Ruidoso New Mexico advice
Jul 15, 2019 10:06:23 #
billnikon wrote:
Roswell NM. Are you that dense.
Read your own damn link!
Jul 15, 2019 10:31:43 #
Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Is not far away. I’m not sure how many birds are there next month though. It is a huge flyway for birds at certain times of the year
Jul 15, 2019 11:14:48 #
Rich1939 wrote:
In Ruidoso you'll find the quarter horse race trac... (show quote)
Fort Stanton is a really interesting place, and has a really interesting history. Adjacent to the old fort is a Merchant Marine cemetery, also really interesting. Also, not too far away is Lincoln, the town in which Billy the Kid escaped the jail...... Both of these are more historic than photogenic, but still worth the time to visit, and both could be seen in one afternoon.
The Valley of Fires in Carrizozo is also really interesting, as one can see the old basalt lava flow and the slow progress of ecological succession that has the desert flora slowly reclaiming its place. If you do visit the Valley of Fires, be especially alert to rattlesnakes, as I have been there 5 times for overnight camping and seen at least one rattler each trip. On one school trip, we had a baby rattlesnake end up inside a travel bag. It was seen and watched while students got an adult, and in the interim, climbed into the bag.
Finally, Ski Apach Resort has a twisting paved road all the way to the 'top' of the mountain, and barring haze or smoke, the views are really nice. If you get on any trails, though, stock up on insect repellent. I have never seen so many swarms of bugs as I saw near the little lake on the edge of town in Ruidoso.
Jul 15, 2019 11:42:45 #
f8lee wrote:
Ah, but Area 51 is in Nevada - are you that dense?
That said, Roswell (NM) is rather a disappointment - other than some cheesy alien-themed gift shops and an Alien museum there’s not much going for it…certainly nothing particularly photogenic.
That said, Roswell (NM) is rather a disappointment - other than some cheesy alien-themed gift shops and an Alien museum there’s not much going for it…certainly nothing particularly photogenic.
thanx....hate those tourist crap gift shops...Roswell is OFF the list of places to see
Jul 15, 2019 12:20:02 #
kcooke wrote:
Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Is not far away. I’m not sure how many birds are there next month though. It is a huge flyway for birds at certain times of the year
Bosque del Apache is worth a visit but is a long way from Ruidoso. Most of the action, bird wise, at the Bosque is in the winter.
Jul 15, 2019 12:43:01 #
kcooke wrote:
Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Is not far away. I’m not sure how many birds are there next month though. It is a huge flyway for birds at certain times of the year
If my recollector is still functioning properly (debatable anymore) about the only bird life in the summer was humming birds
Jul 15, 2019 12:56:18 #
Dale Evans - Amaetur
Loc: Baton Rouge, La
When you live out in the Big Empty a 100 mile drive is considered a trip to the corner drugstore.
Distance is measured in time to, not miles to.
Unless you are into casinos there isn't much to do in Ruidoso or any of the small NM towns. Each one has its own monument to local history, but not much else.
Good day trips would be down the mountain to Alamogordo to see the White Sands and the Holloman AFB.
I can recommend a trip to Roswell to see and photograph the birds and dragonflies at the Bitterroot National Wildlife Refuge and do not miss the Robert Goddard Museum.
If you can squeeze out the time I would go to Carlsbad and spend some time visiting the caverns. This will take you through Cloudcroft and the drive to Carlsbad is a pretty one.
Having lived out in the area for 20 years my wife and I have been to all of these places many times.
Having made the trip west twice in the past year I highly recommend you break the drive into around 500 mile segments. I always pre-book my rooms in advance which can be a big money saver. If you are up for it, try to get to Van Horn on the first day, and then on to Ruidoso via El Paso and Alamogordo on the second day.
Expect $3.00 gasoline and be sure to bring a light jacket for those cold nights.
Be safe and enjoy
Distance is measured in time to, not miles to.
Unless you are into casinos there isn't much to do in Ruidoso or any of the small NM towns. Each one has its own monument to local history, but not much else.
Good day trips would be down the mountain to Alamogordo to see the White Sands and the Holloman AFB.
