We’ve compiled our summer vacation ideas—all our top attractions, best food, cultural happenings, most memorable activities – and popular summer events are worth traveling for. Meet the locals, find the best deals from our partners, and learn how to get here, get around, and find accommodations.
Discover everything you need to know about Grindstone Lake, one of Ruidoso's most popular recreation areas located just minutes from downtown Ruidoso.
Take the stress out of family travel with these simple strategies.
Don’t miss Ruidoso’s newest and most unique attraction, the new Wibit Water Park at Grindstone Lake, a floating, inflatable platform perfect for family fun, birthday parties and special events.
Work together in a race against the clock to solve a series of increasingly challenging puzzles. Be prepared to have your wits tested and your entertainment level raised. Escape Room Ruidoso sets the bar for experiential entertainment.
Join us on Saturdays in Midtown for MUSIC IN THE STREETS, a FREE community program featuring live performances by Ruidoso musicians. Saturdays 11 AM to 2 PM at Times Square on Sudderth Drive beginning June 1, 2019.
Head to the water for a day of paddleboarding, kayaking, biking, fishing and more. The Dam House at Grindstone Lake is open for boat and bike rentals, fishing equipment, food and drink at Grindstone Lake from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day. Open daily 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The Flying J Ranch Chuckwagon Supper and Western Show is one of Ruidoso's most popular summer activities, offering great food and excellent family entertainment. Opening day for the 2019 season is May 25th.
Ruidoso's live music scene is hotter than ever with venues from free street music in Midtown to annual festivals and year-round entertainment featuring everything from country singers to big-band crooners and edgy newcomers, so be sure to check our event calendar.
While much of the country is sweltering in summer heat, Ruidosoans are chilling out in the tall pines. No matter what a vacation means to you, a summer holiday is pretty cool in Ruidoso.
Camping is not only an awesome vacation for those who love the outdoors, but it's also a great way to keep a Ruidoso vacation affordable. Learn everything you need to know to plan your Ruidoso camping trip now!
Thanks to over a million acres of National Forest and wilderness areas, virtually every corner of Ruidoso is waiting to be discovered.
Do you want to put a little money down on your entertainment? At Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Billy The Kid Casino you can experience the thrill of the world's fastest quarter horses racing every weekend during the summer and Simulcast racing year-round.
From dazzling night skies to snow-capped peaks and evergreen forests, here are five reasons to make a Ruidoso mountain vacation your next adventure.
Cool temperatures. Unbelievable scenery. This is the Ruidoso golf experience. With four spectacular Ruidoso area golf courses, each course is situated against breathtaking backdrops with its own personality and landscape. Discover which one is best for you.
The All American Futurity (G1) is the richest race for 2-year-olds in North America, regardless of breed. Run every Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs in the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, the $3 million race is contested by 2-year-old American Quarter Horses. It will be run on September 3, 2018.
Ski Apache is known for its beautiful warm weather skiing and snowboarding as the nation’s southern-most continually operating resort, but there is plenty of summer excitement too. Here is what travelers can look forward to this summer.
Enjoy a day of gallery hopping in Ruidoso's Midtown shopping district with this recommended art itinerary.
To get a quick taste of the diverse landscapes that surround our mountain oasis, start with these day trips from Ruidoso.
Quench your thirst for New Mexico craft beers and wines at these local hangouts
A Ruidoso vacation cabin can be a fairy-tale escape — a place to curl up with a good book in front of the fireplace or conquer the nearby ski hills. Ready to cozy up to your own slice of cabin bliss? Here are a few visitor favorites to help get you started.
What's the weather in Ruidoso? Check out the official Village of Ruidoso Tourism Webcam from its strategic point overlooking Midtown in the heart of Ruidoso’s shopping and restaurant district with Sierra Blanca towering in the distance.
Discover some of Ruidoso's best patio bars, alfresco terraces and outdoor restaurants to make the most of your Ruidoso vacation.
Discover the best of Ruidoso with YOLO TX travel TV host Aerin Carreno as she shares her Ruidoso adventures in Season 2 opener.
From pristine high-mountain lakes and streams to sparkling reservoirs and meandering rivers, discover the best places to cast a line in Ruidoso.
From street to trail, if you love to pedal, Ruidoso has you covered. With new trail development and a vast network of empty rural roads and awesome mountain trails, cycling in Ruidoso has never been better. Discover the best places to get your bike on in Ruidoso.
