In Taos, N.M., Dharma Resorts opened the upscale El Monte Sagrado last summer, with 38 individually decorated units. There are 18 in American Indian style; others feature Tibetan, Balinese, Japanese, and Moroccan décor. Ideal for executive retreats, the property has two meeting rooms, for 40 people each, a restaurant, and a spa.
Taos easily lives up to its motto: “One destination, infinite possibilities.” Taos Ski Valley is steep, much like Jackson Hole, Wyo., and is one of only four ski areas in the country that prohibit snowboarding. Cross-country skiing and llama trekking are other winter options, while in summer, there's fly-fishing, river rafting, and ballooning. Taos Mountain Casino, an enterprise of the Taos Pueblo, is open year-round. And Taos Pueblo, where some 50 to 75 American Indians still live the traditional lifestyle in adobe community houses, is a must-see.