This year we decided to tag along with Sean and Kalyn and their friends on a ski trip to Taos, NM. Haley and Charlie went along as well so they could learn to ski and snow board. On the drive up we saw some old stops we used to visit when traveling across country and we drove through some really pretty country. Its been quite a while since I drove through snow so that was an experience, plus the Taos ski resort is very nice and the skiing was terrific from what the kids said. Take a look at the adventure...

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We started driving the evening after Christmas to get a head start. We edned up stopping for the night on the other side of Whichita Falls, and then continued driving in the morning. On the drive towards Taos, we ended up going through Santa Rosa and stopped at a cafe we've been to many times on previous road trips = the Silver Moon Cafe. Brought back some memories. We continued driving for the rest of the day and arrived in Taos before the sun went down. There was still snow on the ground and it was chilly. We stayed at the Kachina Lodge which is an older hotel, but reasonably priced. They have a diner on site which I look forward to trying out. Tomorrow, we'll head up the hill with the kids and see what skiing adventures they cam get into.

Sean, Kalyn, and Mia met us at the Lodge early in the morning, and we got Mia out in the snow to play for a while. Then we headed over to the cafe for breakfast. It was a really neat diner with a totem pole in the middle. Definite Native Indian flavor to the place. After breakfast we headed up the mountain to the Taos Ski Resort to check things out and get ski rental gear. We wandered around the resort and checked things out, and stopped in for lunch at the 192 Resteraunt in the resort. Mia, Charlie, and Haley got to play in the snow, and Mia pooped out in the afternoon and had to take a rest. We headed down the hill and met up with Chad and Becca for dinner at a Taos pizza place - Taos Pizza Outback - which was pretty good. we then called it a night and headed back to the hotel to get up early the next morning to get to skiing.

We got up early and met up with Chad and Becca and the kids to head up the mountain. Chad has a suburban so we hitched a ride with them which was great. We got up to the mountain and Charlie and Haley headed for ski school and the others headed for the slopes. Mia went to ski daycare for the day. Melody and I stayed in the resort and went and got breakfast at the short order cafeteria while the kids skiied and such. Around lunch time Haley and Charlie got out of ski school and Kalyn and Becca came in for a break. We went back to the 192 resturaunt again for lunch. Aftwards the kids went back out to finish off skiing for the afternoon and we stayed around the 192 killing time. When everyone was done with skiing for the day, we headed down the hill and went to a Hunan Chinese resteraunt in Taos for dinner. Everyone was pretty beat, but they said the skiing was good so not a bad day in all.

Day 3 started with some fresh snow from overnight and getting the car warmed up. We headed up the hill and the kids took off to ski. Haley decided to stay in today so we wandered around a little and landed at the St. Benard resteraunt to hang out and kil time. This place was amazing - just like a swiss chalet with a really cool fire place and interesting decor all around. I really liked the place. We ended up having lunch there when eveyone came in for a break. In the afternoon we took Mia out sledding and played in the snow some, then headed down the hill. For dinner we stopped at the Taos Mesa Brewing Company, which had some really good pizza. Another good day wrapped up - time to head in for the night.

Today was Grandkids day. All the adult kids headed up the mountain for one last day of skiiing, while we decided to stay in the Taos Valley and explore down below. Wed went to breakfast at the Hotel Resteraunt again - the one with the great southwestern motive inside. Thunderbird Cafe I believe. Mia had waffles and eggs, and bacon she had to have from my plate :-). I ended up buying the Resteraunt T-Shirts. After breakfast we admired the Indian artwork in the gallery outside in the hallway - some really nice pieces from artists in the area - all Indian themed. They also had some Kachika dolls in the lobby that were pretty neat. We got in the car and drove over to a small community heading up the ski hill called Arroyo Seco. They have several novelty shops that we went in. The jewlery shop in paticular was a hit - with Melody picking up a nice handmade necklace. We headed back into Taos and stopped at the Overland Sheepskin Co. which was pretty neat. As their names says, they have many sheepskin products and clothing. In paticular, they had animal skins - a few Buffalo hides. One of the workers took one down and showed it off. It was from a large older cow that was butchered last fall for the pueblo residents. It was goergeous and so soft. Mia like being able to touch the different pelts they had and to lay down on a sheepskin blanket. We stopped at a couple more small shops in town but the kids were hungry so we stopped at McD's, and went back to the hotel to nap and watch movies. They all got on the bed and watched Moana (as expected). Everyone took a short nap and then it was time for dinner - the skiiers were on their way down the hill. We all met at the 5 Star Burger Joint which was packed - we got a table but quickly learned they were running short on some food items. Luckily, everyone was able to find something they had in stock and we all scarfed down. The we ended up saying our goodbyes and headed back to our hotels - we'd be heading back to Texas the next morning.

All good trips must come to and end and this one was no different. We got up before the sun and started the trek home with the temperature at nearly zero. Loaded up all the gear in the car that we packed and organized the night before and headed off. I had to drop off money for T-Shirts I bought (I guess they undercharged me) which was a chore - luckily I found an envelope and we slipped it under a door to the resteraunt - so we left on good terms. Roads were a little icy but not too bad. I was concerned about the route over the moutains to Santa Fe - those would be interesting - and they were. I was followed by a truck and trailer a long ways on the road - going downhill in the lower gears I was constantly watching to make sure he didn't roll up on us. We got through it, stopped on the other side for breakfast, and continued on. The drive down through the panhandle was as always - long and forgettable. Amazing how some of those towns through 287 survive. Lots of history through those parts I'm assuming of large cattle farms and hay fields, lots of farming and grain silos. We got into downtown Dallas around 7pm and was able to miss the New Years eve traffic which was good. Overall it was a good adventure to the snow. I would do it again.