Attention Families with Children! Cinder Bear Christmas Express!

Here's a treat the kids (young and old alike) will love for years to come. What? Take a ride on the Cumbres. Cumbres & Toltec narrow guage 1880's steam train. When? Saturday December 5 departing from Chama and Sauturday, December 12 departing from Antonito. Two trips daily, one at 11 AM, the second at 1:30 PM.

Enjoy a visit from Santa Claus and Cinder Bear. Listen to storytelling, christmas carols. Feel the excitment of Chrismtmas cheer. Smell the aroma of historical travel by steam train. This is an event the family will talk about for years to com.

Cost is $30 for adults and $20 for children. Those under 2 ride for free! Reserve NOW! 888-286-2737 or online at www.cumbrestoltec.com.

Make a weekend in Northern New Mexico. Stay in Taos. The family will love the Yuletide in Taos displays and farolitos. Show us your ticket stub for Cumbres Cinder Bear Express, we'll discount our already reasonable rates another 25%. No other discounts or specials apply. Reserver today! 800-444-2346. Visit us online at www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn.

Mastercard Doubles Your March of Dimes Donation

Many moon back, March of Dimes helped me with the cost of removing an extra digit from my son's hand. March of Dimes has since been one of our chosen charities. I do the annual mailers and help when we can.

Here's a chance for you to donate via your Mastercard and double the contribution. Not only is the donation tax deductible to you but it is doubled to March of Dimes by Mastercard. That's right, your $25 becomes $50. Your $50 becomes $100, your $100 becomes $200, etc.

Anyone generous enough to donate $100 or more will get a free night with us. Forward to me a copy of the emailed contribution memo, a scan of your account statement that clearly shows your $100 donation, and the dates you wish to stay. We'll set your reservation with one night free. There's a little extra Christmas bonus! Forward this email to anyone you know who plans a trip to Taos! We and MOD appreciates your help making this a successful campaign.

Here's the link to help premature births and other important March of Dimes efforts: https://www.marchofdimes.com/howtohelp/mastercard.asp?BrCs=153&BrCg=7707390&BrRc=!*RecipID;*!&BrCv=747202877

If you'd prefer a straight donation, give generously to your chosen organization. With the nations economy in a horrid decline, many groups are suffering huge declines in giving. Your help this year may well be more important than at any time in recent history.

Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza thanks you for your help with MOD and business. Ski season bookings are coming in daily. Visit our web site for loads of links to area wide tourist places: www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn. Book direct for the best values always! 800-444-2346.

Free Lecture, The Mayan Calendar (near future predictions)

Some folks thing Taos is still inhabited by hippies. Some people hear the hum. Others just wonder about Taosenos. Most sill love to visit and enjoy the heck out of spending a few days wandering the town, the area, the galleries, the museums, etc.

So, make your visit this weekend and learn what the Mayan sites and calendar say about the near term future. Speaker is Felipe Alldritt, a UNM-Taos instructor and archeologist. His teaching specialty is Mayan Archeology, has been a Latin America tour guide for 25 years, and has worked with the National Geographic institute.

2012 seems to be an important year in Maya Calenadar terms. Guess you should plan a visit to Taos for this lecture! November 21, 2009 at Wired Cafe. Let him know you'll be there at: taoscuba@hotmail.com. Check out wired at www.wiredcoffeeshop.com .

You know Indian Hills Inn is the place to make your headquarters while in the Taos area. You've seen our numerous links. I'm going to drop them from this post. Hopefully you'll look at another post and check us out. Still have GREAT specials for military and veterans - half off! Reserve now at 800-444-2346.

Taos Community Auditorium Welcomes The Nutcracker

In spite of this being the somewhat slow season before the ski season, Taos still offers a number of things to see and do. This weekend, in addition to ski area opennings talked about in an earlier post, offersThe Nutcracker Saturday at 3 PM at TCA.

The Youth Ballet will present The Nutcracker and other dances at the Taos Community Auditorium on Saturday, November 21st at 3:00 PM and at the Penasco Theater on Sunday November 22nd at 3:00 P.M. The performances are all free to the public and all ages are invited to come participate. The entire ballet will run 1 hour and 15 min. Please check out their web site for the encredible ticket deal offered: www.tcataos.org

Then TCA also does another movie starting Sunday. This one is "Cold Souls". Read about it at their web site.

We had a family with Taos Ski Valley Meellenium passes ask about pre purchasing lodging for 1 night a week thru the upcoming season. Casued us to thin the idea thru and come up with at least a 20% discount of regular rates. Email us your questions.

If you like visiting Taos Mountain Casino, NM's only 100% non smoking casino, Wednesday is a great day to do so. Seniors, 55+, get 4 times the bonus points & Deli Discounts with their player club card. www.taosmountaincasino.com

Remember, our half off vet and military discount endsAfter Wedensday, Nove,ber 25, 2009. Visit our web site for other hotel details and links to many area attractions: www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn. Then call 800-444-2346 to make your reservation!

