There’s nothing better than exploring while you’re on vacation, and New Mexico offers some of the best dining, shopping, historic sites and scenic drives in the country!  And, there’s always local music influenced by the rich heritage of the Southwest somewhere.

We’ll give you the highlights of our favorite spots, all within driving distance of Taos, to enrich your stay and make sure you don’t miss a thing while you relax in the Land of Enchantment.

Santa Fe

In Santa Fe you’ll find everything from tourist traps to high end galleries. Here are a few of our favorite stops!

Total Miles From Taos:  70

Time To Get There:  1 hour 30 min

HOW TO GET THERE

SHOPPING
    • O’Farrel’s Hats
    • Back To The Ranch Boots
    • Plaza of the Governors
    • Kowboys

DINING
Breakfast, lunch and dinner options

GALLERIES
More galleries than you can shake a stick at!

MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES
From icon artists like Georgia O’keefe to the oldest church in the U.S., don’t miss these sites.

Albuquerque

Whether you fly into Albuquerque or drive through it to reach Taos, you’ll probably want to make a stop at some of our favorite places!  And, as always, our goal is to find uniquely ABQ  experiences to make your trip special.

Total Miles From Taos:  133

Time To Get There:  2 hours 33 min

HOW TO GET THERE

SHOPPING
If you want to experience shopping beyond what you get in your own city, check out these two areas of town.

    • Old Town Albuquerque
    • Nob Hill
      • Trendy, quirky and locally owned shops will give you a unique shopping experience amid the architecture and neon signs of Route 66.
      • Nob Hill Visitor’s Map

DINING
Yes, you can eat anywhere, but be sure to check out some of the places we’ve listed that are uniquely ABQ!

    • Breakfast
      • Church St. Cafe
    • Lunch & Dinner
      • Bocadillos – featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
      • Cecilia’s Cafe – also featured on Triple D this spot is located

GALLERIES
    • Place 1
    • Place 2

MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES
    • Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
      • If you’d like to see traditional Native Pueblo Dances, this is the place.
      • The center showcases dance groups from the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, as well as Plains Style, Navajo, Apache, and Hopi dancers.
      • You can watch performances in the courtyard each weekend.
      • Consult the full schedule for the times during the dates of your trip.
    • Flamenco Tablao at the Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town
      • If you’re in need of a bit of Spanish culture, check out the traditional Flamenco Tablao performed daily in partnership with the National Institute of Flamenco.
      • The lounge serves authentic Sevilla tapas and regionally inspired fine wines and spirits.
      • Performances are Fridays (8PM) through Sundays (6PM).
      • Tickets range from $10 – $30

Red River

Red River is one of those places where you can hang around during the summer months and feel as if you’ve just entered a mining town in the 1800’s. Or, it can feel like a quaint, but bustling early ski town full of locals during the winter. It has a no frills, hang kind of vibe.

Total Miles From Taos:  36

Time To Get There:  50 min

HOW TO GET THERE

SHOPPING
Skiing and summer tourism is big here, so you’ll find plenty of gifts for the family and something to win the coveted “best worst vacation souvenir” prize at the office.

    • Place 1
    • Place 2

DINING & WATERING HOLES
If you’re into “fancy” this will not be your jam. But, if you like authentic Northern New Mexican fare, you’ll find plenty.

    • Place 1
      • Serves ….
    • Place 2
      • Serves …

SKIING
    • Place 1
    • Place 2

FESTIVALS
    • Red River Songwriters Festival
      •  
    • Annual Songwriter’s Workshop
      •  

Great Sand Dunes National Monument

The Great Sand Dunes National Monument is located in Alamagorda CO, just north of Taos.  It was formed by …

Total Miles From Taos:  109

Time To Get There:  1 hour 56 min

HOW TO GET THERE

WHAT TO DO
    • Thing 1
      • Description ….
    • Thing 2
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WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY
    • Gator Farm
    • Place 2

Bandelier National Monument

Located SW of Taos, this is one of the oldest known settlements in the Southwest.

Total Miles From Taos:  71

Time To Get There:  1 hour 31 min

More About Bandelier

HOW TO GET THERE

WHAT TO DO
    • Thing 1
      • Description ….
    • Thing 2
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WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY
    • Gator Farm
    • Place 2

Los Alamos

Located SW of Taos, this is

Total Miles From Taos:  64

Time To Get There:  1 hour 23 min

HOW TO GET THERE

WHAT TO DO
    • Thing 1
      • Description ….
    • Thing 2
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WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY
    • Place 1
    • Place 2

Petroglyph National Monument

Located SW of Taos, this is

Total Miles From Taos:  134

Time To Get There:  2 hours 2 min

HOW TO GET THERE

WHAT TO DO
    • Thing 1
      • Description ….
    • Thing 2
      • Description …

WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY
    • Place 1
    • Place 2