler ([email protected]) for more information.

GET OUTDOORS

  • Where to Sun
    Bask in the legendary golden light of Taos through a variety of outdoor adventures and activities. View the terrain from a new perspective with a hot air balloon ride or by exploring the depths of the Rio Grande Gorge while rafting. Spend time traversing mesas and mountain ranges on some of the best hikes and mountain biking in the Southwest. Fish the pristine waters, golf in the high desert, or enjoy a myriad of other leisure activities throughout Taos in addition to strolling the historic Taos Plaza or visiting the Gorge Bridge, one of the highest bridges in the United States.
  • Where to Ski
    Visit any of the multiple ski resorts located in the Enchanted Circle—Taos has options for every level of skier. Ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, and snowboard through world-class slopes and pristine wilderness at one of the easy-access destinations. Warm-up with delicious New Mexican delicacies or get cozy next to the wood-burning kiva fireplaces located in many of the rustic lodges that are blanketed in snow.
  • Taos Climb
    Just west of Taos, Tres Piedras (“three rocks”) has some of the most pristine beginner climbing terrain in the country. The sunny, sheltered Rio Grande Gorge is favorable in the winter months.

KEY ATTRACTIONS

  • The High Road to Taos
    Named the state’s best road for jaw-dropping views, a drive on the High Road is a must. Take in the awe-inspiring scenery and remote mountain villages that retain their Spanish-colonial roots.
  • Carson National Forest
    The Carson National Forest offers unlimited recreational opportunities in any season. The magnificent mountain scenery and cool summer temperatures lure vacationers to enjoy the peace and quiet, as well as fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking. Winter activities include skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
  • Enchanted Circle Drive
    The most popular tour in Taos, this National Forest Scenic Byway circles Wheeler Peak, the highest in New Mexico at 13,161 feet. Throughout the drive, you’ll see some of the oldest rocks in the Southwest—quartz, and feldspar that date back two billion years. Look for special Enchanted Circle markers to help guide the way.
  • Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
    Travel west on U.S. Highway 64 to reach the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the second-highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System. The bridge is a three-span steel continuous-deck-truss structure with a concrete-filled steel-grid deck. It was called the “bridge to nowhere” during its construction because the funding did not exist to continue the road on the other side.
  • Taos Plaza
    The heart of Taos. This is the center of the Taos Historic District where locals gather for Taos Plaza live concerts from May through October, and visitors enjoy the shops and galleries that surround the Plaza all year long.
  • San Francisco de Asis Church
    Celebrating over 200 years, the historic “Ranchos Church” was built in the early 1800s and is the only original church that remains intact in the Taos area. San Francisco de Asis Church continues to be an integral part of the spiritual community. It has been artistically recorded by 20th Century artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and others who were fascinated by its adobe contours and sculptural buttresses.
  • Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
    With more than 242,555 acres of public land, the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument provides a variety of recreational activities. The unique landscape offers whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and more. The Taos Valley overlook provides stunning views and trails for exploring.

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

  • Taos Spring Arts
    Artistry and inspiration are in the air during springtime in Taos! Taos Spring Arts shows off the best of Taos’ creativity with a season full of exhibitions, art shows, virtual experiences, and more.
  • Taos Lilac Festival
    Festival-goers can meet and mingle with talented artisans and craftspeople as they display work ranging from ceramics, fiber, wood, leather, and metalwork to jewelry and art pieces in Kit Carson Park. The Grand Festival Weekend will include a pet parade and costume contest, live entertainment, a children’s carousel, nightly music, food and craft vendors, and many family-friendly activities.
  • Taos Summer Music in the Park
    Kit Carson Park is the perfect festival ground as it lies in the heart of Taos, just a short walk away from restaurants, lodging, shops, and local art galleries. During festival season, come experience some live entertainment right by the Taos Plaza and Historic District.
  • The PASEO
    The PASEO is an annual event that features works ranging from low-tech to new media. Participants are united by their active engagement with the public and with the place, projecting on Taos’s adobe walls and lighting up Kit Carson Park.
  • 4th of July Celebration
    Celebrate with a pancake breakfast in the Historic Taos Plaza, followed by music in Kit Carson Park and fireworks to close out the day.
  • Las Fiestas de Taos
    An annual celebration in Taos Plaza honoring the feasts of the two patron saints of Taos, Santa Ana, and Santiago. Lasting over four centuries, this tradition has been passed down for generations as a way to preserve the tri-cultural way of life in Taos.
  • Taos Fall Arts Festival
    This festival was founded in 1973 by a group of artists and gallerists. Over the years, other art events have set their dates to coincide with Fall Arts. The season has come to be known as “Grand Fall Arts” and it’s a most exciting time to visit.
  • Yuletide in Taos
    Yuletide in Taos is the name given to all the unique New Mexican celebrations that happen here throughout the holiday season. With the falling of snow on candle-lit farolitos that line the streets in front of old adobe shops and homes, one is transported to another time and place.

Please reach out to IdeaPeddler ([email protected]) for more information.