A Romantic Taos Treat

American Artists Gallery House B&B

by Dave Shultz

Taos is without a doubt one of the best places in the country to unwind and catch up on the art scene. There are close to 100 galleries and artists’ studios in this historic community of about 7,000. The joke is that there is a local support group for the 10 people in town that aren’t artists. So, what better place to spend a few days relaxing than the American Artists Gallery House Bed and Breakfast?

The accommodations run from luxurious suites and casitas to simple rooms and all have a distinctive romantic flair. There are seven gallery rooms and three gallery suites with Jacuzzis. The rooms all feature outside entrances, wood burning fireplaces and of course, a full breakfast (more about that later.)

There is a large common room with cozy seating around the fireplace and free Internet access. They also have Wi-Fi if you bring your notebook. The walls are covered with local art and there are lots of games and books to read if you’re just hanging out.

Your hosts LeAn and Charles Clamurro are masters at making you feel like friends and not just guests. They are also a wealth of local information and fascinating stories about Taos. Spend some time after breakfast visiting to really get the flavor of Taos.

The rooms are designed and furnished in a southwest décor and offer tons of amenities like coffee makers, handmade soaps and bath grains. Designated rooms have mini refrigerators and TV’s. The fireplaces are ready to use with logs and firestarter so all you have to do is light a match.

Since Taos is a small community, the American Artists Gallery House is close to everything. It’s less than a mile from the Plaza, and you can walk downtown on nice days. There is no shortage of fine dining available either. For a really nice romantic meal, try Lamberts http://lambertsoftaos.com/ The atmosphere is very pleasant, the service outstanding and the food is world class cuisine. Expensive but worth it. Also consider The Downtown Bistro, 223 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, 505-737-5060. Slightly less expensive but outstanding quality and atmosphere and live music on occasion.

A really pleasant surprise is a very casual Mexican restaurant called Rita's Cafe, on the south side of town at 1574 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur (575) 751-3149. The food is very authentic, plentiful, inexpensive and good. There is never a crowd since they don’t server alcohol. It’s also a good place for breakfast. If you’re in a hurry and like great Mexican food, you can’t go wrong.

Now for the best part. Breakfast here is a culinary delight. Charles spends the mornings in the kitchen preparing an incredible fusion of foods that all blend perfectly to surprise the palate and tantalize the taste buds. He even shares his recipes online but trying to match his masterful magic is not nearly as satisfying as just being served one of these eclectic combinations. This is not a Continental breakfast found in a lot of B&B’s but a full, hearty meal with all the trimmings that guarantees nobody leaves hungry. There was always food left over but it doesn’t go to waste. The resident peacock, George has become quite a gourmet feasting on the leftovers. Lucky bird! He is more than happy to show off his appreciation for the guests so they can admire his plumage.

George isn’t the only non-human resident. There are variety of cats of the couch potato and outdoor kind. Another treat is during breakfast, LeAn will pop some popcorn and spread it on the deck outside the dining area and dozens of local crows, ravens and black birds flock to the feast. Breakfast is never dull.

In the dining area, there is always fresh coffee, tea, hot chocolate and a variety of snacks for afternoon nibbling. Everything is always neat, clean and fresh. The huge variety of herbal tea is the only problem. How do you decide which one to sample?

Taos is an artist’s community but there are so many other things to do and see there. In the winter, there is fantastic skiing and snowmobiling. There is also fly fishing, rafting, Llama trekking, golf, mountain biking, ballooning, horseback riding and so much more. Visit the Taos Vacation Guide for more information. http://www.taosguide.com/

While there are lots of reasons to visit Taos, the American Artists Gallery House is reason enough to make the journey.

American Artists Gallery House
132 Frontier Lane, Taos NM 87571
800 532-2041
http://www.taosbedandbreakfast.com