New Mexico Sunrise

Sunset, stars, views for miles, sunrise…

I didn’t sleep much on this trip. It’s summer. The sun doesn’t set until 9. Then there are the amazing desert stars. Then there’s an incredible sunrise at 5am. Repeat that for six days.

I’ve always heard amazing things about Taos. A place full of hippies and artists, with vast expanses of desert leading into the Sangre de Cristo mountains in the distance. Like many places, the artist/hippie vibe has devolved into “let’s pretend for tourists and sell expensive art",” but it was still quirky and of course, beautiful.

Trailers seem to be a popular accommodation option, both for visitors and for residents. We stayed in a vintage trailer at Luna Mystica, a few miles from town. There are “homesteads” for sale all along the route to Taos, with trailers dotting the landscape in all directions. The area is also known for the Earthship Biotecture. These homes (which you can also rent nightly or weekly) are sticking up out of the earth for miles along route 64 and they even have a visitor’s center and museum to explore the history of these eco-friendly designs.

Taos, like many place in the Southwest, has a complicated, often fraught, and also beautiful history. The Taos County Historical Society has an informative timeline of this history. It is felt in the city center, as well as the surrounding areas. The food also reflects the history and blending of cultures, especially at Michael’s Kitchen, with breakfasts ranging from green chili enchiladas, sopapilla, to your classic American omelettes and cinnamon rolls. I’m also a huge fan of the piñon nut coffee! Bring an appetite and perhaps a to-go container, as portion are huge and the food is delicious - definitely not your typical diner.