Taos versus Santa Fe
 

We (my wife and I) are going to spend perhaps a week this coming October in Taos and Santa Fe (we have never been).

Should we divide up our time in half or spend more based in one or the other?

- Dan

I was there 2 years ago. Personally I would spend much more time in Santa Fe. We loved that, but weren't too impressed with Toas. Just a personal opinion. We loved the Hotel Santa Fe, which is owned by Native Americans and we had the best meal of all in the hotel restaurant.

Have fun! Laura

Dan,

It really depends what your interests are. if you are into hiking and outdoors stuff, Taos is the place. If you want art, great food, shopping, etc. SF wins. You can easily spend most of the time in SF with day drives to surrounding areas (including Taos). If you are going to be here in the begining of Oct., don't miss the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque! You would need to make reservations now... that's a very busy week around here.

deb

I say Santa Fe and take a day trip to Taos - we did that.

Schnooks

I agree with all the above posters. if you're really curious as to what others have said about this topic, do a search on this site. this has been bandied about in the past.

For some reason, and despite all the raves one reads about Taos, our experience was the same as that of some of the above posters--we weren't impressed. You must take a daytrip at least, preferably more than one, because there are great things to see in and around Taos, but we were happy to stay in SF. Have fun!

Another vote for Santa Fe with a day trip to Taos.

I agree. We've given Taos a couple of tries and I always find it trashy. Enjoyed Santa Fe much more.

Definitely make a day trip to Taos though. Go on further north and do the loop to the Taos Ski area--beautiful country.

If I were you, I'd book at least one night, maybe two, in Taos and the rest in Santa Fe. That way you can judge for yourself. But there's definitely more to do in S.F.

Ditto a day trip to Taos. We did it last summer and drove up a 2-lane road through the mountains to get there. It took a little longer, but was absolutely beautiful.

I think abqdeb has summed it up best.

SF would be a more central location to see both Albq and Taos as side trips.

I would like to thank all of the responses. I think we might still stay a few days in Taos taking one of those days to wander around nearby and add time to Santa Fe.

- Dan

We absolutely loved the drive between Santa Fe and Taos and since you're going to spend time in Taos you won't need to rush. Worth checking out near Taos is the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge--you can park you vehicle on either side and walk across; highly recommend it! Enjoy your trip! :-)

I second Jayne1973's suggestion. Taos is worth a night or two. It's hubby's favorite, although I prefer Santa Fe. Actually, we had planned a trip that included flying to Albuquerque, staying a couple of nights each at B&B's in Santa Fe and Taos, and a night at a hotel in Red River (north of Taos). It was our celebration of getting the last child out of the house and into college. Only thing is, our flight was due to leave on September 13, 2001... We still hope to make this trip at some point.

dmitz,

Hope you will post a report when you get back. I'd like to know what you saw and did because I haven't spent time in Taos in many years and go to SF every year. I might want to venture up there for a night sometimes.

Have a wonderful trip!

You know I come to these board over and over again and have never posted a trip report. I'll try and remember to do so.

- Dan M

Another vote for santa fe....however DO tour the Taos Pueblo. Its one of few that you can literally tour, and its been lived in for over 1000 years. You must ask to take photos, which is much more aceeptable if you buy something from one of the vendors... When there we saw a wedding party coming from the church, which is never open to tourists, so that was cool. It was actually a 'moment' for me, made me teary-eyed seeing all the generations together etc.

We were in Taos twice in the winter (ski trips) and just loved it!

Then we finally made it there in the spring (April, I think) and it didn't seem to be the same place, which is to be expected, I guess. Anyway, it was pretty scruffy looking.

I suppose the recently melted snow had uncovered the unattractive areas.

Anyway, we just spent one night and went on o Durango.

All this was several years ago, and I think we may give Taos another try this fall.

Byrd