taillights/instrument panel lights out

I have a 1992 chevy s-10 pickup. the taillights and instrument panel lights went out. I replaced the fuse, but every time I turn the lights on, the fuse just blows again, so I'm assuming there's a short somewhere. is there anyway to trace the source of the short?

Not really.
You could try unplugging the tail lights. If you then turn the lights on and it doesn't blow...you know where to start.
The cct boards in the tail lights can sometimes burn out. Could also just be a faulty globe which the filament has broken in and is shorting to the base of the globe.
That's where I'd start.

Look to the tailights.  They tie thoise two together so you know when your tails are out.  (if you see your dash go out, you need to fix it because your tails are out)
 
Much more common to have issues in the tails with a pickup bed and all.  Start at bulbs and work back wiring.