Taos is a enchanting town. It’s a mix of the past and present all presented in a laid back and eclectic lifestyle. Its a rich tapestry of cultures — Pueblo Indian, Spanish and Anglo. Artists have been awe struck by the fabulous quality of natural light, and have flocked here from all over the world. Taos is rated third in the book, “100 Greatest Small Art Towns in America”.

Sometimes a few influential individuals can change the nature of a community. Two of these people, Mabel Dodge and Millicent Rogers, independently discovered Taos in the early 1900s, settled, and began inviting their circles of creative friends to visit. The likes of DH Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Ansel Adams came and created and invited more friends to visit. Many stayed and are part of the art history of Taos.

After World War II, yet another group of artists began relocating to Taos from New York and San Francisco. Many of this group became know as “Taos Moderns,” appreciating the magical light and the majestic landscape but translating these influences into abstraction. Harwood Museum of Art has a permanent display of works by Taos Moderns.

The summer of love in the late 1960s turned Taos life upside down and started yet another influx of creative beings, many from southern California. The hippie era of communes and free love was immortalized in Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider” film. Hopper moved to Taos as did many of his artist friends. These artists were sculptors, photographers, installation artists as well as painters and many are still working in Taos today.

To the south of town there are two main roads to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. One is The High Road traveling through the rural agricultural communities of Peñasco, Las Trampas, Truchas, and Chimayo. Many of New Mexico’s artists live in these communities, crafting hand-carved retalbos and santos, painting magnificent landscapes, weaving traditional rugs and blankets, and growing chiles! The other way to Santa Fe is along the Rio Grande – traveling along the beautiful rushing river carved through red sandstone. Small farm communities line the way, as well as numerous picnic sites along the river. Stop at a roadside stand and get a ristra (string of New Mexico red chiles), or sample the local wines at the many small family vineyards of northern New Mexico.

To the west, you’ll travel over the Rio Grande Bridge, past the Earthship community (where you can tour an earthship and see its renewable energy systems), and drive across the mesa to Tres Piedras. At this junction you can drive north to Colorado or south to the mineral springs resort, Ojo Caliente. If you continue west you will climb into vast aspen forests and drop down into the Chama Valley. In Chama, you can hop aboard the Cumbres-Toltec Railroad for a ride through the mountains of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.