I can recommend a trip to Roswell to see and photograph the birds and dragonflies at the Bitterroot National Wildlife Refuge and do not miss the Robert Goddard Museum.
If you can squeeze out the time I would go to Carlsbad and spend some time visiting the caverns. This will take you through Cloudcroft and the drive to Carlsbad is a pretty one.
Having lived out in the area for 20 years my wife and I have been to all of these places many times.
Having made the trip west twice in the past year I highly recommend you break the drive into around 500 mile segments. I always pre-book my rooms in advance which can be a big money saver. If you are up for it, try to get to Van Horn on the first day, and then on to Ruidoso via El Paso and Alamogordo on the second day.
Expect $3.00 gasoline and be sure to bring a light jacket for those cold nights.
Be safe and enjoy
Jul 15, 2019 13:06:29 #
Dale Evans - Amaetur wrote:
When you live out in the Big Empty a 100 mile driv... (show quote)
Curious, why do you route through Van Horn and El Paso? That's at least 100 extra miles and 2 hours each way.
Jul 15, 2019 13:32:19 #
Keep you r eyes open for hidden gems. That flat open country between you and there has some great surprises.
Jul 15, 2019 14:05:43 #
Dale Evans - Amaetur
Loc: Baton Rouge, La
It is the easiest drive.
How would you go?
I lived in Valentine, TX for almost 20 years and have made the drive many times.
How would you go?
I lived in Valentine, TX for almost 20 years and have made the drive many times.
Jul 15, 2019 14:26:02 #
Dale Evans - Amaetur wrote:
It is the easiest drive.
How would you go?
I lived in Valentine, TX for almost 20 years and have made the drive many times.
How would you go?
I lived in Valentine, TX for almost 20 years and have made the drive many times.
I don't have your track record having only driven in that direct just a few ties but it seems Ruidoso by way of Waco and Abilene is a more direct route.
Valentine was new to me so I just looked it up, Houston is about 600 miles east of there.
Jul 15, 2019 15:22:46 #
Dale Evans - Amaetur
Loc: Baton Rouge, La
It is the most direct route but in my opinion, not the easiest drive.
The oil field is in full bloom and those 2 lane highways can be extra dangerous with tired tank truck drivers on them. I consider the drive from Tatum to Roswell to be one of the most boring drives in NM, even worse than the drive from Clines Corners to Roswell.
I do not know the person making the drive so I picked the route with the best roads and support in case something breaks, and staying in Van Horn will save him over $50.00 for a nights stay.
All of that coupled with the fact that that the legal speed limit for almost all of I-10 west of San Antonio is 80 mph.
Besides, everyone should experience the view dropping down the mountain looking out to Alamogordo and the Sacramento Mountains.
The oil field is in full bloom and those 2 lane highways can be extra dangerous with tired tank truck drivers on them. I consider the drive from Tatum to Roswell to be one of the most boring drives in NM, even worse than the drive from Clines Corners to Roswell.
I do not know the person making the drive so I picked the route with the best roads and support in case something breaks, and staying in Van Horn will save him over $50.00 for a nights stay.
All of that coupled with the fact that that the legal speed limit for almost all of I-10 west of San Antonio is 80 mph.
Besides, everyone should experience the view dropping down the mountain looking out to Alamogordo and the Sacramento Mountains.
Jul 15, 2019 15:30:29 #
Retired CPO wrote:
Bosque del Apache is worth a visit but is a long way from Ruidoso. Most of the action, bird wise, at the Bosque is in the winter.
It’s only 102 miles. But probably not much bird/wildlife activity at this time of year.
Jul 15, 2019 15:43:04 #
Roswell of flying saucer fame is in New Mexico. Area 51 is in Nevada. Separate UFO legends.
Jul 15, 2019 16:05:33 #
Dale Evans - Amaetur wrote:
It is the most direct route but in my opinion, not... (show quote)
I understand your line of thought. However, from Houston to Ruidoso is mostly 4 lane with only the last 200-250 miles in west TX being two lane. It is not as bad as you paint it.
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