There is no shortage of B&Bs in Taos that qualify as quaint, charming, occasionally even adorable. It takes a little something special to rise above the crowd, as the Inn on the Rio does. Maybe it's the old rustling cottonwoods along the bank of the Rio Fernando, up in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos, or the outdoor pool, or the hand-painted private bathrooms in the dozen rooms. Actually, it's mostly the gracious hosts Robert and Jules, assisted by Stormy, a half-wolf half-yellow lab who gets to live here full time. They don't just cook up gourmet breakfasts and keep the hot tub bubbling. They make every guest feel like an actual guest, enough so that friend-to-friend referrals are a big part of their business.