One of Amarillo’s greatest advantages is our strategic location. In six hours or less, we can get to the fourth-largest metro in the US, the third-oldest city in America, several national parks, ski slopes in Colorado, and the two largest cities in Oklahoma.
Oh, and Taos, New Mexico (elev. 6,967 feet), one of the most delightful all-season towns I have ever visited. It’s only 297 miles (or 5 hours 8 minutes, so says Google Maps) from Amarillo, and as an added bonus, you get to visit the OG Las Vegas coming and going.
Taos is home to just shy of 7,000 residents, but you would never guess that on many weekends of the year. Ten thousand visitors arrive on Feast Day alone. Winter attracts many thousands to nearby Taos Ski Valley, where 75 percent of the runs are rated intermediate or difficult. Leaf peeping in fall starts in mid-September. Spring is a breath of fresh air.
It is seldom, if ever hot—given the elevation—and nights can be brisk even in summer. Even though winter may register chilly days and single-digit nights, it’s a dry cold and much more tolerable than expected.
Better yet, no matter how you approach Taos—be it on the “high road” or the “low road” from the south, US 64 from the west or east, NM State 522 from the north, and NM State 518 from Las Vegas, the scenery is seldom less than epic. It’s almost as if, when Taos was established as a Spanish village back in 1615, someone knew it would be known for more than just the alleged energy vortexes, as a magnet for all things aesthetic.
Lodging choices run the gamut, from mid-tier chains to historic inns and hotels, including The Historic Taos Inn, Hotel La Fonda de Taos, and La Doña Luz Inn. If architecture is your passion, and the budget permits, stay at one of these. They are either on or very near the Plaza, making it possible to tour the majority of Taos on foot.
And if art is your heart’s desire, this is heaven, with more galleries than anyone could visit in a long weekend. Then there’s the Taos Art Museum, Harwood Museum of Art, and Millicent Rogers Museum. Art and architecture alone make Taos a top-shelf gem.
But there are plenty of other things to do if these are not your forte. I have hiked to the top of nearby Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest at 13,167 feet, three times now. The Williams Lake Trail, which approaches the peak from the west, is an 8.6-mile round trip. I like doing this in September when there’s a nip in the morning air. For those wanting a longer challenge, the Bull of the Woods Trail approaches from the north, and is 16 miles round trip.
And then there’s the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge about 10 minutes west of town on US 64. A large rest area and parking lot is located just across the bridge; pedestrians can walk across it on either side. Built in 1960, its total span is 1,273 feet long, and it stands roughly 650 feet above the river. It is not for the faint of heart!
A few miles farther west is the Earthship Biotecture, a completely off-grid residential community. Houses are constructed of natural, recycled and waste materials, ranging from old tires to bottles, cans, wood and others. The community is net-zero and fully sustainable. Self-guided tours are available for $9, and are required to get beyond the visitor center. Guided tours are available for $22.
If you are fascinated by Native American history, Taos Pueblo is a must-see. The main buildings were constructed between 1000 and 1450 C.E., and have been occupied continuously. When a detachment of the Coronado Expedition arrived in 1540, they thought the Pueblo was one of the fabled golden cities of Cibola. Admission is $25 for adults, and $22 for seniors and students. Children 10 and younger are free. Bring your camera, but be prepared to ask permission if you wish to include Pueblo residents in the frame. Otherwise, shoot away, and be sure to get some Navajo fry bread.
Get on it! Taos is spectacular all year long, and with only 113 miles on the freeway between here and there, you’ve got 284 glorious miles on old two-lanes. That’s my kind of traveling.
