100 things to do in Taos before you die. 100 Things to do in Taos Before You Kick the Bucket. 100 Ideas of How To Taos!

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 not in any 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. 

1. 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.

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.

3. 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. Many classes have been cancelled, delayed or rescheduled to 2022.

4. Buy art, enjoy what you see, purchase a work of art that you can’t live without.

5. Taos Wool Festival, first weekend of October in Kit Carson Park.

6. Couse-Sharp Historic Site open house first Saturday of each month (June-October) or  

             book a private tour through the summer. 575-751-0369

7. Visit the D.H. Lawrence Ranch the only home that Lawrence ever owned. (mostly  

             open to the public Thursday-Saturday 10-2)

8. 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

9. 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

10. Midnight Mass at San Francisco de Asis Christmas Eve

              (starts around 11PM). Ranchos de Taos

11. Taos Pueblo, visit and tour this National Treasure World Heritage Site.

             *Hot Tip: Enjoy lunch at Mary Esther Winters Adobe Cafe inside the Pueblo near the 

               Church. daily 8-4:30

The Pueblo may or may not re-open in late Spring or early Summer of 2022 to the public, it remains closed due to the Pandemic. 

12. 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

The Pueblo may or may not re-open in late Spring or early Summer of 2022 to the public, it remains closed due to the Pandemic.

13. Deer Dance, at Taos Pueblo on Christmas Day. Begins around 3PM 

              (no photography please).

The Pueblo may or may not re-open in late Spring or early Summer of 2022 to the public, it remains closed due to the Pandemic.

14. 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.

The Pueblo may or may not re-open in late Spring or early Summer of 2022 to the public, it remains closed due to the Pandemic.

15. 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.

16. See the Penitente Morada and walk the stations of the cross, take Las Cruces Lane 

              off Kit Carson Road to Penitente Lane which dead ends to a parking area, walk 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.

The road to this Morada has been closed to visitors.

Mabel's Morada

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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

20. Soak at the Ponce de Leon Hot Spring in Llano Quemado.

The Pueblo may or may not re-open in late Spring or early Summer of 2022 to the public, it remains closed due to the Pandemic, thus the Hot Springs which are under the control of Taos Pueblo are closed.

21. 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.

Crow Teepee at the Sharp-Couse Historic Site

22. Take a Ghost Tour (oh, those tunnels!), book a tour of the Taos Ghosts and  

               apparitions with Melody Romancito. 

               https://ghostsoftaos.wordpress.com

23. Visit two historic museums, the Kit Carson Museum on Kit Carson Road and the Governor Bent Museum on Bent Street. 

24. Visit the historic Martinez Hacienda on State Road 240.

25. Taos Art Museum at the Fechin House. 

             *Hot Tip: Check out the beautiful studio of Nicolai Fechin behind the Gift shop.

26. The Harwood Museum of Art, support and visit this museum.

             *Hot Tip: Sit and meditate in the Agnes Martin room.

27. Millicent Rogers Museum, enjoy viewing the Hispanic and Pueblo cultural material 

              on display here.

              *Hot Tip: The Maria Martinez Room is impressive.

28. Visit the Ernest Blumenschein Home and Studio. 

              *Hot Tip: The Buck Dunton Studio is here as well.

29. 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

30. 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.

31. Hike to Williams Lake. What a long strange trip it is. 

               http://www.taostrails.com/williams_lake.html

32. Snowshoe or go sledding at State Forest Road 5 in the snow covered mountains of   

               our Taos Winter season.

33. 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.

34. Go River Rafting, the Rio Grande in Taos has many river rafting outfitters.

35. Trout fishing, hire a guide through a fly fishing shop or find one online.

36. Fireworks over Eagles Nest Lake, what could be better for the Fourth of July. Begins   

               at Sunset.

37. Be in a parade, the Seco Fourth of July Parade welcomes everyone to join in or just   

               watch and have fun. Begins at Noon.

              *Hot Tip: You might even be handed an ice cold popsicle!

38. Attend the world famous PASEO/Fall Arts Fall Festivals. Paseo was cancelled for 2021 due to the Pandemic, watch for art installation Pop-Ups that may occur this fall.

39. Horseback riding, rent a horse, take a lesson. 
              *Hot Tip: Check out Equine Spirit Sanctuary

Buck Dunton Painting at the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House

40. 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

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. Pecha Kucha, attend or sign up to be a presenter at Pecha Kucha Nights Taos (check   

               their Facebook page for updates). 

               http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/taos

Such events have been cancelled due to the Pandemic.

45. Have your portrait painted, find a Taos Artist to paint your portrait or even your  

               favorite pet (ask at a gallery, who paints portraits).

46. Meet an artist, drop into any Taos Gallery, chances are you’ll actually meet an artist  

               there.

