Taos Blue Mountain accepts you (or not)
"100 Things to Do in Taos..."
is meant to give you ideas on things you can do which you may not be aware of or thought of on your own. It is now in a loose order and is certainly not all inclusive. No one has paid for being included, it's all about things I do with friends visiting from out of town. Many of these suggestions of things to do are seasonal and have specific time frames, those seasonal suggestions are listed at the bottom according to Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter categories.
1. Taos Art Museum at the Fechin House.
*Hot Tip: Check out the beautiful studio of Nicolai Fechin behind the Gift shop.
2. See Petroglyphs.
*Hot Tip: Easiest visit for finding petroglyphs is at Pilar. Walk up the hill towards and
around the cemetery. It’s all just on the hill above the red roofed Church. Otherwise book a petroglyph tour with me.
3. See the Penitente Morada and walk the stations of the cross, take Las Cruces Lane
off Kit Carson Road to Penitente Lane, park at the cemetery, walk up Penitente Lane around a gate, then through another gate and over a small wooden bridge to the Morada, walk the Right of Way Lane to follow the 14 Stations of the Cross.
*Hot Tip: That large Black Cross on the back side of the Morada is another Georgia
O’Keeffe icon.
4. Fossil Hill, at one time this was a deep sea bed. After mile marker 68 on Highway
518 you’ll find a parking area on the north side of the highway, hike straight back t
toward the hillside.
5. Couse-Sharp Historic Site on Kit Carson Road they have a regular open house on the first Saturday of each month (June-October) or
book a private tour through the summer. The new Lunder Research Center has a gallery space with rotating exhibitions of historic Taos art. 575-751-0369
6. Visit the D.H. Lawrence Ranch in San Cristobal the only home that Lawrence ever owned. (mostly open to the public Tuesday-Thursday 10-2)
*Hot Tip: Take a hard pass on the viewing of the Forbidden DH Lawrence paintings, they're all Giclee prints.
7. San Francisco de Asis Church (see the back of the most photographed Church west of
the Mississippi) and one of Georgia O’Keeffe’s favorite muses. Visiting Hours mostly
9-4 daily, Mass on Sunday at 8AM & 10AM in Ranchos de Taos
The Iconic San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos
8. Taos Pueblo, visit and tour this National Treasure World Heritage Site. February to March the Taos Pueblo is closed to outside visitors.
9. Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, walk across the bridge or walk the trail from the western
parking area along the rim.
*Hot Tip: Listen for the Taos Hum.
Mabel's Morada
10. Tour the Mabel Dodge Luhan home, rich in the history of Modern Art visitors to
Taos (call and ask about docent tours). Morada lane off Kit Carson Road.
Crow Teepee at the Sharp-Couse Historic Site
11. Buy art, enjoy what you see, purchase a work of art that you can’t live without.
12. Start a Journal of everything you're seeing and thinking about here in Taos.
13. You may not have noticed that doors and entryways in Taos are all unique, the world famous Taos Blue Doors are magical. Go in search of how many blue doors you can see here.
14. Visit the Old Taos County Courthouse Mural room (upstairs). The fresco murals here
were painted in 1934 by some of Taos Best artists of the day. 121 North Plaza, Taos
*Hot Tip: At the back of the courthouse building on the first floor are the Old Jails, get
yourself locked up. The entire Courthouse space is under renovation, thus closed to the public, we remain optimistic hoping this beautiful space will re-open in 2025.
15. Visit two historic museums, the Kit Carson Museum on Kit Carson Road and the Governor Bent Museum on Bent Street.
16. Visit the historic Martinez Hacienda on State Road 240.
*Hot Tip: Notice all of the hand made furniture and furnishings.
17. The Harwood Museum of Art.
*Hot Tip: Sit and meditate in the Agnes Martin room.
18. Millicent Rogers Museum, enjoy viewing the Hispanic and Pueblo cultural material
on display here.
*Hot Tip: The Maria Martinez Room is impressive.
19. Visit the Ernest Blumenschein Home and Studio.
*Hot Tip: The Buck Dunton Studio is here as well.
20. Take an Art class, there are assemblage classes, pottery classes, photo workshops
(google it or ask at a local art gallery).