Ski Areas Open Soon - Lodging Specials

Enchnated Forest plans their openning November 21, 2009. They'll have about 50% of the trails open and will offer discounted tickets. They are just East of Red River, about 35 miles from Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza. www.enchantedforestxc.com

Taos Ski Valley is scheduled to open November 26, 2009. Check out their web site for the most up to the moment details. www.skitaos.org

Sipapu (always the first) plans to open November 21, 2009. They are known for great deals all the way around. Early ski tickets are as low as $15 adult. It is an awesome family area that won't break the bank. We usually have discount coupons for lift tickets at front desk. www.sipapunm.com

Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza is known for great location, good quality lodging, exceptional Guest service, and Taos' best Inn value. Remember, for another week, we're doing veteran and military discounts at 50% off our already resaonable rates (we don't game the system by going up first, then discounting). Check us out at www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn. Call direct for best values always!!! 800-444-2346.

Discounted Fine Dining with a 2 minute walk!

Just ask at the front desk and we'll give you a referral card to Lambert's of Taos. It's just a couple hundred feet South of Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza and offers some highly recommended dining choices.

Best of all, they are offering 25% discounts on dinner entrees until November 25, 2009. Not many better values to add to Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza Veterans Day 50% off specials thru November 25, 2009.

It's not likely you'll find a better travel package than the above. Take a look at us at www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn. Then give us a call at 800-444-2346 to reserve your downtown Taos lodging. We appreciate your business!

BTW, it snowed in town this weekend and even more in the ski areas surrounding Taos. It's not too early to book your holiday rooms. Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Fall Season in Taos More Calm, Relaxed, Enjoyable Yet Active

Although the hubub of summer season is now past, there is still tons of things to see and do in and around Taos. Frankly, you well might enjoy Taos more with fewer crowds, shorter lines, and a generally more relaxed environment (if that's possible).

For example, in this weeks Taos News Tempo the number of ongoing art exhibits totals 19. All are free. The range covers all media, styles, and interests. Don't forget, there are about 4 times that many galleries in and around downtown Taos! Plus surounding communities and areas.

The rest of the Tiempo Que Pasa list covers 3 or 4 more pages. The Alley Cantina always host some sort of activity from canned music to live. The adobe Bar at the Taos Inn always features entertainment, even if only people watching. Somebody will have Monday Night Football on the tube. Speakers of all sorts are listed. Things for Dixon, Penasco, Angel Fire, Red River, and more are listed. Choose from spiritual teachings, meditation classes, theology discussions, bridge games, book clubs, writers groups, quilting and needlecrafts, knitting, yoga, more. This is a great time to get out a town, spend a few days in Taos getting in touch with your inner self. Relax, recharge, rejuvenate, reinvigorate!

Our Veterans Day specials go thru the 25th of November at Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza. Mention this blog post and we'll give everyone (who mentions this post) our vets HALF OFF special. You can stay 3 or 4 nights for the cost of one night in many tourist spots. Check us out at www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn. Call direct for veterans day specials: 800-444-2346.

Veterans Day This Week & Hotel Specials

First thanks to all veterans! I spent a few years in the NMANG and a couple in the USAR. My Dad was a WWII vet.

This week, Veterans Day is celebrated county wide. A special ceremony will be conducted at the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire. Althought the memorial is undergoing renovation, it is well worth your while to stop anytime you are in the area.

Although I've already mentioned our Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza Veterans Day specials, may I remind you: 1. thru the 25th, all rooms are hof off for veterans, that's $34.50 for singles; 2. for any stay including the 11th, we'll do 2 for 1 special for veterans, that's $17.25 for a single. Where else in American can you sty in a great hotel for $17.25 a night? NOWHERE!!!

Check us out at www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn then call 800-444-2346.

Still Good Reasons to Visit Taos!

The Dixon Studio Tour is this weekend, November 7 & 8, 2009. You really need to wander the small community of Dixon to enjoy their 28th anniversary of hosting the studio visitations. Included are 35 artists, 100 businesses, all hosted by the Embudo Valley Arts Association. I'm not saying all that just becasue my father in law is from Dixon. More info at www.dixonarts.com.

Saturday afternoon, is the kickoff of the Big Read. For more info visit www.taosbigread.com or SOMOS www.somostaos.org or 575-758-0081. SOMOS office is located at Indian Hills Inn Shops just North of the hotel lobby.

Saturday night, you have a number of entertainment choices. First, Taos Music Group does a South of the Border concert at Harwood Museum. On the lighter side is an event to benefit Working Class Theater as well as other local Taos charities at Shadows Bar & Grill called Broads Regional Arm Wrestling League, aka BRAWL. They call it a sporting theatrical spoof. They've posted information on facebook at Taos BRAWL.