Look at Art, Buy Art, Think About Art, Read About Art, Support Artists

 47. Take note of the 'Taos is Art' Banners all over Taos.

        *Hot Tip: Afterwards visit their galleries.

48. Dance at Doc Martins at the Taos Inn, free music nightly, it’s the ‘Living Room of 

               Taos’ after all! Due to the Pandemic the Inn no longer offers music each night but there have been musicians playing in the back courtyard on certain evenings.

49. 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.

50. Take lots of photographs, just don't stand too close to the edge…

51. 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

52. Attend an outdoor concert, Kit Carson Park (various weekends through the summer)   

               or Taos Plaza (Thursday evenings through the summer). Many of the regular scheduled concerts were cancelled due to the Pandemic.

53. Attend a history lecture, the Taos County Historic Society sponsors various lectures t  

               throughout the year. http://taoscountyhistoricalsociety.org

54. 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!

 55. Buy a House, stay forever, why leave!

56. 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.

57. 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

58. 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.

59. 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.

60. 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?).

61. 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.

62. 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

63. Listen, just stop and listen to your heart.

Portrait by Seamus Mills of Robert Cafazzo

64. 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.

65. Swim at the John Dunn Bridge, it’s also a great place for a picnic, in Arroyo Hondo.

66. See the Red River Fish Hatchery (it’s actually south of Questa).

67. Bird watch, everywhere around Taos. 

              *Hot Tip: The meadow south of the San Francisco de Asis Church is part of the Taos    

               Birding Flyway.

68. 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.

69. Be a mentor, just help share your knowledge with someone.

70. Be a docent, learn everything there is to know about one of the museums or historic  

               properties and share that knowledge with visitors. 

71. 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

72. Eat a sopapilla, those powder puffs of dough are a Taos food staple.

73. Go bowling at Gutters Bowling Alley.

 74. Visit Vivac winery in Dixon,  La Chiripada Winery in Dixon, Black Mesa Winery in Alcalde.

 75. Visit a brewery, pick one or two (google it).

76. 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

77. Have a Taos picnic. 

              *Hot Tip: Pick up supplies at Koko Deli Carry-Out, Parcht, or Manzanita Market

78. Walk a Taos labyrinth.

             *Hot Tip: Adobe & Pines B&B and Mabel Dodge Luhan House have two of the best.

79. Look for deer and elk shed antlers during a walk in the forest you never know what

              you might find.

80. Eat chocolate at Chokola Bean to Bar (Taos Plaza), or Chocolate & Cashmere (Bent  

               Street).

81. Eat locally made extraordinary flavors of ice cream at Manzanita Market (Taos  

              Plaza) or Taos Cow (in Arroyo Seco).

82. Bike ride, take the back roads or mountain bike.

83. Smile at a complete stranger. Due to the Pandemic, mask wearing complicates this simple task, so smile with your eyes and appreciate others.

84. Try a coffee shop that isn't Starbucks, there are coffee shops everywhere in Taos!

85. Lilac festival annually in May. http://www.taoslilacfestival.com

86. Enjoy fall colors, Autumn in Taos is when everything turns yellow. “It’s all yellow.”

87. Stand where O'Keeffe stood ask about this at the Mabel Dodge House, the DH 

               Lawrence Ranch or the Sagebrush Inn.

88. Buy a hat, purchase a proper hat (not a baseball cap). 

               *Hot Tip: Drop in at Paul’s Hat Shop, try a hat on for size.

89. 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 or Kimosabe all have great items.

Art Assemblage Workshop at Mabel Dodge Luhan House with Seth Apter & Roxanne 

90. Drink water, do not get run down, drink more water than you think you need.

91. Hashtag your photos on Instagram or Facebook with: #VisitTaos #NewMexicoTrue #ThisIsTaos #TaosIsArt

92. 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.

93. Take a yoga class, (google when and where).

94. Drive the High Road from Ranchos de Taos to Penasco and Picuris Pueblo.

95. 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. The collection has been closed to the public due to the Pandemic.

 96. Ride in a balloon, book a balloon ride with any of the balloon tours.

 97. Check out historic and colorful cemeteries, they’re all over Taos.

98. Look at all the flowers, Spring Wildflowers, Flower Gardens all over Taos or go on

                the Taos Summer Garden Tour.

99. 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! 

100. 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.

Taos Pueblo Pow Wow Dancer

Taos has much more than this! Share your ideas or create your own Taos Bucket List, or write one for your 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 Plaza Gallery in Ranchos de Taos and tell us what you love.

Over a dozen places are not available at this time due to the Pandemic. I've chosen to not remove them, instead to add notes where necessary. Please be vaccinated, let's get back to normal.

Copyright, Robert Cafazzo 2017
This post has been updated October 2021, copyright still stands.