*Hot Tip: Taos Art Supply has all your art supply needs, if it's the quirkier assemblage type of thing you're after stop in at Two Graces Plaza Gallery.
*Hot Tip: Taos Art Supply has all your art supply needs, if it's the quirkier assemblage type of thing you're after stop in at Two Graces Plaza Gallery.
21. Herbal walk, learn about healing herbs growing all over Taos.
*Hot Tip: Put a couple of Mullen leaves in each of your shoes, it truly is the best
thing you can do for your feet.
Indian paintbrush with Taos Mountain
22. Soak at Manby Hot Spring or at Black Rock Hot Spring in Arroyo Hondo.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/manby-hot-springs-trail
23. Soak at the Ponce de Leon Hot Spring in Llano Quemado.
24. Go to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, this is a built up resort with various types of
mineral springs.
*Hot Tip: Take a hike to the Mica Mine.
25. Horseback riding, rent a horse, take a lesson.
*Hot Tip: Check out Equine Spirit Sanctuary
*Hot Tip: Check out Equine Spirit Sanctuary
Buck Dunton Painting at the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House
26. Staurolite and mineral hunting, not all rocks are created equally.
*Hot Tip: Book a trip to the Dixon Harding Lepidolite Mine through UNM online.
https://www.mindat.org/loc-13724.html
27. Pit house, visit a 400 year old home of the original settlers in Taos on State Forest
Land at the same stop as the Fossil Hill parking area.
*Hot Tip: Visit the Carson National Forest Office, ask for a smokey Bear souvenir
and maps.
28. Make a smudge stick, cut some sage off a bush, wrap it tightly with cotton string or
twine.
*Hot Tip: Leave it to dry on your car dash board.
29. Have your portrait painted, find a Taos Artist to paint your portrait or even your
favorite pet (ask at a gallery, who paints portraits).
30. Book a Photo shoot with a Taos Photographer who will take you to see the sites of Taos and photograph it all.
*Hot Tip: Contact Gak Stond of Taos Print for his one of a kind photo tours.
Look at Art, Buy Art, Think About Art, Read About Art, Support Artists
31. Take note of the 'Taos is Art' Banners all over Taos.
*Hot Tip: Afterwards visit the galleries of our diverse range of Taos artists.
32. Many of the shops in the Taos Historic District are unique, owned and operated by sole proprietors. The owners can tell you any and all aspects of the items they sell. Upon entering a small business always start with a hello. Every shop owner wants visitors to feel comfortable and be curious. Be supportive, make a purchase, you'll be glad you did.
33. Dance at Doc Martins at the Taos Inn, free music nightly, it’s the ‘Living Room of
Taos’ after all!
34. Write a blog, you’ve Fallen In Love with Taos, tell the world!
*Hot Tip: Blogger/blogspot or Wordpress are easy and free to use.
35. Take lots of photographs, just don't stand too close to the edge…
36. Notice all the round flour mill grinding stones around Taos. Taos was once known
as the breadbasket of the west until the 1920’s.
*Hot Tip: Drive up State Road 240 from Ranchos de Taos and you’ll see the fields
where wheat was grown on each side of the road.
37. Act like a tourist in Taos, wear a baseball cap and go shopping, visit stores you’ve
never been to before from Ranchos de Taos to Arroyo Seco!
38. Buy a House, stay forever, why leave!
39. Take an Earthship tour, see some of the homes built with bales of straw, bottles and
cans. http://www.taosearthships.com
*Hot Tip: Take an Earthship building course, save all your cans and bottles, build
your own home.
40. Walk the Pot Creek Loop Trail, under the trees on Highway 518 between Mile
Markers 66 & 67 on the north side of the highway.
Tree with a View at Pot Creek
41. Hike the 'Slide Trail' or the trails at the top of the Rio Grande Gorge. From State Road 68 turn onto Highway 110, drive to the end of the road to the parking area.
42. Take a short hike to the El Salto Waterfall. The waterfall is located at the end of the road in El Salto just past the village of Arroyo Seco.
43. Act like a local, do not wear a baseball cap and just act like you belong here, because
you do.
*Hot Tip: If anyone asks, tell them you’re friends with ‘Louis’ (it’s code, trust me,
even in Taos it's best if you know someone in the know. Right Josh?).
even in Taos it's best if you know someone in the know. Right Josh?).
