2 Best Hotels in The High Road to Taos, Day Trips from Santa Fe

Managed by Hilton, this expansive, upscale gaming and golfing resort is 15 miles north of downtown Santa Fe, just off a freeway but with spectacular views of the mountains and Rio Grande Valley—it's a great option to be close to the start of the High Road or if you'd prefer to stay close to but still a bit outside of the City Different. Rooms are spacious and airy, all with large windows and some with full balconies taking in the dramatic vistas. The property offers plenty of leisure amenities, including an extensive slate of treatments in the 16,000-square-foot Wo'P'in Spa, access to a pair of championship layouts (27 holes) at the adjacent Towa Golf Resort, a concert venue, and a good mix of upscale and casual restaurants and bars. There's also an enormous casino, but it's set well away from the lobby and public areas on a separate level, making it easy to ignore if gaming isn't your thing. Hilton also operates a less pricey but quite nice Homewood Suites next door.

Intimate and peaceful, this classic adobe inn offers sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo range and contains nine charming rooms decorated with antiques and Native American and other regional arts and crafts. The Luminaria Room, in the main house, has a private patio, viga ceilings, and a brick floor. The separate one-bedroom Casita Suite has a kiva-style fireplace, tile floors, kitchenette, and a sitting area. There are several covered porches, and a massive bird-feeding station draws dozens and dozens of birds.