Then the airport delays began. The Santa Fe airport is small, with limited flights and even more limited food options. So, even for a short hop to Denver, it took hours for a crew to fix a plane or secure a replacement flight. Heather’s flight was the last of the day — always a risk due to compounding delays that can mess up a whole schedule. A four hour delay in this case.
That put a damper on dinner, but our home base for the night at Taos Motor Lodge proved just right with a full kitchen where we whipped up some sandwiches and snacks for a movie night. With road trips as in life, flexibility usually saves the day.
In the morning, we packed up and loaded the car to explore the John Dunn House Shops in the historic plaza where we checked out Amina’s Children’s Boutique and Seconds Eco Store for souvenirs.
Photos: Nickolaus Hines
For breakfast, we popped into Manzanita Market. The food here is fresh, local, and tasty with a focus on sourcing from organic and biodynamic farmers and ranchers. It’s healthy without sacrificing flavor (and ice cream is a perfectly acceptable addition after breakfast). Tables were filled with local guides getting ready for the day and a scattering of tourists. It was easy to see how Taos could feel overfilled during the height of ski season, but in the fall everything felt at the right pace.
When my daughter’s eyes caught sight of a pile of stuffed animals behind the register, the man behind the counter kindly passed her a giraffe that kept her entertained all breakfast. “Keep it with you as a memory and pass on the good will,” was the response when I tried to give it back before leaving. It was a message that put an almost too perfect bow on our road trip as we got ready to drive the four-and-a-half hours back home.
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Photo: Nickolaus Hines
I thought that the parking in Santa Fe was bad until I was in downtown Taos. We avoided endless circling for a parking spot by staying at Taos Motor Lodge, just outside of town. The suites include options with a kitchen, wet bar, and multiple rooms — perfect for families. The property started as a classic roadside motel, with renovations that bring it up to date while preserving the nostalgic vibe. For something a little different, we also booked the charming Tiny House in the RV park adjacent to the main lodging. There are also three vintage Airstreams to choose from, all with modern amenities that have everything a small family needs for a comfortable stay.