44. Tour the Art Collection of the Blake Hotel at Taos Ski Valley, (yes that really is a Georgia O'Keeffe Painting).
*Hot Tip: Have Lunch or Dinner at '192' at the Blake Restaurant
*Hot Tip: Have Lunch or Dinner at '192' at the Blake Restaurant
45. Listen, just stop and listen to your heart.
Portrait by Seamus Mills of Robert Cafazzo
46. Play pool at El Monte Sagrado, grab a drink at the bar and go up stairs to the game
room for the best round of pool in Taos. This is where Dennis Hopper, Dean
Stockwell and friends played.
*Hot Tip: Tell them you’re a guest of the hotel if anyone asks.
47. See the Red River Fish Hatchery (it’s actually south of Questa).
48. Bird watch, everywhere around Taos.
*Hot Tip: The meadow south of the San Francisco de Asis Church is part of the Taos
Birding Flyway.
49. See wildlife, everywhere around Taos you’ll see Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer and
those pesky Prairie Dogs, watch your step…
*Hot Tip: Go out early, the earlier closest to sunrise, the better.
50. Be a mentor, just help share your knowledge with someone.
51. Be a docent, learn everything there is to know about one of the museums or historic
properties and share that knowledge with visitors.
52. Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity or any of the many Non-profit organizations
around Taos.
*Hot Tip: Contact the Taos Community Foundation to ask about non-profits you can
help. http://www.taoscf.org
53. Eat a sopapilla, those powder puffs of dough are a Taos food staple.
54. Visit a brewery, pick one or two (google it).
55. Go Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku), take a walk in the Carson National Forest. Stop by the Ranger Station for tips and maps.
Picnic in the Taos Sangre de Cristo Mountains
56. Have a Taos picnic.
*Hot Tip: Pick up supplies at Tomorrow n Tomorrow, or Manzanita Market
57. Walk a Taos labyrinth.
*Hot Tip: Adobe & Pines B&B and Mabel Dodge Luhan House have two of the best.
58. Look for deer and elk shed antlers during a walk in the forest you never know what
you might find.
59. Eat chocolate at Chokola Bean to Bar (Taos Plaza), or Chocolate & Cashmere (Bent
Street).
60. Eat locally made extraordinary flavors of ice cream at Manzanita Market (Taos
Plaza) or Taos Cow (in Arroyo Seco & now off Kit Carson Road).
61. Bike ride, take the back roads or mountain bike.
62. Smile at a complete stranger.
63. Try a local coffee shop, there are coffee shops everywhere in Taos!
64. Stand where O'Keeffe stood ask about this at the Mabel Dodge House, the DH
Lawrence Ranch or the Sagebrush Inn.
65. Buy a hat, purchase a proper hat (not a baseball cap).
*Hot Tip: Drop in at Six Hand Hat Co. or the Hat Store, try a hat on for size.
66. Buy vintage turquoise jewelry whether you purchase a pin, necklace, bracelet or ring
nothing beats Vintage Native American Turquoise.
*Hot Tip: Bryan’s Gallery, Millicent Rogers Museum Gift Shop, Jackie’s Trading
Post, Two Graces all have great items.
Art Assemblage Workshop at Mabel Dodge Luhan House with Seth Apter & Roxanne
67. Drink water, do not get run down, drink more water than you think you need.
68. Hashtag your photos on Instagram or Facebook with: #VisitTaos #NewMexicoTrue #ThisIsTaos #TaosIsArt
69. Attend an art opening. Every weekend there’s an opening at a Gallery or Museum all
over Taos.
*Hot Tip: Pick up a copy of Taos News, Tempo for articles and calendar listings.
70. Celebrities are everywhere in Taos, just smile, nod or say hello, try not to gush...
71. Take a yoga class, (google when and where).
72. Drive the High Road from Ranchos de Taos to Penasco and Picuris Pueblo.
73. Speaking of 'high' there are over a dozen shops catering to the legal use of marijuana. If that's your thing then 'this bud's for you'. (Please use responsibly)
74. Visit the Historic Taos Volunteer Fire Department Art Collection, just ask a fireman
to show you this room full of treasures. Weekdays only, at 323 Camino de la
Placitas.
