Taos Plaza Live Cam

One of the pleasures of shopping in Taos is the central business district that has developed around Taos Plaza. Numerous retail shops and galleries are within walking distance of the Plaza and each other. The municipal parking lot, entered from Camino de La Placita, provides an easy walk to Taos Plaza, Bent Street, Kit Carson Road, Guadalupe Plaza, Ranchitos Road and LeDoux Street. A second municipal lot is located in the second block of Kit Carson Road. Both municipal lots are metered, so be sure and bring a handful of quarters.

The Village of Arroyo Seco, north of Taos on the Ski Valley Road, and Ranchos Plaza, in Ranchos de Taos south of town, evoke the charm of Old New Mexico. For everyday needs like toothpaste and shampoo, shop at Wal-Mart on South Santa Fe Road.

The Listing below is a sampling of The Taos Retail Market: Antiques, Bookstores, Clothing & Accessories, Cosmetics, Crafts, Drums, Flea Market, Folk Arts, Furniture, Gifts, Indian Goods, Interior Decor, Jewelry, Kitchenware, Malls & Plazas, Outdoor Adventure Equipment, Picture Framing, Pottery, Rugs & Kilims, Shoes & Boots, Ski Shops & Equipment, T-Shirts, Weaving and Western Wear.

From the fine restaurants in Taos Ski Valley to the Stakeout eight miles south of Ranchos de Taos, diversity of cuisine and ambience is the hallmark of dining out in Taos. Sampling local culinary delights ranges from Australian, Italian, Oriental, Northern New Mexican, Native (Indian) to American fare. Some restaurants specialize in organic foods while others offer a low-fat but still delicious dishes. Vegetarian menus are also available. It may be tempting to lump New Mexican, Mexican, Tex-Mex and Spanish food into one category, but although the differences are subtle, they are also distinct. Part of the fun of dining out in Taos is learning to discern the difference. A list of fine wines is available at many restaurants and wine-tastings are popular events. Enjoy cool breezes in a patio filled with fragrant fruit trees, watch a stunning sunset or cozy up to your meal in front of a blazing fire in winter. Taos boasts over 80 restaurants.

If there was such a thing as a "state dish", chile would win hands down in New Mexico. In Taos, chile appears as a stew with beans and pork for seasoning, as a sauce over enchiladas, in a classic beef stew or meatloaf, and in or over eggs of every shape and form. It can be a side dish or the main entree. Like garlic, chile enhances the flavor of other ingredients and is thought to be beneficial to good health. Chile is on the list of possible anti- anticarcinogens. Talk to locals and you'll also discover that chile is addictive! In any event, there's a caveat for newcomers: never dive into a bowl of green or load your chip with salsa before trying a small taste. Chiles range from mild to very hot and the latter really sizzles on your tongue.

If you're staying in a suite hotel, a cabin or room with a kitchenette, you'll want to cook in part of the time. Two major grocery store chains, Furr's and Smith's, are full-service markets complete with delis, bakery and video rentals. Both are conveniently located on Paseo de Pueblo Sur (South Santa Fe Road). Furr's also has a pharmacy, a branch of Peoples Bank, an ATM and a post office. A Lowe's Super Save grocery store is planned for the shopping center on the corner of Albright and South Santa Fe Road across from the County Courthouse complex.

Cid's, a specialty market that carries organic meat and produce and a wide range of natural products, is located on Pueblo Norte in El Prado, just a few minutes north of the Plaza. Amigos Food Co-op and Natural Grocery can be found on South Santa Fe Road. You don't have to give up your morning latte or your favorite exotic coffee beans. Taos has five coffee houses plus one at the Taos Mountain Casino. And if you run out of something and don't want to tackle grocery store lines, there are four convenience stores in Taos, one in Ranchos de Taos and another in the Ski Valley; five delis (in addition to Furr's and Smith's), one at Taos Mountain Casino and another in the Village of Arroyo Seco.

National Fast Food chains like Arby's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Sonic are located on or near South Santa Fe Road. Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts include Baskin-Robbins, Daily Delight (Taos Mountain Casino) TCBY and Taos Cow. The Farmer's Market, open during the summer months, is located on South Santa Fe Road in front of the Court House Complex.

Northern New Mexico offers a full spectrum of recreational activities throughout the year. A number of retail outlets in Taos, Red River and Angel Fire specialize in outfitting the outdoor enthusiast for everything from winter skiing to summer camping and cycling. In addition to traditional sports such as tennis and golf, the region offers the excitement of hot-air ballooning and the challenge of whitewater rafting.

Five of the world's six climatic vegetation zones lie within a 30-mile radius of Taos. In a single day visitors can experience alpine lakes, high mesas, Canadian-style forests and deep gorges. You can picnic by a clear mountain stream, watch beavers build their dams, sight elk or take a brisk hike in ancient mountains. Day trips, all within less than two hours of Taos, are popular among locals and visitors.

