Visitors to Northern New Mexico benefit from and enjoy numerous activities during the month of July. It may well be THE month to get the Taos Experience! The following ideas cover less than half the scheduled festivals, shows, and other things to see and do; this list is an "appetizer" of ideas and activities. With a little research and a few phone calls, you'll find more fun filled activities. My advice is simple...plan more than just a weekend in Taos this summer!

Guess July 4th starts the months special activities. The Town of Taos always offers a special fireworks show. Please remember to use utmost care and check local fireworks limitations due to our common droughts.

One example is Taos Plaza Live with free live entertainment every Thursday evening on historic Taos Plaza. White water rafting in the Rio Grande continues thanks to the snowfalls of the past winter. If you prefer to experience the Rio Grande Gorge, yet remain dry, a hot air balloon ride into the gorge is a trip you will not forget! Balloon information at www.puebloballoon.com . Taos Ski Valley and Angel Fire and Sipapu chair lifts are up and running for your scenic enjoyment, at www.skitaos.org and www.angelfireresort.com and www.sipapunm.com . You can rent mountain bikes at Sipapu or play disc (frisbee) golf. Stargazing is perfect at Taos Ski Valley in July (their web site has the best nights listed). Hiking and biking is always an option in the Northern NM mountains. Cumbres & Toltec offers an authentic steam powered train experience! Check them at www.cumbrestoltec.com . Links to those and other activities are also at the Inn site listed below.

For the art lover, many galleries have special shows and openings throughout the month. The local museums also offer a wide variety of workshops, exhibitions, and shows, www.taosmusems.com. Prefer a play or live music? TCA, Taos Ski Valley, and Angel Fire have live concerts and plays at varied times throughout the summer. Prefer a movie? TCA also presents several movies during July, www.taoscenterforthearts.org . Don't forget the local movie theater, Storyteller with 7 screens of entertainment, www.transluxmovies.com . Several Arts & Crafts Fests occur in Taos and nearby communities during July. Further information can be found at many of the Taos area web sites including the Inn site listed below.

Prefer live entertainment? Taos' newest offering is Ronnie Lee's Supper Club with fine dining, live music, and dancing. Several other venues (at least 12) offer live entertainment ranging from Rock to Country. SOMOS offers the Summer Writers Series with weekly presentations at varied locations around Taos, www.somostaos.org . Taos School of Music offers concerts and seminars throughout the summer, www.taosschoolofmusic.com . Maybe you'd like to hone your artistic skills? Try Taos Art School, www.taosartschool.org .

Just want to relax? You can always do that at Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza in our central courtyard. You are invited to use our BBQ grill (subject to local fire restrictions). Perhaps a massage or other spa treatment is what melts your butter? Taos offers a wide range of providers of the many differing forms of spa and massage therapy. There are a couple of health clubs that offer day passes. The town has a swimming pool for those who seek a wet suit. Just a few miles distant is Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, www.ojocalientespa.com.

If wandering around is your wish, start with historic Taos Plaza with shops, galleries, food, and entertainment. Just North of the Plaza is Bent Street with more sites and the Bent Museum. Just South of the Plaza is Historic Ledoux Street and a couple museums. West of the Plaza is Kit Carson Road and more fun corners to explore. North of the Plaza, you'll find Paseo del Pueblo Norte, another relaxing stroll through time. Maybe you'll find your way to Dennis and Julia's (Dennis Modder and Julia Roberts) to honor their July 4, 2002 wedding anniversary. No visit to Taos is complete without a visit to Taos Pueblo. The weekend following July 4th is the time to be at the Pueblo to see the annual Taos Powwow. The Pueblo is considered one of the world's greatest historical and cultural sites and one of the few World Heritage Centers that are occupied. Feel the need for a little action? Taos Mountain Casino offers a smoke free environment with video and reel slots, video poker, craps, blackjack, and a deli.

If your favorite line is "the worst day fishing beats the best day working", the Taos area offers many choice fishing holes. Streams, rivers, and lakes offer the angler world class fishing within a couple hours of Taos. Some spots are as close as 15 minutes. Taos has a number of stores and guides for all your angling needs.

A variety of golf courses is also available in Taos. From close at hand Taos Country Club to more distant pueblo and community courses, the vistas of Northern NM are a unique experience for most golfers from other parts of the country. Need a golf lesson? Visit Taos Golf Gallery and Robert Keenan, Pro located at Indian Hills Inn for a range of golf lesson offerings. Angel Fire Resort golf course is at about 8000 feet above sea level. Have you ever wondered what less oxygen does to the flight of a well hit golf ball? Bring your clubs and stay a couple days extra. You can check out about 10 golf courses within about an hours drive of Taos.

Enjoy those eclectic local arts and crafts fairs? Taos and the surrounding communities offer many varied fairs during July. Some in downtown Taos at Kit Carson Park, some in Angel Fire, some on the way to Taos Ski Valley in Arroyo Seco. Have we suggested spending a few extra days in the Taos area?

Angel Fire, Red River, and other Northern NM communities are all less than an hours drive from Taos. They too offer numerous special events throughout July. You can reach the Angel Fire chamber at http://www.angelfirechamber.org/.

Day long self guided drive trips take too much detail for this short article. Here's a short list: Enchanted Circle, Wild and Scenic Rivers, High Road, Los Alamos, Whittington Center, Cimarron and Philmont Scout Ranch, Dunes National Monument, US 64, and others. More information on things to see and do in Taos are located at our Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza web site, the Chamber, the Forest Service. Email me any questions or further information, indianhills@newmex.com or jfslenes@aol.com. See You in Taos!

The above is merely a sample of July things to do and see. More information on Taos activities can be found at Taos County Chamber of Commerce, www.taoschamber.com. More information and links can be found at www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn. Email me for questions or further information, indianhills@newmex.com or jfslenes@aol.com. Further information is also available by calling the Inn at 505-758-4293. Further scheduled events at Taos Vacation Guide.