Les meilleurs hôtels à Taos

Just up the way from Santa Fe, tourists jam the streets and crowd the sidewalks of what was once a quaint little New Mexican artist community and ski resort. Not to say that Taos -- located between the Rio Grande and the Sangre de Christo Mountains -- has lost its status as little and quaint; the population is still only 4,000. Perhaps the influx of tourists is getting a bit out of hand, though. (Typical days on the streets can resemble an urban tailgate party.) With an art scene of legendary proportions and some of the finest skiing in the American West nearby, it's no wonder they continue to arrive in droves. Developed as an art colony in the late 1800s, Taos served as stomping grounds for such artists as John Marin and D.H. Lawrence. Today, it swells with galleries of fine, local art, and with restaurants serving some of the best Southwestern cuisine you're likely to find. The Carson National Forest provides for spectacular hiking and fishing. Surprisingly, the ultra-earthy town has quite a Web presence, too, with help from a local nonprofit access provider. If you poke around, you can find everything from announcements for the next Green party meeting to thoughts from the Chamber on spiraling growth.