Full of history, classic New Mexican architecture, and everything from fine jewelry to gag gifts and T-shirts, Taos Plaza is the perfect jumping off point for any new-to-Taos explorer. So many shops with great New Mexican and Native American wares, religious pop art and, of course, all things Western – think cowboy boots, hats and even moccasins – surround the plaza, which has been the center of Taos for the last 300 years. Girlawhirl hardly knew where to begin.

With galleries on all sides of the historic plaza, Girlawhirl decided to work her way around the square. There are lots of shops to pick up traditional southwestern items and home décor, spiced gourmet treats and great jewelry – though Girlawhirl's heard there are better deals to be found in shops farther from the center of town. She can grab everything she needs to take on a day at Taos Ski Valley – a manageable ride from downtown Taos – at Taos Mountain Outfitters. But with limited time, she stayed off the slopes and stuck to the plaza and its adjoining shopping centers at the John Dunn House (a notorious 19^th century Taos gambler) and on Bent Street – both within steps of the main plaza.

At the John Dunn House Shops she picked up vibrant pop-art at Coyote Moon, pretty cards and paper goods at Paper Day, bought some specially brewed – for dry desert air – hair care at Desert Blends on Bent Street and perused the selection at Moby Dickens Bookshop of Taos.

When she was done checking out the many cool clothing shops on the pedestrian Bent Street, Girlawhirl headed back to the Plaza, and over to the historic Hotel La Fonda to enjoy a warming cup of coffee and check out some of the infamous erotic paintings by D. H. Lawrence. The collection was considered scandalous in his day, and was actually confiscated by the London police in the 1920s. But Girlawhirl couldn't think of a better way to end her day of exploring Taos on foot.

Click here to see an interactive map of Taos, New Mexico

Clothes Horse	Taos Plaza	505 758 2531
Coyote Moon	John Dunn House Shops	505 758 4437
Desert Blends of Taos	Bent Street	505 758 4000
I Love Taos	Taos Plaza	575 758 8565
Paper Day	John Dunn House Shops	505 737 0298
Made in New Mexico	Taos Plaza	5o5 557 5795
Taos Cowboy	Taos Plaza	505 751 1252
Taos Mountain Outfitters	Taos Plaza	505 758 9292
Taos Mercantile Co.	Taos Plaza	505 758 2221
Vibrations Wild Life Clothing CO.	Taos Plaza Bent St.	505 737 9394 505 758 2984

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