Dirt Roads ~ High Heels: Finding all the Treasures of Taos

Friday, March 29, 2019

Finding all the Treasures of Taos

Breakfast at Tiffany's? I have one better than that, Breakfast at Michael's Kitchen. This popular place was the first on our list of places to try and it was nothing short of amazing. Breakfast enchiladas, beans, rice, and my absolute favorite was the Fry bread with honey. Make sure to get here early thought, this place fills up fast!

After filling up on way too much food, we were off to explore Taos and our first stop was San Fransicso De Asis, located on the main plaza of Rancho de Taos. This historical church was built in the 1700s and is one of the finest architectural examples of a Spanish Colonial New Mexico Mission church. It is one of the most photographed churches in the United States and is a designated National Historical Landmark. This church is still active and offers mass many times per week. Out of respect, no photos are allowed inside, but you are able to view it. The detail of the interior architecture is incredible and walking inside takes you back hundreds of years. More info can be found here https://www.san-francisco-de-asis.org/

The Taos Plaza was next on the to-do list; this unique square is filled with shops, art galleries and eateries. We stopped by Chokola to grab a cup of coffee before making our way to El Rincon, the Original Trading Post of Taos. This hidden gem is over 100 years old and is still being operated by the same generation of the family who started it. It is filled with amazing Native American Jewelry and artifacts that have been collected over the years for you to view. I was able to add the perfect turquoise and silver star to my collection. This place is filled with history and culture and is not to be missed.

Time to drive; The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is an 83 mile loop through the forest, mountains, mesa's and valleys of New Mexico. This drive is centered around Wheeler Peak which stands 13,159 feet and is the tallest point in the state. Carson National Forest was beautiful and we stopped to take in the fresh air and crisp water of the Red River which runs along Highway 38. It's also a great place to spot Big Horn Sheep, we saw a herd of them along the roadside.

The day ended with us stopping by to show our support for a local protest that was happening just minutes away from Hotel Luna Mystica. Native Americans had set up camp for four days fighting to save their water supply. A local man had climbed to the top of the rig to stop the drilling before coming down and ultimately being taken into custody. Not only was this a sad situation but a humble experience to say the least.

We ended the day with another amazing sunset view of the mountains; Taos is turning out to be a new favorite location and a place everyone should experience.