Taos, New Mexico

High-desert light, adobe walls and a mountain backdrop give Taos a stillness that busier Southwest destinations have lost. Just outside town, Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, has multistory adobe homes whose oldest parts date to around the year 1000, and it remains a living community, so check its visiting days before you go. Back in town, the plaza, small galleries and adobe inns suit couples who want long breakfasts, a short hike and a quiet night. Santa Fe is about 70 miles south, roughly an hour and a half by car on the river road, if you want to pair the two.