Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

Taos Ski Valley was founded in 1955 and remains one of the few family owned and operated ski resorts in the country and does not allow snowboarders on their hills. The Taos Ski Valley offers a satisfying skiing experience encompassing terrain for every level of skier and lots and lots of snow. This is exactly what skiers look for and one of the reasons Taos Ski Valley has many admirers.

Taos skiing is legendary. Ranking with other great ski hills such as Aspen and Sun Valley, Taos skiing is definitely on the skier's agenda. Some runs catapult down into drops so steep they can send your head spinning. Many of these Taos skiing runs definitely require a lot of skill and concentration. A favorite among better skiers is the hike up from the apex of Kachina Hill to check out the breathtaking bowl off Kachina Peak. The hike up to the peak is roughly 20-45 minutes long depending on what kind of shape you're in! Highline Ridge is equally memorable with Taos skiing and has channels and expanses inserted all along the way down.

Taos New Mexico skiing is a favorite among traditionalists because of the no-boarder ban. Many classic skiers are not into snowboarding styles and find boarders to be more of a nuisance on the hills than anything. Surely, snowboarders would attest! Alas, they're not found anywhere on or near the hill so there's no opportunity to ask their opinion!

Taos New Mexico skiing brings skiers from all over the world to test the hills and rage down runs. Many suggest acclimating to the elevation. Perhaps a stay in Santa Fe is good thing to do and allows skiers to then the hit the slopes with a clear mind, ready body and steady breathing. Many come back for Taos New Mexico skiing annually as, being a family run resort, the childcare services are more personal and the resort has a world-class children's school at the bottom of the hill.

The Taos ski area definitely has some great skiing but it has many other things to offer visitors off the ski hills. The town of Taos is very rich in history and culture and is home to many exciting museums, galleries, cultural activities and the 1000 year old Taos Pueblo which is accredited as a World Heritage site. Taos has long been centered around art and many successful artists live and work out of the town, showcasing art in Taos and the surrounding area. Taos ski area also boasts a vivacious nightlife and offers live entertainment at 7 of the areas bars.

Inside the town of Taos there are over 50 bars and restaurants, some of which offer live entertainment. A popular all-ages bar and hangout outside of the Taos ski area is the Adobe bar located inside the historic Taos Inn. With great live music and no cover charge this hotspot is favored by locals and visitors who call it "the living room of Taos". The bar features a variety of music from jazz, bluegrass, Celtic, world, native folk and hosts open-mic on Monday evenings that gets less known musicians out of the woodwork.