Guidebook: Exploring the Pueblos

Getting there: From LAX to Albuquerque, nonstop service is available on Southwest and American airlines. Connecting service (change of planes) is available on United, Delta, America West, Frontier and Northwest. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $220. Santa Fe is 64 miles north of Albuquerque.

Where to stay: Santa Fe and Taos are convenient to the Rio Grande pueblos, and each offers an array of lodgings from budget to luxurious. We divided our New Mexico stay between the cities.

In Santa Fe, we stayed at the 219-room Eldorado Hotel, an upscale, pueblo-looking property two blocks from the main plaza; 309 W. San Francisco St., (800) 286-6755 or (505) 988-4455, https://www.eldoradohotel.com. Doubles begin at $269.

Other choices: the 167-room La Fonda Hotel, 100 E. San Francisco St.; (800) 523-5002 or (505) 982-5511, https://lafondasantafe.com; doubles begin at $249. In the budget category, the 96-room Super 8, 3358 Cerrillos Road, (800) 800-8000 or (505) 471-8811. Double rooms begin at $70.

In Taos, we tried a pueblo-style B&B near the historic plaza. It was the lovely eight-room Casa de las Chimeneas, which is wrapped around a pair of courtyard gardens at 405 Cordoba Lane; (877) 758-4777 or (505) 758-4777, https://www.visit-taos.com. Doubles begin at $165 with a gourmet breakfast and evening supper buffet.

Other choices: the 84-room Fechin Inn, 227 Paseo del Pueblo Norte; (800) 811-2933 or (505) 751-1000, https://fechin-inn.com; doubles begin at $109. In the budget category, the 60-room El Pueblo Inn, 412 Paseo del Pueblo Norte; (800) 433-9612 or (505) 758-8700, https://elpueblolodge.com. Doubles begin at $67.

Where to dine: In Santa Fe, we dined twice at Coyote Cafe, 132 W. Water St., for its hip menu and lively ambience; (505) 983-1615. My favorite entree, slow-roast wild king salmon with strawberries, beets and fennel, was $29.

For a more elegantly subdued evening, try Geronimo, 724 Canyon Road; (505) 982-1500. The grilled veal chop with herb dumplings and snap peas was wonderful, $33.

Other fine dining choices: Santacafe, 231 Washington St., (505) 984-1788, and Cafe Pasqual’s, 121 Don Gaspar, (505) 983-9340. Both have eclectic menus with a Southwestern flair.

In Taos, we were drawn twice to Lambert’s, 309 Paseo del Pueblo Sur; (505) 758-1009. My top pick was the pork tenderloin with a chipotle cream sauce for $18.

Two more fine choices with Southwestern ambience and innovative menus: Apple Tree Restaurant, 123 Bent St., (505) 758-1900, and Doc Martin’s Restaurant, 125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, (505) 758-1977.

For more information: Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 909, Santa Fe, NM 87504-0909; (800) 777-2489, https://www.santafe.org.

Taos County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Drawer I, Taos, NM 87571; (800) 732-8267, https://www.taosguide.com.

James T. Yenckel