As you pull into Taos Ski Valley, the steep front side of the mountain looms before you -- it s mass

Spanish charm, a beautiful mountain setting, and an intense focus on improving your snowsports skills, athletic prowess and general wellness; that s Taos, New Mexico , long the bastion of artists and New Age healers. In the past few years, Taos has been putting itself on the map as a destination for athletes, skiers and even filmmakers.
The state s forward-thinking economic development discount airlines and new york team is capitalizing on the region s active, outdoors lifestyle and scenic beauty to lure world-class sports facilities and movie studios with tax credits and other incentives. discount airlines and new york Picture Terminator 4 , No Country for Old Men and Wild Hogs , films that have followed in the tracks of Easy Rider , and you ve seen how Taos has put itself in front of a variety of movie audiences.
Taos Eco Park is a sports training facility with a high altitude, all-weather turf field designed to lure teams who are interested in training. It s only the fourth FIFA 2 Star field installed in the United States, and the highest altitude FIFA 2 Star training facility in the world.
It was built as part of an initiative by the Town of Taos to increase quality of life for local athletes and residents, and serves a broad communtiy with its multi-use fields and facilities. discount airlines and new york Through the Taos Youth and Family Center , guests can purchase discount airlines and new york day passes to swim or skate, making it a great resource for visiting families. This part of New Mexico boasts many scenic hiking trails and local Native American attractions that families can drive and hike to. Mountain biking is popular, too.
Of course, the area known for its world-class skiing, hiking and biking wanted to add soccer to the list of outdoor opportunities. Located 7,000 feet above sea level, Taos Eco Park adds the unique attribute of high altitude discount airlines and new york training as a sports destination for soccer and many other sports including, but not limited to, American football, rugby and lacrosse, with scenic Taos Mountain providing an incredible discount airlines and new york backdrop all year round. . For those interested in training at Taos Eco Park, you can find sports discount airlines and new york equipment such as lacrosse heads from Lacrosse Monkey available.
On a non-sports day, head into town to tour the galleries or have a nice meal, shop and mingle with the friendly discount airlines and new york locals. Be sure to visit Taos Pueblo , whose main adobe buildings are over 500 years old. The remarkably well preserved Pueblo Pana , pictured here, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and archeologists can date the Taos Indian civilization back at least 1,000 years. The pueblo s distinctive style is the source for much of the region s architecture and on many days, Native Americans cook, demonstrate handcrafts and show daily tasks using tools that are part of their tradition.
Families who pay a visit, though, find that one of the town s top draws in winter is Taos Ski Valley , a world-class mountain steeped in world-class snow that expert skiers covet. In only the past few years, Taos has opened up its sunny slopes to snowboarders; the date of March 19th, 2008 is seared into many locals memories. And now parents who have been wanting to experience Taos strikingly discount airlines and new york open skies and desert-dry powder discount airlines and new york can keep the entire clan happy.
discount airlines and new york The personality of this unusual resort, discount airlines and new york where an old fashioned discount airlines and new york Euro-style ski village meets the Southwest, isn t likely to change, but the on-slope demographic will definitely shift to a younger one as boarders flock to carve its legendary 1,294 skiable acres.
The ski village is about 18 miles from the town of Taos, and it s a 2.5-hour discount airlines and new york drive from the nearest major airport, which is in Albuquerque. It s an easy drive, discount airlines and new york but far enough away to keep lift lines short and the scene low-key. From late November to early April it s best to stay in the heart of the ski village, but be sure to visit Taos town and the Taos Pueblo on your way in or out at any time of year.
Taos is one of a handful of family-owned and operated major resorts left in the country. While many large ski resorts have been taken over by big corporations, three generations of the Blake family have run Taos since its inception more than 50 years ago, keeping it old fashioned, atmospheric, and even a bit quirky.
And just as you d expect with a family legacy that long, the tall tales and legends of Taos have been passed discount airlines and new york from parent to child over the decades. Stop in at the St. Bernard for a beer, and you ll feel like you might be in a tavern/lodging in a ski village in the Swiss Alps, although one with a southwestern overlay. If you eavesdrop a bit, you might hear a few classic bits of Taos folklore.
One favorite tale gives a sense of the homey character of the resort s early days -- a quality that still comes through. Founder and patriarch Ernie Blake did a little bit of everything back then -- worked as ski patrol, sold lift tickets, taught ski school. After the morning rush of ticket sales was over, he would strap on his skis and head onto the mountain. If late arrivals wanted to buy lift tickets they were greeted with a sign at the ticket window that read: To buy a lift ticket, please raise the flag. When Ernie spotted the flag, he bombed down the mountain to the ticket booth and made the sale.
