1.Skiing Adventure – The Taos Ski Valley Resort is one of the most respected ski resorts in the Rockies. For those looking to learn to ski or improve upon the skills they already have, the resort’s ski school is consistently very highly rated.

2.Miles of Snowmobiling – With plenty of fresh Alpine trails to explore, Taos is the ideal destination for those wanting to make a snowmobile adventure their top priority-as well as for those who’d just like to make a great ski vacation even more memorable by adding a complementary activity.

3.Rafting Adventure – Looking for a little water-based outdoors adventure? If so, be sure to explore the Taos area’s numerous enticing rafting streams. When ski season wraps up for the year, the destination’s full-on rafting season is just getting started!

4.Alpine Camping – The Taos, NM area is packed with plenty of beautiful places to take a camping trip. With practically next door national forests and state parks plentiful, the beautiful and tranquil Rocky Mountain scenery can be all yours for as long as you wish to stay.

5.Hiking some of America’s Best Trails – In the spring, summer, and autumn seasons at Taos, the nearly endless miles and miles of hiking trails become a key focus for recreation seekers. And with a location this ideally scenic, it’s really easy to see why!

6.Fantastic Fly Fishing – Summer in northern New Mexico is a fly fisher’s paradise. The clean mountain streams are just right for a very memorable fishing trip (and the fish are quite plentiful). There are a number of guided fly fishing tours that will take you to secluded spots for finding that prized trophy fish.

7.Festivals Galore – It sure seems like no matter what time of the year it is in Taos, there’s a popular festival going on all the time. From respected beer and wine festivals, to arts and music festivals, and countless additional cultural festivals between, there’s something festive going on every single month of the year.

8.Art to Appreciate – This part of New Mexico has become well-respected as being an artists’ haven. And with the all-year-long scenic beauty that’s so prevalent, it’s no wonder so many artists flock to the area. You’ll find plenty of exciting galleries and shops to explore while you’re here.

9.Luxurious Spas – Would travelling to get a little R&R be complete without taking the time for luxurious spa treatment? Spending a long weekend at one of the incredible spa resorts in the region is a respectable (and very popular) travel plan to add to your Taos itinerary.

10.Just Escaping From It All – While there are so many exciting things to do in Taos, sometimes the best plan is just to get away from it all for awhile. Renting a house in the mountains surrounding Taos is truly the ideal escape.

Highly-regarded as one of the nation’s top ski destinations, this area has so much to offer even once ski season has wrapped up for the year. Taos, New Mexico really is the perfect destination for year round adventure!

One story from 1836 is of an old prospector named Adams. After suffering an attack by Indians, Adams stumbled into the town of Pinos Altos. Before dying of his injuries, Adams told tales of a wondrous red hill just north of the town where gold was scattered everywhere, ripe for the taking. In his knapsack was $7000 worth of gold nuggets which he claimed came from this hill. Prospectors raced to the site, trying to find the gold-rich hill, but none succeeded. Pinos Altos currently maintains many buildings and historic sites from the gold rush including the Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House and the Pinos Altos Historic Museum.

The Hembrillo Basin, just below Victorio Peak, is the site of one of the more baffling treasure mysteries in New Mexico. In 1937 Milton Earnest “Doc” Noss was traveling through Hembrillo Basin when he stumbled upon a large rock that turned out to be the cover-stone of an unbelievable treasure trove. There are numerous theories as to the source of this cavern filled with treasures beyond imagining, but none has been proven. By 1938 Doc Noss managed to gain legal claim to the treasure, and worked to remove as much of it as he could. In the fall of 1939, Doc decided that he needed to enlarge the opening to the hidden treasure, and arranged to blast the narrow tunnel with eight sticks of dynamite. This was a mistake, causing a cave-in that permanently blocked further entry to the cavern.

In 1955 the White Sands Missile Range decided to expand its territory into Hembrillo Basin. Doc’s wife, Ova “Babe” Noss, fought to retain her rights to the sealed treasure trove, but the ownership of both the land and the treasure beneath it was highly disputed. Eventually military personnel apparently found another entrance to the hidden cavern, and the dispute became even more rabid. Finally in 1963 the state put together a mining expedition to uncover what treasure remained on the site. The venture was unsuccessful, for any remaining gold had either been removed, or the location of the cavern had again been lost. To this day, the mystery of the treasure of Hembrillo Basin has not been solved. Doc and Babe’s descendants still fight to find out what happened to the treasure, and whether any remains beneath Victorio Peak.

The mountains are home to many other hidden treasure troves. A deep canyon in Caballo Mountain, near Las Cruces, is said to hide goods stolen by Indians from the Spanish. The Capitan Mountain supposedly hides a horde of Aztec gold and silver worth $25 million. Steins Peak is home to Doubtful Canyon, where the takings from a stagecoach robbery are reputedly hidden. More illicit treasure is said to be hidden at Devoy’s Peak near Mount Dora. Other places with legends of lost treasure troves include Cimarron, Cooney, and Tijeras Canyon.

