Some night if it should snow, there's a place you really ought to go. __There's a legend that it's true -- I know in Taos, New Mexico. -- From "Taos, New Mexico," by Waylon Jennings
Taos has been constantly inhabited for over a thousand years -- and for a good reason
Some night if it should snow, there's a place you really ought to go. __There's a legend that it's true -- I know in Taos, New Mexico. -- From "Taos, New Mexico," by Waylon Jennings
Taos has been constantly inhabited for over a thousand years -- and for a good reason. The intense mountain vistas that enchanted the Central Puebloans in 1,000 A.D. continue to attract artists from around the world in the 21st century. Resting 6,967 feet above sea level and abutting the 13,000-foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos is the jumping off point for outdoor adventure and is a hub for Southwestern art and culture. Bring your sunscreen and your dancing shoes -- Taos is an unconventional spot, full of adventure and culture!
Taos is a small town on a big stage. Although only 5,716 New Mexicans call Taos home year-round (2010 U.S. Census data), hundreds of thousands of visitors pass through the village every year, drinking up the art, Native American culture, and the sun-blanketed ski slopes. As a result, this is a town the welcomes newcomers readily and with open arms. Be sure to bring your entire closet to have sufficient wardrobe for the changing Taos seasons. The climate is semi-arid. Summertime highs average in the mid-80s, and winter lows are in the low teens. You'll need to bring both a winter coat and short sleeves!
Because Taos experiences an influx of travelers during ski season, it is equipped with an impressive supply of apartments and short-term housing relative to its size. It'll be a cinch to find apartments for rent in Taos. The seasonal nature of the town also means that there will be a bounty of homeowners that are only part-time residents of the town. For the part of the year that they are absent, their properties become rental homes. Check the local classifieds for owners looking to lease their pads for part of the year. If you are flexible and looking for larger properties, like 3 bedroom homes for rent, this will be your best opportunity to score a killer deal.
Even though the attitude in Taos is laid back, landlords will be just as serious about vetting their tenants as in other parts of the country. In addition to identification and a deposit, any apartment is going to require proof of income that is at least three times the monthly rent. Individual landlords can be more flexible, particularly those that are looking for short-term tenants for their rental property, but you should definitely expect to provide at least one month's rent at the time you sign the lease.
Depending on what you're looking for in your new home, you'll want to check out one of the following neighborhoods.
Taos Plaza: You'll find mostly hotels here, with a few apartments mixed in. Adobe cottages are more common the further you travel off of the main streets.
Rancho de Taos: This village on the southern end of town features some of the larger estates in the area, and is more secluded from the bustle of downtown Taos.
Highway 240 and the Wilderness. Residences fan out into the mountains in every direction from the center of Taos. Many come here to absorb the romance of the untamed landscape. Along Highway 240, to the west of town, Earthships (Self-sufficient residences made entirely from recycled materials) sprinkle the countryside. If you are looking to live off the grid, this is your spot.
Tourism is the primary source of employment in Taos. If you aren't here to paint, you will probably be working in a business that connects to tourism. In the winter, world-class skiing is available 20 minutes from the town's center at Taos Ski Valley. The ski mountain boasts a peak of 13,161 feet -- the highest in New Mexico, yielding the best snow in the Southwestern US over 1294 ski-able acres. However, Taos Ski Valley is considered an intermediate to advanced resort, and beginning skiers will only have a few trails to ski. In the Summer, locals and tourists alike enjoy fly fishing, horseback riding, golfing, hot air ballooning, rafting, mountain biking and llama rides!
Like most American ski towns, Taos provides a comprehensive transport system that far exceeds that of cities with similarly modest population sizes. The Chile Line serves the town area, and is the only publicly funded transportation in the city. The Taos Express is run by the Chamber of Commerce and provides service from the downtown Taos Plaza to key destinations. New Mexico provides regional bus transportation service, with regular routes in between most of the small towns of Northern New Mexico. However you choose to get here and however you get around, you may never leave. The infectious romance of Taos is known to turn short-term visitors into lifetime residents of the high country!
