Sightseeing

TAOS PLAZA and TAOS PUEBLO

From either the Taos Villas or the Taos Casitas it’s just a short walk (approximately one-half mile) to the historic Taos Plaza, and a short drive to the Taos Pueblo. In the Taos Plaza and surrounding walking area, you’ll find wonderful galleries, shops, and restaurants, as well as a park, museum, and monuments. The Taos Pueblo, made entirely of adobe, is considered to be the oldest continually inhabited community in the USA, and is generally open to visitors daily, with the exception of about 10 weeks in late winter / early spring and during tribal rituals.

RIO GRANDE GORGE BRIDGE

http://taos.org/what-to-do/landmark-sites/rio-grande-gorge-bridge/

Travel west on US Hwy 64 to reach the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the second-highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System.  At 650 feet above the Rio Grande, it is the fifth-highest bridge in the United States. Once you drive over the bridge, on the left is a state park where you can park and hike/walk on the rim. You can also walk across the bridge, and there are several ideal spots from which to take photos.

KIT CARSON HOME and MUSEUM

http://www.kitcarsonmuseum.org

113 Kit Carson Road

The Kit Carson Home and Museum is located one block from Taos Plaza.  Although the date of construction of the building cannot be established conclusively, the house was certainly built around or before 1825.  It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963 by the National Park Service.

KIT CARSON PARK and CEMETERY

http://taos.org/what-to-do/landmark-sites/kit-carson-park-and-cemetery/

Located 1 ½ blocks north of Taos Plaza, this 25-acre park features a ¾ mile walking and jogging track around the perimeter. The park also has a playground for children ages 2–12, and there are ample picnic and barbecue areas throughout the park.  Kit Carson Cemetery is over 150 years old and is the final resting place of some prominent Taoseños.

SAN FRANCISCO de ASIS MISSION CHURCH

http://taos.org/what-to-do/arts-culture/spanish-culture/san-francisco-de-asis-mission-church/

60 St Francis Plaza, Ranchos de Taos

The historic “Ranchos Church”  is the only original church that remains intact in the Taos area.

San Francisco Plaza was originally an old u-shaped Spanish military garrison that once surrounded the church. Today, shops, galleries, trading posts, and restaurants have replaced the old adobe stables, barracks, and living quarters.