High Winter Road to Taos: Desert snowflakes and hot springs

The Pueblo of Nambé has existed since the 14th century, well before Spanish explorers met the tribe, which has been playing an important role in New Mexico's history ever since. Keep your eyes peeled in shops around here for their distinctive Nambé Polychrome pottery, hike through Nambé Falls Recreation Area just above the pueblo in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, contact Buffalo Tours to meet the pueblo's resident buffalo herd, and admire the jewelry and silver crafted by local artists.

Rio Grande Gorge State Park is home to some awesome hikes and trails, many of which feature petroglyphs and majestic rock formations. Take a leisurely stroll along the river, or just soak up the view of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest mountain. It honestly looks like a mini version of the Grand Canyon hidden away in northern New Mexico.

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is another way to experience the beauty of the river canyon. At 565 feet above the gorge floor, the steel deck arch bridge is the 7th highest bridge in the US. It's free to stroll across and soak up the views directly down. It's been featured in tons of films and movies, and no wonder... it's definitely a show-stopper of a bridge. You'll find tons of local craftspeople selling their wares near the parking area; it's part of the experience and these little stands are a nice way to support local businesses and get some souvenirs at more reasonable prices.

You'll probably be hungry after all that exploring, so warm up with a meal at the Farmhouse Cafe and Bakery. They feature tons of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, organic, locally-sourced, and generally healthy and green options. Order a side of red or green chile with your bison burger, empanadas, breakfast scramble, or other meal... it's a local specialty. Finish it all off with a scoop of Taos Cow Ice Cream atop one of their freshly-made baked goods. It's a meal that'll make you feel as good as it tastes.

There are lots of natural springs in the Taos area, but only a few are hot springs, with geothermal heat keeping the water at a nice 90-100 degree temperature. It's a mostly-undeveloped spring that anyone can visit. The route out follows a dirt road and requires a short hike through some kind of rocky terrain, but once you reach the springs, you can soak in the mineral-rich water to your heart's content.