As the capital of New Mexico and a growing city Albuquerque has something to offer everyone. However on the outskirts of this city known more for its hospitals and high-profile concerts than its conservation lays the Bosque Del Apache wildlife refuge. In Spanish the name means “woods of the Apache”, and although there is no forest around there is a major wildlife sanctuary and includes thousands of birds. Many of these birds can be seen during their natural migration habits and depending on the time of the air can include Arctic geese, ducks and cranes. The refuge offers recreational areas and a map with sites for bird watching as well as an understanding on how to protect and conserve this unique outdoor environment. The key to traveling through New Mexico isn’t so much about what you see but what you don’t. Take any small road around the corner and you may find yourself encountering a lake, a cave, or flock of Nordic fowl. Its ability to surprise even the most hardened citizens is what truly has made New Mexico the land of enchantment.

Albuquerque’s golf courses are perhaps one of the sport’s best-kept secrets, with several of the region’s courses having been ranked among the best in the country by golfing publications. With courses ranging from desert links to parkland and mountain courses, Albuquerque offers one of the most diverse golf experiences available. Albuquerque is also home to one of America’s most unique and cherished regional cuisines, so it’s no surprise to know that food is one of the things that people remember most about a trip to New Mexico. The regional cuisine is based on native ingredients such as corn, beans and chillies and incorporates Mexican, Native American and Spanish flavours. Away from the local cuisine, Albuquerque has a hugely diverse choice of culinary options: sushi bars, pizzerias, Mexican taquerias are all available, along with traditional restaurants offering a wide range of dishes.

If you’re interested in the Civil War, there are plenty of battlegrounds to see on amotorcycle. You can drive across the Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge, and the Westportbattlegrounds in Arkansas and Missouri. If you are interested in staying on the EastCoast of the United States, consider taking your bike north across the border. Thereare beautiful rides through Canada and Nova Scotia. Just be sure to go in thesummer because the climate can be very cold up north in the winter. In summer theweather will be ideal – not too hot but pleasant enough to spend days on the back ofyour bike, taking in the open air.

With 310 days of sunshine, Albuquerque makes an ideal destination for those who enjoy outdoor activities. Whether your penchant is for golf, biking, pony trekking or skiing, Albuquerque – with its endless blue skies – provides the perfect environment to indulge in your hobby. As such, it comes as no surprise to learn that Albuquerque was named by Men’s Fitness magazine as one of the top ten fittest cities in the U.S.

Albuquerque’s golf courses are perhaps one of the sport’s best-kept secrets, with several of the region’s courses having been ranked among the best in the country by golfing publications. With courses ranging from desert links to parkland and mountain courses, Albuquerque offers one of the most diverse golf experiences available. What’s more, green fees in Albuquerque are considerably less expensive than at comparable courses elsewhere in the country so you’ll be able to play more often, especially as Albuquerque also boasts a moderate winter climate, with 14 golf courses available to play all-year round.

For cycling enthusiasts, Albuquerque has earned numerous rankings as a great cycling city. In fact, the city was named the third-best place to bike in the U.S in 2006 by Bicycling Magazine; and with trails ranging from flat, winding routes through the city to intense, rugged mountain trails nearby, cyclists need look no farther for thrills. The Sandia foothills to the northeast of the city offers miles of gravel and single-track trails leading to National Forest and Wilderness land which overlooks the city, and provides stunning views for onlookers.

Alternatively, if you prefer something a little more sedate, Albuquerque is home to the world’s largest hot air balloon festival, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which takes place every October. Albuquerque is the balloon capital of the world, and during the festival you’ll see more than 700 balloons in the sky at a time. The festival draws a huge international crowd of balloonists and spectators each year, and is considered to be one of the most photographed events in the world. If hot-air ballooning is something you’d like to try for yourself, Albuquerque has many local hot-air balloon companies which provide rides for visitors on a daily basis, while the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum features one of the world’s finest collections of hot-air ballooning equipment and memorabilia and is a world-renowned authority in the art, culture, science and history of hot-air ballooning.

Not to be outdone, Albuquerque also boasts an extensive array of shopping options to explore. From Native American jewellery and produce to authentic Southwestern pottery, weaving, art and more besides, you’re sure to find a delightful treasure that will bring back cherished memories of your visit to Albuquerque for years to come.

And if that isn’t enough, Albuquerque is also home to one of America’s most unique and cherished regional cuisines, so it’s no surprise to know that food is one of the things that people remember most about a trip to New Mexico. The regional cuisine is based on native ingredients such as corn, beans and chillies and incorporates Mexican, Native American and Spanish flavors. Away from the local cuisine, Albuquerque has a hugely diverse choice of culinary options: sushi bars, pizzerias, Mexican taquerias are all available, along with traditional restaurants offering a wide range of dishes.

Whether you stay in an authentic Southwestern bed and breakfast, a luxurious guest resort or a downtown hotel in Albuquerque, you’re sure to find Albuquerque is a city with something for everyone, and a place where you can immerse yourself in a sublime mix of culture and heritage that is entrenched in centuries of history.