In an earlier post, I also suggested TCA movies, this week "In the Loop". Runs Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

If you missed the post about our Veterans Day specials, we are offering Veterans half off, 50% discount off our affordable rates. Vets get a single rate of $34.50 single. No one, anywhere offers a better lodging value. That's almost hostel pricing. Those specials are good thru November 25, 2009. We're offering a 2 for 1 sale for Veterans Day, November 11, 2009.

Enjoy Taos and thank you for your business. You have many choices of where to visit and where to stay. We very much appreciate your confidence in Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza. Visit our web site for more hotel and Taos details - www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn then call to book 800-444-2346. See you in Taos!

Natural & Manmade Snows Blanket Northern NM

The Taos area ski resorts are blessed with several inches of natural snow already and most began their manmade snow ops the last week of October. As long as the nightime temps remain under 30F (better yet 25F), they should be able to build a great bse to begin skiing at Thanksgiving. Sipapu may pull the trigger a week early (they try to be NM's first open).

Taos Ski Valley will open Thanksgiving Day unless they can't due to a lack of natural powder. Taos also announced the Soloman Extreme Freeride Championships March 10-13, 2010. That is a premier event with the main show offering a $12,000 purse. It is part of a series with events in Russia, France, Switzerland, and the USA.

Angel Fire gained the most snow from the early season dumps and begin snowmaking early december. Their openning is set for mid December. Night skiing will be offered at Angel Fire this year from 4 to 9 PM Thursday thru Saturday with a seperate ticket for the night time adventure.

Red River is testing there new triple that replaced the red chair. They plan to open the day before Thanksgiving.

No news from Ski Rio. It was supposedly purchased by Russian investors with grand development plans. We used to sell tickets for them but that's many moon back. Don't know about you but I'm working out, lifting, and biking in preparation fo working the quads. Pray for snow! Links to most local areas on our winter page on the web site.

Enchanted Forest is also getting ready for you cross country fans. Plus the Llama adventure folks are doing show shoe treks this winter in varied Taos area mountianous locations.

The best value in ski lodging is always Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza. If you travel with a non skier (perish the thought, but it does happen), Indian Hills Inn is simply the best location to stay. We are walking distance to virtually all the downtown Taos galleries, museums, libraries, shops, dining, and entertainment places. For most dates, we offer prices competitive with the outlying motels but with the convenience and quality you prefer. Take a look: www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn then call for reservations 800-444-2346.

TCA Presents Strong's Abstract Paintings from the 60's

Charles Strong's dark and muscular abstract paintings from the 1960s will be exhibited October 30 through December 15. Exhibit at TCA lobby.

TCA also has a movie Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday. This weeks show is "In The Loop" which looks to be a good commedy.

Info on both at www.tcataos.org or by calling 575-758-2052.

We'd love to see you at Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza. Tis the off season and rates are at unheard of low levels. Great time to visit Taos as there are no lines or crowds for most sights, museums, galleries, or dining places. Stop by the web site: www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn then call for reservations 800-444-2346.

Half Off Veterans Day Hotel Special Most of November

Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza honors and respects those who've served the nation via the military. During this Veterans Day month, we'll show that by giving them half off our already affordable rooms. That's right, 50% off. Regular rates of $69 discounted to $34.50 for singles, add $5 for each added Guest in room.

For an even better value, stay 2 nights including Veterans Day, November 11, 2009, and we'll do Pay 1 and the 2nd is FREE. Stay and pay for November 10 and November 11 is free. Stay and pay for November 11 and November 12 is free. No one, anywhere offers better values than Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza.

Full details are available from our press release. You'll be able to read it here: http://www7.taosnet.com/indianhillsinn/VeteransDaySpecial2009PR.htm

We not only allow this to be shared amongst your friends but ask you to spread the word. We are doing this special to really reward those who've served the good old USA! Help us out, let others know!

Although the specials are ONLY available with direct reservations or walk ins (if rooms available), you can check out our web site at www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn then call toll free for reservations at 800-444-2346.

Take a Llama to Lunch in Taos

More trivia. Did you know that the #1 Activity in Taos according to Trip Advisor is Wild Earth Llama Adventures? They were also ranked #4 in Tour in America. They are rightly proud of those rankings. Congrats from the team at Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza.

The point is when you seek that one added thing to see and do for an extra day in Taos, why not "Take a Llama to Lunch!". That is their fall and spring day hike into the Rio Grande Gorge including a fabulous lunch at the bottom of the canyon. On that guided tour you will see and learn much about the ecology, natural plants, history, and more. Here's their web site: http://www.llamaadventures.com/llamalunch.html.

They also plan to conduct guided snowshoe tours this upcoming winter and spring. Again, another exciting activity to extend your visit to Taos one more day. Here's their web site: http://www.snowshoetaos.com/.

The entire team at Indian Hills Inn, Taos Plaza invites and welcomes you to downtown Taos. Located conveniently 2 blocks South of historic Taos Plaza, you'll find it easy to walk to most downtown historic district shops, galleries, sights, museums, and entertainment places. Check us out at: www.newmex.com/indianhillsinn then call for reservations at 800-444-2346.