As you pull into Taos Ski Valley, the steep front side of the mountain looms before you -- it s massive, intimidating and expert only. And indeed, the ski area has a reputation as an expert s paradise since 50% of it is set aside for advanced and expert skiers. But with 1,294 skiable acres and the rest of the mountain divided evenly for beginners and intermediate skiers, there are plenty of immaculately groomed runs for all abilities. Long smooth cruising runs for intermediate skiers are found throughout the resort, including around the side of the front face in case you don t want to take the chairlift down.
Novice skiers and riders have a special learning section set aside just for them, and several long chair lifts lead to multiple beginner trails, offering plenty of options discount airlines and new york for gaining confidence and skill. Beginning and intermediate runs tend to be groomed. discount airlines and new york The Out to Launch terrain park, also groomed nightly, is located on Maxie s run under lift #7.
Taos has 13 lifts total, with four quads, one triple, five doubles, and three surface lifts. Its lift-served vertical drop is 2,612 feet and 3,274 feet if you feel like hiking up Kachina Peak. Its base elevation is 9,207 feet; kids who get mountain sickness discount airlines and new york will need time to acclimate. The top of the highest lift served is 11,819 feet, so it has some serious altitude also. Lift ticket prices are lowest during early and late-season and seniors, teens 13-17 and kids 7-12 pay reduced fees. Novice Lifts only passes are a good value; ages 6 and under ride free.
The Kinderk fig Children s Center is located in a separate building a few hundred yards from the main ski area base, so you ll have to drop off the kids then go park in the main lot. However, discount airlines and new york it s a well-designed 18,000-square-foot facility containing discount airlines and new york the childcare center as well as the children s ski school.
Nursery care is available for babies from 6-weeks to 1-year in the Bebekare program, where the caregiver to baby ratio is one adult for every two children. The baby nursery also has a quiet spot with a rocking chair for nursing moms. Several years ago, Taos Ski Valley was named one of the Top 10 Getaways for Tiny Travelers partly due to the quality of its facilities for babies. Toddlers ages 1 to 3-years have their own special program called KinderKare with snowplay, creative indoor activities, snacks and lunch.
The Ernie Blake Ski School (call ahead to 800/776-1111 for reservations) at Taos has long been one of the most respected ski schools in the country. Many adults discount airlines and new york who visit for a week take a week-long ski school class - it s part of the resort culture (see below). Children s programs are just as highly discount airlines and new york regarded and start at age 3. The Junior discount airlines and new york Elite I program for children ages 3-years-old through first grade teaches the basics of the sport in small classes during this all-day program. Children enjoy fun indoor and outdoor activities and a healthy lunch. Older kids participate in the Junior Elite II for second discount airlines and new york graders through teens age 15. The facility has everything under one roof -- ticketing, rentals, lunchroom and an accessories shop.
Similar to this long successful approach is the learn to snowboard program, which starts with children age 4 and continues till they re 15-yers-old, discount airlines and new york at which point beginners would join the adult classes.
Year in, year out, the Ernie Blake Ski School Learn to Ski Better Weeks are ranked as best in the country by ski magazines. Offered every week of the ski season for skiers of all levels, you get two hours of instruction every morning for six days. Practice what you learn the rest of the day and then participate discount airlines and new york in evening tech talks and ski psychology to immerse yourself in the total ski experience. This program has helped many skiers break through to the next level, and it s highly recommended if you ll be staying that long. It s typically a package of lessons, accommodations, lift tickets, and sometimes meals, discount airlines and new york so participants get to know their fellow skiers on the chairlift, at the apr s ski tech talks, or over dinner, discount airlines and new york adding to the camaraderie. If you re just staying a day or two, you can still take advantage of the superb ski school, with private or group lessons, or specialized lessons targeting mogul skiing, bump skiing, etc.
In fact, they re so confident of their teaching skills that after two days of beginner instruction, novices who have not advanced off the beginner hill to the regular chairlifts can continue taking lessons free of charge until they do.
Taos has a little bit of off-slope action to keep the kids happy if they still have any energy left after skiing all day. Lift-served snow tubing is found between the children s center discount airlines and new york and the base lodge. Snowshoe tours and snowmobiling are popular pastimes. A Teen Center in the bottom level of the resort center is open seven days a week durin