Northern New Mexico's five primary resort communities- the Village of Taos Ski Valley (TSV), Angel Fire Resort (AF), Red River Resort (RR), Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort (SP) and Rio Costilla (RC) schedule year-round activities. Additional resources include the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Eagle Nest (EN), Carson National Forest (CNF), Valle Vidal/Cimarron (VV/CM) and Taos (TS). Listings under Taos cover Taos Pueblo and areas within an hour's drive or less. For easy reference, the various activities offered by these areas have been placed on a grid.

Since Northern New Mexico's resorts continue to expand, the most current information will be available from the resorts. Telephone numbers and items of interest are listed below:

For hunting and fishing licenses, contact the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in Santa Fe. Fish for cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout in Cimarron and Valle Vidal, sport fish in 2200 acre Eagle Nest Lake; fly fish at Rio Costillo, fly and spin fish in Angel Fire's private stocked Lake. Out-of-state hunters should contact Game and Fish for a list of licensed big game outfitters. High Mountain Outfitters supplies guides, lodge and pack- in's, everything except the guns. During hunting season, 85% get a shot and 35% return with game.

Avid golfers have several choices in Northern New Mexico. Angel Fire boasts a high altitude 18-hole, par 72, PGA rated course; driving range, Pro Shop and PGA professional. Taos Country Club's links- style course is an 18-hole nationally rated championship course. Red Eagle Golf Course in Eagle Nest offers a tree-lined, mountain style course and Scottish-style open links. El Valle in El Valle Escondido has a 9-hole course. No tee time required. Miniature golf in Red River is 19-hole Pro-Am style; in Taos, 18-hole. In Sipapu, you can try disc golf, played like ball golf using a flying disc.

Taos Indian Horse Ranch offers unique adventures in horseback riding. Open year-round, the facility is a working horse ranch. Customized pack trips, horse trolley and sleighrides, and Frontier Day Events. Riding lessons, draft horses and driving, and several group packages.

Rock Climbers can pit their skills against the in door climbing wall and the Cave in Angel Fire: 22 ft. high, 43 ft. wide, 500 plus handholds. Outdoor enthusiasts can try any one or all three within an easy drive of Taos: Dead Cholla Wall, south of town, Tres Piedras to the west and Questa Dome north of Taos.

Regulation courts and tennis lessons at Angel Fire. free for guests. Four courts at Taos Spa and Tennis, four at Northside Health and Fitness Center. Quail Ridge Inn Resort has two indoor and six outdoor tennis courts.

Cimarron/Valle Vidal: Take Highway 64 to Angel Fire and Eagle Nest and continue northeast on the same route to historic Cimarron, a 57 mile scenic drive. A certified site on the old Santa Fe Trail, the town claims a century-old cemetery, the Kit Carson Museum, a beautifully replicated 1849 hacienda, and the Old Mill Museum that interprets local history through artifacts and photographs. Cimarron is also the home of the 60-year old Philmont Scout Ranch.

The nearby Valle Vidal, part of Carson National Forest, is a habitat for 1500 elk. Within the boundaries live 60 species of mammals, 200 species of birds, 33 species of reptiles and amphibians. Fifteen species of fish makes the Valle Vidal a fisherman's paradise.

Enchanted Circle: A ninety-mile trip that begins in Taos on Highway 64, winds through heavily forested Taos Canyon, climbs to 9,000 at Palo Flechado Pass (Pass of the Arrow) before reaching Angel Fire and the beautiful Moreno Valley. Continue east on 64 to the little village of Eagle Nest, then double back to Highway 38, the route to Red River. The road crests at Bobcat Pass, a nearly 10,000 elevation, before it drops into Red River. To return to Taos, follow the road out of Red River to Questa and #522 home. Approximately two hours actual driving time.

The High Road: The "long way" to Santa Fe is marked by constantly changing and spectacular scenery. Take Highway 518 to the PeŇasco turnoff, continue through PeŇasco and turn left on NM 76 which will take you to the village of Truchas, site of the film, "The Milagro Beanfield War." The road gradually descends through lovely alpine meadows to stunning rock formations before reaching Chimayo, famous for its weavers. NM 76 connects with 285/84 and a short drive to Santa Fe.

Las Vegas: Take South Santa Fe Road to Highway 518 (Just before Ranchos de Taos). Stop at the scenic overlook known as U.S. Hill, then continue along the highway, marked by alpine meadows and dense forests, through Sipapu Ski Area. After the steep climb up Holman Hill, you'll drop down into the little town of Mora, a section once known as the "Hispanic Appalachia." Storrie Lake marks the entrance to the historic town of Las Vegas, which grew up along the tracks of the Santa Fe Railroad. Visit the landmark Plaza Hotel and browse through down-town antique shops, bookstores and galleries. A ninety-minute drive.