One of my largest regrets about dwelling in Austin for over 10 years was that I didn’t go to New Mexico sufficient. I imply, it’s loopy—think about dwelling subsequent door to the aptly-named Land of Enchantment, and solely going a number of occasions? The excellent news, after all, is that journey is commonly about high quality greater than high quality. And all of my journeys to the speedy west had been extremely memorable, even when I didn’t take sufficient of them.
The higher information? If you’re stressing over the Santa Fe vs Taos debate, what I’m about to say will calm your nerves. (Even if the conclusion I attain is lower than definitive.)
While Taos vs Santa Fe tends to dominate the dialogue for guests to New Mexico, the state is greater than its northern reaches. In explicit, the beautiful White Sands National Park within the south is an absolute gem of a vacation spot, to say nothing of spots peripheral to that, together with the mountain village of Ruidoso and the ramshackle city of Alamogordo. There’s additionally the truth that, having lived in Texas throughout all my New Mexico journeys, I used to be considerably blinded to simply how particular the state is.
Taos, New Mexico
Ways to Compare Taos and Santa Fe
Vibe
In some methods, the vibes of those two cities are comparable—non secular, earthy, possibly a bit witchy. Santa Fe has older ladies promoting handmade jewellery; Taos has chili peppers hanging on buildings in all places. Santa Fe, nonetheless, despite this, is a bigger metropolis, and has a bit sooner tempo of life.
Attractions
When selecting Santa Fe or Taos, vacationer attraction issues. The Taos Pueblo looks like a dwelling museum, whether or not you discover San Francisco de Asis Mission, or go to Fechin House Art Museum. In Santa Fe, it’s extra about getting misplaced within the streets though sure points of interest (Georgia O’Keefe Museum; Cross of the Martyrs viewpoint) predominate.
Cuisine
When it involves meals, you gained’t go hungry in both of those cities. Obviously, my favourite factor to eat when visiting them is conventional New Mexican delicacies like sopapillas. However, whether or not you are taking a extra Tex-Mex route, and even go woo-woo vegan, you’re assured to eat effectively in all places in northern New Mexico.
Landscape
Given that the cities are lower than 90 minutes from each other by automotive, there’s not plenty of differentiation in panorama, whether or not you find yourself preferring Taos or Santa Fe. Think towering, terra-cotta coloured mountains and infinite blue skies, the place clouds slowly transfer towards the horizon because it somebody has painted them there.
Hotels and procuring
While I can’t assure they’ll be inexpensive, you’ll have your choose of lodging in each Taos and Santa Fe, from roadside motels, to boutique inns to luxurious properties in each the resort and trip rental class. As far as procuring is anxious? Let’s simply say that I hope you want dreamcatchers.
Santa Fe
How Many Days Do You Need in Santa Fe and Taos?
How lengthy you spend in northern New Mexico actually relies upon upon how far you’re coming from, and what the remainder of your journey appears like. If you’re simply driving down from Colorado and even over from Texas, it would is smart merely to spend 2-3 days in Taos and Santa Fe, particularly when you’re persevering with to go south to White Sands, or west into Arizona or Utah.
Paradoxically, I discover this may also be a very good period of time to spend when you’re flying in from far-off, assuming you will get an inexpensive fare to Santa Fe’s very small airport. Unfortunately, since that is so usually not the case, you’ll most likely must fly to El Paso or Denver, that means {that a} longer street journey across the Desert Southwest might be justified.
Other FAQ on Visiting New Mexico
Is Taos definitely worth the drive from Santa Fe?
Given that Taos is lower than 90 minutes from Santa Fe by automotive, I’d say the drive is sort of actually value it. Even when you don’t find yourself having the time to dig deep into Taos, it’s tough to not really feel charmed by the adobe mud structure constructed amid the desert panorama, to say nothing of the chili peppers hanging in all places.
What is so particular about Taos?
Taos has enchanted vacationers since lengthy earlier than the social media period, with a cityscape that hearkens again to the pre-American period and a panorama that additionally evokes occasions lengthy since previous. Taos can be good in that it’s an amazing ski vacation spot within the winter, despite being extraordinarily sizzling in the course of the summer season.
What is the vibe of Taos?
The earnest reply to this query is that Taos has an earthy, non secular vibe, which attracts earthy, non secular folks there. The extra cynical response? Whatever earthiness and spirituality as soon as existed in Taos has been co-opted, turning it right into a Disneyland from the “Coexist” crowd, whose pilgrimages there make it much more synthetic.
The Bottom Line
Comparing Santa Fe vs Taos isn’t as high-stakes as another metropolis debates, given how shut they’re to 1 one other. The actuality is that almost all vacationers will find yourself visiting each of those locations—it’s actually a query of which can get essentially the most consideration. If I’m sincere, I’ve points with each of them—they each have a sure “old ladies in the desert selling turquoise” vibe, a minimum of for the informal customer. On the opposite hand, whereas Taos’ timeless structure appears impossibly attractive in opposition to the desert panorama, the truth that Santa Fe is a “real” metropolis offers it the benefit for me.
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Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications corresponding to “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the best way. His weblog, Leave Your Daily Hell, gives a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays overlaying the extra esoteric facets of life as a traveler.