{"id":97188193,"date":"2016-05-12T18:23:30","date_gmt":"2016-05-12T18:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/?p=97188193"},"modified":"2018-03-01T18:43:43","modified_gmt":"2018-03-01T18:43:43","slug":"my-taos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/my-taos\/","title":{"rendered":"My Taos"},"content":{"rendered":"

And America’s Weirdest Ski Town<\/p>\n

Taos<\/a>, New Mexico is unlike any other ski town: it\u2019s ethnically diverse, artistically rich, historically significant, and\u2026 just plain weird.<\/p>\n

The Land of Enchantment\u2014or \u201cEntrapment\u201d as the locals call it\u2014is by far the prettiest (and strangest) town I\u2019ve ever called home, and that\u2019s up against places like Jackson Hole, New York City, and Patagonia. But thanks to a three-hour drive from the closest airport, outside developers and second home owners haven\u2019t ruined it yet. So, unlike most ski towns, Taos is comprised of mostly working-class people and small business owners\u2014people who actually live<\/em> here.<\/p>\n

Taose\u00f1os<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Buildings<\/p>\n

For a remote town of only 6,000, Taos oddly resembles a culturally rich metropolis. The spiritual diversity alone attests to that: 200-year-old Catholic churches, Synagogues, sweat lodges, a Hindu ashram and everything in between. But the mosaic of locals is what really gives Taos its charm. On any given day, you\u2019re sure to see hippies with their scrappy dogs hitchhiking on a corner, Subarus carting skiers up to Taos Ski Valley, teenagers bouncing their low-riders, a Pueblo Indian riding his horse down the highway, and an elderly Spanish man driving a 1950\u2019s truck at a ridiculously low speed. And you\u2019ll overhear talk of crystals, \u201cthe universe,\u201d ni\u00f1os, snowmelt, government conspiracies, cattle, \u201cthe mesa\u201d (where hippies live completely off the grid in old school buses), teepees, and Earthships. No topic of conversation is off limits in Taos.<\/p>\n

Unparalleled Landscape<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Ancient<\/p>\n

Nestled up against the majestic Rockies, this high desert terrain is cut in half by a 1,300-foot-wide gorge, which tourists can explore via class IV rafting adventures. The high elevations (ranging from 7,000-12,000 feet) and excessive sun make Taos a dream for outdoor enthusiasts\u2014you can ski powder in the morning, climb in T-shirts in the afternoon, and soak in one of Taos\u2019s secret hot springs at night. Whether it\u2019s kayaking, rock climbing, rafting, fly fishing, trekking, golf, mountain biking, hot air ballooning, or world class skiing, you\u2019ll never get bored here.<\/p>\n

Revolutionary Architecture<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Bunch<\/p>\n

Taos is made up almost entirely of adobe buildings (even Wendy\u2019s!). But its oldest and most treasured adobe structures are found in The Taos Pueblo. Home to the Pueblo Indians for almost a thousand years now, this National Heritage sight is not to be missed. The other must-sees are the Earthships. Invented in Taos in the 70\u2019s, Earthships are revolutionary off-the-grid homes made from adobe and recycled materials\u2026 and they\u2019re gorgeous. People from all over the world come to intern at Taos\u2019s Earthship Academy. You can tour one yourself near The Gorge Bridge or ask a local about The Beer Can Castle.<\/p>\n

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The Scoop<\/strong><\/p>\n