75. Ride in a balloon, book a balloon ride with any of the balloon tours.
76. Check out historic and colorful cemeteries, they’re all over Taos.
77. Attend a Public Meeting, learn what is going on in Taos!
Check the Town of Taos website for what, where & when.
http://www.taosgov.com/clerk/PublicMeetings.php
Most meetings are now broadcast through zoom, check the website for details and how to join remotely.
Taos Pueblo Pow Wow Dancer
SEASONAL
(Spring)
78. Look at all the flowers, Spring Wildflowers, Flower Gardens all over Taos or go on the Taos Summer Garden Tour.
79. Lilac festival annually in May. http://www.taoslilacfestival.com
80. Enjarre, The first ten days of June, or more. Each year St. Francis Church gets a new
coat of Mud and Straw (adobe). Join in and help alongside parishioners and other
visitors. Ranchos de Taos
81. Hike to Williams Lake. What a long strange trip it is.
http://www.taostrails.com/williams_lake.html
(Summer)
82. Go River Rafting, the Rio Grande in Taos has many river rafting outfitters.
83. Trout fishing, hire a guide through a fly fishing shop or find one online.
84. Fireworks over Eagles Nest Lake, what could be better for the Fourth of July. Begins
at Sunset.
85. Spend an evening at the annual Taos Pueblo Pow Wow. (second weekend of July)
*Hot Tip: Join in with the dancers in an informal ‘Round Dance’ everyone is
welcome to participate, you won’t be able to stop smiling.
86. Buy your produce fresh at the Farmers Markets, Saturday mornings through the
Summer months in Taos Plaza.
*Hot Tip: Share your own recipes and ask farmers for their recipes of how to cook
those veggies.
87. Mushroom hunting, learn about mushrooms what to pick what to avoid. *Hot Tip:
Chanterelles grow in abundance at over 8,000 feet closest to 10,000 feet above sea
level.
88. Attend an outdoor concert, Kit Carson Park (various weekends through the summer)
or Taos Plaza (Thursday evenings through the summer).
89. Swim at the John Dunn Bridge, it’s also a great place for a picnic, in Arroyo Hondo.
(Fall)
90. Taos Mountain Balloon Rally this happens about two weeks after the big
Albuquerque International Balloon festival. Taos Balloon fest is more intimate and
more fun.
http://www.taosballoonrally.com/index.html
91. Pick Pinon, at the end of Summer you’ll notice cars parked along the side of the
road they know the best Pinon trees to pick!
92. Attend the world famous PASEO/Fall Arts Fall Festivals.
93. Enjoy fall colors, Autumn in Taos is when everything turns yellow. “It’s all yellow.”
(Winter)
94. Ice skate at youth & family center, skate rentals are available there.
http://taosyouth.org
*Hot Tip: Watch a Taos High School hockey game at the Youth and Family Center.
95. Snowshoe or go sledding at State Forest Road 5 in the snow covered mountains of
our Taos Winter season.
96. Ski at Taos Ski Valley.
*Hot Tip: Stop in at Blake 192 Restaurant for dinner and cocktails, check out their
art collection, honoring Taos art through the years.
97. Christmas Eve at Taos Pueblo, stand by some of the largest bonfires you’ll ever see,
(and the hottest) visit neighbors, friends and strangers.
*Hot Tip: Wear a Washable
winter jacket, it gets smokey. Begins around 4PM
98. Midnight Mass at San Francisco de Asis Christmas Eve
(starts around 11PM). Ranchos de Taos
99. Deer Dance, at Taos Pueblo on Christmas Day. Begins around 3PM
(no photography please).
100. Buffalo Dance at Taos Pueblo on Epiphany King's Day, begins in the morning. (NO Photography Please)
Taos has much more than this! Share your ideas or create your own Taos Bucket List, or write one for your own community in another town you love. May we all do as many of these as we can and live to do them all over again.
Some of these places do have entry fees.
If you’d like to learn more about Taos, read the stories on this blog, and book a tour with me. While you're in Taos visit Two Graces in the Taos Historic District and tell us what you love.
Copyright, Robert Cafazzo 2017
This post has been updated March 2025, copyright still stands.
This post has been updated March 2025, copyright still stands.