Witness panoramic vistas from the top of Ski Apache. Look for wildlife and enjoy the cool temperatures of Sierra Blanca Peak. For extra fun, rent a mountain bike at Ski Apache, take it up the mountain on the gondola, and ride down.
They say the best things in life are free. Save money on your next trip by taking advantage of these 5 free things to do in Ruidoso.
A paddle sport for all ages and skill levels. Easy to learn. Gentler than tennis. Play Pickleball, a recreational craze that borrows from tennis, ping pong and badminton.
TripAdvisor reviews answer the question: Where do locals in Ruidoso go to eat? Discover the Top 10 Ruidoso restaurants according to TripAdvisor reviews.
Ruidoso Pickleball Club will be hosting a Super Senior International Pickleball Association (SSIPA) Tournament on August 22 - 25, 2019 at the White Mountain Sports Complex Tennis Courts starting at 8:00 am each day. Anyone that is 60+ years of age is welcome to enter. Everyone is welcome to watch.
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the nation. A combination of ping pong, tennis and badminton, the sport is designed for all ages & skill levels. Play in the USAPA SANCTIONED "Ruidoso Pickelball Championships". This is a skill level event open to ages 12 to 59.
Mark Chesnutt is one of country music’s treasures. His success includes 14 #1 hits, 23 top ten singles, four platinum albums, five gold records, a CMA Horizon Award, and the honor of being one of the most played artists on country music airwaves. Since first dominating the honky tonk scene in the 1990s, his emotionally-tinged traditional style and substantial delivery set the bar for his generation. He’s got a knack for delivering great songs and making them into chart-topping hits, a gift that continues to this day.
Mark Chesnutt is one of country music’s treasures. His success includes 14 #1 hits, 23 top ten singles, four platinum albums, five gold records, a CMA Horizon Award, and the honor of being one of the most played artists on country music airwaves. Since first dominating the honky tonk scene in the 1990s, his emotionally-tinged traditional style and substantial delivery set the bar for his generation. He’s got a knack for delivering great songs and making them into chart-topping hits, a gift that continues to this day.
Don’t miss popular singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin live at Inn of the Mountain Gods . Tickets from $39.
Get ready for a night of classic Rock’n’Roll with award-winning Elvis tribute artist Justin Shandor! Plus, enjoy a special The King Creole Buffet before the show.
Join the fun at Hunt and Harvest for this live show of good old bluegrass instruments with a playful energy and a strong melodically driven sound.
The All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs has a purse of $3 million and is the richest race for a two-year-old of any breed in North America. Arrive early as the race track fills to capacity to watch all the exciting stakes race action on closing weekend.
Check out Dusty Low performing live at Hunt and Harvest at The Mercantile Friday, August 30th from 7-10pm.
Albert Hammond has been writing hit songs for over 50 years, many becoming Grammy, Emmy, Oscar, and Golden Globe nominees and winners. His folk rock tunes are timeless, infused with sun-kissed Caribbean rhythms. Others are contemplative, cinematic pop anthems with sweeping strings and introspective harmonies. His prodigious half-century of artistry (songwriting, performing, recording and producing) has rendered 30+ chart-topping hits, 360 million records sold worldwide, and induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame
Join Inn of the Mountain Gods in saying farewell to summer with food, music and fireworks at the End of Summer Bash on Sunday, September 1, 2019. The free family-friendly event begins at 3 p.m. with jumping balloons for $10 and concessions starting at 3 p.m. Guests can enjoy live music on the lawn. Once dusk settles in, fireworks will light the sky over Lake Mescalero as live music continues to play.
The iconic lead vocalist of the American rock band Mötley Crüe, Vince Neil, will now be performing with Vixen at Inn of the Mountain Gods for an epic night of rock ‘n’ roll. This is going to be one amazing concert you don’t want to miss.
Do you love rockin’ blues, hot BBQ and ice-cold beer? Then don’t miss the 4th annual Brews, Blues & BBQ on September 21 from Noon – 6 pm. Enjoy some of the tastiest BBQ around and choose from over 200 beers. $25 gets you 10 4-ounce pours of your favorite brews. Plus, enjoy free live music on the lawn next to the beautiful shores of Lake Mescalero.
Kids of all ages will have plenty of family fun in Ruidoso. Many area attractions, such as hiking, fishing, and skiing, are perfect for the entire family. Plan the perfect family vacation with these fun kid-friendly trip ideas.