Taos is a year-round playground. Country Home Food and Entertaining Editor Lisa Holderness loves visiting Taos, New Mexico, at least once a year and she enjoys every season-skiing and snowshoeing in winter, hiking in spring, and the cultural festivals of summer and fall. Of course, Taos' cutting-edge art and cuisine are reason enough to point your car up the scenic high road from Santa Fe.

Taos Dragonfly Cafe
"Long before I arrive at the Dragonfly Cafe and Bakery," says Lisa, "I am already thinking of the crackling fireplace in the center of the sunlit adobe room and wondering whether it'll be fennel pancakes with homemade orange syrup or the Dragonfly Omelet with homemade gravlax." The lunches and weekend brunches are worth checking out while in Taos.
402 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, 505/737-5959; www.dragonflytaos.com

Horse Feathers - A Taos Western Shop
A 16-year attraction for tourists and locals of Taos, this fun store's front room is packed with everything Western: old neon western signs, western wood lamps, pocket knives, and western belt buckles. Be sure to strike up a chat with the colorful owners and Taos locals, Lindsay and Nancy Enderby. And don't miss the back room: a cowboy heaven stocked floor-to-ceiling with great western apparel including: hats, boots, and jackets.
109-B Kit Carson Rd., 505/758-7457;
www.cowboythings.com

Taos Cookery
This gourmet kitchen shop is the place to go for food souvenirs and gifts while in Taos. Lisa's basket usually contains a pound or two of Tres Montanos coffee from Taos Roasters, an assortment of Taos Tea Company tea bags, and jars of Green Chile Jelly made by Muy Cool, Inc.
113 Bent St., 505/758-5435;
www.taoscookery.com

Twining Weavers- Taos Art Work
Vivid stacks of western style woven napkins and table runners dazzle the eyes when you enter this store. Some of the art work is by owner Sally Bachman; other pieces are by regional artisans and a Guatamalan family of weavers that has been creating such pieces of art work for generations. There's also a nice selection of global gifts, and children's books and stuffed animals.
133 Kit Carson Rd., 505/758-9000

Western Furnishings of Taos
Unique western style hand-built and painted tables, chairs, and cupboards abound in this gem of a store owned by Taos local Mary Shriver. "I also love their handcrafted knobs and hooks," says Lisa. "And I always buy the hand-dipped and oversize Antoinette candles."
534 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, 505/758-4633

Tony Whitecrow's Deerskin Art and Design
Tony Whitecrow has garnered a national reputation for the way he turns hides into wearable art such as beaded and fringed jackets and leather pillows. But he still makes and sells his designs in this shop in the historic El Torreon Hacienda, in El Prado just north of Taos .
505/758-5470;
www.taostorreon.com

Taos Inn's Adobe Bar (and lobby) is the social center of Taos-perfect for sipping margaritas and people-watching while swaying to nightly live music.
125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, 505/758-2233;
www.taosinn.com

La Fonda De Taos on the Plaza is rich with history, including nine forbidden art. These oil paintings by D.H. Lawrence (they were deemed risqué and confiscated in 1929). More recently, it's become home to the popular Joseph's Table restaurant and the culinary brilliance of chef Joseph Wrede.
108 South Plaza, 505/758-2211;
www.lafondataos.com

Taos Ski Valley offers top-notch skiing (no snowboards), dining, and the feel of a European ski village. The views are awesome.
866/968-7386; www.skitaos.org

Hotels and Inns

Casa de las Chimeneas
A charming eight-suite hacienda-style inn and spa that serves exceptional breakfasts and suppers; located just a few blocks from the historic Taos Plaza.
405 Cordoba Road; 877/758-4777
www.bbonline.com/nm/chimeneas

El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa
A recently built luxury hotel and spa with a fine restaurant, De La Tierra. The 35 suites and casitas feature décor inspired by Native Americans and other world cultures.
317 Kit Carson Road; 800/828-8267
www.elmontesagrado.com

MORE SHOPPING

Mesa's Edge
Exquisite silver and gold jewelry from more than 30 regional artists, with a small selection of Zuni- and Navajo-crafted pieces. Look for additional locations in Taos Ski Valley and Ranchos de Taos.
122-C Kit Carson Road; 505/758-3500

At Home in Taos
Features works by owner/potter Georgia Neumann, plus an eclectic variety of other southwestern home furnishings and accessories.
109-A Kit Carson Road; 505/751-1486

Taos Tin Works
Artist Marion Moore takes a fresh approach to traditional hand-tooled tin- and copper-smithing: frames, lamps, chandeliers, sconces, and more.
1204-D Paseo del Pueblo Norte; 505/758-9724
www.taostinworks.com

Common Thread
Luxurious handwoven fabrics from around the world, including antique and new silk, cotton, hemp, velvet, buttons, beads, and more.
120-A Bent St. (in the John Dunn Shops); 505/758-8987

JHS Gallery
302 Camina de la Placita
505/758-0280

Restaurants

Lambert's
Zeke and Tina Lambert came to Taos 17 years ago on their honeymoon and never left. Superb food and beautiful décor. Try their signature Pepper-Crusted Lamb or Chile-Dusted Rock Shrimp.
309 Paseo del Pueblo Sur; 505/758-1009
www.lambertsoftaos.com

Taos Pizza Out Back
Perennially voted "best pizza in Taos ."
712 Paseo del Pueblo Norte; 505/758-3112